WSF 2007 venue

The main venue for the World Social Forum 2007 will be the Moi International Sports Centre in Kasarani - about 10 km. north east of the Central Business District of Nairobi. Opening and closing ceremonies will be held at Uhuru Park in downtown Nairobi.

A team of professional architects and physical planners is currently developing the physical plan for the venue.

Click here to download a map of the venue (pdf).

We have added a picture gallery, where you can follow the transformation of Moi International Sports Centre into a beautiful venue for the World Social Forum 2007 event. You can access the picture gallery here.

If you are interested in seeing some of the venue facilities from the inside, you can take a virtual tour of the Sports Centre.

You can check the google map of the Kasarani venue
You can check the google map of Uhuru Park

Registration

Dear friends of the WSF process,

We are glad to inform you that registrations for the 7^th edition of the World Social Forum, going to be held in Nairobi, Kenya, in January 2007, are open for individuals, organizations, and activities.

Please note that only organizations – not individuals – can register activities.

We advise you to register as soon as possible.

• Individual registration: Go to the online individual registration form (the online registration form is no longer available - you can, however, download the Word edition of the Individual Registration Form).
  

• Organizational registration: Registration of organizations that have access to internet is done in www.wsfprocess.net. For those organizations not familiar with the internet, you can download the organizational registration form. This form must be e-mailed to registration@wsf2007.org.

• Activity registration: Registration of activities for the WSF2007 event in Nairobi is closed. The last deadline was December 13^th 2006.

The World Social Forum event in Nairobi will present an important innovation: The fourth day (January 24^th) will be dedicated to self-organized activities articulating struggles, proposing collective actions and campaigns, building convergences, and defining common agendas.

Detailed guidelines on how to register activities for the fourth day are found in www.wsfprocess.net.

A breakdown of registration fees per category are as follows:

Please note that any extra delegate over and above 5 people will pay registration for participant according to category. A detailed registration fee schedule for the Nairobi event can be downloaded here.

You will soon be able to access information about modes of payment for individual, organization and activity registrations.

A detailed step-by-step guide on how to register for individuals, organizations, activity, exhibition and stalls can be found at this link.

We are looking forward to seeing you in Nairobi from January 20^th to 25^th 2007.

In solidarity,

Prof. Edward Oyugi

Organizing Committee WSF2007

Media Accreditation

Bona fide representatives of the media – print and electronic, photo, radio, television and film – will be accredited for coverage of the World Social Forum 2007, to be held in Nairobi, Kenya, 20 - 25 January, 2007.

The first step is to complete the Online Individual Registration Form (the online registration form is no longer available - you can, however, download the Word edition of the Individual Registration Form). Please ensure that you check the box requesting whether you need press accreditation, save the form when done. You will then recieve a CODE that you will be required to provide when filling in the Media Accreditation Form.

Please download and complete the Media Accreditation Form (available as a Word document), and send it together with a letter of assignment on official letterhead signed by an authorized person (Editor or Bureau Chief) as soon as possible. Please send it to:

Media & Communication Commission of the
World Social Forum 2007
Msanduku Lane, Off Vanga/Gitanga Roads
P.O. Box 63125 00619 Nairobi, Kenya
Tel: +254 20 3860745/6
Fax: +254 20 3872671
E-mail: media@wsf2007.org

If you are a free lance journalist or you have been part of the coverage of previous World Social Forum, please send us a sample of your work as part of this application.

Upon arrival in Nairobi, passes will be issued upon presentation of two forms of photo ID (passport, official national press pass, driver’s license, work ID, etc.) at the registration site.

PLEASE NOTE: Application forms will be considered only if accompanied by a letter of assignment or a sample of your work. INCOMPLETE APPLICATIONS WILL NOT BE PROCESSED. Accreditation is free of charge. Please be advised however, that you will still be required to pay the individual registration fee as per category.

If you have any questions regarding media accreditation, please write to media@wsf2007.org.

