Election of the Kenya Diaspora Leadership Assembly (KDLA)

In a historic move, a global teleconference by Diaspora Kenyans last Saturday evening ratified the election of a global decision-making body for Kenyans in the Diaspora. The proposed supreme decision making body – to be called Kenya Diaspora Leadership Assembly - will be elected through online voting over a three day period beginning midnight July 7, 2012. Polls will close at 11:59pm on Monday July 9th.

Kenyans in the Diaspora have not been able to participate significantly in Kenya’s development in spite of their economic , intellectual and entrepreneurial strength. This has been caused by lack of a unifying authority that can produce spokespeople and thought leaders.

Self-appointed “leaders” with no authority to speak for the Diaspora have used this leadership vacuum to peddle their personal agendas. An elected representative body is a major step forward in strengthening Diaspora cohesion and empowerment in the development of Kenya.

“An elected member of the DLA would represent a region/country or a sector,” the meeting ruled. An elected official shall be known as MDLA –short for Member of ( Kenya) Diaspora Leadership Assembly . The Assembly will consist of three types of representatives:

1. Those representing states/countries
2. Those representing sectors
3. Those representing larger regions/subcontinents to constitute Board of Trustees.

The list of contest areas/sectors can be found at http://kenyadiasporadev.org/kenya-diaspora-leadership-assembly .

The elected officials will then meet and elect an Executive Governing Council from among them, also designating Chair, Secretary, Finance Director etc.

Any Kenyan in the Diaspora, aged 18 years or above is free to contest . The deadline for registering as a contestant is 11:59 pm, Thursday July 5th, 2012 at the candidate intake page http://kenyadiasporadev.org/kenya-diaspora-leadership-assembly.

Diaspora leaders of organizations, businesses, churches, mosques, media etc are requested to help publicize the election to their members: They may endorse the election and publicly declare their commitment to assist the Diaspora at http://www.causes.com/actions/1664006.

For any questions, please send an email to info@Kenyadiasporadev.org or call +1-904-418-2608.

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