SOS: Please help our current Humanitarian Efforts in Kenya

I would like to call on all old friends, well-wishers and new friends of the Centre.

In response to the humanitarian crisis that has arisen as a result of the post-election violence in Kenya. We at The Odhiambo Mbai Centre are diverting all our energies and resources towards the joint efforts in mitigating the crisis. The Centre is situated in one of the areas that was hard rocked by the violence, and due to the overwhelming needs around the country, we are afraid that significant assistance within this region may be slow due to distance.

I have been both haunted and saddened by the current events because I have only ever known Kenya as a peaceful Country. It is in times like these that the human race disappoints; but it is also in these times that our humanity is put to the test. So in that spirit, I would like to appeal to all who are in a position to assist to help us in our efforts.

Your donations will help us:-

• Feed those who are currently camped in police stations for safety after having their homes and properties burnt. They are mostly women and children. Five (5) US dollars is enough to buy flour for a family of four for a week. We hope to temporarily feed some of the current families as we look for other lasting solutions.

• Buy hospital supplies and food for the hospital. The one main hospital in the area has found itself overwhelmed with those who have been hospitalised as a result of the violence. We will also be expanding our efforts to Kisumu, which has been described as a ghost town with many casualties.

• Provide transportation to the men and women volunteers helping with body disposals to and from the morgue to curb a potential health pandemic.

The Centre will also seek to preach reconciliatory messages through volunteer counsellors as we go out in love to assist in the crisis.

You can donate to the centre by clicking on PayPal (on the right hand side of the site), or sending national or international transfers to:

Account Name: The Odhiambo Mbai Centre
Bank Name: Cooperative Bank of Kenya
Account Number: 0110047722500
Swift Code/Sort Code : KCOOKENA
Bank Code : 11
Branch Code: 022
Branch Name: Homa Bay
Centre Address: P.O. Box 00200-57516 Nairobi Kenya

or in Australia:

Account Number: 064158-10582756
Bank Name: Commonwealth Bank of Australia
Bank Branch: University of Queensland 4158

I would like to thank you in advance for your generosity. Please check this site periodically for updates of our efforts. For those of you, who are new friends of the Centre, feel free to get better acquainted with our vision and successes. We hope this will give you confidence in collaborating with us so we can avert this current humanitarian crisis.

Sincerely
Atieno Odhiambo-Mbai
Director

A Personal Note

The Odhiambo Mbai Centre is an organization, which acts both as a foundation and a platform for generating sustainable development in the region. The Centre is run by two women and a board of directors. It particularly seeks to empower the community towards its own development. I founded the centre with my daughter as a tribute to my late husband. My husband up until his death had dedicated his life to effecting change that betters the lives of Kenyans, advocated for democratic Governance and strived for economical and sustainable development. His ideas and vision for Kenya not only act as personal inspiration but also played a major role in the formulation of the Centre. For me, the Centre is a platform to highlight and solve many of the developmental problems I have encountered since I relocated to work in the rural area after my husband’s death.

The Centre currently grapples with several poverty related challenges, however as a widow who comes from a community whose negative cultural practices have contributed to the escalation of the HIV/ AIDS pandemic (one of the biggest challenges the Centre has met yet so far), I particularly empathies with the women who unlike myself, do not have the privileged to go against tradition. I believe that if more women are empowered towards alternate avenues of survival we would have fewer grandparents and child-headed households.

Although the Centre’s objective is to build sovereign voice towards unity, poverty reduction and improved livelihoods for the community; in my experience, HIV/AIDS is dangerous in that it reverses gains in developmental achievements. Further the direct costs and other impacts of increased ill-health such as spending on healthcare and lower productivity drives many families into poverty. It is mainly for this reason that the Centre works in Kanyada, Asego Division, Homa Bay District, in Nyanza Province. Nyanza is among the marginalized areas in Kenya. For example the constituency where Kanyada is situated has an estimated population of 145,274. Out of this 104, 335 individuals live below the poverty line (1999 census). Our vision entails effectively mitigating the causes and impact of HIV/AIDS, by providing the community with the necessary infrastructure, for sustainable development. In this way we hope that we not only help eradicate the pandemic but we also tackle the poverty related problems in the region.

