Kenya through my eyes

One of the items on my bucket-list is to travel far and wide, to tour the world, to experience the history and culture of other people, to behold the wonders of creation in all its paramount glory. Therefore, when the inevitable opportunity arose to visit Kenya in January 2016, I embraced the idea wholeheartedly.

My Aunt Wez and I landed in The Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, Nairobi amidst a teeming number of tourists from far and wide. The weather was chilly but not abrasive.

Our hotel-Sarova Panafric was located in the City Centre. We were greeted pleasantly at the foyer. A warm towel and a cold glass of apple juice given to us at the Guest Relations Desk while we waited to check in, it was quite a thoughtful gesture.

I had an amazing experience and would love to share 10 things I like about Kenya. First is that they have a warm and hospitable culture. The people you meet along the way of life ultimately reflect towards you the values that they have imbibed. Values that might be personal, communal or collective. Kenyans have a general sense of friendliness, neighbourliness and warm-heartedness. Secondly is the greenery. Lush lawns, landscapes and trees surround the entire horizon of the Kenyan city centre and suburbs. Third thing is efficient power supply, forth is the rich colourful, cultural heritage. Kenya has a varied mix of people. The country is a melting-pot of cultures. The country has at least 40 different ethnic groups (including the major tribes of Kikuyu, Luhya, Luo and soon).

Kenya is home to large populations of Europeans, Arabs and Asians. Fifth on my list of ten is ‘Nyamachoma’, this is a roasted meat delicacy, it is always eaten with the hands and a common side-dish called Kachumbari salad and Ugali. Sixth on my list is that you won’t hear horn honks on the streets which I really enjoyed. Seventh is the creative arts and crafts especially the Massai tribe, their colourful intricate beadwork and patterns are seen in handmade paintings, jewellery, clothing and homeware sold in the local markets and malls. Eight on my list includes words like ‘Asante-sana’, ‘Karibu’, ‘Habari’, ‘Jambo’, all the words are expressions in Swahili.

Swahili is a Bantu language widely spoken across Eastern Africa. I found the language to be lyrically expressive and easy to converse in. Ninth on my list is the Conservation and Wildlife Preservation. A Safari experience at The Nairobi National Park shows abundant wildlife roaming across a vast expanse of forest glades and open vales. Common sightings around the park are gazelle, giraffes, buffaloes, warthogs, lions and approximately 400 bird species.

Last but not the least are agro-tourism opportunities. Agro-tourism is an agricultural based operation or activity. It is a form of niche tourism that is becoming popular in many parts of the world. I visited a coffee farm in Nairobi and while on tour, I was exposed to how coffee was grown, harvested and exported. There are however a few things I did not like about Nairobi. The first is the gridlock and the second are the narrow roads. Generally though, the good outweighs the bad so take it from me, Kenya is indeed a place you should visit. I had fun, you should too!

Glowreeyah Braimah is a Lawyer, Writer, Gospel Recording Artiste and Founder of Starbeam Foundation.