US official stirs hope in rural village

By Allan Kisia

Clad in a red soccer T-shirt, short pair of trousers, white sneakers and wearing braided hair, she chased a football alongside women and children.

Few spectators at the rugged pitch at Matunda, Lugari District, knew that the lady who was panting and jostling in a fun soccer match was a high-ranking official in the former President George W Bush’s administration in the US and a State official in the current administration.

She had come to Lugari to touch the lives of struggling, unemployed youth and women and started her engagement with a physical encounter, pitting women and children aged between eight and 12 in a match.

Davis, right, with some of the girls sponsored by Maliza Umasikini programme who joined her in a soccer match. Photo: Benjamin Sakwa/Standard

If things go according to her word, then her pilot engagement could transform Matunda hub of youth enterprise, featuring a modern soccer stadium.

Ms Yvonne R Davis was an appointee of President Bush, and is currently appointed by Governor M Jodi Rell of Connecticut to the position of Commissioner for the Permanent Commission on the Status of Women. She worked with the White House from 2001 to 2005 on housing, small business, HIV and Aids, welfare reform, global trade, and women’s issues.

The soccer match she joined was entertaining, even funny, as obviously unfit players chased after the ball in groups.

A few minutes into the game, the endless running took its toll on the girls’ vigour and most stood still, watching and waiting for the ball to come their way.

In the first half of the game, Davis — who was the team’s captain — played as the striker, but she only touched the ball once before quickly losing it to a defender.

Davis, who currently sits on the board of directors for the World Affairs Council in Connecticut, was at Matunda Primary School to launch a poverty eradication initiative.

"I am totally out of shape but when I go back to the US, my first stop will be at the nearest gym. However, I believe I am fit for what I came to do here," said Davis.

Economic empowerment

She has teamed up with a local community based organisation known as Maliza Umasikini Initiative to empower youths and women economically.

"I know all of you have hope. It is time you take power into your hands and end dependency on others for survival," she said.

Davis said it was regrettable that politicians had failed to empower the youth and women as they pledged during electioneering campaigns.

Davis’ connection to Lugari started when she met the patron of Maliza Umasikini Initiative, Mr Sadat Muindi last month, at the United Nations offices in New York, during a conference.

She was moved by Sadat’s presentation on empowering the youth in Kenya. She later approached Sadat and they agreed to collaborate in assisting, not just the youth, but also women.

"We agreed to raise money, which would be used to assist youths and women start small enterprises," said Muindi.

He said the money would be given to groups as loans and grants to start or boost existing businesses.

Muindi said the initiative seeks to end a culture where politicians give youths handouts to influence their voting persuasion during elections.

The programmes will start off in Lugari District with a vision to extend to other areas depending on the availability of funds, he said.

Muindi said they intend to raise $20 million (about Sh1.5 billion) in the next five years. He said about Sh50 million will be used to put up a football stadium at Matunda.

"We are expecting the stadium to be ready in three years’ time," Muindi added.

Davis urged Kenyan MPs to strive to achieve their election pledges.

"When elections come, you get visitors. They come to tell you what they will do for you and not what they should have done when they were in office," she said.

Davis said leadership was no longer about one person, but the entire community.

"Leaders must serve their followers. Faith without works is dead," she added.

Davis said she would return at the beginning of next year to officially launch the project.

She serves as a lecturer on American presidential politics, the electoral process, media and crisis communications, women empowerment and business, leadership and business ethics, negotiation and conflict resolution, collaborative problem solving and conflict resolution.

She travels on official business to help promote American diplomacy for the US Department of State.

She has served as a surrogate spokesperson for the White House.

With 19 years’ experience in marketing, public relations, government, community relations, and event planning, Davis owns and operates Davis Communications in Connecticut. She has nine years experience in professional training and leadership development.

Small businesses

She has been in charge of constituency building on the national level for women’s issues, small businesses, welfare reform, faith based, minority issues, immigration, HIV and Aids and International trade in developing countries.

In her speech in Matunda, Lugari, Davis emphasised on the need to make people self-reliant.

"People must make their own money. The culture of people depending on others for up-keep should end," she said.

She added that a prosperous society was one in which people take care of their basic needs.