by Inuka Kenya | Feb 21, 2024 | Opportunities
About Inuka
Inuka Kenya Ni Sisi! is a Kenyan grassroots social movement organisation founded in 2009 and registered/incorporated as a Company Limited by Guarantee in 2012. It envisions a peaceful, united and well-governed Kenya with equal economic and social opportunity for all citizens. The organisation exists to empower Kenyan citizens to improve their lives and demand good governance as a means to achieve socio-economic growth and equality of opportunity among all Kenyans. It purposes to curate a social movement (the Ni Sisi! Movement) that will seek to unite Kenyans to forge a collective identity, drive transformation in leadership and improve maisha — wellbeing — for all Kenyans. To this end, Inuka supports community groups/organisations and collaborates with initiatives at the local, national and regional levels to build capacity and linkages for effective collective action. Inuka Kenya Ni Sisi!’s philosophy is underpinned by the concept of “dignity before development” — each individual’s inherent dignity must be upheld at all levels of interaction.
Inuka Kenya premises its work on three strategic objectives:
1: Restructuring the Public Sphere:
To create and curate narratives that seek to restructure the Kenyan public sphere using knowledge platforms, technology products and engaging civic actors and institutions within a framework of Utu.
II: Enhance Individual Agency, Dignity and Livelihoods:
To harness a collective positive and resilient identity to build, protect, restore and ensure human dignity for all.
III: Transition to a National Social Movement:
To transition from a civil society organization, through partnerships, collaboration and membership development, to a national social movement of active citizens who hold governments to account.
Job Title: Programme Officer – Movement Building
Supervisor: Programme Manager – Civil to Civic
Essential Functions: As the Programme Officer – Movement Building Programme, you will be responsible for the implementation, oversight, growth and sustainability of the programme. You will be charged with building the Ni Sisi! movement with a specific focus on forming and activating the Ni Sisi! Chapters and carrying out activities under the Sauti Yetu Programme. The officer will also ensure the collectivisation of Inuka programming to the Ni Sisi! Movement agenda. The position also oversees partnerships with CSOs and people movements in Kenya and the region as may be necessary. You will report to the Programme Manager – Civil to Civic or any other authorised Inuka designate as you shall be advised. You will be required to perform the duties set out hereunder and such other duties as we may require you to undertake from time to time
Duties and responsibilities
- Oversee Ni Sisi! movement building by:
- Ensuring the establishment and functioning of Ni Sisi! chapters with a resilient singular identity in the Counties of work through the identification, mobilisation and partnership development with citizen groups and actors, like-minded civic organisations and individuals to form collective communities of change
- Ensuring sustained engagement with Ni Sisi! Movement members by supporting established chapters to agitate for action and change through training and thematic advocacy mechanisms on prioritised issues.
- Identifying and activating opportunities and initiatives to add value to citizen groups for enhanced policy debates and improved livelihoods.
- Carrying out private sector mobilisation – financial and in-kind support including mentorship, opportunities for apprenticeship
- Convene movement-building meetings in Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania
- Perpetuating interlinkage of program activities towards movement building
- Facilitating exchange between chapters and developing linkages with national-level agenda
- Establishing and operationalizing values incubation centres in the Chapters
- Identify and activate opportunities and initiatives to add value to citizen groups for enhanced policy debates and improved livelihoods.
- Oversee the effective functioning of the Sauti Yetu programme including planning, implementation of programmes, reporting and project staff management
- Be a representative of the institution in its existing coalitions and networks specifically through attending meetings feeding into processes and growing the organisation’s network
- Developing mechanisms to document real histories and memories in each of the counties – curation of stories linked with Kesho – knowledge synthesis and analysis
- Document and prepare activity, monthly, quarterly, bi-annual, and annual reports including donor-specific reports and other ad hoc documentation as may be required.
