My Visit to Kenya

In September 2007, having sorted out my affairs as best I could, I nervously boarded a Kenyan Airways plane for Nairobi.
I was met at Jomo Kenyatta airport by the director of ACIS, who whisked me to his house, which was to be my home for the next month.

After a wash and brush up and breakfast, we went to the office. It is situated in a nice block in the centre of Nairobi. Well, the office is one small part of the 5th floor - but it looks good!

Over the next few days, I was whisked off to meetings with politicians, directors of the WHO, KeNAAM, aspiring politicians and other businessmen.

I had decided to spend on the coast where my nice Kenyan lady lives.

I took the night train from Nairobi to Mombasa, where I was met by my nice Kenyan lady, her cousin, sister and three-year-old daughter, who decided that this mzungu was just too scary to even look at. I can't say I disagree with her.

An interminable distance in two matatus later, we were "home". I wasn't sure what to expect. This was, after all, a small rural fishing village.

But after a short walk, I found myself in a modern, block-built bungalow under the usual corrugated steel roof. It has runing water and electricity - more than anyone should expect.

It was also home to the extended family, my nice Kenyan lady, her two children, her sister, her two cousins and their children, and several family orphans. No chance of being lonely, or much privacy!

I spent my two weeks exploring the village, meeting lots of locals, and getting to know my nice Kenyan lady and her family. The little girl soon decided that the mzungu wasn't too bad after all.