Kenya, my Kenya, when will you ever learn? WSF

This post has little to do with politics, but then again the way the world is run, everything comes back to politics. I am talking economics here.

In the recent past, Kenya has been home to a number of international conferences. The last of these, the biggest one at least, was the climate report, where there was an estimated 5000 guests from all over the world. According to news reports, hotels struggled with these number of guests, there was hardly enough room.

And now I hear the world social forum will be in Nai in a little less than two weeks. How many visitors from all over the land? over 150, 000!!! Peeps will be coming in from all over Kenya, yes all over Africa, and then the rest of the world. Tell me, how is Jiji going to handle this? I know some peeps, a Kenyan chic too, from here in the cities who will be going to the conference. She tells me the conference will be hosted at Kasarani and Uhuru Park. Well, I have been to a WSF before, the one in Brazil. I will tell you it was crazy.. that one had about 100, 000 people. (look at the pics above and below) The opening and closing ceremonies are magnifique... I hear downtown Nai will be shut down on Jan 20th and 25th for this, where grassroots organisers from the world over will make it a point to demonstrate about something.... . (Oh, did I mention that WSF is held simultaneosly with the World Economic Forumdifference? WSF is grassroots organisers, WEF is world leaders and celebrities...)




Now onto Kenya... why are we not prepared? We have known about this for two years!! Even Kenya's media hasnt reported on it, until recently. Isnt there here room for Kenya to make thousands of shillings? Ama its being going on under cover? Folks in Kenya, especially those in the social movements, any preparation that you know about? Anyone know what is going on?




Kenya, like the rest of Africa, is seeking social reform, and this would be a great time for students, youth and other grassroots folks to organize and mobilise peeps toward change. I mean its such great energy, and I do hope that something will come of it. The networking and parallels drawn among global organizers can only be phenomenal.


This is the first time a full WSF conference wil be held in an African country. Will Kenya represent?

Hmm---> food? transport? Nai traffic is already a nightmare... . accomodation? security? wow, I can't even think about it!!

(darn, and then there is Somalia, I hear the Islamists are closing in onto our borders!!! Iko swali? how does the Kenya Armed Forces know who a militia/Islamist is when they are turning people back to Somalia?)

Edit: Also read Egm's take on Kenya's lack of preparation for the WSF.