Today’s front pages from The Nation and The Standard, published in Nairobi, Kenya
Chickens for sale in the Makina open market
In the streets of Nairobi traffic is a constant jam, regardless of what time of the day one goes out. It is a young country (average age is under 30), a hard working people, something the visitor immediately captures, even when visiting the poorest sections of the city, such as the Makina slums. My driver took me through Makina and my instant reaction was one of admiration for the way everyone seemed to be going about his business. This is not a slum where young, robust men lie down napping at 3 pm. Instead, men and women of all ages have created a sort of microcosm of the business society within their limited environments. It is Main Street in Makina, the entrepeneurial spirit in plain view.
There is the butcher shop the size of a closet—-with a variety of meats ready for the buyer: gazelle, crocodile, lamp, pork—- next to a beauty salon (appropriately named Heavenly Beauty), a tailor shop (seamstress with big smile behind a circa-1950 Singer sewing machine that still works), a vegetable and fruit vendor (those Kenyan mangos are habit forming), or a little door painted blue where a teenage boy sells just eggs.
But, alas, the chickens are a best seller here. Pick the one you like and it will be killed and prepared for you (the vendor tells me that the client does not have to view the killing if not prepared for it). Carpenters make beds and tables, while singing; welders work on window treatments. A young woman manicurist sits on the steps of a hut, doing her client’s nails. Smiles everywhere. Music in the background—-was that Mariah Carey or Beyoncé? One heavenly blue door leads to the Night Pub. And an even smaller door signals the Transit Hotel.
The entire community is, indeed, in transit to a better life. Today, with the Son of Kenya as President of the world’s superpower, many of them have hopes that their transit in Makina will be shortened.
These people feel that President Obama will put Kenya and Africa at the top of his agenda, but my driver knows better: “Obama was not elected to rule Kenya and Africa, “he tells me. “He is there to take care of America and Americans, but we do hope that Africa and Kenya specifically will figure a little higher at the top of his priorities. We love the man.”
And love him they do. Some Obama facts:
SCHOOLS: There is the Barack Obama Primary School, but the locals tell me that it is a matter of time before many other public schools are named after President Obama.
CELEBRATIONS IN HIS FATHER’S HOMELAND: Kogelo is the area where Obama’s father grew up. There yesterday was a contingent of media from around the world, BBC, ABC, AP, all witnessing the locals celebrate. Four bulls, 20 sheep and goats , all donated by well wishers, were slaughtered to feed the locals. Police officers lined up the roads. Traditional dancers provided entertainers. Obama carvings and artifacts were on display for sale
ELECTRICITY AND WATER: Now that Kogelo has become the most visible spot of Kenya for the world, the place where Obama’s stepgrandmother lives, the villagers, after going without water for years, are all smiles. The government is spending millions of shillings to set up a water project. The roads leading to Mrs. Obama’s home have been paved. Mama Sarah, as she is affectionately called, used to walk 2 kilometers to a river to get water, but not anymore.
BEER: The moment Obama was elected Senator, a beer in Kenya was named Senator. Will they switch to President now? You bet, I just found out that by evening on the same day Obama was inaugurated, there were beer bottles circulating with the President label.
It is a new beginning for sure and the smiles of the people here point towards an optimistic one.
My work in Kenya: The Nation
This visit to Nairobi kicks off our work at Garcia Media with the team of The Nation newspaper. I spend my days meeting with various editors, getting information about their sections, and soaking up all the information to begin the process of preparing sketches. Here I am with the newsroom team from The Nation. To my right, Wangethi Mwangi, Editorial Director for the Nation Media Group Limited.
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TheMarioBlog posting #173