- Develop and implement a research agenda for the organisation
- Ensure the establishment of Ni Sisi! Resource centre (s) and develop an online information portal for members of the movement – info pack, newsletter, regular member debrief information and data
- Fundraising – participate in activities and/or undertake such initiatives as necessary for fundraising for the organisation.
- Identify and activate opportunities and initiatives to add value to citizen groups for enhanced policy debates and improved livelihoods.
- Represent the organisation at meetings with the donors and other development partners.
- Coordinate the MERL function of the Programme
- Any other relevant duties as may be assigned.
Academic and Professional Experience
- University degree in Political Science, Development Studies or relevant Social Sciences
- Post-graduate studies in Programme Management or Organisational Development
- Minimum of at least five (5) years of experience working in similar programs in advocacy and accountability organisations and networks.
- Minimum of Five (5) years experience in community mobilisation
- Experience in civic education, political education and movement building
Skills and Personal Attributes
- Understanding of the key governance issues in Kenya and the barriers to achieving a just and equitable society; understanding of social movement-building processes, civic engagement, campaigns and human rights.
- Competence in managing complex organisational programmes
- Experience in developing and leading the implementation of effective nationwide campaign strategies in Kenya.
- Experience in working with networks or coalitions and building partnerships.
- Ability to manage sensitive organisational relationships and work with a diverse group of stakeholders in a multicultural and multilingual environment.
- Strong experience in organisational management, project management, strategic planning, monitoring and evaluation, fundraising, and finance management.
- Excellent interpersonal skills and networking abilities.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills in Kiswahili and English.
- Experience in writing, documentation and reporting
- Proficiency in computer applications
- Good people management skills with a solid understanding of change management processes, performance management, time management, and results-based management, and team building.
- Personal character: Having a good personal track record, integrity, honesty, dedication, dynamic, showing respect to others, team builder and time manager.
How to Apply
Only candidates who meet the set criteria should submit applications together with their updated curriculum vitae that include details of daytime contacts, names and contacts of three referees addressed to careers@inukakenya.com and copy ekamau@inukakenya.com with “Programme Officer- Movement Building” in the subject line not later than 15th April 2024.
Only successful candidates will be contacted.
Inuka Kenya is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence. Further details of Inuka Kenya’s work can be obtained from our website.
by Inuka Kenya | May 16, 2023 | Press Statements, Stories
Ms Haimanot Teferra,
Mission Chief
International Monetary Fund (IMF) African Department C/O IMF Kenya Office
Delta Centre Building, 12th Floor
Menengai Road, Upper Hill
Re: Trade Negotiations under the Kenya/United States Strategic Trade and Investment Partnership (STIP) Must Address the Common Interests of Both Countries.
Following the invitation by the IMF Nairobi Office to participate in consultations with your office on the ongoing fiscal consolidation program in Kenya, as Civil Society under the Okoa Uchumi Campaign umbrella decline the invitation to engage with the IMF . The decision to abstain from the meeting is premised on the fact that despite previous meetings, we, as Civil Society, strongly feel that our collective contributions to the process has deliberately been ignored by the IMF, and the consultations are being used to legitimise a process that continues to put majority of Kenyans at a greater risk of hunger and poverty, in spite of our dissatisfaction and protests.
Over the past few years, the Okoa Uchumi Campaign has consistently engaged with the IMF, shared several submissions (both oral and written) regarding the fiscal consolidation program and Kenya’s economic development, governance, and challenges. During these sessions, the campaign members felt the lack of the IMF’s interest in a meaningful engagement premised by the lack of concrete responses or considerations on the submissions made; as well as the glaring lack of consideration of the effects of austerity measures on growing inequality, hunger, and poverty in the country, harming the most vulnerable of our population.
