Officials of the Kenya Social Forum in Sweden (Kesofo) have met with six Kenyan MPs who are currently in Stockholm for a one week Women leader’s seminar. The MPs are part of a delegation of twenty women leaders from Kenya also attending the seminar. Kesofo officials had a private dinner with the MPs in a Restaurant in Stockholm on Saturday September 2nd.
The purpose of the meeting was to enable Kesofo to study possibilities of organizing a meeting between the delegation and Kenyans in Sweden before the delegation leaves for Kenya on Sunday September 10th.
Speaking at the function, Beth Mugo, Asistant Minister of Education and MP for Dagoreti, said that the emergence of new political parties like Narc-Kenya, ODM-Kenya and New Kanu was an indication that Kenya was becoming more democratic. She said that the group was happy to have been able to meet Kenyan leaders in Sweden and hoped that Kenyans in Sweden will continue to focus attention on how they could help in the development of Kenya.
The MP said that the government was committed to fighting corruption and implementing minimum Constitutional reforms before elections scheduled for next year. She said that the main problem the government was experiencing in its fight against corruption was that “corruption was also fighting back”.
Alicen Chelaite, Assistant Minister for Gender, Sports and Culture who is also the MP for Rongai constituency, appreciated the huge amount of money Kenyans abroad continued to send to relatives back home. She said that the short notice with which the meeting had been organized showed that Kenyans in Sweden were well connected. She commended Kenyans for setting up Kesofo and hoped that the Forum will be able to address problems facing the Kenyan community in Sweden.
The dinner was facilitated by the Swedish branch of the Anna Lindh Nursery School which also exists at Kampi ya Moto in Kenya. The idea of setting up the school originated from Pastor Beatrice Kamau who is the Chairperson of the School’s networks. The school is working closely with the Anna Lindh Foundation in Sweden. Kesofo was represented at the function by Ms Winnie Mukaru, the Forum’s Chairlady and Mr. Daniel Mwaura, the Vice chairperson. The MPs were also addressed by Mr. Joe Frans, an African MP of the Swedish Social Democratic Party. Mr. Joe Frans praised the high level of organization of the Kenyan community in Sweden.
MPs who attended the function were Linah Kilimo (Marakwet East and former Minister of Immigration), Esther Keino (nominated – Kanu), Jayne Kihara (Naivasha) and Christine Mango (Butula). The MPs were accompanied by Consolata Munga, Clerk of Parliament.
Others who attended the meeting were: Jacinter Njoroge, Chairlady of the Phylis Memorial, Janet Chege, Naomi Wambui, Mary Mwangi Kiringa, Lars Asker, Jane Asker, Jane Karanja among others.
Okoth Osewe
makosewe@gmail.com
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