Getting to Nairobi

Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) is the main international airport. It is situated some 12 km from the Central Business District of Nairobi. Taxis are readily available, but it is important to establish the fare before start of the journey since Nairobi taxis are not fitted with meters. The average taxi fare from the airport to the city centre is around Kenya Shillings (KSh) 1,000 (equivalent to ca. US$ 16). There are a number of branded taxis (e.g. Kenatco, Dial-a-cab, Jatco Taxis, Kay Cabs etc.) which have fixed rates and use cleaner and better maintained vehicles. Most of hotels have their own shuttle transport. The other international airports are Mombasa (Moi International Airport ) and Eldoret.

There is a very efficient lost luggage tracking system at JKIA. Should you lose your luggage during the flight, please report to lost luggage desk at the Baggage Hall before going through customs.

Getting Around

Car Hire
Most international car hire companies operate in Kenya (with offices at the airport) in addition to a growing number of local firms. Vehicles are driven on the left hand side of the road and most cars are right-hand drive. A valid driving licence is accepted up to a period of three (3) months’ stay.

Public Transport
City buses operate at reasonably low rates. The most reliable one is City Hoppa. Fares are paid inside the buses to the conductor. Visitors are however advised to avoid rush hours as most transport is overloaded. Private minibuses, known as matatus, are abundant but more often than not overcrowded, with many drivers and conductors less courteous.

Accommodation

All participants in the World Social Forum 2007 event will have to make their own arrangements regarding accommodation during their stay in Nairobi. This means that all individuals, groups and organizations will have to make their own reservations, as well as take care of their own expenses.

To accommodate the number of people expected to take part in the WSF2007 event in Nairobi, many different types of accommodations will have to be used. The variety of accommodation is also intending to take into consideration that the participants come from all walks of life – even though all part of the world wide social movement.

Hotels/Hostels/Guest Houses
The WSF2007 secretariat has published a list of hotels, hostels, and guest houses in the city of Nairobi. The list includes the name and address of the hotel/hostel/guest house as well as basic contact information such as phone, fax and e-mail. Websites, where available, are also listed.

The list of hotels is divided into tree separate sheets (top end (above US$ 100), middle (US$ 20-100), budget (below US$ 20)) according to their accommodation rates in US$ for single rooms. You will find the standard rates for single and double rooms.

Download the list of hotels in Nairobi (xls document).

Campsites
Besides traditional accommodation in hotels and the like, WSF2007 in Nairobi is also providing accommodation for the participants in a number of different campsites. Rowallan Campsite is situated west of Nairobi City Centre and another campsite is found in Machakos (a town east of Nairobi). These campsites are open to everyone. Read more about them, and find out how to do you booking, here.

Solidarity Campsite
The WSF2007 Organizing Committee is intending to set up a solidarity campsite - to provide cheap accommodation for a group of participants. The intention is to have this camp, with a capacity of 2.000 people, at the WSF2007 venue in Kasarani (Moi International Sports Centre), all though moving it to Rowallan Campsite is also considered. Once the physical placement has been decided and fees and how to do the booking have been finalized, you will find all relevant information here.

International Youth Camp
At the WSF2007 venue in Kasarani (Moi International Sports Centre) a specific youth camp (capacity of 1.000) has been established. The charges for accommodation at the International Youth Camp is set at 10 US$ per person per night. Please send your request to Maureen@sodnet.or.ke and youth@wsf2007.org, specifying your gender, nationality and the period that you will need to stay at the youth camp.

Home stays
Finally WSF2007 is providing access to family home stays - where participants can book rooms in private homes in Nairobi. Home stays are organized through two different organizations/companies. If you are interested in this type of accommodation, please find more information on rates and how to do your booking, by visiting their respective websites: Togo Consultants or Staarabu Home Stays.

1. Health

Hospitals
Nairobi has some of the best hospitals in Eastern and Central Africa offering casualty service as well as in-patient services

Medical expenses
Most hospitals accept medical insurance cover from international medical insurers. For those not recognised, one might need to pay for consultations and treatment and the cost claimed later.

Emergency services
Most health facilities offer 24-hour emergency services. Please ring 911 in case of emergency.