While expressing our dissatisfaction with IMF’s engagement with Civil Society, we would like to reiterate and call to your attention the following concerns which the Campaign has raised during the previous ‘consultations’:
1. Rising and Unsustainable Public Debt
While we acknowledge the fact that the fiscal consolidation program has brought about a marginal increase in accountability in public finance matters, we still have a number of abiding concerns. Public debt is surging, especially commercial debt, with an increased lack of transparency and accountability. The amendments to the Public Finance Management regulations (PFM) to replace the current ceiling on debt issuance (at Ksh 10 trillion) with a medium-term debt-to-GDP anchor of 55 percent of GDP is likely to create more room for public sector borrowing without much accountability if transparency is not taken care of and ultimately prudent spending that reduces the fiscal deficit.
2. Monetary Policy
We strongly feel that the inflation-focused monetary policy that the IMF supports will continue to make the economy unproductive. This is because it affects the prioritization of other important goals such as rapid economic growth and employment creation. This focus on stabilization rather than growth and development has been promoted at the expense of achieving economic growth, enabling austerity that undermines gender responsive public service, employment creation, reducing the care burden on women and poverty reduction.
3. Good governance
Furthermore, the adequate levels of transparency and accountability regarding debt contracting, debt use, debt repayment and transparency around public procurement has not been achieved. We have in the past challenged the IMF to use its position to push for accountability in these matters. Corruption in Kenya and especially around public finance matters remains a major problem with high levels of impunity witnessed. Governance reforms especially around budget implementation and resource use, affects the question of accountability. Despite these observations to your offices, nothing has been done to assuage our concerns on the matter.
4. Burden of Taxation
In addition, the Treasury revised upwards its borrowing in the current financial year to cover the tax revenue shortfall that was expected, due to the reduction in government spending and cost cutting measures outlined in the fiscal consolidation program. While the cost cutting measures were supported by the IMF, this brought about increased commercial borrowing, and is taking Kenya to a risky debt position, a burden that unfortunately will be borne mostly by women. Higher taxation will not deal with the problem of debt, rather this can only be dealt with by making the debts productive, reducing the cost of further borrowing to service debts, and increasing accountability.
The Okoa Uchumi Campaign challenged the IMF to explore all available options to ensure that the government puts measures for balanced revenue raising strategies that do not strain the economy especially reducing people’s disposable income and expenditure on social services. This has not been done and the government has imposed a huge burden of taxation on the citizens. We further requested a conversation of all parties i.e., CSOs, Private Sector, Government, and the IMF before this round of consultations and that too has not happened. We therefore feel the obligation to break rank with the consultations and stand in solidarity with Kenyan citizens in opposing the proposed tax amendments.
We wish to point out that the proposals contained in the Tax Amendment Bill that was recently enacted in the Parliament of Kenya are only going to hurt the economy further. We note, for example, that the 1.5 percent Digital Services Tax has been eliminated on recommendation while digital content creators will be levied a withholding tax of 15 percent on their earnings. This is an unfair allocation of the burden of taxation. Such proposed revenue raising measures are misaligned with the governments purported pro-poor / pro-hustler narrative and are likely to undermine entrepreneurship effort especially among the low-income groups. The IMF had previously recommended the introduction of V A T on petroleum products which the government implemented (8% in Uhuru’s regime and now it is proposed to be raised to 16%). This will adversely affect a wide spectrum of the low-income population. Furthermore, the taxation measures proposed on the productive sector that is agriculture are unwarranted as they will make a sector that is consistently challenged by negative externalities (pandemic, climate change and natural hazards) sink further into unproductive territory with the likely effect being inflationary pressure on consumers and more significantly the loss of livelihood for a majority of Kenyans – and disproportionately affecting smallholder women farmers. Ultimately, the Bill as it is will only hinder the realisation of the benefits of progressive tax and subsequent investment in education which is key for a country as Kenya.
by Inuka Kenya | Apr 20, 2023 | Press Statements, Stories
Ms Constance Hamilton
Assistant United States Trade Representative
Office of the U.S. Trade Representative,
1724 F Street NW., Washington, DC 20508.
Re: Trade Negotiations under the Kenya/United States Strategic Trade and Investment Partnership (STIP) Must Address the Common Interests of Both Countries.
