CENTRE FOR DIRECT DEMOCRACY (CDD) – KENYA

Mission | Objectives | Program | Principles | Activities | Contact

1. INTRODUCTION

The Centre for Direct Democracy (CDD) is a Non-Governmental Organization founded on the need and commitment to the enhancement and promotion of full and direct participation of all citizens irrespective of their socio-economic status in decision making/governance processes.  The Centre provides a platform for citizen participation in policy development, implementation and evaluation through facilitating public engagement debates, policy analysis and advocacy, capacity building for community institutions, research and dissemination as well as community mobilization.

The Centre seeks to join the wider civil society in developing the existing body of knowledge, skills and experiences in citizen participation.

The Centre also provides tools to strengthen citizen and community groups through training in grassroots organizing and monitoring of service delivery systems in Kenya.

1.1. CDD’s Philosophy

The Centre’s programs are based on the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the Covenant on social, cultural and political rights, which upholds individual right to participate in decision making on local and national issues.

The Centre believes that participation is a universal aspiration of all citizens that can be realized through creation of effective governance systems, popular participation and proper research and dissemination of information.

1.2. CDD’s Vision

The vision of CDD is of a Kenya where all citizens enjoy all their economic, social, cultural and political rights and actively participate in decision making, policy processes and the governance of the country in a manner that captures and reflects the shared aspirations and desires of the people of Kenya.

The Centre for Direct Democracy (CDD) is dedicated to helping the people and the leadership of Kenya nurture a culture of full participation. We believe that all citizens have the right to directly perform lawmaking and other socio-economic functions in any polity in which they live. Therefore the centre seeks to develop and promote participatory processes, which allow people to exercise their rights, participate in their governance and determine their socio-economic destiny.

1.4. Legal Status

CDD is registered as a national Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) under section 10 of the Non-Governmental Organizations Co-ordination Act of the Republic of Kenya

• To design and implement such programmes of advocacy as required to ensure the full participation of Kenyans in all important national economic, political and social processes.
• To facilitate public engagement debates and advocacy on various policy issues.
• To establish and strengthen political, social and economic structures at the community level to enhance sustainable development.
• Build and enhance capacities of citizen groups and institutions to embrace the principles and practices of direct democracy and popular participation.
• To promote a culture of dialogue and democratic decision making in governance in Kenya.
• To conduct research and dissemination/publication in the field of direct democracy and participatory approaches to national development.
• To network with other organizations in promoting human rights, social justice and development in Kenya.
• Promote citizen education programmes aimed at increasing levels of civic competence among the people of Kenya.
• To create a resource centre and a database of publications and resource materials in the areas of popular participation and direct democracy.

3.1. Policy Analysis and Advocacy (PAA) Program

The PAA program seeks to provide accurate information on and produce popular versions of various government policies, identify existing policy gaps and carry out analysis of the impact of such policies on the citizens at all levels of the Kenyan society.

The program will help to create an informed citizenry who understand various national policies, the inherent gaps and therefore well placed to carry out advocacy activities from a position of strength and with the benefit of proper information in the right forms.

The target policy areas include poverty reduction, the constitution, youth policy, national food security policy, and national health policy among others.

3.2. Public Engagement (PE) Program

The PE program aims at taping views and public opinion of different sections of the Kenyan society in regards to their involvement in national policy making processes and the management of public affairs in the country.

Under this programme, CDD endeavors to inculcate a culture of direct democracy in various institutions and individuals using regular interactions through such forums as:

• Seminars and Public lectures.
• Workshops and Conferences.
• Television and Radio programmmes.

Through this program, CDD expects to build a critical mass to campaign for a national culture of popular participation where leaders and institutions respect the power of the people.

3.3. Capacity Building Program

CDD conducts trainings for various community groups and peoples organizations in order to build their capacity to participate effectively in governance and in influencing national policies.

In this program CDD’s partners will include but not limited to the following organizations:

• Development Committees – at the constituency, district and national levels.
• Local Authorities.
• Farmers Cooperatives.
• Consumer Associations.
• Student unions.
• Trade Unions and Workers’ Organizations.
• Community Based Organizations(CBOs).
• Professional bodies.

CDD strengthens the organizations on citizen coalition building, mobilization, advocacy and civic organization.

3.4. Research and Dissemination Program

CDD conducts research and documentation on various policy issues and also creates awareness on the need to embrace participatory approaches to governance and development. In particular, CDD emphasizes research, documentation and dissemination of information in the distinct area of ‘Economic Democracy (ED)’ by assessing and enhancing citizens’ participation in economic development (or the lack of it) both at the micro (household and community) and the macro (national) levels up to and including an ED approach to research and dissemination on the global economic order.

Workshops on “Citizens’ Participation in Constitution Making” (Ongoing)
The last Workshop was held on the 24^th June 2004 at Jowanga Hotel in Huruma, Nairobi. The workshop brought together 48 young people from various backgrounds – political parties, business (private sector), religious organizations, Community-Based Organizations (CBOs) and sections of the local community to discuss the challenges and opportunities that exist for their effective participation in the constitution-making process currently underway in the country. CDD targeted young people in these suburb areas of Nairobi because they are often left out in national discourse even by civil society organizations.

Policy Analysis and Publication in the area of Participatory Approaches to Development and Governance.

Public Activities: Forums, Lectures and Peaceful Marches. Mainly around the issues of the People’s supremacy in constitution making and governance in the country. Most of these activities are done jointly with other civil society organizations.

Chairman and Executive Co-ordinator: Mr. Omondi George.
Secretary-General: Awuor Johnson.
Tresurer: Raphael Mulle.

7. The CDD Secretariat Contact Information:

The Centre for Direct Democracy (CDD)
KCB Plaza, Jogoo Road.
Block B, Flat 4E
P.O Box 45078-00100-GPO.
Nairobi-Kenya.

Telephone: 254-02-552387
Cell Phone: 254-735-709952