“.the moral test of government is how that government treats those who are in the dawn of life, the children; those who are in the twilight of life, the elderly; those who are in the shadows of life; women, the poor, the sick, the needy, the marginalised and the handicapped.” ~ Hubert Humphrey.
The Symposium for the Faith Based and Grassroots organizations on gender dimension of the 2012/2013 electioneering process will be held at Shalom House, Dagoretti Corner, Nairobi, Kenya, on the 22nd and 23rd November 2012.
Theme: Gender Dimension of the 2012/2013 Electioneering in Kenya
Creation and choosing of National leaders who meet the integrity threshold for leadership.
The symposium has been organized by Consolation East Africa(CEA) a Nairobi based NGO that works to build the capacity of the grassroots and the faith based organizations to address gender based challenges within Kenya. The main aim of the symposium is to explore gender related issues in relation to the 2012/2013 political process. CEA works in partnership with KARDS.
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The symposium takes into consideration that this is a politically critical year for Kenyans; as it marks the end of grand coalition government, ushers in the transition of centralized governance to devolved governance. Hence the once very familiar provincial structure based on 8 zones will give way to a new county structure that will divide Kenya into 47 administrative and semi-autonomous regions.The symposium also takes cognizance of the fact that great milestones in addressing gender issues have been made in Kenya after the promulgation of the new constitution in 2010. The constitution providesan important yardstick in its bill of rights; it has provisions for rights and fundamental freedoms; provisions on equality and freedom from discrimination and makes a special pronouncement about human dignity.
On the other hand there have been serious reforms on the judiciary and there are attempts to introduce these reforms on the legislature in terms of the Leadership and Integrity Bill 2012 which has been the subject of great controversy to date. The main purpose of the leadership and integrity bill was to lock out corrupt people who had perfected the art of bad leadership and impunity from becoming leaders. This bill however is in danger as the legislature have torn down the integrity threshold and have made it possible for all aspirants to be eligible to vie for the next elections unless barred by the constitution. This means that with the integrity threshold watered down by the legislature the adage practices in terms of political electioneering violence, crimes against humanity including sexual crimes, vote rigging and abuse of office may be normalized.
Drawing from past experiences in Kenya, there is need to address the present anomaly by concentrating on choosing leaders with high integrity and to understand in depth how the new political landscape will be shaped by good leaders in accordance to sections six and seven of the constitution. CEA hopes to engage the new political dispensation by ensuring that human rights and gender issues are taken into consideration as Kenya carves its future destiny. In this case leadership is key.
The specific topics to be discussed include
1. Human Rights a) Chapter four of the constitution on the bill of rights b) exploring the concept of human rights based approach to governace
2. Leadership and integrity a) chapter six of the constitution on leadership and integrity b) leadership and integrity bill 2012
3. Representation of the people a) chapter 7 of the constitution b) political parties act 2011 c) the elections act 2011
4. Devolved governance a) chapter 11 of the constitution b) Intergovernmental relations Act 2012 and c) transition to devolved governance act 2012
5. Public finance: a) Chapter 12 of the constitution b) Public financial management bill 2012
6. Politics and Peace a) harmonious co-existence amongst different faiths b) harmonious inter-enthnic co-existence c) harmonious co-existence amidst political differences d) harmonious co-existence amongst different political party aspirants and their supporters e) National accord and reconciliation act 2008
7. The gender dimension of politics a) patriachy and gender equity in politics b) female participartion in politics and development c) healthy inter-gender collaboration in politics and development d) working to transform structures that sanction gender inequality c) addresing electioneering gender based violence.
Faith based and grassroots organizations are welcome to the symposium. Kindly express your interest for the symposium by October 30th 2012. Contact us at
Physical Location: Shalom House, off Ngong’ Rd.
Address: P.O.Box 16139 – 00100 Nairobi, Kenya
Cell Phone: +254 720 812638 / +254 736 935387
Email: consolationeastafrica@gmail.com
Consolation in East Africa 
Sep 28, 2012 @ 21:10:22
I want to appreciate this great initiative that you have taken to educate women in the basis of governance and electioneering. It is not obvious for many women to realize their strength and capabilities they have. I wish that opportunity is going to allow them to realize that they can step on the gap and work as if there was no one else to do that job. We are in full support and backing all the women responsibilities in bring change to our new Kenya.
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Oct 03, 2012 @ 08:10:50
Good idea. Hope to attend
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Oct 09, 2012 @ 05:34:08
It is good for us all because we have come to realise that we need to get the rights and no one else should give us the rights. How i wish to attend this
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Oct 11, 2012 @ 18:08:49
Esther, Peris, and Fred; you are all welcome. A better Kenya is our collective responsibility…. Hieghtened civic participartion is important, its what holds the leaders accountable. We await you.
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Oct 18, 2012 @ 07:46:52
i am doing the best i can to attend the symposium, hope i will learn more but also share whatever i have with the rest of all the participants
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Oct 19, 2012 @ 17:30:10
Great idea….very timely and appropriate!!
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