History of foundation of the Kenyan-Polish Forum

Thanks to Thomas Omedi, Philips Muli and Slawek Muturi on 31st May 2003 in Warsaw's pub "Lolek" after many years got together all Kenyans living in Poland with their families and friends. Common memories from students' times as well as professional issues, in one month brought about to fulfill promises of "seeing much often".

In June 2003 James Ofwona came up with proposition of organizing Kenya days in Wola Park Shopping Centre. Wola Park's management eagerly accepted this idea. The date of the event was set on October 2003. The first organizational meeting took place on 16th of July. Gabriela Malinowska, Adriana Ofwona, Jakub Barua and Martin Okoth, who participated in the meeting, created the first program of the Kenya Days. All Kenyans were informed about the meetings by e-mails and phones. With each day the group of organizers was growing up.

On 28th July 2003 Kenyans met James Mungai - the treasurer of the Kenya Community Abroad (KCA), the talks concerned activities of KCS association and the program of Kenya Days. New volunteers offered their help with organizational work.

On 7th August 2003 at the organizational meting Sławek Muturi put forward a proposition of funding an association that Gould represent Kenyans in Poland. This idea was a fruit of conversation wit Kenya Ambassador in Rome, who was willing to support the Kenya Days. The proposition was accepted by all gathered people, and on the same day the Temporary Committee was created:

• James Ofwona - president
• Thomas Omedi - secretary
• Sławek Muturi - treasurer

At the beginning the "Association of Kenyans in Poland" was taken for the name of the new association. After some discussions, it was decided that everyone will think of a better proposition.

On 2nd September 2003 it was decided that the statute, the choice of the temporary committee and the association's activities should be discussed and finalized by signing the resolutions at the general meeting of all Kenyans.

On 25 October 2003 meeting's participants decided that the association would be called the Kenyan-Polish Forum. It would be an open institution, gathering people from Kenya, Poland and from other countries, who are interested in developing bilateral relations between Poland and Kenya. The statue of the KPF was enacted and the members of the Controlling Committee were chosen. Unanimously as members of the Founding Committee were acknowledged:

• James Ofwona
• Thomas Omedi
• Sławomir Muturi

On 4 November 2003 the Founding Committee asked the Country Juridical Register for the registration of the new association. Because of some inaccuracies the petition was rejected and the whole process must have been repeated.

On 29 January 2004 the Country Juridical Register officially registered the association called "Kenyan-Polish Forum" who form this time on became a fully-fledged institution.