THE AFRICAN COURIER. Reporting Africa and its Diaspora! The African Courier is an international magazine published in Germany to report on Africa and the Diaspora African experience. The first issue of the bimonthly magazine appeared on the newsstands on 15 February 1998. The African Courier is a communication forum for European-African political, economic and cultural exchanges, and a voice for Africa in Europe.
The Kenyan Diaspora and well-wishers of the East African country will gather in six German cities on Saturday, 5 August for Amani Kenya-Open Air Prayers for Peace and Unity.
According to the organizers, the event, which will hold in Berlin, Frankfurt, Hamburg, Stuttgart, Munich and Wurzburg, is to show solidarity with their compatriots at home who will go the polls on 8 August. Kenyan voters will elect the President and his deputy, members of Parliament (Senate and National Assembly) and devolved government members (county governors and ward representatives).
“We shall be praying for peaceful, fair and transparent elections,” said a press statement issued by Kenyans United in Germany, the organization behind the event. Prayers will be led by pastors of Kenyan churches in Germany.
Kenya descended into widespread violence in the wake of a disputed presidential poll in December 2007. Some 1,200 people were killed in the clashes and around 600,000 fled their homes.
In the run-up to the 8 August polls, main presidential candidates President Uhuru Kenyatta and opposition leader Raila Odinga have traded accusations of having instigated the violence a decade ago, which saw Kenyatta and his deputy William Ruto charged at the International Criminal Court in The Hague, although both cases were eventually dropped.
On 2 July, the head of the European Union mission observing Kenya’s elections, Marietje Schaake, told reporters, “it is no secret there are concerns about the possible outbreak of violence. This is not inevitable and it is clear that this would create a situation where everyone loses.”
Exactly a week before the polls Chris Msando, who was the head of information, communication and technology at the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission, was murdered, sparking widespread outrage and fueling fears of election violence in the country.
This is why Kenyans both home and abroad are apprehensive about the elections and are praying for the process to be peaceful.
Amani Kenya-Open Air Prayers for Peace and Unity, which will take place from 3pm-9pm in the six cities, will be crowned with an entertainment programme including gospel music performances and the “Best of Nyama choma, kachumbari”.
Femi Awoniyi
VENUES
Hamburg: Rentzelstr.10a
Berlin: Volkspark (10249 Berlin)
Frankfurt: Ostpark
Stuttgart: Am Grillplatz Schlossgarten
Wurzburg: Residenzstr. 2
Munich: Hirschgarten
Contact: Joseph Kimani,
Phone: +4915213696880,
Email: rafikisammain@outlook.com
