Reflections

On things financial......

You usually expect 'the third world' to be catching up with the west, but soon after arriving I learned that Kenya was the birthplace of something truly unique, a financial service that is quickly spreading to other developing countries, transforming business, microfinancing, banking and the social welfare of many. M-Pesa (m=mobile, pesa= swahili for money, = mobile money)

My first surprise was how widespread mobile phones are in Kenya. Seemed like everyone had one, and indeed its true. (Farmer herding goats in the rurals, mobile in one hand, staff in the other) They're cheap and ubiquitous, and it's a pay as you go system (purchase service cards in denominations as low as 20Ken shillings).

And here's where the beauty of MPesa took seed. Created by Safaricom, the biggest cell ph provider in Kenya, MPesa offers the transfer of money via mobile phone through a network of agents in every community. Want to send money to me? simply code it into the phone and I can pick it up from any MPesa agent.

In a country where fewer than 30% have bank accounts, MPesa has brought banking services in even the most remote locations, among the poorest of people. MPesa began in mid 2007 and now has over 12million subscribers in a country whose total population is 38M! Now you can pay bills on the phone, big food markets are taking payment that way, and the latest is that a major bank is now working with MPesa to provide access to banking services.

The other feature making MPesa such a phenomenon is that an entrenched part of family and friendship culture here is the loaning of money to cover short term needs. In such a culture MPesa fits like a glove, and Kenyans have taken to it mightily; the latest development is the extension of services to allow the Kenyan diaspora to funnel money home via MPesa. So, a financial success story from 'the dark continent'.

On things ornothological....

Just spent a few days at Lake Baringo, a famous birding locale where the uplands of Rift Valley Kenya begin their descent to the dry, hot plains of the north, toward Ethiopia and Sudan. Amazing - check out these beauties....

Because its beyond me to get captions lined up, you'll need to identify Rufous Brested Roller, Malachite Kingfisher, Pied Kingfisher,

Jackson Hornbill, White Brested Goaway Bird, and Eurasian Hoopoe yourself.

On things political ...

There was significant post election violence in Kenya in early 2008 due to hotly contested presidential results. Over 1200 died, and almost half a million were displaced as a result of violence based upon tribal rivalries that spilled over when the delayed results were announced. To Kenyans themselves, and to the outside world, this came a major surprise as the country has long been regarded as one of Africa's most stable democracies. A commission of inquiry investigated, but the government declined to go ahead with any criminal charges against those who incited the violence. Instead the International Criminal Court launched its own enquiry, and chief prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo is set to announce pre Christmas the names of six high ranking officials and politicians who will be charged by the ICC. To say that the political atmosphere is charged would be to put it mildly, and the possible fallout will play a significant role in the lead up to 2012 elections. Standby for news from Kenya before Christmas.

Moreno-Ocampo

On things nautical and familial.....

As some of you know there's a good slice of my family on board the sailboat 'Silas Crosby' thats been making its way down the west coast since September.

I'm happy to report that Steve, John and Meredith have reached the Sea of Cortez safely. Kim and Claire will meet up with Mer on mainland Mexico, while Steve improves his Spanish, and John flies home to Vancouver for Christmas with Linda. Beyond the holidays the boat will head for the Galapogos, and then further into the south Pacific, with the coast of Chile beckoning in 'spring' '11.

Congratulations to skipper Steve and crew, and my best wishes for the new year.

You can follow their exploits at http://www.silascrosby.com/

Just a few weeks to go on my Kenya adventure, and home in time for new year!

Cheers to all as the festive season approaches.

Problems in Paradise

Transportation - see problem below

(being stubborn, the donkey didnt want to move to the story!)

Lamu seafront with Lamu Fort above.

For the past two weeks I've been on the north coast of Kenya, a shore set with white beaches, mangroves, coral reefs and happy, welcoming people. So how could there be problems in paradise?

