Kenya Diaspora Conference USA - October 5-7 2012

We are attending big time.

We Kenyans in the Diaspora disown Odembo's so-called "Diaspora conference". We don't want nothing to do with it. Not a single cent of taxpayer's money should be used towards this charade (or face anti-corruption investigation). Any company that sponsors it will be boycotted by the Diaspora. We urge Kenyans in the Diaspora not to waste the time and money in useless talk shops by people who care least about Diaspora. TO HELL!

Why is the cost so high? $200 for what? For 2 days of what? Let me tell you that the fees will drop just like they did in Las Vegas. If Odembo has already got Corporate sponsors to back this event then why is he having this side company organize it and charge ridiculous fees....just as they tried to do in Las Vegas and had to beat a quick retreat.

Odembo knows that his time in Washington is short. He will be gone after this coming election so he has to make hay while the sun is still out.

Gosh, fee is too high!. And yes, they used a company linked to one of the embassy staff to book the hotel as an agent to pocket some of your money and that explains the high charges...no transparency people!.

Also, what are the gains of last year conference to call us for another?

This Kenya embassy is not genuine in what they do starting with Odembo himself!!!!. Please boycott.

Enough with the conferences already.There's got to e a better way to shape the destiny of Kenya other than vaguely defined conferences.

An ODM project, if you are interested!

Disgusted please refrain from calling this noble activity an ODM project,its fo all of us kenyans

The idea might be noble but why do I need a speech on agriculture and the loans board? Also the Nation CEO does not strike me as a person whose ideas I can value...he couldn't even handle interviewing Museveni the last time he was in Kenya. We have memories like elephants and questions to ask!

I would attend quick as a flash if they sent someone to tell me about the Diaspora voting process or even how I can be helped to relocate or invest back home! Okay...maybe that is what the agriculture man is for.

I can attend as a good excuse to visit with my friends in DC and also other parts of America!

I attended last year's conference and it was very insightful. It was also great to meet some of the most successful Kenyans living in the US. The networking opportunities alone are an excellent reason to attend.

As for the price, I don't think $200 is too much to ask in the DC area. It's a very expensive city. I can understand it might look expensive for those who live in less expensive states.

I am not personally connected with the conference and I don't even know who organized it last year. But who ever organized it did a great job.

I think it would be wise to take all this debate to the conference. we may think we are not gon'benefit from all the speakers but I can see the IEBC chairperson here. IEBC is the elections board, we can go there and find out why and how they expect us to vote in consulates and Embassies (whereas we live so far from DC. its either e-voting or nothing...) and why they think that embassy staff is efficient to be voting officials. I wish they invited a representative from CIC.

I went to this conference and I can TRULY say that it was a complete waste of time and money. Despite the high fees, I went as a sort of penance for not attending any past events. Where do I start?

1. The large number of government officials all affiliated with the elections and NOT ONE person was registered to vote despite this being the perfect opportunity for it. Who paid the registration fee for their attendance when the information they provided is a website or phone call away?
2. The brocken record presentations, with vague promises of the great things the government has instore, i.e. we are going to be an IT hub; creating software (which does what?). We are going to have great roads in 2030 and each Kenyan will own a car (Kudos to the young lady raised a question on the impact of this pipe dream on the environment).
3. That Ambitho woman and her dodgy statistics (What sampling frame did she use? What was her margin of error?)

The only saving grace was a presentation by Dr Ojiambo in the health panel discussion. I attend at least one professional conference each year and NEVER have I paid this much for registration, even for a 5 day conference.

Kenyans, wherever you are, save your money, there is Google.