11Nov, 2022
Participants during Coffee Bar Tuesday. Photo: Philip Papa 
Kevin Odongo during Coffee Bar Session. Photo: Philip Papa
Is COP27 Important?
With the COP27 conference happening from 6 November to 18 November 2022 in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt and hitting our newsroom every day, how many people from the community are aware of it and its importance to common mwananchi. Our #CoffeeBarDiscussion hosted Kevin Odongo who is an environmentalist and founder of Green Ambassadors who is also meant to be at the COP27 conference in Egypt.
COP27 which stands for Conference Of The Parties is the largest annual gathering on climate action that’s usually attended by heads of state, ministers, climate activists, civil society organizations and private sector. Kevin explained that the conference builds on some of the commitments made at the COP26 and brings new ones in order to deliver actions on climate. The first COP meeting was held in Berlin, Germany in March, 1995 and this year Egypt is hosting the 27th conference since its inception.
Participants got to understand how the COP27 came into realization with so many questions such as why do they always meet with no outcomes? Why do they meet knowing together that the biggest gas emissions state heads are not there? Why do they always make commitments and policies that are not met or implemented? How is it of use to us if common mwananchi is represented by the same leaders flying to Egypt through planes?
Kevin Odongo shared that the commitments made there will not only help us as a country and also have mitigation and adaptation mechanisms for the future. In light of the current extreme heat, a National Adaptation Plan (NAP) which is a process that seeks to identify medium- and long-term adaptation needs has detailed approaches that we can adapt to reduce vulnerability, build resilience and adaptability, as well as incorporate climate adaptation into national policies and planning. Kenya already has its first plan on adaptation, and will help the government in mainstreaming climate change adaptation and mitigation.
“Ukiangalia had ice cubes siku hizi zinamelt haraka than before.” Participant said
Also, he emphasized that approximately half of the world’s population is ‘highly vulnerable’ to the effects of climate change, including floods, droughts, tsunamis, and storms, and that is the reason why as a community the COP27 is of so much importance to us. This year’s COP will focus more on mitigation, adaptation, collaboration and make a delivery of $100 billion per year to assist developing countries.
With all our leaders representing us in Egypt, it’s important for us to follow up on what’s happening since the outcome of these conferences will determine the next phase of this world. If there is any financial commitment, we should be able to understand and get a share of it.
The term Loss and Damage is not well known by most people, but here he explains it simply as the negative effects of climate change on society and the environment. There have been campaigns on #Pay4LossAndDamage where developing countries claim that developed countries have historical responsibility for climate change. They are calling for compensation from developed countries to help them address loss and damage that have already occurred and to minimize future loss and damage.
“As we push for climate mitigation and adaptation, there’s need to have more awareness and simplify and localize information” Kevin Odongo said
With the discussion touching more on what COP27 is focusing on, we also touched on what we as individuals can do in order to reduce the emissions that are contributed by human activities. Through the discussions, it was clear that we all have a role to play in making sure we save the planet. Some of the ways in which we can reduce emissions include ending the usage of fossils, powering your home with renewable energies, plant more trees, recycling, fly less or when need be, stop plastic pollution and drive cars that are climate friendly among others.
As Mukuru Youth Initiative, we believe in the power of having knowledge. It’s only through knowledge, that you are able to know what, how, where, when, why you need to do something. We continue to create spaces where information is shared for the betterment of individuals and communities. See you on Tuesday!
26Oct, 2022
Participants during the discussions: Photo: Julius Rasat 
Photo: CHRIPS
Youth Opportunities? Where Are They?
Are youth opportunities there and how visible and accessible is the information on these opportunities? This week’s #CoffeebarTuesday is a continuation of last week’s discussion on understanding some of the youth opportunities that are there and the ones that are yet to be implemented by both the county and national government. We have collected some of the opportunities that young people can access. However, some if these opportunities are not always receiving applications, you should be on the look out in case they ask for applications.
Youth Enterprise Development Fund
The Fund seeks to create employment opportunities for young people through entrepreneurship and encouraging them to be job creators and not job seekers. It does this by providing easy and affordable financial and business development support services to youth who are keen on starting or expanding businesses. For more info http://www.youthfund.go.ke/
Women Enterprise Fund
The fund will continue to provide Kenyan women with access to alternative financial services. It is expected that the loans women will access as a result of the establishment of the fund will have a positive impact on family welfare. In addition, it will increase the estimated earned incomes (purchasing power parity). By using a group approach, it is envisioned that the fund will serve to strengthen women’s voices and bargaining power within the home as well as the wider community. To access the fund, you must fill an application form from you sub county office.
