Kenya Stockholm Blog

Kenyans to Meet Raila Odinga at Scandic Hotel on Friday 23/10

Prime Minister Raila Odinga: To meet Kenyans in Stockholm

Members of the Kenya community in Sweden will meet Hon Prime Minister Raila Odinga at Scandic Sergel Plaza Hotel located at Brunkebergstorg 9 (Near Central Station) on Friday October 23rd from 16.00-18.00 hrs.

The meeting has sparked hot debate in Kenya-Stockholm because although the Embassy has sent cards to Kenyans especially those who reside in Stockholm, others have not received the cards.

It is still not clear on the criteria the Embassy used to send the cards and Kenyans who have called KSB after they failed to receive the cards have lamented that they feel discriminated by Ambassador Purity Muhindi whose Office is sending the cards.

Attempts to reach the Ambassador on telephone for comment have been fruitless while no Embassy official appears to be having authority to discuss or talk about the issue in the Ambassador’s absence. When KSB called last Thursday seeking information about the Raila visit, the receptionist at the Embassy said that the Ambassador was not in but promised to inform Mr. Daniel Kotut (First Secretary) to call in the soonest time possible. Mr. Kotut was reportedly out of Office but he has never called.

A card sent to KSB stated that “On the occasion of the Official Visit to Sweden by H.E the Rt Hon Raila Odinga, Prime Minister of the Republic of Kenya, The Ambassador of the Republic of Kenya, H.E. Mrs Purity Muhindi and Dr. Joe Muhindi, request the pleasure of the company of Mr. and Mrs Okoth Osewe at a reception on Friday October 23rd, 2009 from 16.00-18.00 hrs.”

There is a note on the card that requests the card holder to bring it along at the reception. Technically, this means that non card holders might not be allowed into the reception by security guards. The Embassy needs to assign an officer the task of answering questions if the Ambassador is unavailable because information about Raila’s visit should not just be basic but also public and easily available.

Kenyans who are interested in attending the reception but have not been invited have a right to know why they have not received the cards or whether special arrangements can be made so that interested Kenyans are not left out of the reception.

Okoth Osewe

October 19, 2009 - Posted by makozewe | News & Analysis