Post by Onyango Oloo on Jun 3, 2013 11:46:09 GMT 3
Upcoming Kenyan Professionals Launch First Thursdays Networking Event
By Onyango Oloo
Kisumu, a diverse city perched on the eastern tip of Lake Victoria, is a bustling cosmopolitan oasis struggling to realize its full potential against a backdrop of decades of regional underdevelopment.
Often associated with the fractious oppositional politics which has bedeviled Kenya for most of her 50 years post-colonial history, Kisumu is poised to be a hub of local, inter-county and cross border trade and interaction in the next few years as Kenya unveils its ambitious political and socio-economic transformational plans under the aegis of a new constitutional dispensation and attempts to implement its far reaching Vision 2030 blueprint.
A group of dynamic young professionals with origins in Kisumu and its immediate hinterland have identified the opportunity to showcase this historic city as a growth area for business, entrepreneurship, innovation, networking and sustainable development. They are determined to rebrand Kisumu as the next destination for tourism, real estate development, information and technology start ups and fresh ideas to jump start sustainable agro-industrial enterprise. Aware that Kisumu and the wider Nyanza region has been stereotyped as a hotbed for “empty political rhetoric” with a deficit in enterprise led initiatives these young professionals have coalesced to spearhead a campaign to showcase the possibilities of wealth creation and private sector growth in Kisumu and its environs.
They are dubbing this breakthrough the Kisumu Business Xchange Forum.
Speaking to Jukwaa, Peter Achayo, one of the pioneers of the initiative said:
“With the emerging county government regime across Kenya, discussions are ongoing within and among those of us who grew up, worked or associated with Kisumu County as to how to tap in and log onto the new opportunities and possibilities presented by the new government, administrative structures particularly as these pertain to business. We as a result are putting together a forum comprising business owners, entrepreneurs and professionals to have a process of ongoing dialogue in a structured and controlled environment and create a community of like minded believers to chat our shared common destiny and determination in up scaling all round development in Kisumu County and beyond”.
Mr. Achayo is the CEO of Gravitas Consulting, a firm with many years of experience working with the private sector, government, development agencies and civil society in diverse areas from field marketing, event creation and organizing, trade marketing and PR strategies.
The Kisumu Business Xchange Forum is being officially launched on Thursday, June 6, 2013 with a meticulously planned cocktail to be held at the
Eden Pot Restaurant located at the Nelson Awori Plaza on Ralph Bunche Road near the Nairobi Hospital in the Upper Hill neighbourhood of the Kenyan capital.
The event starts at 6:30 pm and wraps up around 9 in the evening.
“We hope to attract up to 150-200 paying participants to this Black Tie event. We are reaching out to owners of businesses and professionals in their late twenties to early forties, although of course everyone is welcome, including those outside that particular demographic”, Achayo reveals.
“Our motto is ordinary people networking to achieve extra-ordinary results”, he adds.
To make the event pay for itself, as well as emphasize the serious business like approach Kisumu Business Xchange Forum is adopting from the outset, participants are being charged 2,500 shillings at the door. Those who can contribute more are encouraged to do so.
The theme of the June 6th cocktail will be Commune, Collaborate and Celebrate and will target entrepreneurs, businesses and professionals from the Lake Region in the western part of Kenya.
The programme features the following speakers:
Pastor Gowi Oderaof the Nairobi Chapel and noted Speaker and Leadership Development Expert will be talking about ‘Community Values and Dynamics that promote Enterprise growth and Profit’;Gad Awuonda, Legal Advisor to Nairobi Governor Dr. Evans Kidero will be speaking about ‘Emerging County Opportunities’ while Seraphine Rulirgwara-Kamara,Branding Expert, Entrepreneur and Business Coach will be the Moderator and M.C for the evening.
Well known musician
Ohanglaman Makadem will be on hand to entertain the guests.
The launch is expected to launch a monthly series, staged every first Thursday of the month at venues to be announced later. According to the plan, each networking meeting will commence with a prayer followed by introductions. After short presentations and progress reports, the rest of the evening would be devoted to networking as professionals, entrepreneurs and business owners engage each other one on one and in group settings talking about their individual and collective aspirations, initiatives, challenges, insights and successes.
All these are geared to contributing to increasing awareness of the bountiful opportunities that exist for those who wish to expand and excel in business and professional activities in Kisumu and the Lake region.
The founders of the Kisumu Business Xchange Forum are adamant that they are NOT partisan, nor do they want to beholden to ANY political interests in the county, region or nationally. They are convinced that there is a need to foster a new mindset that is not hostage to any narrow ideological confines.
To find out more about the Kisumu Business Xchange Forum please contact Peter Achayo at +254-722-859-691.