Uwezo Fund
Uwezo Fund is a flagship programme for vision 2030 aimed at enabling women, youth and persons with disabilities access finances to promote businesses and enterprises at the constituency level. The Fund is highly devolved and adopted the concept of bottom-up approach with decision making done at the grassroots level. To access the fund, you must fill an application form from you sub county office. For more info https://www.uwezo.go.ke/
Access To Government Procurement Opportunities
The aim of the AGPO Program is to facilitate the youth, women and persons with disabilities owned enterprises to be able to participate in government procurement. The procurement Act states that any procuring entity shall allocate at least thirty percent of its procurement spend for the purposes of procuring goods, works and services from micro and small enterprises owned by youth, women and PWD. https://agpo.go.ke/pages/agpo-registration-requirements
Ajira Digital
aims to introduce Kenyans to digitally-enabled jobs and provide the tools, training and mentorship needed to earn an income from digital work. is a Government initiative driven by the Ministry of ICT to empower over one million young people to access digital job opportunities. The program seeks to position Kenya as a labour destination for multinational companies as well as encourage local companies and the public sector to create digital work. https://ajiradigital.go.ke/#/index
Green Card
Having a Green Card (officially known as a Permanent Resident Card (PDF, 6.86 MB) allows you to live and work permanently in the United States. The steps you must take to apply for a Green Card will vary depending on your individual situation. Once you find the category that may fit your situation, click on the link provided to get information on eligibility requirements, how to apply, and whether your family members can also apply with you. To apply click here https://dvprogram.state.gov/
Kenya Youth Employment Opportunities
Kenya Youth Employment and Opportunities Project (KYEOP) is a transformational project that aims to empower and uplift the wellbeing of the youth in Kenya by equipping them with essential training, internship, and business grant opportunities. Create your own business! Get support for your business with a 40,000 business grant or coaching on running a business and Get trained in one of our trade areas, do an internship in a company or an apprenticeship with a Master Craftsman. This is usually works with cycles and is not always opened for application. https://kyeop.go.ke/
MbeleNaBiz
The MbeleNaBiz Business Plan Competition aims to expand new and existing youth-led enterprises by providing them with grant funding. The Government of Kenya recognizes the need for job creation to address the challenge of youth unemployment in Kenya. By investing in young entrepreneurs whose ventures will generate employment opportunities and earnings for unemployed youth, MbeleNaBiz will contribute to the development of an inclusive economy that provides opportunities for as many Kenyans as possible. https://www.mbelenabiz.go.ke/about-us.php
Future Bora Initiative
Future Bora Initiative is unique from the other KYEOP products in that it does not target the intended beneficiaries directly, but seeks to benefit them through intermediaries (organizations that give specific focus to the hard to serve groups to better their livelihoods). The initiative will therefore identify high-potential interventions and fund them to scale. https://www.futurebora.go.ke/
Ndoto Nzetu
The initiative focuses on partnering with Kenyans to implement health, education and economic empowerment projects. aims to support Kenyans who are keen to make an impact in their communities through social investments. Through the initiative, we ask Kenyans to share their dreams and aspirations that they hope to achieve in the areas of health, education and economic empowerment. Each dream we help fulfill translates to thousands of lives being uplifted and transformed. Ndoto Nzetu is going to partner with you to bring dreams to life. https://www.safaricomfoundation.org/ndotozetu/
Tenders
Tenders is also another opportunity that young people can tap into which is usually left for the elites and old people. Majority of local schools do advertise calling in for tenders but majority of young people don’t apply due to lack of information and others citing not having enough money. There are young entrepreneurs who are making a mark in the business world through entrepreneur. Its upon young people to also get share of the cake by making sure they have necessary documents and applying for the opportunities.
Local Organization
Through partnerships, young people can be able to access opportunities that are there set by development partners/organizations. Majority of these opportunities don’t get to young people because they are open to the public domain or there’s no godfather somewhere. Young people should also be on the lookout and aligning themselves with organizations that work in the same field.
Hustler Fund
The Hustler Fund is emerging as the most popular affirmative action fund from the government. The fund is set to be operational in December and will see the government set aside Sh50 billion to provide cheaper credit for micro and small businesses. The word going around is that they fund is not free money and for you to access it, there must be a track record of your savings. We save first to get the funds.
Film Fund
The Film Fund is expected to support the creative industry under a plan to add value to Kenya’s exports such as fashion, leather products, and craft industries. The new government will push Parliament to pass the Creative Economy Bill that will enable the establishment of a film fund which will in turn facilitate the access to modern equipment and entire film production infrastructure available for local film makers on a hire and lease basis.