Dear Amb. Hamilton,
We welcome you to Nairobi for the trade negotiations with the Kenyan Government for the STIP. Before we state our issues, we invite you to appraise yourself with the World Economic Forum’s scenarios on the Future of Mining and Metals until 2030. From this analysis, we understand that the world has changed from a unipolar axis to a form of rebalanced globalism that is multipolar. We invite the United States (US) to approach these negotiations from this understanding. On the occasion of these negotiations, we strongly feel the US should consider negotiating the STIP for the common good of both Kenya and itself. Specifically, we invite the US to consider moving away from its persuasions of the political philosophy of Adam Smith and zero-sum game theory and consider the persuasion of Nobel Prize winner John Nash and his seminal works on equilibrium game theory. In simple terms, we invite the USTR to consider both the self-interest of the US as well as the common good between itself and Kenya. This is the only way forward.
The first step of this common good approach is the question of transparency. The US has maintained an opaque approach to these negotiations preferring to only engage Government and not availing the negotiating texts to other stakeholders. This is not negotiation in good faith. If indeed the agreement is a partnership, it should be undertaken in a transparent manner. We note that Kenya has in the past adopted transparency in the negotiation of the East African Community/European Union Economic Partnership Agreement (EAC/EU EPA) by availing negotiating texts to all stakeholders under the Kenya Post-Lomé Trade Program (KEPLOTRADE). While your good office has indicated it only has good intentions in these negotiations, we need to verify that this is indeed the true position. That verification will be done through the making available of proposed texts to all concerned stakeholders. To ensure full participation, all negotiation rounds should be announced beforehand and open to broad public stakeholder engagement in both Kenya and the U.S. Finally, we ask that all related materials and consolidated texts be published in a timely manner after each round of negotiations so that the public has the opportunity to review and comment on each proposal before the agreement is finalized.’
See https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4jCA0_3Pyvo 1
We feel that the US has not demonstrated good faith from the onset of these negotiations. This is because it has pushed Kenya to remove the digital services tax as well as legalize biotechnology, two key planks of policy leverage that could be useful in the negotiations. Coming against a background of a serious revenue shortfall and a limited base for domestic resource mobilization, we feel that the US is being selfish and not considering accommodating Kenya’s ability to fund its budget.
The second concern we have if there is to be a STIP is the scope of this agreement. Without more information about this agreement (e.g. the negotiating texts), it is difficult to provide relevant comments. However, based on the information in the STIP launch statement, we strongly feel that there should be no:
- provisions affecting agriculture in the STIP. However, if there are provisions relating to agriculture in the STIP, there should be no provisions in the STIP that restrict Kenya’s agricultural regulatory or policy space e.g. in the agriculture or other chapters
- digital trade chapter negotiated in the STIP. However, if there are provisions relating to digital trade in the STIP, they should not restrict Kenya’s regulatory or policy space, including there should be no provisions:
o Restricting customs duties on electronic transmissions
o Restricting the use of digital services taxes
o Requiring cross-border data flows to be allowed or restricting data localisation requirements.
o Restricting regulation of electronic authentication/electronic signatures
o On source code/algorithms
o Requiring non-discriminatory treatment of digital products
o On interactive computer services of the type in Section 230 of the USA’s federal Communications Decency Act. good regulatory practices provisions. However, if there is such a chapter, it should not include provisions:
o On regulatory impact assessments
o Requiring the review of existing measures
o Requiring comments to be allowed by foreign companies on proposed measures
o On services domestic regulation.
Once more information is available about the content of the STIP negotiations we are likely to have further comments.
