KAS

The workshop was officially opened by Mr. Mulle Musau, the National Coordinator of the Kenyan Elections Observation Group, welcoming the youth and senior party representatives. He opened his speech with a commendation of their enthusiasm to assume leadership and to agree on strategies on enhancing inter- and intraparty dialogue. He also thanked the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung for providing a platform for the exchange of ideas between the parties as well as to promote intraparty dialogue with a special focus on enhancing the role of youth organs in political parties.

He mentioned the importance of enhancing inter- and intraparty dialogue and forming political networks for future cooperation in the country as cooperative dialogue is essential for a well-functioning multi-party democracy.

The workshop was organized on the premised fact that the party landscape in Kenya is heavily dominated by the tribal affiliation which is often abused for enforcement of individual interests. Moreover, many parties do not have a concrete manifesto or programme. They are therefore characterized through an inconsistency in leadership and structure.

Mr. Dan Noel Odaba, a consultant from the United States International University, Nairobi, took the participants through the development of strategies of enhancing inter- and intraparty dialogue. He elaborately discussed the challenges and partnership opportunities between youth organs in the respective parties.

It was noted that complex challenges such as the lack of women’s involvement in politics and the absence of a constructive dialogue and political interaction between the different alliances are affecting the cooperation between main parties and their opposition negatively in the decision making process and therefore require multidimensional, innovative responses from party members at all levels. Further, the lack of political cooperation between the party youth and senior representatives leads to a growing dissatisfaction and disappointment among citizens. Mister Dan Noel Odaba stressed the urgency to support representatives of selected parties of the democratic centre to exchange ideas and to develop task-oriented programmatic positions and alternative ideas on political issues.

Another challenge is posed by the lack of women’s involvement in politics. The 2/3 gender rule following the implementation of the new 2010 constitution still needs to be properly implemented. Female politicians are often not appointed because of their leadership capacities, but just to pretend the line. Their current contribution of women to the political discussions is rather weak. Mr. Odaba therefore stressed the necessity to support women to participate in politics with separate women capacity building and leadership programs.

Mr. Mulle Musau emphasized the importance of partnership opportunities between youth organs and senior party representatives in political parties. In group discussions challenges were identified which are affecting the participation and engagement of youth in political dialogue as well as the absence of a fruitful interparty dialogue. Furthermore legislation, tribal politics, corruption and responsiveness are the typical issues in the country among health infrastructure, unemployment, non-ideology based programs, establishment of sustainable alliances and electoral policies. The groups agreed on the need for concrete cooperation between senior and junior party representatives on those specific topics.

Similarly important was the establishment of a 3-month action plan for the represented senior and junior political party representatives. Joint committees on priority issues such as strengthening the role of women in politics and fostering the party youth were also formed.