Biashara fund
The County Government of Nairobi has promised to set aside funds under the Biashara Fund that shall work towards facilitating optimal production of standardized globally competitive goods through establishment of modern technology facilities. However, this is yet to be finalized and we should be on the look out.
As a youth-led organization, we are particularly keen on how the youth can be guided and benefit from the tenders, opportunities and funds that the government, institutions, and private sector has set aside for them. In the coming weeks, we shall be looking at how young people can also understand financial security. One thing that young people should also keep in mind is majority of these funds will only be accessible if you’re in a registered group and savings with different Saccos. See you on Tuesday!
Reference: Kenya Youth Employment Procurement Opportunity , Business Daily
21Sep, 2022
Participants pouring coffee during the session. Photo: Julius Rasat
Who Owns The Relationship?
Between two people, who owns the relationship? When getting to a relationship, what do you expect to gain from it?
During this week’s #CoffeeBarTuesday discussion, it was clear that we all have different views on who owns a relationship. Some of the insights on who owns the relationship were whoever cares less is the owner of the relationship, whoever loves much is the owner of the relationship, a man is the head and should be the owner, a woman is the owner of the relationship since she accepted to be in a relationship, both are owners of it while others felt the levels of the relationship will determine the owner of the relationship.
We are still groomed in a patriarchal system and that’s why you will get someone saying that the man is the owner of the relationship. Both the two parties are bringing something to the table regardless of who approached who. Participant said
a relationship, some of the interests pointed out during the discussion include comfort, commitment, financial support, peace of mind, ownership, unlimited sex, confidant or someone who can listen and give advice to the other. Some of these interests vary from one person to another and the majority are not even aware of the interests they want. From the discussion, sex stood out as one of the common interest that drives young people to be in relationships.
With all the interests, there’s always someone who has more say than the others. Some of the interests raised during the discussion were
- Financial Status: In this era, whoever has more money has more say in that relationship. Money has been a contributor to the survival of many relationships.
- Appearance: So many relationships are surviving because of how they look. Whoever is more beautiful or handsome has more in the relationship because they know they can move out of the relationship and get someone else easily.
- Family background: This also plays a key role in some relationships. The family that has more money has more say in a relationship. It doesn’t matter the sex of the person as long as the family has more money.
- Source of hope: When you are a source of hope, you tend the family to have more say. For partners that help their partners overcome drunkenness or depression, they have more say since they believe without them the other would still be depressed or drunk..
- Sympathy: Sympathy stood out as another way of people staying in a relationship. In example the other partner is incapacitated or their heart is fragile. So out of sympathy, the other partner will have to stay in a relationship out of the fear of what would happen if they leave.
- Societal Pressure: Some felt that people stay in a relationship because of societal pressure. Society has made us believe marriage is a must or at least have a boyfriend or girlfriend. There was an example from 1 tribe where after a man gets his house, the mother always checks to see if a girl comes out. With no girl visiting the boy’s house, the mother is always worried about her son.
There were mixed reactions on how important sex is in a relationship. Majority feeling that there’s no relationship without sex and sex is the backbone of any relationship.
When getting into a relationship, you should make sure you have the same interests as your partner and have the same energy. So many relationships hit the rock because of choosing the wrong person or having someone with different interests as you. The purpose of this discussion was for us to share why we decide to be in a relationship and how we can learn from each other and understand that relationships are for two people only. See you Tuesday!
16Jul, 2021
Accountability Officer – Vacancy
Accountability Officer Position
Mukuru Youth Initiative (MuYI) is seeking a professional and motivated individual to join our team as an Accountability Officer to be based in Nairobi, Mukuru Kwa Reuben, MuYI HUB.
Profile
Mukuru Youth Initiative is a youth founded and youth led community-based organization founded in 2013. We are located in Mukuru Kwa Reuben with our main office at the MuYI HUB, Opp Reuben Stadium. We are focused on social and economic well-being of Mukuru young people by engaging them in different social activities. Our main focus is to make sure that we have a community of youth who are empowered and engaged in relation to our three strategic objectives;
· Civic Engagement – Youth Leadership Development & Civic Engagement activities and programs involve youth leaders in improving their community while developing themselves and their capacity to become agents of change.
· Social Enterprise – Through the MuYI HUB, MuYI will develop the leadership of youth in the community through employment and entrepreneurship.
· Art and Expression – Through creative expression, young people hone their ability to communicate, acquire cultural literacy, gain industry knowledge, and, most importantly, develop their voice as community leaders
. Climate Justice – We advocate for behavior change through sensitization. We create platforms where community can understand the effects of climate change and ways in which we can protect our planet.