Sincerely,
1. EconewsAfrica
2. KenyaSmallScaleFarmersForum
3. KongamanolaMapinduzi
4. OkoaUchumiCampaign
5. FutureofKenyaFoundation
6. AnglicanDevelopmentServices–Kenya
7. CommunityAdvocacyandAwarenessTrust
8. KenyaHumanRightsCommission
9. UjamaaCentre
10. The Kenyan Peasants League
11.Kenya Debt Abolition Network
12.Kenya National Interface Team
13.East African Tax and Governance Network 14.SEATINI Uganda
15.Growth Partners Africa
16.Kenya Food Rights Alliance
17.INUKA Kenya Ni Sisi Ltd.
18.Tax Justice Network Africa
19.Center For Generational Studies – Kenya 20.Premier SHEQ Systems Advocacy Group
21.Dr. Alutalala Mukhwana and Company Advocates 22.Peace Actors Forum, Kenya
23.Global South Inclusion Consulting
24.Jesuit Justice and Ecology Network Africa
by Inuka Kenya | Apr 19, 2023 | Press Statements, Stories
Wednesday, 19th April 2023
Dear Kenyans, as a country, we are in a political standoff; facing yet another round of political contestation which threatens our democratic and constitutional order. The stalemate has been largely driven by the political class. The people of Kenya who have been granted the sovereign power under Article 1 of the constitution are being excluded and are hardly involved in key decision making processes that impact on their lives.
Following consultations held in the last week amongst civil society, this concerns us.
Dear Kenyans, in 2010 we promulgated a peoples’ constitution that vested sovereign power in the people, and yet we are still beholden to our political leaders, as subject of the colonial rulers were bound to their imperial lords.
Our leaders have violated many aspects of the constitution while we watch on helplessly, forgetting that the power rests with us. Our political leaders have:
- Betrayed Kenyans’ quest for sustainable solution to the ongoing food crisis, cost of living and access to public services such as quality education, water, housing and health contrary to Article 43 of the Constitutional of Kenya.
- Destroyed the economy and failed to use their mandates to fix those parts that need fixing, and consequently making life unbearable for the majority of Kenyans.
- Over-borrowed, misspent, mismanaged, and stolen the proceeds of imprudent and expensive loans, leaving Kenyans with an unsustainable debt burden.
- Instituted heavy taxes to pay for their largess and political arrangements by living opulent lifestyles and loading up the public wage bill with political cronies, while political allies evade taxes placing the taxation burden on the Kenyan taxpayer.
- Partaken in the plunder of the public purse and have adopted misplaced policies to defund public services, while basic services such as health, education, and agriculture flounder due to corruption and mismanagement government officials at all levels.
- Appointed to public office individuals with questionable integrity and further established unconstitutional offices to reward their political cronies
- Orchestrated deliberate state capture of independent institutions namely the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP), the National Police Service (NPS), the Office of the Controller of Budget among others to serve partisan political interests.
- Sought to convert Kenya into a police-state weaponizing security apparatus in the country against citizens.
- Continued to weaken and interfere with governance of elections and political conduct against the spirit of the constitution manifested through infiltration of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) and other institutions with related mandate on elections.
- Continue to undermine and erode devolution through deliberate delay and underfunding of counties, failure to release devolved functions and abating unaccountability of county governments.
In view of the foregoing, we hold that political leaders have unfortunately and repeatedly hijacked opportunities to address the above issues and converted them into bi-partisan processes between political elite that end up with minimalist, compromised and non- transformative reforms that only serve their selfish political interest
We, therefore, demand the following:
- Restructure and expand the proposed bi-partisan parliamentary talks to make it an inclusive, independent and citizen-led dialogue process to discuss the immediate electoral issues and cost of living crisis and address a wider discussion on mid-term issues to get the country back on track.
- Develop a framework with principles, values, timelines, and enforceability mechanisms for the dialogues to protect it from political capture and deal-making to ensure it addresses Kenyans’ interests as previously envisioned.
- The above can be modelled along the National Constitutional Conference commonly known as the Bomas Process which brought together legislators, district delegates, and all key sectors as equal players to discuss and adopt the draft constitution between April 2003 and March 2004.
