Matters Population!

               It might now be necessary to mainstream family planning information into most developmental projects, pre-marital counselling and other levels of engagements to Kenyans, given the population trends that planners have warned about. Kenya's population is expected to rise to 80 million by 2030 if the current fertility rates prevail.  Kenya's population is currently estimated at 42 million people with a growth of about 1 million per year with on average woman having a birth rate of 4.6 children.   According to the Nation newspaper article of 31 October, planners are worried by the trend with the economy growing at 3.5 to 4.5 per cent in conttrast with the rapidly growing population.  Nearly half of Kenya population is poor with poverty levels estimated at 46 per cent.  It is now recommended that women give birth to only two children.  Anthony Kilele, Kenya National Bureau of Statistics has always recommended that for Kenya to stabilise, needs to grow three times the population growth.  
             Reducing Kenyans population will be a tall order. Kenyans  love to have children and there is absolutely nothing wrong with that but especially due "serial polygamy"a term introduced to us by Hon Samuel Poghisio, a few years back when he worked as Lectured a subject known then as INS which was more or less about Communication and anthropology. Because Kenyans are divorcing, separting and trying different relationships most people want  additional children to seal the new relationships.  Kenyans love for children is also exhibited by the trauma and stigma suffered by women and man who are not able to bear or sire children.
     A demographic group greatly affected by the population growth is the youth. Warning bells have been sounded on the burgeoning population of youth in Kenya. According to the Ministry of State for Youth Affairs and Sports 75 per cent of Kenya’s population is under 30 years of age while an estimated 36 per cent of Kenyan population are defined as youth with 500,000 youth joining the job market every year.   Ministry of labour estimates that only 25 per cent of these are able to be absorbed in the job market.

Women Aspirants Making inroads as they face threats

Although it is widely believed that women aspirants for the upcoming General elections will not meet the Constitutional threshold that dictates that no more than two thirds of one gender should occupy appointive or electoral positions, it seems that women are making inroads given the rising number of threats a number of women aspirants are facing.
       Atieno Otieno  vying for Governors seat in Kisumu county is one of the women who have this week received threats to drop their bid. Atieno has been told to drop her Governorship bid or be the next.  Apparent reference to the late Shem Onyango Kwega who was seeking a parliamentary seat in Kisumu,  shot in the head yesterday.  (Monday 29 October 2012).    Less than a fortnite ago she gave an impressive performance on an NTV debate for politicians seeking Governorship hosted by Linus Kai kai. Some of the other aspirants interviewed included Jack Ranguma, Rhoda Ahonobadha, Billy Kariaga, Ojwang Kombudho and Barrack Owiti. 

Atieno Otieno during a workshop organised for women aspirants by TUVUKE/AMWIK

       Pascaliah Makonjio seeking a  Member of Parliament seat for Nambale Constituency Busia has had to look for extra security.  Since she declared her candidacy she has received numerous threats.  She says her development record in impeccable and she has done more the the people there than most leaders.  She suspects that threats are due to the fact that she is not born there and also since she is outspoken about contentious issues around the sugar industry and tuff wars between two sugar companies.

Child labour and Media

I spent two days at the Agricultural training center (ATC) training stakeholders in Child labour on how they can effectively use media to talk about child labour. A day before I had arrived the Kisumu airport to find a an impressive Kisumu International airport, having not had an assignment there for long or often travelling by road.  I found a dedicated team of stakeholders including journalists.

Welcome to my blog

Welcome to my blog.  I hope to share with you my insights and experiences on the three topics that am passionate about media, gender and development and areas that I have worked in over the last couple of years.