Friday, May 14, 2010

Dr Lumumba "We are here today so that we can make right what is wrong. It can be done and it must be done! Go and make Africa great"said the keynote speaker, Dr PLO Lumumba, an Advocate of the High Court of Kenya and Tanzania, in his moving speech that left many of the over 90 participants of the All Africa Conference in tears. He was speaking at the conference’s official launch on 12 May, 2010 at St Mary’s Pastoral Centre in Nakuru, Kenya, under the theme Africa, Do I Care?.

In his introduction, Dr Lumumba noted with great enthusiasm that this conference was an opportunity for passionate change movers to “take stock of what has been the history of Africa as a continent and help us project to the future”. 

Some of the All Africa Conference participants With his gift of expression, coupled with a wealth of history on Africa and the world, Dr Lumumba gave compelling examples of leaders in the past who sought to influence not only the society they live in but also the world at large. His presentation did not fall short of recognizing Nelson Mandela from South Africa, Jomo Kenyatta from Kenya, Kwame Nkrumah from Ghana, Mwalimu Nyerere from Tanzania and Mahatma Gandhi of India, just to mention a few. Dr Lumumba further challenged the visionaries to appreciate what we have in Africa and move forward for a better future citing that “time to lament and agonize over a bad past is over!”


Speaking from the same podium, the Chairman IofC Kenya Mr Julius Khakula, recognized Africa’s potential in minerals and wealth unique to us alone. "Only Africans can make Africa, Africa. We should not expect others to come and change our society" he asserted.

Delegates debriefing after the session The conference which brings together over 14 countries from around Africa and beyond is aimed at bringing together IofC friends and teams for a reflective, refreshing, re-energizing and re-strategizing time which will be punctuated by sharing practical ways to achieve the Africa we need. Delegates are expected to celebrate Africa’s potential and share on Africa’s leadership and governance, conflict resolution, economic independence among other issues. The conference will run till Sunday 16 May 2010.

By Mbindyo Kimanthi & Ann Njeri