Well, to step back a moment, and examine this exercise called blogging.
I was persuaded a few years ago on another trip to blog, but my question has always been, who's interested in what I'm doing, and why would anyone want to read about it?
I'm doing it, so what would an aging, greying, ex teacher from BC have to say that could possibly be of interest? This feeling has been perpetuated recently in communication with the ND (nearest'ndearest) in BC who reports early snow and cold on the coast, so do people really want to hear about my early morning dhow trip yesterday from Lamu to Shela, a walk on the 7km crescent white beach concluded by a swim in the wonderfully warm waters of the Indian ocean, followed by a gentle downwind sail back to Lamu where the town is abuzz with the annual Swahili cultural festival - food, dancing, singing, sailing, donkey racing, talks and concerts filling the weekend.
If I'm waking up to snow and cold, hearing from the guy in paradise may, or may not, make me feel better? You see my dilemma. But there are other problems too ......

The perfect mango?
In Lamu I'm staying literally 30ft from the town market. A short stagger brings me to the fruit stalls early each day, but how to pick the perfect mango? Too ripe and they are too mushy and too sweet, but too early and they are hard, and tart beyond compare. The perfect mango is firm, yet foregiving to the touch, and judging this requires moments of careful handling, weighing, and contemplation; discussion and negotiation with the stall owner ensue. The perfect mango is both tart and sweet, if such is possible. Once sliced away from the pit, cubed against its skin and folded open, the yellow flesh becomes a sensual delight into which one dives face first, to emerge minutes later,hands, face and facial hair covered in delicious mango juice that requires a second face wash of the day.
Believe me its hard to get it just right, picking the perfect mango, and there's the issue of the strands of mango flesh that stick between the lower teeth...... so you see the problem, right?

Swahili carved doors - a feature of the Swahili coast

And the problem is?
My first morning I wander out the waterfront in Lamu looking for some breakfast. Its just after 7 and not too many about yet. A grizzled fellow is enjoying a rollie on the seawall, and we exchange greetings. He's the owner, cook, waiter, of the Olympic, a modest hoteli right there offering the usual omelettes, fruits and juices. I become his first customer. At first I thought he might be Greek- his looks, the Olympic, but no, Asif is of Indian decent, not unusual here on the Kenyan coast.
What is unusual is that almost all his family are in BC. They left Kenya en masse in the early 70's for Vancouver, but after a couple of years he gave up on it and returned to Lamu. He loved the ocean, loved fishing. Now his family is established in Burnaby, Seattle, Calgary, and he's in Lamu. He lives with some regrets as he doesn't have the security and prosperity his brothers and sisters do, and maybe coming back to Lamu was a mistake.
I look out at his fishing dhows bobbing on the rising tide by the seawall, feel the warm breeze rising, hear the laughter from his family behind the curtain of the Olympic, and cant help but think that if I could choose waking up in Burnaby or Lamu on a morning in November, I know there'd be no problem.

Digo elders perform at Lamu Festival

Transportation - problem?
In Lamu there are no cars! I mean, how can you call yourself a town and have no cars, its the 21st century for christsakes. So with no cars here, no trucks, no buses, well it means you walk everywhere, walk ... remember walking! In sandals, or barefoot even. People stop in the street, greet each other, go to the bakery, the market, to the docks, to work, on foot.
There's no traffic jams, no road rage, no speed bumps, no traffic calming, no exhaust. They do have a transportation system, its donkey! Donkeys! the place is positively biblical!
These guys have a problem! Weird dude!

Kenya time - no problem
The program said 'Kasida from Mombasa' 20:00-22:00, 'Praful Kumar -Bollywood Music' 22:00-daybreak. So down to Mkungani Square in good time. The square in front of Lamu Fort is hardly crowded, in fact but for a few expectant mzungu tourists who cluster around seats under the jacaranda tree, the usual mix of full time square hangers-on and lingering youth, its pretty deserted. On stage, there is evidence of preparation, but its clear, nothing is imminent.
Not being one for waiting patiently, I head back to my room. I'll hear music strike up - I'm within easy earshot. Ipod on, I fall asleep easily in the warm evening breezes. At 22:00 I wake to "hallo, check, check" repeated over and over. At 23:00 I wake to music, but too comfortable to move, i listen from my bed! only to fall asleep again. Just before dawn I come to, the strains of Bollywood music in the air at 05:30. This part of the festival timing at least is accurate, they really are playing to daybreak. A few tunes later, mercifully it closes down, just in time for the roosters and the call to prayer. I wonder what the residual negative effects of listening to Bollywood music all night might be. Speaking in subtitles?

