A Kenyan delegation from Homa Bay was totally ignored by Swedish leaders during their trip to Sweden. The following is a quick translation of an article that appeared in a Swedish local newspaper about the incident. It is difficult to understand where Ambassador Purity Muhindi was as our country men and women were humiliated by wazungu.
“IT WAS EMBARASSING”
Värmdö 04 May 2009
This week, a large delegation from Kenya visited Värmdö. But the visitors were disappointed because the responsible person, Lars-Erik Alversjö, did not receive them while he was also absent during most of the time during the visit.
Värmdö municipality and Ösbyskolan (Ösby school) has been cooperating for many years with their counterparts in Homa Bay in Kenya on a large environmental and democracy project financed with funding from SIDA. They think that it is important for politicians to be involved in governing, participation and decision making.
This week, it was time for a delegation of twelve from Kenya to visit Värmdö. This entourage included, among others, the Mayor, Municipality director and a politician.
The host during the visit was a Steering Committee with the Chairman, Lars-Erik Alversjö from the Moderate Party, taking the lead. They were to receive the visitors and were also expected to be with them during the entire visit.
Welcoming Lunch
But the Chairman gave excuses for their absence during large parts of the visit. This was the case at the first lunch at Gustav’s Inn where he and representatives from the opposition were scheduled to welcome the delegation.
“When we came for lunch, there was nobody from the Alliance who showed up. It was only two Social Democrats and an official,” says Ann-Kristin Särnbrink, a Social Democrat who thought it was really embarrassing.
Afterwards, there was a meeting scheduled in the Town hall and in which the Municipality’s Director was invited. The coordinator had prepared for it and hoped for seven to eight representatives from Värmdö. Their pens and folders were on the table.
Empty space around the table
“They were twelve people on one side and, on the other side was myself, Estrid Landmark and a coordinator. They stood up, one after another, and gave their speeches. It was so embarrassing” says Särnbrink who thinks that any of the other five Municipal commissioners could have showed up.
Failed to say greetings
After three hours, lights in the Town hall were switched off after which the Municipality’s Director and Chairman arrived.
“They said nothing, did not greet the delegation or welcome them. It was the ultimate slap in the face. Actually, how do we take care of our guests in the municipality?, wondered Ann-Kristin Särnbrink.
At a meeting on April 28, the upset visitors expressed their dissatisfaction. “They said they were disappointed. There were discussions and issues that were totally unnecessary, otherwise it was a very nice visit,” says Särnbrink who thinks that it is very embarrassing, given that Värmdö leaders are going down to Kenya at the end of May.
“We were treated incredibly well last year. I do not understand why we welcome our foreign guests in this way.
Apologized
Lars-Erik Alversjö from the Moderate party, told the Council on Wednesday that he sat in a meeting with personnel where he delayed. He said he tried to compensate the visitor’s with his own time.
During the week, he said he had to participate in the Moderate party’s national Conference and that the Council’s President was supposed to hold brief for him.
“It was very unfortunate. I have apologized to the Mayor and explained things. The Municipal Director and I have also had detailed discussions with the group from Homa Bay and they have accepted our apology. But I am not proud of this”, he said.
Charlotta Westling
charlotta.westling @nvp.se
MARTIN NGATIA’S WARNING TO KENYAN DELEGATIONS TO SWEDEN IN MARCH 2007
About the Author
This Värmdö Municipality Director known as Lars-Erik Alversjö must be a bloody racist to have ignored the Kenyan delegation.
Many Kenyans pay taxes in Sweden to facilitate the operations of organizations like SIDA in order to sponsor such a collaboration. Therefore, it angers that this man and his Party colleagues could do this.
This incident is a general reflection of how some whites behave towards Africans yet when they come to Africa, they are treated like kings. The man’s apology was empty because he knew the group would visit the Värmdö Town Hall yet he stayed away until after the official office hours. What a Shame and down with racism!
What can Purity say about the ill-treatment of the Kenyan delegation? She should lodge a complaint with the Swedish Foreign Affairs so as to highlight this racist behavior. But as usual, together with her sidekick Awuor, they would laugh and say: “We are upper class women not bothered with such poor rural Kenyans”. Purity and Awuor are two brutally heartless women.