Nakuru residents urged to fully participate in budget process

Nakuru county residents have been challenged to fully be part of the county budget process.

Speaking during a zoom meeting on the essence of public participation in matters budget,Francis Shinali from Nakuru Residents Association said citizens’ participation is key.

The online meeting with community members was organized by Nakuru based Reproductive health Youth Friendly Environment (RHYFE) in partnership with KELIN Kenya to sensitize citizens on importance of participating to ensure adequate allocation towards  development in various sectors amon them reproductive health services.

He said,the effectiveness of the whole budget process depends on the input of the citizens.

While noting that a section of MCAs have playing games with budget process,the good governance activist said this should be addressed by citizens being vigilant.

“Members of the public should be vigilant and take part in matters budget. They should also follow up on projects including those that are stalled or are indicated as ongoing yet nowhere to be seen on the ground” he said.

He decried the teenage pregnancies,drugs and substance abuse,mental issues and lack of access to quality comprehensive reproductive health services as key issues that should be addressed I’m budget process.

With adequate allocation,Shinali believes matters Reproductive health and issues around the same will be addressed.

“We need to start thinking on how to address teenage pregnancies,drug abuse,lack of access to quality comprehensive reproductive health services.This we can through airing our proposals during budget process so that we can have these in our facilities” he stated.

Sentiments echoed by Vincent Omollo from RHYFE.

Omollo reiterated that public participation in the budget process is key and should bring on board all stakeholders.

“We need all stakeholders so that we can consult and make our society a better place” he said.

On her part Linder Kroeger from KELIN Kenya who spoke during the online meeting calling on residents to give priority to matters health.

She notes that Sexual Reproductive health services can be achieved if the community embraces the same to ensure comprehensive services are accessed by all.

“This is not my meeting but just to remind each one of us that we have a role to advocate for Reproductive health rights” she said.

Sentients echoed by Martin Lunalo from RHYFE.

According to Lunalo, community should be proactive.

“It is time as community we play role on the budget issues to ensure enhanced service delivery and that national values are adhered to in decision making” stated Lunalo.

The zoom meeting came at a time when Nakuru residents are in the process of submitting their proposals on 2021/2022 Budget.

The notice from County Government of Nakuru.PHOTO/Courtesy.

Due to COVID-19 pandemic,the goverment banned physical gatherings.

It is for the reason that the County government of Nakuru issued a notice to residents requiring them to submit their memoranda to subcounty or ward,they can also do so through email budget@nakuru.go.ke or write to county secretary via postal address 2870-20100.

Wilkister Akinyi from Centre for Enhancing Democracy and Good Governance (CEDGG) on her part urged locals to ensure they take part in the whole budget cycle.

“The decisions made in the whole process affects the outcome as well as development at ward level.So it is upon us to be keen on the budget cycle” she said.

The Tuesday’s Zoom meeting courtesy of RHYFE in partnership with KELIN Kenya is a plus to residents as action plan was reached through various subcounties representatives to come up with memoranda.

The memoranda will then be subjected to review before submission to county before 8th April 2021.

 

 

 

Lobby calls on media,artistes to take lead in fight against GBV

Media and artistes have been challenged to take up key role in fighting matters Gender Based Violence against women and girls.

Martin Lunalo from Reproductive Health Youth Friendly Environment-RHYFE says the Media and artistes have a huge following which should be utilised to inform society.

Speaking in Nakuru West on Thursday during a meeting with Journalists and artistes,Lunalo stated that they will continue to carry out capacity building in society to ensure matters GBV cases are voiced.

He noted that if the society is not educated on the same then the efforts on fight against GBV will be derailed.

“Media and artistes need to take up this discussion on GBV to another level.We need an informed society so that we can succeed in this” said Lunalo.

Sentiments echoed by Programs officer for  RHYF under Reinvent Ms Carolyne Kinyua.

She says if media and artistes can take up the lead,then the fight against Gender Based Violence will have a win.

“That following,that listenership you have make good use of it in the fight against GBV” said Kinyua.

Community dialogue key in realization of reproductive health rights-Lobby

Community dialogues are key towards realization of Sexual and reproductive health rights.

Human Rights Lawyer Linda Kroeger says its upon the  the communities to start conversations on the same.

She spoke in Nakuru West subcounty on Friday during a community dialogue on matters sexual and reproductive health courtesy KELIN Kenya in partnership with Reproductive Health Youth Friendly Environment-RHYFE.

According to Ms Kroeger,there has been stigma,myths and misconceptions in society on matters sexual and reproductive health.
“We all have a responsibility as a society to have dialogues and dimistify the myths and misconceptions about sexual and reproductive health rights” said Kroeger.
She noted that through such misconceptions,many girls have lost lives through unsafe abortions.
Kroeger who has been working closely with KELIN Kenya in advocating for the health rights,challenging communities to create condusive environment for health rights.
“Communities should create an environment that is condusive towards the realization of sexual Reproductive Health rights” she said.
Sentiments echoed by Martin Lunalo (Programs Officer-Rhyfe).
Lunalo noted that the constitution of Kenya is very clear on matters health.
He pointed out Chapter 4 on Bill of Rights.
Lunalo also challenging members of the public to ensure they put the duty bearers on toss.
He says this is the only way to ensure proper legislation in place on better health services.
PHOTO/Pristone Mambili:Human Rights Lawyer Linda Kroeger and Martin Lunalo from Rhyfe during the meeting.

Lobby: Concerted effort key in actualization of Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights

There is a need for concerted effort at the community level in ensuring legal framework towards realization of Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights in counties.

According to KELIN Kenya- a Non-governmental organization working on matters Health and Rights,despite the rights being highlighted in the Constitution of Kenya, women and girls have continued to suffer in communities.

Speaking in Nakuru on Friday during a community stakeholders’ meeting on the Nakuru County Maternal, Newborn and Child Health Bill 2019 that is before the county assembly, Human Rights Lawyer Linda Kroeger from KELIN Kenya says communities are key in policy formation.

Kroeger noted that the Bill will go a long way in addressing challenges facing women and girls in Nakuru County.

She said the decisions should be informed by the inputs of the residents of Nakuru concerning matters Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights.

“We need to equip our communities to know their rights, have information and to articulate issues so that we can move forward” said the Human Rights Lawyer.

Despite the Nakuru County Maternal, Newborn and Child Health Bill 2019 being withdrawn last year, KELIN Kenya maintains that through collaboration with Kenya Medical Association, and community they will push to see to it that it sails through.

Programs Officer at Reproductive Health, Youth Friendly Environment (RHYFE) Mr. Martin Lunalo says some of the MCAs had not been taken through the Bill.

He is however optimistic that with the community-centered approach, then the Bill will sail through.

“The Bill was withdrawn last year due to some issues but we have now taken another approach to ensure the community and all stakeholders are enlightened on the Bill” said Lunalo.

Lunalo once again telling off those who have been against the Bill equating it to be advancing abortion.

He says the Nakuru County Maternal, Newborn and Child Health Bill 2019 is all about ensuring access to information as well as services on matters Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights.

“The notion that the Bill is advocating for abortion is neither here nor there. This is a Bill that is aimed to ensure Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights” he said.

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