The Kenya Community in Ontario (KCO) hosted its first Christmas Party for Kenyan children on Sunday December 17, 2006, between 12:00 and 4:00 pm. The party was held at 35 Finch Avenue East, in Toronto, Canada, at a cost of $5.00 per child. All children under the age of 13 years were admitted provided that children still in diapers were accompanied by a parent/guardian. The organizers promised a nut-free environment and were willing to give medication if required. The children were treated to a lot of fun including a visit by the South Pole Santa Clause, popularly known as Father Christmas. The organizers included the tireless Irene Wandili, a KCO board member. Special thanks go to the following people for all their hard work in making the event possible: Rispah Adala, Patrice Ondoro, Gloria Adala, Maryanne Obwaka, Moraa Mochama, Caroline Kibor, Francis Kung'u (as Santa Claus aka Father Christmas).
Photos by Solomon Hosejoe, a friend of Kenyans in Ontario.
On Saturday, December 9, 2006, Kenyans in Ontario, Canada held celebrations at a gala party to mark Kenya's 43rd Independence Day, the Jamhuri Day, which is formally on December 12th. The event was held at the new African-themed Manyata restaurant in downtown Toronto, located at 55 Avenue Road. The event, which was organized by the Kenyan Community in Ontario (KCO), was graced by the presence of the new Kenyan High Commissioner to Canada, Her Excellency Prof. Judith Mbula Bahemuka. Tickets for the event were going for $40.00 for dinner and dance and $20.00 for dance only, from 10:00 pm onwards.
The entertainment was provided by live performances by the Serengeti Band and an African dance troupe dancing to soothing rhythms of the West African Chembe drums. DJ music was also available, while Ms. Rispah Okiria emceed the evening.
On Saturday October 28, 2006, the honourable Member of Parliament for Langata, Hon. Raila Odinga and two other members of the Kenyan parliament, Hon. George Khaniri, and Hon. Paddy Ahenda, were in Toronto, Canada. The Kenyan leaders were in Toronto to sell their Orange Democratic Movement Kenya (ODM-K) brand of democracy for Kenyans everywhere.
Hon. Odinga gave the keynote speech to the Kenyans and friends of Kenya, who paid a cover charge of $50.00 in advance or $65.00 at the door and braved the cold and wet weather to come and hear him speak. The event was held at the University of Toronto, St. George Campus, in the Reichman Family Lecture Room # 1050, located the Earth Sciences Centre, 5 Bancroft Avenue, Toronto. This venue was shown to allow a full capacity of 390 people, but it was about a third full.
The emcee for the evening was Waikwa Wanyoike, one of the members of the organizing committee. Other members of the committee were Ben Ondoro, Wambui Gaitho, Miguna Miguna, Leonard Wandili, and Sam Kutondo. Ben Ondoro the president of the Kenya Community in Ontario (KCO), and Miguna Miguna, a Toronto lawyer, gave votes of thanks in which they exulted Hon. Odinga as the best person suitable to be the next president of Kenya. Leonard Wandili, the founding president of KCO, also gave a short speech in which he presented the typical concerns and wishes Kenyans in Diaspora. These included issues of dual citizenship and voting rights for Kenyans in Diaspora.
Hon. Odinga responded favourably to concerns and wishes that were presented to him and portrayed ODM-K as a progressive party that is ready and willing to deal with Kenya’s social, economic and political woes, if it wins the presidency come 2007 Kenya general election. A few people in attendance, through their questions, were sceptical of ODM-K’s ability to bring about the much needed change in Kenya, especially regarding the issues of corruption, economic growth, gender equality, etc.
At the end Dorian Baxter "Presley Elvis", a Canadian, born and raised in Kenya made a surprise presentation to Hon. Odinga. The next stop for the ODM-K leaders was Minnesota, United States.
Click on the small pictures (thumbnails) to view their larger versions. If you have any questions please drop me a line at: photos@theafricandiaspora.com.
Joe Gathenya’s memorial service was held on September 27, 2006 at Ogden Funeral Homes in Toronto, Canada. Joe died on September 20, 2006 at the Toronto East General Hospital, from complications arising from diabetes. Joe’s body was flown to Kenya on September 28, 2006 for burial.
