The Right Honourable Prime Minister, Minister of Justice, Honourable Members of Parliament, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen, Distinguished Participants,
At this conference today and tomorrow, Sweden as the current EU Presidency seeks to provide space for Kenyan citizens to reflect on its country’s experiences of political, policy and developmental change; to deepen the understanding on why or where change fails or succeeds, and to clarify the content of change Kenya presently seeks. I would like to welcome you all. I am very pleased that we are here to reflect on change; how empowered citizens can contribute to the development of people, reduce poverty, enhance equality, ensure justice, improve infrastructure, strengthen the public service. These are also key objectives of the important co-operation between the European Union – through the member states and the Commission – and Kenya.
During these two days we will explore what is needed of the state when it comes to participation and inclusive polices. Development is both delivering infrastructure and reforming the way the state operates for improved democratic governance. That was one of the conclusions reached last week in Stockholm at the European Development Days, where the Right Honorable Prime Minister Odinga participated with several other Prime Ministers and Heads of State from all over the world.
Human rights and development are linked and interdependent. As H.E. Kofi Annan has said “there is no development without human rights and no human rights without development”.
The conference earlier this year on “The Kenya we want” helped to identify ‘WHAT’ is needed. This conference is about ‘HOW’ it has happened and how it can happen in the future. HOW can Kenya move further towards a society that respects people’s social, economic, cultural rights as well as their civil and political rights? The conference is also about how to identify the resistance to change as well as how to make change sustainable.
Many among you here today have contributed towards development of both institutions and democratic space. Others have made an impact on combatting violations of the rights of the child: i.e. social mobilization against female genital mutilation. In the room there are those with experience of land and water reforms and those who have participated in debates for new legislation. Others are experts on leadership and how to build institutions. The conference will give us the opportunity to build on all these impressive experiences.
Development is thus not only about infrastructure or democratic governance and human rights. This was illustrated in a successful co-operation between Kenya and Sweden in constructing roads. Many times, building of roads has been met by obstacles: Recruitment and procurement have been based on patron-client relations and ethnicity instead of merit and competence. Laws were not enforced and corrupt behavior not punished. The results were frequently substandard roads while a culture of impunity persisted towards the contractors of these roads. The Swedish-Kenyan efforts showed that this can be changed through combining democratic rights and practices, rule of law, and appropriate construction methods.
In Vision 2030 Kenya is committing herself to inclusive development and accountable and transparent institutions. Kenya also commits to reform institution that are there to uphold democracy such as the judiciary, police and a new election commission. The EU supports reforms in these and other areas. Are these objectives achievable? How can they be achieved? This conference will help us develop awareness and knowledge on how it can happen. I believe this is of particular interest now as Kenya is at potential moment of major changes.
Our goal for this conference is a COMMON CHANGE FRAMEWORK with actors such as the state, NGOs, the private sector, media, academia and ordinary citizens. The framework will be a tool for understanding change which Kenyans seek. Following the conference, the networks that have been created will continue to discuss change. FAHAMU, SID and the EU stand ready to support such networks for change.
At the European Development Days in Stockholm last week, Nelson Mandela was quoted. I would like to conclude with his words; “It always seems impossible until it is done.”
Thank you!