Second Stage of Revisioning Kenya launched

ENTREPRENEURS GATHER TO SUPPORT AND FORMULATE SECOND STAGE FOR REVISIONING KENYA
A selection of Kenya’s most successful financiers and businessmen will mingle with the country’s newest thinkers at Nairobi National Museum on Wednesday 19th November to gather information and pledge support for the radical new project Revisioning Kenya.

Conceived this year, an amount of Ksh 3 million - together with workspace, mentoring and development facilities - has already been promised by a number of prominent corporates in a bid to help bright new brains to develop their imaginative concepts into solid activities that are good for Kenya

“We don’t want to wait for handouts to crank into action - this is our way to take responsibility for building new hope and energy into our battered nation,” explained Patron Bethuel Kiplagat. “We will help those who can help others, and create a revolving centre of excellence and innovation in which Kenyans take the initiative in producing the sort of structures and integrity that will sustain us in the long term.”

The evening, which is part of the Asian African SAMOSA Festival 2008, will introduce new investors to the value of adopting and developing visionary thinking that would benefit the nation. Among speakers illustrating the ideas behind Revisioning Kenya are Patron Ambassador Bethuel Kiplagat; businesswoman Jyoti Mukherjee; Richard Muteti, head of the Jua Kali association and Professor Moses Musaazi, inventor.

A veteran of the first symposium. Professor Musaazi, who wowed the audience with his work? on low cost cement-less houses, portable incinerators, and DIY papyrus sanitary pads will present new information on rainwater harvesting and accessible lighting. Jyoti Mukjerjee, a newcomer to the concept will discuss business development particularly in relation to IT, while Richard Muteti will introduce the power and strength of harnessing the millions of jua kali artisans and workers who make crucial contributions to the Kenyan economy.

With the support of industrialist Ashok Chandaria, the fund created for Revisioning Kenya has raised enough support through the business community to support the development of 10 projects for a year.

“We aim to provide all the necessary skills, infrastructure and mentoring to make sure that in a year, these ideas are self sustaining,” explained Mr Chandaria. “Too often, visionary concepts never come to fruition because these crucial elements are missing. We can provide the incubator to develop them into real projects. The benefit of an organised and supportive business sector is that we can act quickly and efficiently in response to market forces and social changes without being hampered by waiting for government or donor funds. It is time we took greater responsibility for more than profit and encouraged other forms of improvement in our society.”

While job creation and development of sound business ideas are a focus of Revisoning Kenya, the topics of human rights, gender, social entrepreneurship, environment, citizens activity and good governance are criteria that are just as critical within submitted proposals.

“We will attempt to actively assess and create new strands for Kenyans to work with in revising and reworking those elements of society that clearly have failed,” said Revisioning Kenya director Shalini Gidoomal. “We are looking for people who want to see the sort of change that would take us away from nepotism, corruption and ineptitude and, in particular, allow young fresh voices to have a platform to air their views and ideas for change.”

The first Revisioning Kenya symposium took place in August this year and a carefully selected group of speakers began development of these concepts. Among them were Dekha Ibrahim Abdi, winner of the alternative Nobel Peace prize; Rafique Keshavjee, who is charged with creating an entrepreneurial an inventive spirit in the Aga Khan university; youth leader George Gachara, who set up an sms distress line during the post election violence, that helped thousands of people in need of supplies; comedian turned politician John Kiarie who’s Vijana Tugutuke or “Youth Arise” campaign was key to encouraging youth to vote, and Rob Burnet who discussed diffusion theory in relation to mass media and dissemination of ideas.