Joe leaves behind his parents Peter and Wambui Gathenya; a sister, Shiela Wakanyi; younger brothers, Muigai and Kevin; sister in-law, Alessa; and two nieces Jada Wambui and Kenya Marie.
Joe came to Canada in November 1997 to join his mother who was then a PhD student at the University of Toronto. In the last nine years Joe has known and touched the hearts of many people as evidenced by the outpouring support and presence of many Kenyans and friends in Ontario who came to the memorial service.
The service was emceed by Sam Ndirangu, with prayers of comfort and hope by Father Michael and Pastor William Kimando. Bible reading was done by Tidi Katsivo, while the eulogy was presented by Tula Katsivo. Dr. Matunda Nyanchama gave words of encouragement and support on behalf of the community. A vote of thanks on behalf of Joe’s family was given by Grace Nga’ng’a and endorsed by Muigai Gathenya.
Specific thanks also go to the organizing committee: Sam Ndirangu (Chair), Ben Ondoro (KCO President), Grace Nga’ng’a and Leonard Wandili.
Kenyan Community in Ontario's (KCO) GTA 2006 Family Summer BBQ was held on Saturday August 5, 2006 at Richards Memorial Park – Picnic Area A,
804 Lakeshore Road West in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada. The low attendance and involvement by many KCO members and friends was due to the fact that Caribana was taking place on the same date. But those who attended, some of them from the United States, enjoyed the activities at the annual event, which featured the traditional meat and corn roasting and other refreshments. Missing this year was freshly brewed Kenyan tea, which proved to be very popular last year.
The KCO youth had a good time playing various games, including just trying to keep cool in the hot temperatures. For most, the location of the event, on the shores of Lake Ontario made the hot temperatures bearable.
As usual the adults also had an opportunity to catch-up. See you all at the next year's KCO GTA 2007 Family Summer BBQ.
Click on the small pictures (thumbnails) to view their larger versions. If you have any questions please drop me a line at: photos@theafricandiaspora.com. Please register to download photos for your own records. Click here to register now. It is free!
On Saturday July 29, 2006, KCO members and friends of Kenya in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) attended a farewell party for the outgoing Kenyan High Commissioner to Canada, His Excellency Peter Ogego that took place at Four Points Sheraton Hotel in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada. The cover charge for the event which started at 6:00 pm was $45 per person.
After about two and half years in Canada Mr Ogego will be moving to the United States to become Kenya's ambassador to that country. His last day in Canada is August 13, 2006.
In his speech, Mr Ogego thanked Kenyans in Canada for the assistance they gave him in achieving his mandate in Canada. The High Commissioner challenged Kenyans in Canada to get actively involved in the Canadian cultural mosaic and stamp a lasting impression on Canada that is uniquely Kenyan. He suggested that Kenyans in Canada should get involved in Canadian politics even at the civic level and by getting organized to harness their political power.
Dr Charles Mayenga, immediate past president of KCO, gave thanks to all those who made the event possible and warmly accepted the High Commissioner's challenges and promised that KCO members are up to the challenges.
Others who gave speeches were Joel Chacha, Mathew Njenga, Joyce Misoi, president of the Kenya-Canada Chamber of Commerce, and Ben Ondoro, KCO president.
The event was also graced by the attendance of the Kenyan Cricket team (wearing green t-shirts in the photos) in town for the Intercontinental Cup matches. Click here to read a related Toronto Star story.
Sam Kutondo and Perez Oyugi were the emcees for the event, kudos for a job well done.
Click on the small pictures (thumbnails) to view their larger versions. If you have any questions please drop me a line at: photos@theafricandiaspora.com. Please register to download photos for your own records. Click here to register now. It is free!
The 2006 KCO Mother's Day dinner and dance took place on May 13, 2006 at Four Points Sheraton Hotel in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada. The event, which started at 6:00 pm, also doubled as a re-launch party for the new and improved "KCO Women's Forum". The tickets for the event sold at $50.00 per person and in advance. By the event date the tickets were virtually sold-out with excellent attendance. Just before the event, some people had been inquiring whether the Mother’s Day event was a mothers-only event. The event organizers quickly clarified that the event was for everyone since we all have mothers. Apart from celebrating Mother's Day, the event gave Kenyans and their friends an opportunity to network in a formal setting.
