The Coast Civil Society Network for Human Rights (CCSNHR) and the Mombasa Accountability Committee (MAC) have signed a three-year Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to boost accountability, transparency, civic participation, and the protection of human rights across the Coast region.
MAC, an umbrella body representing eight workers’ unions in Mombasa, will work with CCSNHR to jointly identify, review and update priority areas of collaboration based on emerging needs.
Under the agreement, the two entities will partner in areas including public policy and legislative engagement, regulatory oversight, social accountability, monitoring of public services, participation in the budget cycle, and the promotion of fiscal transparency.
“We are signing a coalition of the willing and the progressive forces that will make this County and this country better in terms of promoting good governance and transparency, accountability and effective public participation delivery,” said CCSNHR Chairperson, Zedekiah Adika.
He noted that the partnership seeks to advance human rights and social justice in the region, while strengthening joint advocacy efforts between the two coalitions.
To achieve this, the coalition will organise joint dialogue forums involving communities, government, and other stakeholders to address governance and human rights concerns. They will also collaborate on resource mobilisation to ensure effective implementation of their initiatives.
“We will also develop and implement a joint initiative in the thematic groups that we have chosen. Now, the reality is that the political class, those who hold our resources and those who run this nation, are forming a lot of coalitions. Without a strong coalition of the progressive forces, they may not take the country in the best way and in the right direction,” stated Adika.
He added, “Evidence is all over in the Auditor General’s Report, which reads like a conviction for a murderer. We are looking forward to ensuring that the Auditor General’s Report looks progressive in a way that will give hope to the future and to the people of Kenya.”
The Coalition put on notice the political class fond of perpetuating graft that their days are numbered, as civil society now has the backing of the workers’ Union.
“The political class in Mombasa must know that now you have not just the civil society to deal with, but you have stronger unions coming on your neck, especially if you are a thief,” said Adika.
MAC Chairperson Kassim Ziro, noted that civil societies have been highlighting the government’s performance, whilst unions have long focused on employees’ welfare at workplaces but now want to take an active role in society too.
“If roads are impassable, I will also be affected before I reach my workplace. We have come together to have one voice as Civil Societies and Unions on issues affecting us as the Mombasa community,” Ziro explained.
By Sadik Hassan
