- Adundo said safety on highways connecting Nairobi with Kisumu and other Western Kenya towns has remained a source of grave concern.
- The FESTAC Organising Committee resolved to postpone the festival to August 25 to September 1, 2024
Image: FILE
A continental event to celebrate African heritage and unity has been postponed due to ravaging floods.
Kusumu County was poised to host the 5th World Blacks and Africa Festival of Arts and Culture - FESTAC Africa- from May 20 to 26, 2024.
The event aims to celebrate the continent’s uniqueness and identity while promoting Intra- Africa trade and creating a networking business platform across the world.
The week-long event normally provides an excellent opportunity for participants to showcase their culture through music, fashion, dancing, and food, as well as to engage in meaningful discussions on investment and bilateral trade opportunities.
FESTAC Africa Kisumu Festival Steering Committee chair Philip Adundo said preparations were in top gear with many delegates from across Africa and the world confirming participation.
“We however regret to announce that this festival has now been postponed due to aggravated and unpredictable weather conditions in Kisumu County and the rest of Kenya, following heavy rainfall and massive flooding that has killed more than 200 people,” Adundo said.
Adundo said safety on highways connecting Nairobi with Kisumu and other Western Kenya towns has remained a source of grave concern because the floods continue to destroy bridges and wash away roads.
“Deadly landslides have been reported in many parts along the highways, putting the lives of travellers at risk. Some of the venues booked for FESTAC along the shores of Lake Victoria have been flooded, due to backflow from the lake, rendering them inaccessible,” he added.
In a statement, Adundo said Kisumu County is also battling a serious humanitarian crisis after the floods displaced more than 15,000 people and destroyed crops worth over Sh60 million in all the eight Subcounties.
“Having considered the magnitude of the festival and levels of risks linked to the bad weather conditions, as predicted by the Meteorological Department, the county leadership and the FESTAC Organising Committee have resolved to postpone the festival to August 25 to September 1, 2024. All other arrangements, including the speakers, programs and guest lists remain the same,” he said.
He apologised to sponsors, corporate partners, organisations, individuals and exhibitors who had spent huge resources to prepare for the event.
He requested service providers including airlines and hotels that had booked in the delegates for the festival not to cancel the bookings but transfer them in-line with the new dates, as part of compassion with all those inconvenienced by the turn of events.