ZUIA NOMA
The concept of bunge has existed within the informal settlements and in the informal sector of Kisumu for a long time now. The term refers to points in informal neighbourhoods, in markets, bus stages, and streets where members of the public, especially the poor who have no access to modern communication systems gather to engage in participatory exchange of information on topical socio-economic and political issues.
Debates at bunges, which have emerged into powerful platforms that influence and sway public opinion, range from national to local service delivery and good neighbourliness issues.
In Kisumu, the growth of the bunges can be traced to the period of one political party system when the govenrment restricted the freedoms of assemblyl and expression. The media, which was heavily controlled by the state, censored information transmitetd to the masses. People therefore opted to meeting in small groups and sharing information within the neighbourhoods in the evenings or in markets and informal trading streets during the day. During the struggle for multi-party democracy the bunges were used by the opposition as points for dropping important information fo rconsumption ogf the general public, especially information related to public protests against the govenrment. Politicians of all shades have continued to target bunges with their campaign messages especially during electioneering times.
Bunges present a picture of an emerging form of social organization amongst poor masses where important issues are discussed and popular opinion developed. However, though the issues discussed are critical to the lives of the masses, the discussion is oftne limited within the individual bunge and translating the issues discussed into action that can influence policy actions remains elusive.
In response to these challenges, the leadership of the bunges, with support from CSO Network for Nyanza and Western Provinces (CSO Network) and Nyanza Youth Coalition , and in order to realize the intended aims of the bunges, held a series of consultative meetings that resolved to form of an ad hoc initiative referred to as Kisumu Joint Bunge Initiatives (KIJOBI) with a steering committee comprising of representatives of individual bunges. The mission of KIJOBI is to broaden people's dialogue towards influencing service delivery and policy making processes.
The initiative is intended at creating an opportunity that will enable ordinary people to come together to discuss and debate national issues and identifu their impact on the local economic, political amd social fronts. It also seeks to inform and sensitize the local community members for the purpose of transforming the management of service delivery and demanding accountability from leaders.