Author: Paul Odhiambo
Date: October 6, 2006
Type of article: Letter
Source: The Daily Nation - only available online by registration and paid subscription fee

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It was an historic event when the World Social Forum was held in Bamako, Mali in January. This was the first time for the meeting to be held on the continent.

The previous meetings were held in Brazil and India. 

But unlike in the past, Bamako co-hosted the meeting together with Caracas (Venezuela) and Karachi (Pakistan).

Come next January, Nairobi will co-host the meeting with other East African countries. It will be important for Kenya and East Africa to host such a high profile event in which social movements, NGOs, faith groups and other non-State actors deliberate on the challenges of neo-liberal globalisation.

The Nairobi forum will focus on some issues peculiar to Eastern Africa but, which are also concerning other parts of Africa and the rest of the world. 

It is high time social movements sensitised the people on the significance of the forum, especially on how the issues raised affect their lives. 

PAUL ODHIAMBO,  
Nairobi.