I hope this document not only gives you a deeper understanding of the work being done with the community, our vision and goals but also ignites a desire to assist our efforts, especially in intensifying our funding efforts to empower the community. The work so far has been challenging mainly because the need is great but the resources both technical and financial are limited. We are a young organization but our motivation and inspiration from the people we serve, hope to serve in the future and the mandate we set for the Centre sustains us. The rewards in our efforts thus far, are in huge part products of the collaboration of friends, well wishers- basically ordinary people who realize there is a need to change things, and are in a position to make a difference. For there to be real significant change, there is need to also collaborate with organizations who have the resources to intensify our efforts.

I would therefore like to invite you to join and assist us in developing tangible lasting solutions. Thank you in advance. I hope to hear from you soon.

Sincerely

Margaret. A. Odhiambo

Financing Director

A Brief History of the Man behind The Center’s Vision

The late Dr. Crispin Odhiambo Mbai was born on October 25th 1954. He grew up a healthy, active and loving child under the care of his parents. Like his peers in the family Dr. Mbai spent most of his childhood life very close to his then retired and respected Ex – Senior Chief Obonyo Anayo an interaction that greatly influenced Dr. Mbai’s adult life attitude, character and personality.

In 1961, Dr. Mbai enrolled for lower primary education at Ligisa day primary school. Upon completing the basic level education in 1964, he transferred to St. Joseph Nyabondo Boys Boarding for upper primary education. He sat for the Certificate of Primary Education in 1969. In 1970, Dr. Mbai joined Mirogi Secondary School where he remained until 1972. In 1973, he transferred to Londiani Secondary School where he sat for the East African Certificate of Education in 1973. The following year, Dr. Mbai proceeded to Cardinal Otunga High School where he sat for the East African Advanced Certificate of Education (EAACE).

In 1976, he was admitted at the University of Nairobi for a degree course in the Faculty of Arts, which completed in 1976 graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Government and Sociology. During that same year, Dr. Mbai enrolled for a Master of Arts Degree at the same University, which he completed in 1981. On completing his M.A. programme, Dr. Mbai joined the civil service in the position of Personnel Officer II. Initially in the Ministry of Transport and Communication and latter in the Ministry of Health. In 1985 he moved to the Kenya Medical Research Institute as Principal Administrative Officer responsible for personnel and research administration.

At the time of joining the civil service Dr. Mbai had his mind focused on pursuing further education. The only obstacle was lack of scholarship, which, however, he trusted he would secure at some stage and realize his dream. In 1987, Dr. Mbai was awarded a World Bank Scholarship and a University of Toronto Open Fellowship for Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) programme at the University of Toronto, Canada. He graduated with a Ph.D. degree in political science in 1992. His major and minor areas of specialization were policy analysis and comparative politics, respectively.

In 1992, armed with the requisite tools of the game, Dr. Mbai resigned from his position at KEMRI and joined University of Nairobi, Department of Government. The overriding consideration in making this move was his desire to pay back in kind what he himself had benefited from the same institution a few years back. He was very keen to facilitate the development of competent manpower that is any country’s bedrock for sustainable development. At the University of Nairobi, Dr. Mbai taught a number of courses; both at undergraduate and graduate levels supervised graduate students and examined many graduate dissertations.

Dr. Mbai was promoted to Senior Lecturer in the year 2000 and subsequently appointed Chairman, Department of political science and Public Administration, a position in which he served briefly up to 14th September 2003 when the life was cut short in the “safety” of his house by trigger happy persons. Dr. Mbai also served as the Executive Director of the African Centre for Policy and Development Research (ACPDR).

Between the time he completed his Bachelors degree and when his life was cut short, he had to his credit, nineteen finalized research and consultancy projects, had prepared and presented nine Conference and Workshop papers, had produced four research publications, reviewed one book, supervised and examined seven M.A. Theses.

Among the key organizations he consulted for were the Kenya Trypanosomiasis Research Institute (KETRI), the Kenya Directorate of Personnel Management (DPM), United Nations Drugs Control Programme (UNDCP), united Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the World Bank. During his short but illustrious and dynamic career, Dr. Mbai easily won recognition from various organizations as exemplified by the numerous prestigious awards he received from such organizations like DANIDA, IDRC, the World Bank, University of Toronto, Historical Association of Kenya, AACC, and UNFPA. Dr Mbai was a member of various professional associations including the Canadian Association of African Studies (CAAS), Association of African Political Science (AAPS). He was also a guest editor of the African Urban Quarterly Journal.

