In a discussion with a group of Taita men and women under the auspices of Mwanda Welfare Association, a few issues that impact the WaDAWIDA did come up.
The process of implementing the new constitution has many challenges as well as opportunities that may well pass us by if we the WaDAWIDA do not wake up and seize the chance to both participate
and benefit.
Issues like Land, Water and Wildlife and Natural resourses have for ages been a headache and hindrance to development in Taita.
With the many legislative measures that the new constitution envisages, and the people participation that
is core to the principles of governance in the current Kenya Constitution, are the WaDAWIDA participating?
If so, is the participation peoplecentric or powercentric? We need a forum that can articulate the issues
and provide informed guidance to the WaDWIDA so they are not miss the bus.
Nimoni Muisanga,
Lombo wa Lenjo
Thank you Lombo for pointing out correctly that wadawida need to exercise their right to participate in the on going implementation of the constitution. Public participation is a constitutional right. Taita has for many years been affected by land, water, wildlife-human conflicts, poor education standards and a myriad of other problems. The bills currently being debated are on Devolution which is the heart of the constitution ie 'The Devolved Governments bill 2012' and 'Intergovernmental relations bill 2012' , 'County Financial Management bill 2012' and 'Land Bill 2012' are crucial bills that require the taita county public to interrogate and submit their views before they are passed into law.
ReplyDeleteMwake Mwashegwa
Mwanda Mlamba.