06
Dec
December 5, 2012 (Nairobi) – Well known entertainers, media personalities and sports men and women in Kenya, including Nameless, Just a Band, DNA, Mbusii, Millicent Mugadi, Kobi, Gado and several others have added their names to the growing number of supporters of the people’s petition calling on African governments to deliver on the promises they made at the African Union.
The promises include ways of improving women’s rights, ensuring democratic governance, and food security in Africa.
The Kenyan celebrities joined the State of the Union’s campaign–Play for the Union– by signing the petition calling on the Kenyan government and other African governments who have not ratified the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance to ratify and create structures to ensure it is fully implemented.
“It is our responsibility to bring injustices to light. We will inspire youth to claim their dreams. I am happy to be here,” said award-winning musician David Mathenge popularly known as Nameless.
The African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance of 2007 is one key instrument, if implemented as promised, will establish a culture of political change based on regular, free, fair and transparent elections driven by competent, independent and impartial national electoral bodies across Africa. Yet, only 17 out of the 54 African states have ratified this charter. 23 out of the 54 African countries are slated to undergo elections in 2013 but only 7 out of these have ratified the democracy charter.
“It is totally unacceptable that Kenyans are going into elections in March next year and yet they have not yet ratified the democracy charter since they signed in 2008. What are we communicating to the masses?” said Jamillah Mwanjisi SOTU Coordinator. “We have seen a lot of political coalitions campaigns, we are asking them to tell us how they will meet their obligations AU and to Kenyans.”
The people’s petition through Play for the Union campaign also calls on universal ratification of the Maputo Protocol on the rights of women; 20 African countries have yet to ratify the protocol— the protocol is the first comprehensive legal framework for women’s rights in Africa. The petition also calls on African governments to increase their budgetary allocations and investments in agriculture to ensure that every citizen has enough food to eat all the time.
Over 15,000 people have signed the petition and the campaign aims to reach 1 million signatures by May 25th , 2013–the Day Africa celebrates 50 years since the formation of Organization of African Unity (OAU) and later the African Union (AU).
The Play for the Union campaign uses football to mobilise and empower African citizens to hold their governments to account on the commitments they make at the AU level. The campaign has 22 ambassadors from 21 different countries and walks of life, working to inform and mobilize people in their respective home nations. The ambassadors have been trained by Patrick Mboma—a Cameroonian football legend and grand ambassador for the campaign.
The campaign will use the forthcoming Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2013 to raise awareness at the national and continental levels, and mobilize for action amongst citizens. The Play for the Union ambassadors will play a unity match in February 8th, 2012 in South Africa.
For more information on SOTU and the Play for the Union Campaign, please contact: Idil Abshir on 0708-273287 or email [email protected]