At the time of his painful death, Dr. Mbai had initiated a number of new research projects and was contemplating embarking on others in the following areas: Democracy and Governance in Africa; Agro-business and Economic Liberalization in Kenya; Health Care services Reforms in Kenya; Local Government and Democratization Process in Kenya; and Regional Integration and Conflict Resolution in Africa. Indeed, as his body lay motionless in the cold room, one of his colleagues in the Faculty had to fly to Zanzibar to present a paper Dr Mbai had prepared hoping to present at a conference in that country.

Away from the world of academia, Dr. Mbai is remembered as a soft spoken, forthright, honest and effective mobiliser of his people in pursuit of better human life. His mind was constantly focused on productive work and had no time for idlers. He had time for those who dealt with him directly not those depending on intermediaries. Dr. Mbai hated mediocrity right from his days in high school. He cherished constructive engagement, which he considered the foundation of excellence in any academic and professional undertaking. He was generous and instrumental in initiating community self help projects and provided counsel on how to efficiently manage them. He was the Chairman, Board of Governors at Ligisa Secondary School, Homa Bay District. Dr. Mbai supported many less privileged bright children to continue their education. His death has therefore spelt doom many hitherto hopeful young Kenyans.

At the time of his death, Dr. Mbai was a delegate and the Chairman of the sub committee on devolution of power at the National Constitutional Conference of Kenya.

About the Odhiambo Mbai Centre

ABOUT THE ODHIAMBO MBAI CENTRE




The Odhiambo Mbai Centre was established in 2004 and is registered as a Non- Govermental Organization (NGO) by the NGOs council of Kenya. The Centre operates in Kanyada location, Asego division in Homa Bay district. It was formed as a tribute to the Late Dr Odhiambo Mbai who before his death had been undertaking various developmental projects in the area. The centre therefore not only works as an instrument to continue the work he started but also as a means to mitigate the rampant underdevelopment of the area.

IMPORTANCE OF ESTABLISHING THE CENTRE IN KANYADA
Kanyada is a location in Kenya’s Nyanza province. Although the province borders the world’s second largest fresh water lake and is endowed with enormous resources; these factors have not translated into better living standards. The Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS) ranks Nyanza as the poorest province in Kenya. The province has an urban poverty rate of 63 per cent and a rural poverty rate of 65 per cent.

The province is characterised by low education standards, lack of health facilities, high HIV/AIDS prevalence rates, lack of proper sanitation facilities and limited access to clean water supply. All this factors have collectively contributed to the high illiteracy levels, malnutrition levels, an increase in poverty related infections and the high infant mortality rates. Nyanza for example reports 206 deaths per 1000 live births compared to the national rate of 166 deaths per 1000 live births. Further, because constituencies in Nyanza have a high disparity in terms of poverty distribution, Homa Bay which is in Rangwe constituency district reports 240 deaths per 1000 live births. According to statistics Rangwe has a p population of 145,274. 104, 335 individuals live below the poverty line (1999 Kenyan census)

The distinct cultural practices and governmental marginalization are some of the factors that are believed to be contributors to poverty and underdevelopment in the province. Of particular concern is the plight of women and girls in the area. The cultural practices and overall women’s representation in key socio- economical mainstream settings is low, their attendance at secondary schools limited, earnings for working women are significantly lower than men, and they find it more difficult to move into non-traditional fields of employment. Under the current constitution, daughters do not have inheritance rights to land.


CENTRE’S OBJECTIVES IN THE REGION
Our main objective is poverty reduction and improved livelihoods for the people of Kanyada. We focus specifically on education, health and economic productivity for the Kanyada community. Our wider objectives are to:
• Raise standards of and access to education;
• Strengthened human capacity with improved food security, nutrition and livelihood activities;
• Improve access to essential primary health care services, sustainable access to safe domestic water;
• Empower women and strengthen their capacity to plan and manage their own development;
• Combat HIV/AIDS and other poverty related diseases such as malaria, polio, tuberculosis and the like.

FUNCTIONS OF THE CENTRE
The centre functions in two capacities:-
1)As a means of providing the necessary socio-economic infrastructure for the community and;
2) As both a forum for the people of Kanyada to articulate their problems and a vehicle for them to realize their developmental aspirations.

TARGET GROUP
We recognize that the community in its totality needs to be catered to; however because of the overwhelming needs the centre has developed a system that focuses on groups considered most vulnerable depending on the particular project.

