Author: Odhiambo Orlale
Date: January 16, 2007
Type of article: News
Source: The Daily Nation - only available online by registration and paid subscription fee

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More than 35,000 Nairobi residents have opened their homes to delegates expected at the forthcoming World Social Forum.

A handful of the estimated 100,000 delegates have also been booked in city hotels, which have a total bed occupancy of 4,000, for the five-day summit starting this Saturday.

Yesterday, one of the co-ordinators, Mr Oduor On’gwen, said Rowallan camp near Jamhuri Park, had been booked for 5,000 delegates.

Another 1,200 camping spaces have also been booked at the sports centre. 

Police yesterday confirmed that they would beef up security around hotels and venues used by the delegates to ensure that con men and criminals do not exploit the visitors.

Each of the 35,000 delegates would be charged a maximum of $35 (Sh2,450) for bed and breakfast by the host families, who must be vetted by the organising committee first, to ensure security and quality standards are upheld. This translates to Sh12,250 per person for the five days, paid by the guest to the host directly, without a receipt.

The total sum, if they all pay the same amount, is a whopping Sh428,750,000.

Foreign delegates are expected to arrive in the country from Thursday.

Kenya will be hosting the forum for the first time.

The forum, whose theme is “People’s Struggles, People’s Alternatives”, will be held at the 60,000-seater Moi International Sports Centre, in Kasarani, Nairobi.

Mobile telephone provider Celtel has announced that it will be the official communications company for the forum. All delegates will be given free Sim cards to use to make local and international calls.

Delegates will be welcomed on the eve of the opening with a musical extravaganza by South African songstress Yvonne Chaka Chaka, Zimbabwean musician Oliver Mtukudzi and Kenya’s leading ohangla artiste Tony Nyadundo at the Kenyatta International conference Centre.