View from my bed across market building to Lamu Fort

Not seen in November on Dysart Rd

My stint working with CHES in Kakamega came to a close in early November, and since then I've been on the road on the Yahama 100, and what an amalgamation of experience the past ten days have been.

• hiking the rim of dormant Menengai crater



• stuck in a thunder storm in Menengai village, eating mukomu with locals, and fixing the bike



• riding cold at altitude on the equator, in diesel and dust



• visiting Nakuru where man began his story



• leopards lounging in trees, gnus migrating



• cheetahs on the hunt, and the unlucky Monday for a warthog



• hippos wallowing, giraffes loping, ringed mongooses racing,



• drinking tamarind juice and cassava chips in Mombasa



• playing marbles with kids, and watching soccer with adults



• lions posing, ostriches strutting, vultures and marabous picking bones on the Mara



• elephants dexterous trunks, and impressive scats



• chatting with old colonial Poms at the sailing club



• walking 14thC Swahili ruins



• marvellous birding (saddlebills, kory bustard, fish eagles, weavers)



• hyenas yipping and laughing at night



• swimming Indian Ocean waters



• vervet monkeys in baobob trees

So these are some things I wouldn't have experienced on Dysart Rd in mid November, but the one I'm missing on Dysart today is Kims b'day, so have a good one darlin' - see you for new years. with love - H

Coping with Kenya

Coping with Kenya

we haven't had city water from the taps in a month(rain barrels are a blessing),
once one computer is fixed, another one goes down, the internet flickers on and off,
power comes and goes, and comes again,
the driving habits are deranged, and 'slaloming' is accepted to avoid potholes,
the poor are many, for whom each day is a struggle,
to 'eat' means taking your cut of whatever you can, from top to bottom of society,
the population has grown 50% in the past ten years,
unemployment/underemployment affects a similar percentage,
women are still an underclass, the 'big' man syndrome lives,
those who succeed are obligated to assist kin and friend alike, or their name suffers,
the forests are under immense pressure for farming from the growing population,
tribal rivalries and tensions are not far from the surface, the body politic strains as a result.

however....

the spirit among the people is infectious, a smile and 'habari' make an immediate connection,
living in community by supporting family and friends is ingrained,
the countryside in western kenya is lush and productive,
Kenya has coastal reefs and idyllic beaches, interior rolling highlands, alpine areas in the tropics, its northern half is desert en route to Sudan and Ethiopia, huge lakes in Victoria and Turkana,
lions, elephants, giraffes, rhinos, hippos, cheetahs, warthogs, zebras, leopards, wildebeests, monkeys, cape buffalo, hornbills, ibises, flamingoes, civets, aardvarks, hyenas, mongooses, gazelles, impalas, all live here, ...... puff adders, pythons, cobras, black mambas too,
a new constitution in August created a new sense of pride, expectancy and optimism,
people smile and laugh, and take time with each other,
making it easier,
coping with Kenya.

Working for a living
look at the row of 'shops' - to the uninitiated western eye it looks uninviting, dingy, rough.
we're used to shops, big and bright, inviting, cemented and clean, but not here, not in this block;
but look more closely, and evidence of entrepreneurial vigour sprouts abundant...
basic groceries, hairdressing, internet, all live here, eking a living from minimum space
across the street, stalls offer basics like tomatoes, onions and eggs, chipatis and mandazis are there too, potatoes, dried fish, welding, furniture making, fresh milk+yoghurt....
all within 30metres of my front gate.
these are people are making the best of the hand dealt them, in challenging circumstances,
seeing their industry and invention, i marvel at it, and wonder how I'd cope as a Kenyan.