SUCCESSES
In keeping with our objectives, since its inception, the centre has either directly or indirectly influenced the implementation of the following projects.

a) The building of Majiwa Primary School
Majiwa primary school was the brain child of Dr Odhiambo Mbai. The construction of the school was aided by the European Union. Unfortunately Dr Odhiambo died before construction could be completed. After his death the Centre stepped in to see the school to completion. The Centre, also currently functions on the school’s board of directors. There are plans to expand the school up to the secondary level. The school has been very instrumental in improving access to education with some classes now having more than 100 students. The centre hopes to initiate other education projects in the area to mitigate the overwhelming need.


Majiwa Primary School



b) Water projects
The centre through an aggressive campaign to the Ministry of Water has been able to improve access of clean water for the people of Kanyada. The Centre has facilitated the construction of two boreholes in the area. Before the initiation of the water projects the community mostly relied on swamps and rain water collected through roof gutters. This was particularly problematic because the area is relatively dry and experiences little rainfall through out the year. Further water from the swaps was seen as the major cause of acute respiratory infections, dysentery, typhoid, diarrhoea and low mortality rates. People also used to spend a lot of time that could be used in engaging on economically productive activities looking for water.

The water projects have brought significant change in that:-
• They are encouraging more people to engage in farming activities both for food security and income production.
• Less time is being spent on looking for water and the community is now focusing on other developmental initiatives to raise their living standards
• They have improved the functioning of the school and should assist in other up coming programmes e.g. school feeding programme if more funds could be raised.
• They have brought a sense of hope for better things to come and people are now more involved in development oriented discussion and debate.
• It is believed that water related disease rates will come down in the future especially in children




c) The building of a church
Religion plays a very important role in the lives of the people in Kanyada. The relationship between faith and development has been explored by various organizations. Faith plays an important role in sustaining people who are faced with the problems that arise from adverse poverty. It has also been discovered that in worship spaces the issues that divide people and hinder sustainable development, such as status, sex, and clan ties are left behind. This is therefore seen as a great entry point where both community leaders and general public can be mobilised for development projects.


St Crispin Church

The church was built through fund raising functions organized by the Centre and community contribution. Through the church the Centre has been able to see groups that are committed to change their circumstances formed. A good example is The Masroma Women’s group.

A Personal Note

The Odhiambo Mbai Centre is a small organization I founded with my daughter as a tribute to my late husband. My husband up until his death had dedicated his life to effecting change that betters the lives of Kenyans, advocated for democratic Governance and strived for economical and sustainable development. His ideas and vision for Kenya not only act as personal inspiration but also played a major role in the formulation of the Centre. For me, the Centre is a platform to highlight and solve many of the developmental problems I have encountered since I relocated to work in the rural area after my husband’s death.

As a widow who comes from a community whose negative cultural practices have contributed to the escalation of the HIV/ AIDS pandemic (one of the biggest challenges the Centre has met yet), I particularly empathise with the women who unlike me, do not have the privileged to go against tradition. I believe that if more women are empowered towards alternate avenues of survival we would have fewer grandparents and child-headed households.

In my experience, HIV/AIDS is dangerous in that it reverses gains in developmental achievements. Further the direct costs and other impacts of increased ill-health such as spending on healthcare and lower productivity drives many families into poverty. HIV/AIDS is both a cause and consequence of poverty. It is mainly for this reason that the Centre works in Kanyada, Asego Division, Homa Bay District, in Nyanza Province. Nyanza is among the marginalized areas in Kenya. For example the constituency where Kanyada is situated has an estimated population of 145,274. 104, 335 individuals live below the poverty line (1999 census)

I hope this site not only gives you a deeper understanding of the work being done with the community, our vision and goals but also ignites a desire to assist our efforts. The work so far has been challenging mainly because the need is great but the resources both technical and financial are limited. We are a very young organization but our motivation and inspiration from the people we serve, hope to serve in the future and the mandate we set for the Centre sustains us. The rewards in our efforts thus far, are in huge part products of the collaboration of friends, well wishers- basically ordinary people who realize there is a need to change things, and are in a position to make a difference. For there to be real significant change, there is need to also collaborate with organizations who have the resources to intensify our efforts.

I would therefore like to invite everyone (both individuals and organizations) to join and assist us in developing tangible lasting solutions. Thank you in advance. I hope to hear from you soon.

Sincerely
Margaret. A. Odhiambo Financing Director