Kenya Stockholm Blog

ODM-K Scandinavia Mobilizing For Scandic Jamhuri Celebrations

Tension is rising as ODM-K Scandinavia continues to mobilize for the Jamhuri day celebrations tomorrow at Scandic Hotel in Stockholm. A “Strategy meeting” that was called by ODM-K Scandinavia on Saturday December 9th resolved that Party members who had not received invitation cards from the Kenyan Embassy but who are interested in being part of the celebration would attend the function. The Party has appealed to other Kenyans who were left out to meet at the Central station at 2.30 then match to the function.

According to Mr. Charles Otieno Owiyo, ODM-K Scandinavia’s organizing secretary, Party members together with supporters will walk into Scandic Hotel then “see what happens”.

Mr. Otieno told KSB that he hopes that there will be no attempt to stop Kenyans without invitation cards from attending the function.

“In case the Embassy tries to stop us, we will decide on the kind of action to take”, he said emphatically.

“Jamhuri day is a national day and it will be a disaster if the Embassy tries to stop Kenyans interested in attending the function”, he said.

The ODM-K Official clarified that the main agenda of his Party at the function is not to disrupt it, consume food or drinks but to expose interested participants to the politics of ODM-K Scandinavia and to take contact with potential members who can then be invited to ODM-K Scandinavia meetings then recruited to further the objectives of the Party.

“We also want to interact with others because attending Jamhuri day celebrations is not a privilege but a democratic right”, he said.

He said that Tax payer’s money has been used in organizing the function and that the Embassy should not treat the celebrations as a “Private party” of diplomats and “selected Kenyans”.

When KSB contacted the Kenyan Embassy, Ann, the Ambassador’s secretary, said that there will be no attempt to stop anybody from attending the function.

“The problem is that we don’t have addresses of everybody and those who have not received invitation cards are also welcome”, she told KSB.

The Secretary said that there seem to be a breakdown in communication between the Embassy and some Kenyans which might have created the impression that only those who received cards were welcome at the function.

“The position of the Embassy is that everybody is welcome”, she said. When asked about the question of alleged land grabbing at the residence, she said that she is not competent enough to comment on the issue.  KSB will be at the function and will file a report for our esteemed readers.

Okoth Osewe: makosewe@gmail.com
 

December 11, 2006 Posted by makozewe | Uncategorized | Leave a Comment