INVITATION TO BTS 3 ON ROLE OF RELIGION IN ELECTORAL POLITICS: WED, 25 APRIL 2007:

Dear KARA members, Partners and Friends,

Dear Sir/Madam,

The Kenya Alliance of Resident Associations (KARA) has been holding various public forums in the public interest. Such forums are aimed at not only achieving consensus and way forward but primarily to create public awareness on topical issues. Our Quarterly Luncheons and the Bi-monthly Talk Series (BTS) have been without doubt a great attraction to Government, private sector and the wider civil society.

The Ford Foundation (www.fordfound.org) and Hanns Seidel Stiftung (www.hss.or.ke) are supporting the KARA Bi-monthly Talk Series-3 on the above-mentioned theme. The function will be held on Wednesday, 25th April 2007 from 3.00pm to 5.30pm at Sarova Panafric Hotel, Nairobi. Though Kenya is a secular State, we all appreciate the strength and great diversity of religion and faiths in our country. Mainstream religion is often seen as a pillar of morality, brotherhood, peace and a means to harmonious co-existence among individuals and communities. On the other hand, politics is often seen as dirty and confrontational.

Interestingly however, a number of religious leaders have come up declaring their intention to actively participate in political activities including seeking for positions in the runner-up to this year's general election. The question in the mind of many, as a result, is whether religious leaders should or not play active politics and/or if active politicians should be at the pulpit to preach to their followers. To answer this question we have put together a panel of 3 comprising the following speakers;

1.. Prof. Jesse Mugambi, Director, Starehe Boys Centre
2.. Sheikh Abdullahi Abdi, Chairman, National Muslim Leaders Forum
3.. Mr. Rashmin Chiitnis, Chairman, Hindu Council of Kenya

The moderator will be Prof. Macharia Munene, Professor of History and International Relations, USIU-A. This letter serves to invite you to the meeting. Entry charge is Ksh. 100 (one hundred) only per person. Please confirm your booking by email to the attention of my colleague Nancy at _ nkariuki at kara dot or dot ke _ or by calling 020-3874331, 3873828 or Fax us at 020-3862872.

I am looking forward to welcoming you at the meeting. Thank you.

Yours Sincerely,

Stephen Mutoro
Chief Executive Officer
KARA - "Together, We Will"