Democracy

The following statement was issued today by the Secretary General for CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation, Ingrid Srinath. Click here to see video. Share your message of solidarity below.

A group of Kenyans have gotten together to organise an initiative to unite Kenyans by all singing the national anthem at the same time (concept below). Despite the fact that this is the day the National Accord was signed, we are still living in a very polarized atmosphere where the political class still seeks to mobilise along ethnic lines.

Those of us gathered here are Kenyan citizens from different ethnic, religious, racial, regional, gender, professional and generational backgrounds. We are all convinced that Kenya is ripe to realise the promise of the new Constitution. Having assessed the situation in our beloved country we are, like most Kenyans, dismayed by a range of issues that persist: a national tragedy of successive waves of IDPs; the persistence of impunity and corruption; the entrenchment of a culture of drug dealing with the connivance of top leaders; the deliberate manipulation of our ethnic diversity by some leaders creating for a society that is divided dangerously along ethnic and increasingly religious lines - the list is depressingly long. We express our alarm too at the deepening structural economic inequalities in our society, creating a gigantic class of youthful-have-nothings ruled by a tiny self-preserving elite making every effort to keep everything. These are among a host of other pressing injustices in Kenya.

To this end, we pledge ourselves and call upon all other Kenyans to take responsibility for the new Constitution, resist all attempts at undermining the new Constitution, and speak up and organise against the impunity, injustice and corruption that is perpetrated in Counties and localities across this great land. The time has come to say, “Enough is enough!” and to take Kenya back.

So we say: Kenya Yetu• Katiba Yetu • Maisha Yetu – Kenya belongs to all of us!

This campaign will be followed up by a series of specific actions across Kenya beginning with meetings, rallies, Country gatherings all over the country and culminating in a People’s Convention later this year.

Conveners: Yash Pal Ghai, John Githongo, Davinder Lamba and George Kegoro

Johannesburg. 17 November 2010. The Swazi Trade Union Movement is undertaking Global Days of Action on 16 and 17 November to raise awareness and demand for human rights and justice for the people of Swaziland. CIVICUS extends its whole-hearted support to Swazi civil society in this endeavour and remains deeply concerned about the freedom of civil society in the country.

CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation has launched a global virtual platform for knowledge development, sharing and learning on participatory governance, available at: www.pgexchange.org.

Once again Democracy is about to give us a chance to choose the leader of our dream in the coming general elections. No nation can grow beyond the quality of its leadership.

Nigeria is loaded with huge potentials, all we need is the leader who can harness all these potentials and move us into a nation of peace and prosperity.

The lifeless body of Floribert Chebeya Bahzire was found in the back seat of his car on June 2 in a neighborhood not far from his home in Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Since most sub-Saharan African countries gained flag independence, it has been very difficult to conduct less rancorous non-controversial and faultless election, through this they have denied their people of good governance and are yet to be seen to be taking, remarkable measures towards democratization that can move their people forward democratically to create a solid foundation for better life. 

The African Democracy Forum (ADF) is an African regional network of democracy, human rights, and governance organizations that seek to consolidate democracy in Africa by providing opportunities for democrats to openly express their views.  The ADF serves as a platform to build solidarity and exchange of resources among members, and supports membership empowerment.