For the love of the game
I brought 6 mini soccer balls with me-what better way to connect with Kenyans than to drop a ball, kick it around, and then leave it behind. Not a new idea, thanks to my friend Dave Ravenhill at Reynolds for the suggestion.
So on my Sunday morning strolls, I plant a ball inside my ball cap, where else?, and off I go in search of a game. Nice religious habit of a Sunday morning, in a religious nation.
Here are some recent, serendipedous, and extremely pleasant results,
coping with kenya via the beautiful game.

Duncan (with ball at top) and friends

Winston and son




PS - the waters running tonight :)

At the party

As a b'day present to self, I went off with another CHES agent to the Rondo Retreat in Kakamega Forest an hour east of town. Its a lovely set of cottages set in the tropical rain forest, a world away from the bustle of town. So up early this morning for a dawn ramble and these are some of the critters that I came across who helped celebrate entry to another year. Lucky me!
http://www.rondoretreat.com/

Black and white casqued hornbill - raucous birds who flock in the high canopy of the forest in the morning.

Olive baboons

Colobus monkey - saw a family group of 8 or so this morning

Speckled mousebird

Red Tailed Monkey

Blue Monkey

From the forest, an older and wiser man, HL

Signs to make u smile :)

Hotel Salvage is close to CHES house- I wonder if the name says something about the building materials, or about the clientele they attract.


Not my first choice if I need medical assistance in Kakamega.


Right up there with holy water, get yer blessed kerosene here.

The big man sure knows how to put on a blockbuster show in w.Kenya



Send flowers ..... Interflora
Send money ...... Western Union
Send a cow? ........Heifer International of course

-in fact this is a legit, non profit that links donors who buy cows for those in need-really, google it
however the sign did make me smile,
"honey, you'll never guess what arrived in the mail today"

Cause for Celebration

This is my friend Samson, a good name for an askari - a Kenyan watchman/caretaker, who works night shifts on the CHES grounds. Last week Samson was so happy and proud recounting the visit to his home village near Maragoli, half way from here to Kisumu and Lk Victoria.
He'd been home for the celebration marking the end of the circumcision of young men in his village district. This communal circumcision happens every five years and many of his tribal kin had also returned home from all over Kenya to celebrate the young men into manhood. The boys aged 11-15 had just emerged from the two week healing period during which they were 'nursed' by the men from the 'class of 2005'. The community provided the food and shelter for the boys during this period, and then a grand celebration of feasting, singing and dancing took place.I wished I could have been there such was the joy in his sharing of this important event. Here's a local version of the same circumcision celebration taking place on the road outside CHES house in Kakamega.

On the weekend I was invited to a Kenyan wedding in Bungoma, 40kms from Kak. Beatrice, the mother of the bride, works part time for CHES, and her daughter Joyce was a student in the program years ago. The day started on Kenyan time with the arranged bus transport leaving Kak an hour late. The road to Mumias was smooth/rare, and then to Bungoma, typical Kenyan / check your fillings. The first stop was the house where the bride was readying for the event. Sodas and buns came out for the visitors and before Joyce could leave for the church, David the groom and his best man had to present his dowry to Beatrice for approval. (In this case it had been all prearranged, but there are stories of dowries being turned down on the wedding day, and hours of negotiations taking place before the wedding can go ahead – fun!). While many of the trappings were common to our church weddings, the singing/chanting/ dancing of the womenfolk attending was worth the journey.

To say that our bus 'rocked' from the house to the church is an understatement, with the aisles filled with Luhya women in full call and response rhythm, and again as the bridal procession entered the airy, Anglican, St Crispins Bungoma. Thanks to 'Mama' Beatrice for honouring me with an invitation after only a months friendship.

And to finish off, I had the great good fortune to attend the National Festival of Music for schools and colleges held in Kak a few weeks ago. There were hundreds of students from across Kenya competing in dance, choral, solo, recitation, and traditional performing arts. Watching the students perform, and the joyous support they received from the audiences, was something I will treasure for some time. When Kenyans start to sing and dance, being so completely and awkwardly WASP is starkly revealed.