With or without the constitution of the above framework, we therefore commit:
- To reach out to all civic groups and other progressive forces to institute an authentic citizen agenda and process for the salvation of our country through the collective action of the people as provided in the constitution of Kenya. These include religious, trade unions, professional bodies, business groups, and the media at national and county level among others.
- To engage political leaders, regional actors, and international community to work closely in pushing the Kenya recovery agenda including Agenda Four item of the Kenya National Dialogue and Reconciliation Process 2008.
- To institute a values-based, rights-driven and citizen-led process of economic and democratic justice to address those who have committed crimes against the people of Kenya. It is for this reason that we are advocating for the adoption and implementation of the Truth, Justice and Reconciliation Commission (TJRC) report among other reports on historical injustices in Kenya.
Signed by:
- African Centre for Open Governance (AfriCOG)
- Awaaz Magazine
- Centre for Memory and Development
- Constitution and Reform Education Consortium (CRECO)
- Free Kenya
- Grace Agenda
- Haki Yetu
- Inform Action
- International Commission of Jurists, Kenya Chapter (ICJ-K)
- Inuka Ni Sisi!
- Katiba Institute
- Kenya National Interface Team (KNIT)
- Kenya Tuitakayo Assembly (KTA)
- Mazingira Institute
- Muslims for Human Rights (MUHURI)
- National Students Caucus
- Oxfam Kenya
- Pamoja Trust
- Social Justice Centres Working Group
- The Angaza Movement
- The Institute for Social Accountability (TISA)
- The Kenya Human Rights Commission
- Transparency International Kenya (TI-Kenya)
- Uttermost Welfare
- Youth Agenda
by Inuka Kenya | Mar 25, 2023 | Press Statements
We, the undersigned organizations, are concerned that Kenya is slowly sliding down a dangerous path where the Executive increasingly engages in illegalities and defies the rule of law. In light of this, we publicly decried the swearing-in of Chief Administrative Secretaries (CAS) against a litany of cases filed in court to challenge the proposed office of CAS.
We have read the statement by the Judiciary issued on the 25th March 2023 stating that it did not facilitate the swearing-in of the 50 illegal CAS at Statehouse, Nairobi and is never engaged in swearing in the Executive save for the Presidency. We appreciate this clarification. In light of the clarification, we retract our statement regarding a top Judiciary official facilitating the swearing-in of CAS on 23rd March 2023 and apologize unreservedly for that error.
We wish to clarify and draw the attention of the Judiciary to the fact that our initial statement was issued by 14 civil society organisations rather than an individual or one institution as highlighted by the Judiciary statement.
Since we issued our joint statement, many Kenyans celebrated the two conservatory orders issued on 24th March 2023 by the Judiciary against the actions of this government, the first in a long time. The Judiciary stopped, through interim orders, the 50 CAS from assuming or continuing in office or from earning any remuneration, benefit, or salary in the interim. The Judiciary also upheld media freedom by suspending the Communication Authority of Kenya’s censure of the six TV stations for factual reporting on the recent demonstrations through conservatory orders. However, we reiterate that the Judiciary had many opportunities to stop the swearing-in of the CASs by issuing conservatory orders but delayed causing Kenyans injustice.
Given how the Executive has numerous times refused to adhere to the rule of law, the Judiciary remains Kenyans’ anchor and must remain independent, firm and true. It must always act above suspicion by fiercely upholding the rule of the law and the Constitution.
Signed this 25th Day of March 2023 in Nairobi by:
- Inuka Ni Sisi Ltd
- Transparency International Kenya
- The Institute for Social Accountability
- Constitution and Reform Education Consortium
- Siasa Place
- Inform Action
- Muslims for Human Rights
- Haki Yetu Organisation
- CSO Network
- Kenya Human Rights Commission
- Midrift Human Rights Network
- Defenders Coalition
- Centre for Enhancing Democracy and Good Governance
- Mazingira Institute
