International celebrations for World Habitat Day, Monday 1 October 2012

International celebrations for World Habitat Day this year will be held in Embu, Kenya on Monday 1 October. Hosted by the Government of Kenya, the day's events will be held at the Embu Municipal Stadium.The event will be opened by the United Nations Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director of UN-Habitat, Dr. Joan Clos; the Minister for Housing, Hon. Soita Shitanda; Ambassador George Owuor, Permanent Representative of the Kenya Mission to United Nations Office in Nairobi (UNON) and the Mayor of Embu, Cll. Peter Muriithi Nyaga. The United Nations has designated the first Monday of October every year as World Habitat Day. This year the day falls on 1 October. It will be an occasion to reflect on the state of our towns and cities, the basic right of all, to adequate shelter, basic urban services and urban mobility. The day also intended to remind the world of its collective responsibility for the future of the human habitat. UN-Habitat has chosen the theme "Changing Cities, Building Opportunities" for this year's event because cities are the engines of growth. It is in the cities that million realise their dreams of a better life. Even if they fail, cities still attract thousands more seeking the same goal. Some achieve this by either getting jobs or by starting businesses which benefits employers and employees thus creating jobs.