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Dr. Caroline Onyango (Julie)

ASPIRING: Woman Rep’ –
Siaya County
COUNTY: Siaya

I seek to be the Woman Representative for Siaya County. I hold a Master’s in Education for Sustainability, London Southbank University – UK and a PhD in Sustainability Science, UN University – Japan.

I am privileged to have worked with Non-governmental organizations, as well as both public and private sectors, over the years. The focus of my assignments in the NGO sector is carrying out HIV/AIDS organizational training, entrepreneurial skills empowerment, project documentation, learning and sharing, writing and compiling the organizational annual reports, review of documents, editing and production, representation, and providing support in implementation.

My work experience in consultancy spans both the private and public sectors, focusing on climate change mitigation and adaptation strategies, institutional strengthening involving change and performance improvement, project evaluations, documentation, strategic management, training and policy reviews.

I Participated in a World Bank-funded Strengthening Climate Resilience project in Burkina Faso, Malawi and Niger, as well as in the Preparation of a Strategic Programme for Climate Resilience in Zambia. Was part of a team that carried out an evaluation of the impact of USAID’s Climate Ready as well as Sustainable Landscapes projects, with a reach of about 12 countries. Carried out leaning and greening programmes for Bidco Africa and Chandaria Industries in Kenya, and Shoprite chain of supermarkets in South Africa.

As France Telecom [Orange] came in to turn around Telkom Kenya, in early 2008, acted as the manager of an assessment centre exercise for 132 Telkom managers and 168 team leaders. Participated in the consolidation process of USAID/EA and CONTROL/K. Examined the two USAID financial management offices in Kenya, by interviewing staff and discussing issues in a two-day workshop. The outcome was a report suggesting, for instance, action to be taken in the consolidation process and focus of work.

Directed Outward Bound style experiential team buildings for USAID FMO and Telkom Kenya managers and team leaders. Assessed managerial competencies of managers using a variety of assessment methods, including skills testing, case studies, behaviour in group dynamics exercises and interviews, for a range of clients. I identify and develop opportunities.

I’m a nice, fun and friendly person, I’m honest and punctual, I work well in a team but also on my own as I like to set goals which I strive to achieve, I have good listening and communication skills. I have a creative mind and am always up for new challenges.

My political agenda

A woman representative, outside implementation of projects, can contribute to the County Integrated Development Plan (CIDP), to ensure prioritization of projects that have a real impact on the lives and livelihoods of the citizenry. Health and water come to mind.

Through a partnership with national and County governments, we can upgrade health facilities that are spread across the county, and bring water closer to the people, to reduce time spent by women in seeking basic services. There’s no greater empowerment than this.

The distribution of bursaries has not proved effective. I intend to put in place a system that can identify bright disadvantaged children and absorb them in a walk-through sponsorship program, and further, partner with international universities for diaspora in-place experience. Beneficiaries will network as a matter of course, and plough back synergies from these contacts. The idea is to have beneficiaries pursue a bias and be competitive in the leading disciplines of the world.

Leadership is not always about new ideas. I strive to build on existing foundations as well as find innovative ways of dealing with identified shortfalls.

I am aware that the Ministry of Agriculture has a provision for soil testing, but a lack of extension officers has dimmed the light of this noble initiative. My office will recruit, train, and retain extension officers to allow for in situ soil testing and advice to farmers, on-demand. Further, I will partner with organizations that support farmers in certified quality seeds and fertilizer. I believe the Millennium Development Project of Sauri and Dertu that folded shop in 2015 can be revived and duplicated, to provide a source of food for the school feeding program, that will help eliminate school fees for day secondary-school goers.

I plan to partner with organizations that can support the fishing industry, by way of fingerlings, modern fish cages, and storage facilities, to create employment for both women and youth. We have Lake Kanyaboli and the great L. Victoria. How can, and why should, foreign countries who do not enjoy the luxury of freshwater lakes feed us with what we produce at home? Luo Nyanza can and should process fish at the source.