Some students in attendance also had the opportunity to speak to other Kenyans working in the professional and academic fields of study that they are interested in. On this note, Dr. Margaret Moyo, a Kenyan-born Paediatrician working out of Cambridge, Ontario gave a very eloquent presentation underscoring to students and newcomers to Canada as well as “veterans”, the value of being focused and working hard, if they are to succeed in Canada.
The 100 or so guests who attended the event included Mrs. Christine Mwangi, Deputy Kenyan High Commissioner in Canada; Mrs. Rose Ogego, the wife of the Kenyan High Commissioner; and Ben Ondoro, the KCO president.
Kudos to the KCO Women's Forum member organizers including Irene Wandili, Catherine Gatere, Grace Mwawasi, Jayne Rop-Weller and others for the excellent job they did in organizing the event.
Click on the small pictures (thumbnails) to view their larger versions. If you have any questions please drop me a line at: photos@theafricandiaspora.com.
Pictures taken at the Kenya Community in Ontario’s (“KCO”) first General Meeting in 2006, held on April 23, 2006 at the Metro Hall in Toronto, Canada. The meeting was poorly attended, but kudos to those who braved the heavy spring rain to make it to the meeting. Furthermore, finding parking in downtown is usually difficult and/or expensive. I was lucky to have paid only $8.00 for a secure underground parking, avoiding being rained on.
Click on the small pictures (thumbnails) to view their larger versions. If you have any questions please drop me a line at: photos@theafricandiaspora.com.
This is a full photographic coverage of the Kenya Community in Ontario’s (“KCO”) fundraiser in aid of the draught victims in arid and semi arid regions of Kenya. The fundraiser took place on Saturday January 21, 2006 at Metro Hall in Toronto, Canada and was held in partnership with the Canadian Red Cross and sponsored by Western Union.
The event went off almost without a hitch. I say almost without a hitch because the turn-out was below what the organizers had expected. But the good news was that a total of $3,137 was raised for the worth cause. H.E. Peter Ogego, Kenya’s High Commissioner for Canada and Cuba brought $500 from himself, friends and the High Commission employees in Ottawa. Those who were present seemed to be pleased with the High Commissioner’s efforts that they topped his donation by an additional amount of $257 (kishindikisho). This was an indication that they understood the High Commissioner’s explanation for coming late to the event, for which he profusely apologised and blamed it on the choice of mode of transportation from Ottawa: Via Rail.
Pictures of a Kenya Community in Ontario's (KCO) fundraiser event held in Toronto on Saturday January 14, 2006 to raise funds to send the body of David Njuguna to Kenya. David was a Kenyan athlete who died in Hamilton, Ontario on December 31, 2005. This was one of the several fundraiser events organized by KCO for the purpose.
Pictures from the Kenyan Community in Ontario's (KCO) GTA 2005 Jamhuri Day party/ general annual meeting, where a group of new members were also elected to the KCO board. The event took place at Lithuanian Banquet Hall, 1573 Bloor St. W., Toronto, Canada, on Saturday December 10, 2005. The event was graced by the presence of The Kenya High Commissioner to Canada, His Excellency P. N. Rateng Ogego, who gave the keynote speech. Although many Kenyans stayed at home, those who paid the $25 cover charge and braved the cold weather to attend the event were treated to good entertainment, dinner and dance. They got a chance to hear presentations on how HIV/AIDS programs in Kenya are making a difference and make a donation to AMREF’s HIV/AIDS programs in Kenya. The KCO organizers of the event had promised to donate all proceeds from the event to AMREF Kenya for this purpose.
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<<=David Ng'ang'a (left), co-owner of Manyata Restaurant presents a gift to the Kenyan High Commissioner to Canada, Her Excellency Prof. Judith Mbula Bahemuka
<<=Dorian Baxter and Hon. Raila Odinga
<=From Left to right: Ben Ondoro, KCO President; Sam Ndirangu; Suleiman Ali; and Matunda Nyanchama
<=Joseph Kamau showing the picture of his late brother David Njuguna
