Author: Arthur Okwemba & Lucas Barasa
Date: January 23, 2007
Type of article: News
Source: The Daily Nation - only available online by registration and paid subscription fee

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Some activists singing liberation songs yesterday stormed the World Social Forum at Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani. 

Policemen at the gates watched in disbelief as the activists, who had been denied entry for lack of passes, forced their way into the venue singing the songs.

“This forum is for the poor to express their problems and not for the rich, to who the Sh500 registration fee demanded is nothing,” shouted one of them.

“We held this forum here to give a voice to the poor and show them another world is possible and not the vice versa,” added an activist from South Africa.

Some of them described what was happening as “chains of bondage they were trying to shake off using the forum”.

“We entered this place without paying yesterday. Someone knew there were poor among us, but today they think the poor have to go without a meal to pay for the passes,” said a man who identified himself only as David.

Trouble started when people going for the morning sessions were asked to pay before entering.

Some South Africans led a demonstration to protest at the low number of Kenyans attending the forum.

The placards carrying demonstrators demanded the scrapping of the Sh500 registration fee.

“We are here to listen to the problems facing poor Kenyans, but it is disgusting that majority are not allowed to attend. 

“Kenyans need to air their grievances so that we can share ideas on how they could be addressed,” one of the demonstrators said.

The protesters went round the stadium seeking support to pressurise the organisers to allow Kenyans free entry.

But, addressing journalists at the stadium, one of the organisers, Mr Oduor Ong’wen, said the charges for Kenyans attending the forum had been reduced from Sh500 to Sh50 a day.

Mr Ong’wen said about Sh35 million was needed to host the forum and that some bills were still pending The official added that more than 46,000 delegates had registered by Sunday but not all had paid.