Upcoming Kenyan Economic Group to hold Workshop in Illinois

By Symon G. Ogeto
Updated on 12.14.05 at 4:30 p.m. CST

James Theuri, KDNC Vice president will be attending the Saturday Co-creation workshop in Chicago/Photo By SGO

December 13, 2005 – You may have loosely heard about them and some of you know nothing about them. Well, there is a group in the making that is taking shape to becoming Kenya’s leading vehicle for economic development.

The Kenya Development Network Consortium (KDNC) is poised to hold its second business workshop Saturday to share its new concepts that are geared toward spurring a shared vision for economic growth in Kenya.

The workshop, which is scheduled to begin at 8 a.m., will be held at Holiday Inn Select Convention Center, 18501 South Harlem in Tinley Park, Illinois.

KDNC Vice president James Theuri has dubbed the Saturday event “Co-creation workshop”. “We want the participants to bring their ideas and opinions about possible developments opportunities, let’s discussion them thoroughly.”

Thereafter, Theuri says, we shall narrow them into what I term as creative tension.” This creative tension is what Theuri foresees that will lead the participants into ideal economic goals that serve common needs within the community.

In KDNC terms, co-creation workshops are a means of developing new initiatives from the participants. It is the additional flow of new ideas into the development of the old ideas that have been created from prior workshops.

Over the last several months KDNC has sought for participation and support from various groups in Chicago and some in the Midwest that serve the Kenyan community.

Some the groups KDNC has invited to this workshop include United Kenyans of Chicago (UKC), Chicago Association for Kenyan Professionals (CAKP), The Swahili Chapel. A handful of participants are expected from St. Louis, MO.

According to published information from KDNC website, some high-ranking Kenyan officials in the World Bank have praised the efforts and the mission of KDNC.

Kenyan native Dr. Philip Mwalali and Dr. Khama Rogo both who work at the World Bank’s headquarters offices in Washington, DC, have called on KDNC to help form a coalition for Kenyan entities in the Diaspora that are interested in development. “I would be happy to help organize a workshop with Kenyans working at the Bank/IMF and others in DC area” said Khama.

Early October this year, several KDNC members convened business meeting in Worcester, MA and at the end of the meeting a real estate enterprise project was born. The project named – KDNC Real Estate Enterprise will help Kenyans living overseas to remit monies back to their motherland.

Consequent to this formation, KDNC formed a real estate council that will help facilitate and govern the performance of the enterprise. Primarily, the council will hold the project managers accountable in execution in order to benefit those who choose to become active participants.

Even though the weather in Chicago is in its low single digits, Theuri anticipates attendance of 50-60 people. “I want to reiterate that this workshop is free and it will beneficial to each participant”

KDNC was founded in 2004 by Kenyan professionals living in the United States to help increase awareness of various economic development opportunities in Kenya for natives in the Diaspora.

Since then, KDNC has strived to forge an international presence by dedicating its efforts in promoting healthcare, agriculture, education, science, technological and industrial development in Kenya.

Also, KDNC has a subsidiary organization that links Kenyans in the Diaspora with development opportunities in Kenya.

Workshop Address:
Holiday Inn Select Convention Center
18501 South Harlem
Tinley Park, Illinois L 60477
(Intersection of I-80 and S. Harlem)
Center Tel. (815) 444-1100

For more information, contact James Theuri for more info (573) 268-2912, or e-mail theurij@gmail.com