OKLAHOMA DIASPORA 1-2JUNE2007 CONFERENCE PRESS RELEASE

KDFC BABY STEPS TRANSLATED INTO COOPERATION WITH DOMINION GROUPS DURING JUNE 1-2, 2007 OKLAHOMA CONFRENCE

For a while Kenya Development Fund cooperation (KDFC) has been attempting to mobilize Kenyans to come together and participate in the development of their country. Its creation was based on several statistics indicating that Kenyans a broad are becoming an economic force. However, this force is lacking a united front hence has not been able to effectively create desired changes. After listening to speeches during a Pan African conference organized by TASC in which Hon. Raila Odinga was given an award, Dr. Barack Abonyo was inspired by the thought that if one thousand Kenyans in the diaspora buy a thousand shares for a thousand dollars from or contribute a thousand dollars to KDFC then we will have one million dollars. This is KSH 70, 000, 0000. This money could buy certain component of Kenyan bank shares, or revive a failing industry or start a new industry or fund diaspora businesses in Kenya or here abroad.

These ideas were circulated among the Kenyan communities abroad and sometimes received good and bad responses from the public. After a while both the critics and supporters of this idea managed to speak at a variety of forums and the conclusion was that Kenyans abroad are very patriotic people who would like to help their brothers at home by developing their country but at this point they were like a sheep without a shepherd. In this respect volunteer leaders emerged. Great thanks goes to Joseph Okumu of Europe, William Owino, Rev. Okoth Otura of Canada who is also the Calvin’s aid, Erick Otiende of USA, Lilian Obura of USA, Mrs Mbeche of USA, Patrick Saisi, Abanja Ndondo and Sam Oyugi of USA just to mention a few who waded through deep criticism and ridicule when they volunteered to work for the future. Many are the people who have supported this idea in writing or by action and we vowed not to let them down. Many are the people we started with who have been distracted and fallen by the way side as did Lot’s wife of the bible. When the going get tough, the tough get going. Tough questions had to be tackled head on. One of such question was that it is great to form an organization but what is the way forward. What is the structure of the organization, how will the accounts be run, who will run them and finally can we get enough money to do anything meaningful were just but a few questions that had to be answered.

KDFC took these questions as positive challenges and began to look for meaningful relevant assistance. Amongst just a few, we have talked to major companies and organizations with varying interests in Kenya. We have gotten help and support from likely and unlikely sources. One that stood out was Dominion Diaspora Initiatives. Mr. Calvin Burgess of Dominion Farms LTD earlier in March 24, 2007 invited the diaspora to pay a courtesy call for briefing on way forward and over 30 Kenyans attended under the leadership of Elisha Obong’o and George Omburo in which a follow up meeting was planned. That meeting took place on June 1-2nd 2007. What a great conference it was. First Mr. Calvin stood out to be a multi millionaire or should I say a billionaire. The first question I asked was why with all the money he has he bothered with Kenya where the government and even the people are not quite supportive. I noticed that Calvin’s interest was not simply making money but is driven by a divine calling to help the helpless. In an effort to explain why he convened the conference, he convinced me that he believed that he cannot change Kenya without involving the Kenyans in the diaspora who infact are the educated Kenyans that have the capacity to perceive the concept faster and move it forward. I believe Calvin has realized that transformation of Kenya without transforming the Kenyans abroad may be futile because the projects could not be sustainable after his tenure is done.

After presenting what he is doing in Yala swamp and other projects he is pursuing, Mr. Calvin laid it on the line. He wanted Kenyans to be partners with Dominion in word and in the economics of the projects. At this point he offered KDFC a chance to talk about its plan. KDFC’s plan was massive ranging from creating banks to creating a Gemological institutes. The whole plan was presented but as it is already clear, the plan began to look like a child who is just born attempting to chew sugarcane. At this point Dr. Barack Abonyo during his presentation indicated that partnership is great but you cannot partner with a company that has no infrastructure, money or members. We arrived at the idea that we must recruit members first. Since majority of the leaders are just volunteers, we requested Dominion companies to help with creating a website and accounts through which members can directly register and buy shares, provide the infrastructure to create accounts, monitor shares, request lawyers to put the right laws in place that would later be ratified by members. Mr. Calvin indicated that these requests will be looked into and pursued aggressively. To date, there are very high level discussions regarding these matters and we will let the members know in due course their conclusion. One idea being touted is that we will create a website within dominion website in which the members will register with a specified amount of money. The money will be deposited with Dominion accounts but the signatories will be KDFC/Dominion Diaspora Economic Transformation Initiative (DETI) officials. The members will then buy shares from any projects that Dominion is involved in Kenya through this account and will also be able to monitor their account and the overall account of KDFC online. Though this sounds simple, those working on it say it needs the right laws in place and some modification. KDFC will inform its members about the right direction taken with every minute detail.

Let me tell you something about the attendance. The meeting was attended by over one hundred people (The pictures are attached). Some attendees were investors who came to see if we were really serious. I hope we convinced them. Some were students who were in the process of preparing to go to Kenya and others were students from various international programs. Pamoja ministries led by Beatrice Williams and Bishop Martin Odak performed and there were a lot of prayers. God listened and Kenyans at the end of the day sat down to launch KDFC. Twenty eight people signed as KDFC members on the spot. The names will be circulated in due course. Since some leaders who had earlier volunteered to be KDFC representatives failed to respond and did not show up for the meeting, the members agreed to restructure KDFC and also commissioned Dr. Barack Abonyo to be fully in charge of KDFC communications. KDFC is moving on. We are in it for the shake of our people. We must depend on ourselves and no one else. We will forward with progressive leaders and ignore those who drag us down. We must act to make sure that no Kenyan child is begging for food.

KDFC in conjunction with DETI is organizing many more recruitment derives where KDFC plan will be presented, diasporas expatriates will speak and Calvin Burgess will talk about investment plans and possible partnership. Stay tuned.

Dr. Barack Otieno Abonyo