By 2045, the world's urban population is projected to reach 6 billion. Without the capacity to handle this growth, urban poverty will explode. We are on the precipice of an urban spring, and emerging economies like Kenya will have to enjoy this burden, leading to further inequality in areas like climate, gender, access to vaccines, as well as lack of basic human needs. My name is Kennedy Odede and I grew up in Kibera, one of the largest slums in Africa, surrounded by diversity and poverty. I know what it means to be urban poor. In 2045, will there be still a child just like me facing the same researching poverty that I did all those years?
I have hope that this will not be the case if we take action together. Yet currently, resources are concerned. They are not reaching communities in need. We are letting this happen. How are you letting this happen? Honestly, it is time to get on track. I am the founder of Shining Hope for Communities (SHOFCO) the largest grassroots movement in Kenya. Despite the situation I grew up in, I was filled with hope by my community around me. I believed in our abilities. I knew we could do something about it if others will only listen.
SHOFCO was born 15 years ago. I got the opportunity to meet President Bill Clinton. He asked me, "what can I do for you?" What a question, right? He was putting trust into my hands as a community leader. He was listening to me. And I said, "allow me to be part of the Clinton Global Initiative CGI" Why? Because I knew at that point my ambition to create an urban poor movement was not something I could do alone. It will take collective action. And at a CGI meeting in 2013, I played a Call to Action to provide clean water to the committees in Kibera. Because of commitment to action made at that meeting, committees members in Kibera and beyond now have access to clean water.
Today, my Call to Action is fund local grassroots organization. That's how they will be able to achieve sustainable and long term impact. Of all of us in this room, let's be honest, we have not the answer. We must trust people to solve their own problems. Just like President Clinton put trust in me all those years. They are the answer. They have the ability to drive local agendas that will lead to appropriate and effective proportion policies. I know that because I'm a living proof. I'm on this stage and look what I have done because someone simply listened to me. So my questions to you is how will you give power to the people?
Remarks transcribed from https://bit.ly/3E5DPTD
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