SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES

DEMOCRATISATION

Our objective is to improve the living conditions of Kenyans through creating awareness, creativity, objectivity and wealth creation to enable citizen enhance their participation in governance, making informed choices and effectively engaging those in public offices. Consequently, citizen participation shall demand for fairness, Transparency, equity, equality, non-marginalization and Accountability. This approach shall promote Good Governance and improve the well being of Kenyans.

Democracy and Human Rights remains at the core of endurable life and sustainable development. Legitimate sovereign authority must come from the people though an informed decision making process and it shall be used to benefit them. Citizens must influence public policies, participate in governance and in the management of resources. Governments as the agents of the State must be based on the rule of law and good governance. Regimes must remain accountable to the people who give them the mandate to govern. Freedom of Choice and Enterprise, Informed, and economic empowered, citizens are the Foundation of the democratisation process and sustainable development. For the International community to promote the universality of Human Rights, freedom of speech on which all other rights depend must remain protected.

The principles of democracy are founded on existence of multiplicity of ideas and divergence independent viewpoints on issues of common concern, which prompts dialogue among parties and where the interests converge democracy prevails. Protection of Human Rights and Freedoms enable individuals or groups with common interests to advance pluralism, which gradually limit State power or force those in power to yield to a free and fair political process of competing for power. It is the competition of interests that enhances tolerance and democracy in a State. "There is No justice without Freedom and Liberty." The coexistence of the many Kenyan ethnic groups in peace in their devised and protection of minority rights is the beginning of independent thought and collective demand for good governance. There is need for Civil Society Organizations to participate in consultation processes to factor in the broader citizen agenda. Citizens must participate in economic policy debates on issues that are of central importance for the reform of society, such as national budget, national debt, planning, and economic development.

We shall continue to substantively inform and mobilise the public to influence decision-making processes, on various relevant policy fields to achieve effective political participation and a qualified debate with national policymakers, which shall gradually expand transparency of political actions and promote good governance.

METHODOLOGY

[1]     Support, promote the creation and growth of Democratic movements and Decentralization to Regional and Local Authorities:- The increase of citizen organizations at both at Grassroots and National levels shall increase democratic voices and demand participation and government accountability to gradually tire down curtains of corruption, dictatorship and totalitarianism. Decentralization shall increase citizen participation in governance. Citizens and local authorities at community level shall identify, prioritise, plan and address their local problems without imposition from "above."

[2]  Unpackaging and Domestication of the Homegrown Constitution: Entrenchment of the Culture of Constitutionalism. The Homegrown Constitution is based on the values, virtues and aspirations of the people of Kenya. Citizens must understand, internalise, preserve, enforce, defend, protect it with vigour, and appreciate democratic values manifested in it, all the times. Creation of Awareness shall enable Kenyans to make informed choices and decisions.

[3]    Promote Freedoms, Sustainable Democratic and Human Rights Institutions: In advancing democracy and protection of Human Rights there is need for reforms and creation of institutional frameworks to promote and sustain Human Rights and freedoms. These include constitutional and legislation offices with a mechanism to prosecute violators.

[4]     Citizen and Private Sector participation in the Democratisation process, Good Governance and Public Policy: This promote active engagement between citizens and government authorities at local level especially on budgetary allocations and the informed broader public shall demand transparency on both economic and political issues. It will provide citizens with a sense of ownership and supervisory element on the projects supported by local or National government. Organised Private Sector to effectively participate in advancing democracy and to make inputs on the policies that affect them. Information on Public Policy and Growth of Private Enterprise, remains a major tool in the creation of wealth and the Democratisation process. Vulnerable Women and Youth groups shall creatively promote their agenda through participation in open dialogue, planning and implementation processes without fear or favour.

[5]    Promote Equitable Distribution of Resource, Political Power, and Opportunities: Nature has endowed every individual and region with resources. It is only fair that the regions benefit from such resources. The National government through an equalisation process shall redistribute revenue from National resources to the disadvantaged areas. Political power and Opportunities must be decentralised and equitably and proportionally distributed respectively. "Bring Machinery and Equipment to raw material."

[6]     Government Accountability: Governments must remain responsible to the people who elect them and give them the mandate to govern. It must be understood that citizens are the only source of legitimate authority and that government is wheeled by the sovereign authority of the people through their general will expressed in the constitution.

[7]    Promote provision of Democratic Education in all institutions of learning: This will develop a democratic culture committed to the ideals of protecting Human Rights and Liberties, Rule of Law, Majority rule and protection of minority rights. Democratisation is a life long project and for countries to effectively embrace and practice democratic principles, such principles must be programmed in future leaders and electorate through school curriculum.

[8]      Promote Freedom of Choice and Enterprise, and principles of marketing in a democracy (Market Reforms): Production and Consumption of goods and services in a democracy is determined/dictated through price mechanism. There is need for individuals and institutions to have freedom of choice as this help in the allocation of resource. The institutions need freedom of enterprise, they have to make choices on what sector of the economy they can invest and the products to produce. Consumers also need freedom of choice on what they spend their money on. Both the entrepreneurs and consumers dispose the funds as they see fit. In such markets the consumer becomes sovereign in determining the goods and services produced in a capitalist economy.  "Consumer is the King." CELAK is interested in the Formalisation of the Informal Sector especially Jua Kali by organising and seeking marketability of their products.

[9]     Water and Sanitation: Ensure accessibility of Basic needs, with emphasis on Clean Water in Sanitation in Rural area.

[10] Micro Finance: Economic empowerment of citizens in a Democratisation process remains at the core, without which independent viewpoints cannot exist. "Hunger disenfranchises and robs voters of genuine freedom and liberty as they mortgage their votes for a loaf of bread."

In our effort to implement and achieve the above, CELAK is guided by the following principles:

1. That Citizens are the sole source of legitimate sovereign authority that powers the wheels of government;

2. That democracy involves the right of the people to freely determine their own destiny;

3. That the exercise of this right requires a system that guarantees freedom of expression, belief and association, free and competitive elections, respect for the inalienable rights of individuals and minorities, free communications media, and the rule of law;

4. That a democratic system may take a variety of forms suited to local needs and traditions;

5. That the existence of autonomous economic, political, social and cultural institutions is the Foundation of the democratic process and the best guarantor of individual rights and freedoms;

6. That private institutions in free societies can contribute to the development of democracy through assistance to counterparts abroad;

7. That governments must be responsive to the peoples’ needs and by facilitating and encouraging efforts to build free and independent institutions; and

8. That advancement of democracy is only through partnerships, networking and based upon mutual respect, shared values, and a common commitment to work together to extend the frontiers of democracy for present and future generations.

TARGET GROUPS: Non-governmental Civic Authorities, Civic Leaders, Informal Sector, Community opinion Leaders, CBOs, FBOs, Teachers, Civic activists, District and Constituency Committees, Self-help groups, Youth and Women groups and Civil society organizations in each district,   Market Committees and Jua Kali Associations,  Educational, Cultural and Health Care Organisations, Development Partners,  Service Ministries of Government, and   Neighbourhood Associations.