An association of Kenyan residents in Kigali dubbed, All Kenyans in Rwanda (AKR) has vowed to participate in this Saturday’s Umuganda Communal work, igihe.com has reliably learnt.
The association was created five years ago and today it counts more than 3,000 members according to its aspiring chairman, Boniface Mutua, who says AKR didn’t do much except organizing amicable get-togethers, during which members just ate and drank without a tangible result.
He however, points out that is yet to change now. And as part of his campaign manifesto, Kenyans ought to take part in the country’s community development activities, and to start with, the team will tomorrow participate in the monthly event at Bwiza cell in Kacyiru district, opposite the national police headquarters.
Mutua urges those who are professionals to act like mentors, especially to local students who have just finished their higher learning education since there are few local companies to nurture their skills.
“On my part as an accounts professional I intend to connect some Rwandans who are practicing accounting for instance to some of the Nairobi’s renowned auditing firms and those in Rwanda for them to gain experience ,” he rvealed.
Contributing to the society is not a wish to Mutua but rather a passion, so far he has constructed a school in his village situated in Mwala district close to Machakos town, in the same community he also took part in the construction of a water well which connects more than 200 households.
He, Moreover, wants to replicate the same in Rwanda by constructing houses to orphans as well as sponsoring students who have lacked finances to continue with their education on team-work basis.
“Normally I don’t work alone. I believe in joint efforts and that’s why I managed to uplift my village which was on the verge of facing famine.
“I’m not saying all this because I want to be voted as the AKR chairman; whether in leadership or not I’ve always had a passion to assist the needy and my friends have been supportive including some of the AKR members whom I know will vote for change,” he remarked.
He emphatically says the association needs to be streamlined, in the interests of its members such as initiating income-generating projects that will create jobs for members who are jobless.
Mutua is also the Country Director of PKF an audit firm from Nairobi further pointed out that, the job opportunities will also favor Rwandans who will be recommended to Kenyan firms seeking local employment because “perfect information sharing is essential”.
In order to further improve the flow of information, AKR has linked up with the Kenya-Rwanda Business Association (KRBA) which was created to enhance collaboration among business people of the two countries.
In a previous interview with the KRBA chairman Edgar Ogao who is also a member of AKR, through joint efforts the two associations have made available information on trade opportunities in Kenya and Rwanda.
They also assist entrepreneurs who experience trade-related problems in either of the two countries and Ogao cites a case where Rwandan traders discovered that products they had bought in Nairobi were counterfeit whereupon, the association did not only help them to recover their money but also linked them with authorized dealers who have legitimate products.
Unlike an association where members are brought together with a common interest, AKR is rather driven by a family spirit. As a result, its executives also want to promote social activities such as a sports day which will involve association members and the public.
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