PURPOSE OF POSITION
The purpose of this position is to oversee and ensure consistent systematic information, processing and response to Community Response Mechanism (CRM) in MUYI programming. The position holder will work closely with the project Team, CHVS and community elders/committees to validate, respond and refer feedback received from the various feedback mechanisms established in MUYI programming. They will be working closely with the Monitoring, Evaluation and Accountability Learning Team to ensure adequate documentation and usage of data generated from the CRM. The accountability officer shall be in a 2 month contract.
Roles and responsibilities of the Accountability Officer
Daily updates of the complaints & feedback database, all the complaints and feedback received from all the channels available for use by the beneficiaries and non-beneficiaries.
Document all feedback received from the response mechanism, including actions taken into Oxfam’s approved database.
Submit bi-weekly compiled complaints and feedback to Oxfam MEAL person for review.
Channel complaints to the persons responsible for follow-up as per Oxfam standard beneficiary CRM procedures.
Maintain consistent, confidential, and detailed records of all complaints in the COMPFU
(and other electronic and hard copy filing systems, as appropriate) as well as enquiry reports (as relevant)
Ensure the COMPFU is always password protected, the confidentiality of complaints data is respected, and the information is shared only with authorized persons as per Oxfam’s procedures.
Support in the project site-based analysis and dissemination of clear specific CRM information/awareness raising materials in a language and visual format that can be widely understood by the community.
Support beneficiaries by providing information to related services from Oxfam and other organizations.
Maintain a proper filing system for all the complaints and feedback with filling codes.
Conduct Information Provision & feedback sessions with beneficiaries.
Work closely with the community leaders/committees to follow up and response on complaints received through referrals.
Validate feedback and complaints received through different channels of CRM (specifically hotline), and ensure follow up and response on complaint.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES
University degree / Diploma in a field related to social science or health.
Creative and able to come up, embrace and coordinate innovative thinking, and problem-
solving skills
Good analytical, writing skills and communication skills
Good interpersonal skills and, abilities to work as a team.
Strong computer skills including Word, Excel, PowerPoint.
At least have an experience in a similar job.
Ability to set priorities and undertake new tasks quickly.
Ability to communicate effectively with a wide range of audiences.
Willing to work at odd hours when necessary.
Cross –cultural sensitivity, flexible worldview, emotional maturity, and physical stamina.
Ability to work in and contribute to team building environment.
Position requires availability and willingness to visit implementation sites, attend meetings and Capacity Building.
Interested candidates should submit an application letter quoting expected salary and detailed Curriculum Vitae to info@mukuruyi.org quoting the job title on the email subject “Accountability Officer” by 21st July 2021.
Only email applications will be considered, and only candidates selected for interviews will be contacted. Mukuru Youth Initiative is an equal employer.
19May, 2021
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4May, 2021
Weche on the (right) walking in the community
The story Of Hope – Weche
I am Waweru Denis also known as Weche, I was born and raised in Mukuru and started my family here and it’s a place I call home.
Overtime, I have been engaged in various activities in the community including ; community mobilization, community initiatives such as feeding programs, helping youth to form youth groups, helping the county in water distribution, Kazi Mtaani, educating and sensitizing the community through social media, events, art and music.
Mukuru Youth Initiative (MuYI) has been engaging the community and specifically young people in creating awareness, informing and educating the community through art activities that I have engaged in and it’s an opportunity that I am grateful for.
Through the annual Mukuru Festival in 2019 organized by MuYI, I was crowned MR Mukuru 2019, this helped me get even more recognition in the community. After Covid19 hit in 2020, I became a community champion and engaged in doing community sensitization and currently am using social media to create awareness, inform and educate the community on Covid19.
Before covid19 I was also running my movie shop business which I run to date where at times when I am not engaged with community work, I sell movies and also second hand clothes for kids. Am happy I have created employment for my fellow youth by having him in my business
Through my community work I was selected as a board member in the Lunga Lunga Health Centre Health Committee representing the youth. This gave me an opportunity to interact more with the community members and also government officials. Through my representation, I was also appointed as a committee member for the National Government Hygiene Program known as “Kazi Mtaani’ in Lunga Lunga.
I am a lover of art especially music and dance where I was also featured on a musical project in 2020 under the ACT Project and Tupumue Projects.
Am a believer of change and I want to see this achieved in my community and despite young people being stereotyped and working with the elderly to solve community issues makes you underrated, I still believe in young people. There is also another problem where most of the time the community wants you to volunteer in everything without consideration of your welfare.
As a young person I would like to urge fellow young people to never give up and they should position themselves for opportunities since there is light at the end of the tunnel.