Creating demand for accountability

TEDGlobal2007 speaker Ory Okolloh is one of those young Africans that graduated from Western universities and then went back home armed with degrees, tools, a vision and the intention to improve the state of their countries. The first time I met her I discovered a smart and driven woman who could really make a difference - an impression confirmed in later meetings. A few months ago, she co-founded Mzalendo, a "watchblog" that keeps an eye on the members of the Kenyan parliament (MPs). "Political accountability stems from demand", she says. People have to demand it - and that's what Ory and co. are trying do with Mzalendo: demand accountability from the MPs by monitoring what they do for their constituents.

The Kenyan parliament's website, she writes in this post, was taken down two years ago "after protests by some MPs who were embarrassed about their CVs being published online", and it has not been replaced yet. Ory and the Mzalendo crew (the name means "patriot" in Swahili) have made those profiles available on the blog, scrutinize the MPs activities, and publish news and analysis, with the hope to move things forward:

"There is only so much bemoaning you can do about your representation. We have been doing so for dozens of years. There is nothing that is being voiced, written or blogged that has not already been said before, when it comes to how abysmal Kenyan politicians are. There comes a point after which talking ceases to serve a point, and we need concrete solutions".

In 2007 Kenya will have general elections: Ory and her colleagues' watchblog is likely to play a significant role.

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