Author: Edith Fortunate
Date: January 15, 2007
Type of article: News
Source: The East African Standard - not available online

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Top African leaders and celebrities are among the more than 100,000 delegates expected this week for the World Social Forum that starts in Nairobi later this week.

Organisers made the final touches on the preparations for the five-day event that begins on Saturday.

Speaking during a press briefing in Nairobi, Mr Oduor Ong’wen, one of the organisers said security has been beefed up ahead of the event.

"We have more 35,000 individuals, who have pledged to assist in accommodating the guests. We have also organised for free phone sim cards for 1,000 participants," he said.

There are two tented camps; one in Rowallan that will host 5,000 delegates and another in Kasarani, which will host 1,200 youths. Other participants have been booked into major city hotels.

Last year the forum was held in different cities around the world, including Caracas, Venezuela and Bamako, Mali (both in January); and Karachi, Pakistan (March).

WSF is an annual meeting held by members of the anti-globalisation movement to coordinate world campaigns, share and refine organising strategies, and inform each other about movements from around the world and their issues on alternative paths to sustainable development.

Key international icons expected are former Zambian President Kenneth Kaunda, former OAU secretary general Dr Salim Ahmed Salim, Mrs Winnie Mandela, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, six ministers from Brazil and Yvonne Chaka Chaka. Former South African President Nelson Mandela will give a pre-recorded speech.
The opening and closing ceremonies will take place at Uhuru Park.

The opening ceremony will have participants gather in Kibera DC’s grounds where they will walk through Kabarnet Road, Ngong Road and Haile Sellassie Avenue to Uhuru Park.

On the eve of the closing ceremony, Nobel Laureate Prof Wangari Maathai will lead the delegates in planting 100,000 trees.

Sports personalities Mr Paul Tergat and Mr Catherine Ndereba will grace the closing ceremony where they will lead the delegates in a marathon.

International registration is taking place through the internet while in Kenya, it will start on Wednesday.

The Government will participate in the forum as an observer, Ong’wen said.