Flying Doctor
There exist Fying doctor services for air rescue and evacuations (Tel: 315454/315455 or mobile: 0722314239/0733639088)

2. Communication

Payphone
Public payphones use special cards or coins (not credit cards). Phone cards may be bought from Telkom Kenya and Post Offices or international call offices. International calls can be dialled direct (Code 000 + Country Code + City code + Number) or operator assisted (0195/6). Hotel phones are usually charged double the payphone rate or more.

Mobile phones
Use either Safaricom or Celtel. Both have extensive roaming arrangements worldwide. Pay as Go SIM cards are readily available.

Internet
Most hotels have internet services in their rooms, in addition to business centres within the hotels. E-mails can be sent from most hotels, as can faxes and telexes. In addition, there are very many cyber cafes within Nairobi 's Central Business District.

Postal services
Post Offices open from 8.00 a.m.-5.00 p.m. Mondays to Fridays and 9.00 a.m. - 12 noon on Saturdays. Postage stamps can be bought from post offices, stationers, souvenir shops and hotels.

3. Money and finance

Currency
The Kenyan currency is the Shilling (KSh. or Sh.), divided into 100 cents.

Currency denominations:
coins - 50 cents, KSh 1, KSh 5, KSh 10, KSh 20 and KSh 40
notes - KSh 50, KSh 100, KSh 200, KSh 500 and KSh 1,000.

Exchange regulations
There are no restrictions on moving currency into or outside the country. Currency can be changed at any commercial bank, the many forex bureaux that dot Nairobi and other major towns or hotels. As at the time of compiling this fact sheet, the following rates of exchange applied:

US$ 1 = KSh. 72
UK£ 1 = KSh. 125
€ 1 = KSh 85.50

Banking
Most banks in major centres open from 9.00 a.m. to 3.00 p.m. Monday to Friday, and 9.00 a.m. to 11.00 a.m. the first and last Saturday of the month (some banks open longer and every Saturday). Some banks and forex bureaux at the airports stay open 24/7.

ATMs
You can access your account at any of the hundreds of ATMs in the city of Nairobi , most of which accept international VISA credit and debit cards. Master Card is also accepted by a growing number of ATMs.

Credit Cards
All major cards are accepted.

Travellers Cheques
Travellers Cheques are accepted at most banks, hotels and forex bureaux.

Hotel bill payment
Hotel bills can be settled in local or convertible foreign currency.

4. Other

Voltage
Kenya uses 240 volts AC. The plug in use throughout the country is of the three square pin, 13 amp type (UK system)

Restaurants
Most hotels operate more than one restaurant, specialising in different cuisines. Besides, there are many restaurants specialising in different geo-cultural tastes, e.g. Indian Cuisine, Chinese, Lebanese, Ethiopian etc. Some restaurants specialise in game meat while others are vegetarian. Your stay in Nairobi is not complete without a nyama choma outing (informal meat roasting adventures).

Security
As a precaution, it is sensible not walk less than three people in isolated streets, particularly after dark. Excessive jewellery might also attract muggers.

Water
The water in most city hotels is usually safe for drinking. However, if in doubt, bottled water is available.

Tipping
Tipping is not mandatory, though highly appreciated. If you have to, consider about 10% of the service cost reasonable.

Most visitors to Kenya require visas with exception of some African members of the Commonwealth (Please check before hand if you require a visa). Multiple and single entry visas are available at any of the Kenya’s diplomatic missions or consular representatives. In countries where there is no Kenyan Embassy or High Commission, the British Embassy will generally represent Kenya, and be in a position to issue visas. The visa fee varies from country to country depending on bilateral arrangement, but is in the mean of US$ 50. With exception of a few countries, Kenyan visas are readily obtainable on arrival at the airport. Click here to download the visa form.

Please see list of countries and visa requirement here.

Kenya entry visas for nationals whose countries are marked "Referred" require special advance clearance by the Kenyan authorities. This means that the application must be referred to Nairobi and may take some time. Nationals of countries marked "On application" can obtain visas from Kenya Embassies/High Commission. Commonwealth Countries do not require visas. Those that do are indicated on the list.