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REMARKS BY THE CEO DURING THE STAFF FAREWELL PARTY AT THE SERENA HOTEL |
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REMARKS BY MRS AGNES ODHIAMBO, CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, CDF BOARD DURING THE FAREWELL PARTY FOR MR PETER THUMBI, MR TIMOTHY GAKUU AND SECRETARIAT STAFF AT THE SERENA HOTEL ON OCTOBER 16, 2009
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Hon Wycliffe Oparanya, Minister of State for Planning, National Development & Vision 2030,
Hon Peter Kenneth, Assistant Minister
Permanent Secretaries Present
Hon Chairman, CFC
Hon Members of Parliament,
Clerk of the National Assembly,
CDF Board Chair
CDF Board Directors,
Board Secretariat Staff
Invited Guests,
All Protocol Observed:
Ladies and Gentlemen
Good evening: - May I start by expressing my gratitude for the presence and company of all of you gathered here this evening to join us in bidding farewell to our colleagues. Besides being our workmates, Messrs Peter Thumbi, Timothy Gakuu, Lucas Ahambo, Samson Masila, Amos Musundi, Ms Agnes Kamoni and Ms Susan Kinyanjui were, and continue to be, our friends.
Ladies and Gentlemen: - I have had the pleasure of working with some of the officers we are bidding farewell today. I have no hesitation in saluting the important role they have individually and collectively played in helping the realization of the CDF objectives and the success of the program. But even for those who left CDF before my arrival, I am aware of their important contribution to the collective history of CDF. I’m saying this from the respect and fond testimonies I have heard from my colleagues who were privileged to work with them. Many are generous with praise for their commitment and dedication to CDF.
That we are here today is an ample proof of these important ties and memories. We are here to formally say kwaheri to colleagues with whom we have shared a significant part of our working life in CDF. Mr Thumbi for instance served in the CDF Board and its predecessor, the National Management Committee. During this time, he was an invaluable member of the various committees and sub-committees of the respective management teams. As the alternate to the PS, Treasury and in his personal capacity, he proved to be a reliable source of knowledge and guidance especially on pertinent fiscal and policy issues.
It is important to note that he was part of the CDF management team at a time of its inception when the usual teething problems of any fledgling organization are an inescapable part of growing up. Those of us who have had the privilege of joining CDF later when it already enjoyed reasonable structures are indebted to Mr Thumbi and his pioneer team for laying the firm foundation blocks on which the CDF program has grown to be such a popular development tool.
Ladies and Gentlemen: - at this juncture, I also want to acknowledge the important role played by my predecessors, the Clerk of the National Assembly Mr Patrick Gichohi and Mr Timothy Gakuu. Mr Gichohi merits recognition for his role in setting up the CDF structures from the scratch. As the pioneer CEO of the fund, it was on his shoulders that the daunting task of steering a young administration through the day-to-day challenges rested. Considering the inherent hiccups that come with the politically linked fund like CDF, successfully managing it through the turbulence of the beginning was not a mean achievement. We owe it to him and the able NMC team for the vision and wisdom to do the right thing.
As my immediate predecessor, Mr Gakuu was instrumental in steering CDF during the transition from the last to the current Parliament after the 2007 General Election. The post-election upheaval negatively affected the CDF program as indeed any other public-funded initiative. It created unforeseen management headaches where, for instance, affected officers required urgent redeployment. That and the high turnover of Members of Parliament following the General Election meant new teams of CDFCs had to be constituted. These invariably required induction on their roles among other challenges. I’m however delighted to note that Mr Gakuu and the Board proved equal to these challenges.
Ladies and Gentlemen: - Indeed, all the officers that we are bidding farewell today have played an important role in shaping CDF to be what it is today. In their individual and collective roles, they have been critical and reliable pillars of the organization growth. Each possesses unique attributes that we may not be able to fully recount at this particular function but were nevertheless very useful to CDF.
Ladies and Gentlemen: -as we all know too well, parting with friends is never easy even when the separation is for good reasons. Such transitions inevitably disrupt cordial office ties that are difficult to replicate in separate work environments. In fact, it is gratifying to note that a number of the officers for whom this function is in honour of have left for greener pastures. It would have been our wish to retain them notwithstanding the natural allure of better packages offered by successful suitors. But in a fight between economic realities and sentimental attachment, the winner is seldom in doubt. We are therefore happy to wish them all the best in their new jobs.
For my friend Samson Masila who has proceeded to a well deserved retirement, mine is to wish him a restful future. Considering the long hours that are often a feature of work in CDF, sunset years should ideally provide a much needed relaxation of the body and mind that is good for a long, peaceful life. I’m sure he can rest easy with the peace of a man who has done his bit for society at least in the sense of official labour. We too are headed in that direction and in him, we see the inspiration of taking a dignified bow out of office when our time comes and secure in the knowledge that we played our part to our fullest capacities.
In concluding my remarks, I want to summarize my expectations that my colleagues’ departure from CDF shall merely be a physical act that leaves our shared memories intact by paraphrasing the English poet John Donne aptly titled verse: Valediction Forbidding Mourning
Our two souls though separated, are really one
Though you must go, it does not amount to separation
Rather, our bond is like stretched gold that although thin
Retains its valuable
For if we are friends, so friends we will remain
Just like the arms of a stiff compass are strong when close
But the bond is not broken even when one is stretched
Because although there is movement, the connection is retained
One arm may remain at the centre
Yet even when the other arm roams far and wide
The centre leans to support it
And the compass grows in strength with every reunion
THANK YOU AND GOD BLESS !
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