VILLAGE FOCUS

1.   INTRODUCTION

As Mwalimu Julius Nyerere said" … development brings freedom; provided it is development by the people". For the development by the people themselves to take place there should be strong efforts to strengthen social and administrative structures below the District levels and more so in the villages. At the village, there should be formed a strong Village Governing Council (VGC). The villagers themselves, from time to time elects committee members in the villages e.g. after every two years. The elected Council chooses its secretariat, responsible for the day-to-day running of the village affairs. The Council works through Village Development Committees which is formed in line with day to day government ministries to ensure community government partnership e.g. Village Health Committee (partnership with health ministry).

It is in the villages where people know each other by names and are bound by common values, needs and hopes .It is where they feel a sense of belonging of unity and trust that leads to caring for each other . It is in the village community where people shares responsibility for the well being of the neighborhood. This therefore calls for a strong village administrative authority to help the village opinion leaders come together to share and discuss problems affecting their village; identify needs ,priorities the needs ,examine the resources available ,and find possible solution. The Council will encourage villagers to think. It will encourage villagers to make decisions. It will encourage villagers to take action and solve problems^.

2.  PROBLEM BACKGROUND

The concept of a village does not have real recognition in the planning and service delivery systems in Kenya. The sub-location is often seen as the lowest unit for development planning, but a sub location may be too big in terms of size, population, and diversity of interest groups or communities. This raises the need to define the lowest spatial unit of community organization, and how that unit fits in the established planning processes. All communities, especially in rural Kenya and in urban informal settlements, know their village boundaries. One option would be to formalize the concept of village as understood in the respective communities, with self-selected leaders rather than a downward extension of official administration. Countries that have clearly defined villages ( such as Uganda &Tanzania ) have expanded  and consolidated community participation using participatory techniques. Without a definition of a village grassroots developers use a looser and amorphous concept of “community” which shouldn’t be, this demands that the spatial definition is important for scaling up and achieving an institutionalization of participatory processes.

3.   CONSTITUTIONAL BACKUP

Chapter Eleven of the Constitution of Kenya notes the objects and principles of devolved government as;

a)    To promote democratic and accountable exercise of power

b)    To foster national unity by recognizing diversity

c)    To give powers of self-governance to the people and enhance the participation of the people in the exercise of powers of the State and in making decisions affecting them

d)    To recognize the right of communities to manage their own affairs and to further their development.

e)    To protect and promote the interests and rights of minorities and marginalized communities.

f)     To promote social and economic development and the provision of proximate, easily accessible services throughout Kenya

g)    To ensure equitable sharing of national and local resources throughout Kenya

h)   To facilitate decentralization of state organs, their functions and services from the capital of Kenya; and

i)     To enhance checks and balances and the separation of powers.

The county Bill 2012 emphasizes the establishment of decentralized units at county, Sub County (constituency) and the ward level. It notes that   county legislation shall make further provision as to structures, administration and operations of further units of decentralization within the county, that administrative locations and sub locations shall comprise units of further decentralization in each county

4.   REASONS FOR DECENTRALIZATION

The objectives of decentralization in Kenya have been shaped by both economic and political imperatives. At the economic level, decentralization entailed an effort to create institutional mechanism for economic reform. At the political level, it was a new response to new international pressures for more participatory development process. Consequently, decentralization was intended to groups and civic organizations and to increase the responsibility of communities to finance services through local resources.

The decision to decentralize is a pragmatic response to a shrinking central government budget and poor targeting of programs that have left most of rural Kenya on the margins of development. At the same time, decentralization conformed to the emerging development principles of popular participation that was rekindled in the 1980s, mainly at the behest of bilateral and multilateral donor agencies who were frustrated at the government inadequate capacity to stem the tide of structural poverty that was becoming deeply entrenched in the rural areas.

Kenya’s current economic blueprint Vision 2030, proposes a democratic process aimed at decentralizing decision-making and distributing resources equitably. It adopts the devolution as “a shift in power, authority, resources and responsibilities from the center to other lower levels of government”. Vision 2030 defines decentralization as ‘’any change in the organization of government which involves the transfer of some powers from the national levels, or from one sub-national level to another lower level”. 

5.   VILLAGE

A village is herein defined as the jurisdiction of a village Elder. A village comprises of a number of household and families from different clans with an average population of 200 people. The village Elder is the government’s grassroots administrator who assists the sub chief at the sub location level. The Village Elders is thus the Key link between the government and the villagers. Villagers thus share a particular geographical area and not necessarily cultural or historical backgrounds. In this concept all members of a village form the Village Constituent Assembly.

 

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7.   FUCTIONS OF VILLAGE STRUCTURES

VILLAGE CONSTITUENT ASSEMBLY

This is composes all members of a village under the jurisdiction of a village Elder. This is a geographical area of members of a community of a number of households and families from different clans. They participate in all development programs within the village and elect all their leaders during annual general assembly

VILLAGE GOVERNING COUNCIL

This is the village leaders, who sit regularly to set the development agenda of the village and deliberate on issues that affect the constituents. They strategize and prepare the development plan of the village in consultation with all interested partners and within the village priorities. This comprises thirty members who are elected after every two years of a maximum of two terms.

VILLAGE SECRETARIATE

This is the administrative unit of the village. It collects analyses and records all the data related to development within the village. It works on day to day basis; reporting to the village governing council to ensure that all the community correspondence efficiently reaches the right parties. Their daily work is based on the village action plans prepared by the respective village development committees. The secretariat includes the Village Chief Executive Officer, Village Administrative Secretary and a Village Accountant.

VILLAGE DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE

Every key sector has a Village Development Committee that works daily through a Village Action Plan prepared by the respective VDC in consultation with community members. For example, the Village Agricultural Committee will prepare a Village Agricultural Action Plan. This means that all Agricultural Initiatives in the village must be managed as projects with standard documentations. The Chairperson of a particular VDC is a member of the Project Management Committee that sits in the Governing Council to regularly report on projects progress. They compile the village sector policies. Members of a village Development Committee must be at least ten with not more than two thirds of the same gender.

VILLAGE THINK TANKS

These are members of a village who have professional skills and experiences in different fields. They thus act as advisors of the Village Governing Council. They connect the village with development partners and strengthen development programs in service delivery. They advice on policy issues beyond the village and ensures that the village plans with national and international development priorities. Village think tanks can be as many as possible.

DEVELOPMENT PARTNERS

These are all parties who hold development interest with the village. They can include civil society, faith based organizations, community groups, international development partners, companies, research organizations, individuals and government agencies. They work directly with the Village Governing Council in prioritizing development projects in the village. Development partners should be as many as possible.

GOVERNMENT

The government trough the civil servants are key partners of the village organization. They work closely with the Village Governing Council in mainstreaming development priorities in line with the national vision. All government ministries must have grassroots programs.

8.   CONCLUSION

Village development and community development planning encourages the participation of local people in analyzing their problems and opportunities, and finding out solutions. This method contributes to community development by improving capacity of local people and strengthening the roles of commune leaders; promoting local participation and ensuring transparency and equity among different community groups and contributing to efficient and effective use of resources in community development.

Strengthening village structures ensures sector-wide, multi-stakeholder and integrated development that promote citizen involvement in decision making and promotes rapid and massive development with greater impact on the people.

We need strong institutional framework at the village level to ensure resources reach community at the grassroots based on their priority needs. Let us empower the office of the village elder for prosperity and coordinated development.