Author: John Korir
Date: January 22, 2007
Source: Kenya Times http://www.timesnews.co.ke/22jan07/nwsstory/news10.html

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HOTELS in Thika, Kiambu and Ruiru towns are said to be fully booked following the World Social Forum (WSF) taking place at Kasarani Sports complex.

An estimated 100,000 delegates from a cross the world are attending the event said to be so far the biggest to be hosted in Kenya in 20 years.

Already there is a sudden change of socio-economic activities around Kasarani, the venue where the event is taking place, as traders are said to be doing booming business.

Matatus plying Thika Road have a field-day as thousands of delegates commute daily to reach the venue of the event.

Matatu owners are cashing in on failure of the organisers of the event to provide transport for the delegates.

According to traders, items such as food, water, snacks and drink sold around the Kasarani environs are fetching high prices. A 300-millilitre bottle of mineral water which normally goes for Sh20 was being sold at between Sh50 and Sh80.

Prices of food have also been hiked at the venue of the event.

All the available tents for hire in the country are said to have been taken by various organisations participating in the event.