KENYA: 3-Day Forum on Swahili Language held in Mombasa

MOMBASA, November 19, 2010  – The Research Institute of Swahili Studies of Eastern Africa (RISSEA) will be hosting its Inaugural International Scientific Conference themed Swahili Research and Development in Eastern Africa.

The conference aims to bring together leading researchers, students, teachers and all other Swahili researchers for a 3-day conference this November 2010.

RISSEA was conceived in 2004 and became a fully fledged directorate within the National Museums of Kenya (NMK).

RISSEA is, therefore, charged with carrying out and coordinating basic and applied research on the Kiswahili speaking people of the East Africa’s coast and its diaspora.

Inaugural RISSEA International Scientific Conference with the theme of “Swahili Research and Development in Eastern Africa.”

At least 200 participants are expected to attend the forum which will be held in Mombasa in the coastal part of Kenya.

For more information visit: http://www.risseascientificconference.org

KENYA: Catholic Nuns Prepare for their Centenary Jubilee

NAIROBI, June 13, 2008 (CISA) -Consolata Missionary Sisters have began preparing for their centennial jubilee in 2010.The sisters have organized three pilgrimages in honour of Our Lady Consolata, or the Blessed Virgin Mary, in different parts of the country.Sr. Luiza Elvera, the administrator of Consolata Sisters Regional House in Nairobi, said the first pilgrimage will take place on June 22 from 8.30 am, starting at St Paul’s University Chapel compound to Consolata Shrine Parish Westlands.The second pilgrimage will take place next year in Meru Diocese and the last in Marsabit diocese. “The pilgrimages are a part of a journey towards our centenary jubilee in 2010, marking 100 years of our foundation,” Sr Elvera said.Prior to the first pilgrimage the sisters will hold special evening prayers for nine days. Anybody wishing to attend the prayers is welcome.There are and 22 professed Kenyan Consolata sisters and two novices. Consolata Missionary Sisters were founded by Blessed Joseph Allamano in 1910 in Italy. They arrived in Kenya in 1911. They also work in Ethiopia, Mozambique, Tanzania, Uganda, USA, Switzerland, Spain, UK, Brazil, Colombia and Argentina.

KENYA: ‘Forgotten’ IDPs Near Nairobi Cry Out for Help

NAIROBI, June 13, 2008 (CISA) -Landlords are taking advantage of the plight of persons displaced persons who fled the post-election violence in the Rift Valley Province and are now living at Waithaka shopping centre outside Nairobi.The landlords have nearly doubled house rent. “From last month we have been asked to pay Sh.1,500. Honestly we do not have the money,” Francis Mwangi told CISA.Mwangi who lived in Kuresoi, Molo, said the landlords increased the rent after they learned that a well-wisher had given some IDPs Sh. 6,000.About 350 IDPs are camping at the District Officer’s compound in Waithaka and others are living in rented houses. Those in the camp complained of lack of adequate food and water.The chief of Waithaka Location, Geoffrey Moni, said the IDPs are appealing to well-wishers to send them. Humanitarian organisations seem to have forgotten the people at Waithaka, he said..It has been almost two months since they last received any food donations. This week they got clothes and toys for children from Cyprus brought by Archbishop Makarios of the Orthodox Church in Nairobi.None of the IDPs living in Waithaka has returned home since late December last year.