- Basic Info
- Contact
- Work & Expertise
- Current Commitment
- Past Commitment
- Resource
Basic Information
Organization Name:
Mzalendo TrustOrganization Regions:
- Africa
-
Organization Country Location:
Kenya -
Organization City/Locality:
Nairobi
Organization mission and work description:
Mzalendo (‘Patriot’ in Swahili) Trust is a Kenyan non-partisan Parliamentary Monitoring Organization started in 2005 and whose mission is to promote ‘open, inclusive, and accountable parliaments in Kenya and Africa.’ We do so by creating and managing civic tech tools, producing evidence-based research, and leading and facilitating advocacy and partnerships with Parliaments, citizens and other relevant stakeholders.
Organization's Contacts
-
Primary Contact Name:
Caroline Gaita -
Primary Contact Title:
Executive Director
Additional Contacts Names:
-
Additional representative #1:
-
Additional representative #2:
-
Additional representative #3:
-
Additional representative #4:
OUR INTERNATIONAL COALITION IS MADE UP OF MORE THAN 400 CIVIL SOCIETY ORGANIZATIONS
Learn about TAP Members & Partners
WHO ARE TAP'S MEMBERS?Organization's Work & Expertise
Organization's SGD16 Expertise:
- 16.5 - Substantially reduce corruption and bribery in all their forms
- 16.7 - Ensure responsive, inclusive, participatory and representative decision-making at all levels
Organization's Areas of Expertise:
- Policy Analysis & Advocacy
- Public mobilization & Campaigns
- Gender Equality
- Capacity building/CSO training & education
Current Commitment to SDG16+
Summary of commitment:
We commit to continue championing inclusion of the underrepresented groups: Women, youth and persons with disability. We shall be leading the development of the guidelines in realization of the line milestone under the Public Participation and Legislative Openness under the OGP. Secondly, we shall invest our resources toward the ongoing fight against corruption. Precisely, we shall continue an ongoing push to pass the Whistle Blower Protection and False Claims legislations.
Organization's priorities and work in relation to commitment:
We commit to continue our work in championing inclusion of the hitherto underrepresented groups in the Kenya’s governance ecosystem: Women, youth and persons with disability. In particular, we shall be leading the development of the guidelines in realization of the line milestone under the Public Participation and Legislative Openness of the country’s OGP National Action Plan IV, 2020-2022. As per the stipulated timelines, we hope to achieve this target by May 2022. Under the ongoing Power of Dialogue program, we intend to undertake a robust engagement with youth and women, with the ultimate objective of creating a basket of highly qualified individuals able to engage effectively with the governance ecosystem. This would either be as aspirants during the 2022 electoral cycle or activists aptly equipped to champion the cause of optimal inclusion. Secondly, we shall invest our resources toward the ongoing fight against corruption. Precisely, we shall continue an ongoing push to pass vital pieces of legislation that are crucial if the war against corruption is to succeed. They include the Whistle Blower Protection legislation and the False Claims legislation. As the country approaches the 2022 electoral cycle, and acknowledging the role of elections in securing leadership characterized with integrity and probity, we intend to be an active part of the National Integrity Alliance (NIA). NIA brings together like-minded actors who undertake massive public awareness campaigns aimed at enlightening members of the public on the suitability, or lack thereof, of participating aspirants. We hope it concludes by August of 2022, by which time elections would have been held. Thirdly, under the aegis of OGP, and as actors under the Access to Information Commitment, we shall be working to ensure the enactment of the Access to Information Regulations aimed at operationalizing the country’s Access to Information Act, 2016. We hope to work with the relevant actors, both in the civil society and government, to ensure it is achieved by the end of this year (2021).
Organization's work related to TAP network's SGD16+ work & accountability for 2030 Agenda:
Our work this year focusses on the following broad areas, all of which speak to SDG 16+: Fight against corruption, securing fair representation of marginalized groups and access to information. With regard to the first, we are working within the context of coalitions and partnerships with like-minded actors in the anti-corruption space. Among them include, Transparency International-Kenya, African Parliamentarians Network Against Corruption, Amnesty International among others. The focus is on both curative and preventive interventions; enactment of requisite legislation and public awareness engagements for responsible leadership installation during the 2022 electoral cycle. This directly feeds into the SDG 16.5 which seeks to ‘Substantially reduce corruption and bribery in all their forms’. Secondly, we sustain our focus on securing inclusive governance, particularly in the context of the approaching 2022 electoral cycle. Targeted segments include women, youth and persons with disability. We intend to use all conceivable platforms, including the Open Government Partnership (OGP). Success would address SDG 16.7 ‘Ensure responsive, inclusive, participatory and representative decision making at all levels.’ Finally, acutely aware of the role of information in promoting participatory, meaningful and informed governance, we shall be pushing for the enactment of the Access to Information Regulations with the aim of ensuring effective implementation of the Access to Information Act, 2016. If achieved, the objective will positively feed into SDG 16.10 ‘Ensure public access to information and protect fundamental freedoms, in accordance with national legislation and international agreements’. Overall, they speak to TAP Network’s quest for Transparency, Accountability and Participation.
Plan on engaging in TAP's work as a Partner:
- Regional Engagement Platforms and/or Regional Focal Point
- Thematic Working Groups
- Substantive contribution to any TAP Network resources or advocacy materials
- Interest in leadership/coordination opportunities within the TAP Network
- Exploring partnerships with like-minded organizations
- Global engagement via the UN and other opportunities
- TAP Network joint global advocacy
- Exploring opportunities for hosting TAP Network national or regional-level capacity building activities
Reports on Organization's Past Commitments
With regard to original commitments, Mzalendo registered a number of achievements with regard to securing the cause of fair representation including of women, youth and persons with disability. On the Open Government Partnership (OGP) platform, we successful pushed for the inclusion of a milestone speaking directly to the cause. In our capacity as the CSO convener of the Public Participation and Legislative Openness Commitment, we secured the following milestone: ‘Develop guidelines to guarantee inclusivity in public participation to include Women, Youth and Person with Disability, minority and marginalized communities’. It is a milestone that is scheduled to be realized by May 2022 (https://bit.ly/34i9r5j). Secondly, in our quest to provide thought leadership in the space, and secure objective guidance by way of factually and scientifically generated information, we commissioned a number of studies during the period under review. In particular, we generated a report focusing on the challenges facing young women’s participation in Kenya’s political ecosystem ( https://bit.ly/2Pgwrhp ). It is an output that we used as part of our advocacy with various stakeholders and duty bearers, including Parliament and independent commissions. It did in fact attract interest from the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women). Further, we generated an output that sought to comprehensively examine the effectiveness by political parties toward implementing their campaign promises, as contained in respective manifestos, including in areas of inclusion ( https://bit.ly/31qh9cl ). It is an output that informed discourse by various actors, including mainstream media outlets.
