tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-61274782011-12-15T05:59:12.725+03:00Nairobbery - Tales from KenyaA commentary on living in the capital of eastern Africa, day to day events and thoughts, and news, of course!Jakenoreply@blogger.comBlogger221100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6127478.post-1129190701555489532005-10-13T10:52:00.000+03:002005-10-13T11:05:01.606+03:00Amboseli degazettement - The days of Decrees return.Not wishing to politicise this blog, dear readers, the uproar about Amboseli's degazettement is deafening. So without commenting further, I recommend that you visit Save Amboseli National Park website and sign up in protest at this unorthodox and potentially devastating move.Are the days of Presidential Decrees upon us again? Can our leaders Jakenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6127478.post-1129020017671632542005-10-11T11:33:00.000+03:002005-10-11T11:40:17.680+03:00The lungs of the city rediscovered!The long weekend has helped us re-discover one of Nairobi's attractions: Nairobi National Park, and with the expert advice of Kaputie, we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. A dawn entry into the park on Sunday, and we were off. Within 10 minutes we had our first stroke of luck: 4 lions. We stopped for breakfast on the roof of the old Land Cruiser at the Athi Dam: A Jakenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6127478.post-1129015833184085622005-10-11T10:09:00.000+03:002005-10-11T10:30:33.190+03:00Why do we live in Nairobi again?Well, this weekend we re-discovered some of the reasons why we live in Nairobi, or rather, why Nairobi can be a wonderful place to live. Apart from the fact that now all the trees are in spectacular bloom, meaning the green city in the sun is temporarily purple, yellow, red, white and pink, we were awakened to the joy of Nairobi National Park.We went to stay with Jakenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6127478.post-1127888118364354002005-09-28T09:07:00.000+03:002005-09-28T09:19:55.866+03:00Flowers and TrafficNairobi will soon be at its prettiest with the blooming flower season already here. Most trees are either already in full bloom or shedding most of their leaves in preaparation for flowering. Jacarandas, avocados, mangos and all manner of indigenous versions are colouring the city's streets.Nairobi can be very pretty sometimes, if one can just temporarily shut out the traffic Jakenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6127478.post-1127288332767482192005-09-21T10:29:00.000+03:002005-09-21T10:38:52.773+03:00Eat Oranges! Eat Bananas! Get healthy and forget your troubles!With all the noise about the Bananas and Oranges, it is hard to think about the daily troubles we all face: It is a clever political ruse to divert our attention away from poor roads, unruly matatus, increasing fuel prices and stagnant salaries.Nevertheless, most normal people would like the politicians to SHUT UP for once, and try toJakenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6127478.post-1123057184093049222005-08-03T11:00:00.000+03:002005-08-03T11:19:44.100+03:00Murungaru Rules RIP? (Compliance flagging anyway!)As we read with horror of a court actually agreeing to prevent enforcement of lifesaving traffic rules, the evidence of flagging compliance by PSVs (Public Service Vehicles) is all around us on the capital's roads.The "Solid Yellow Band" that is supposed to show all and sundry "Hi! I am a Matatu! Oh, and My Route is as follows... etc", well in theJakenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6127478.post-1122273041925586382005-07-25T09:23:00.000+03:002005-07-25T09:30:41.930+03:00Monkey Business...Despite that fact that Nairobi's gardens are choking with avocado, guava, pomegranite, and a myriad of other fruit bearing trees, it seems that the semi-friendly Syke's monkey (a guenon, in fact!) prefers human company.Our local chap showed up on Saturday afternoon, delighting the children, and amusing our 1 year old who learnt to say "monkey". He was sitting on the roof of the Jakenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6127478.post-1121693789903642852005-07-18T16:31:00.000+03:002005-07-18T16:36:29.903+03:00A quickie on the weird morals of the USAThere is a game called GTA San Andreas. It is controversial at best, but the latest twist is simply surreal, since it even has Senator Hilary Clinton commenting on it.At the controversy's heart is a small mod (Hot Coffee Mod) that unlocks some sexual explicitness within the game. So the raging debate is whether to increase the ESRB rating for the game to Jakenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6127478.post-1121693453827399672005-07-18T16:28:00.000+03:002005-07-18T16:31:30.410+03:00The Safari Rally (or A Brief Encounter with Kenya Macho)Having been inspired to go watch the Safari Rally on its last day at Athi River Super Special Stage, we left town early morning, and arrived at the quarry around 9:30 am, just in time to catch the last of the 2 wheel drive vehicles going round the special stage.Quite a sizeable crowd had gathered already, and the rally basically was taking Jakenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6127478.post-1121237089510957822005-07-13T09:39:00.000+03:002005-07-13T09:44:49.516+03:00Three quick entries for mid July...1. Road safety? Our poor poor children!Well, after Matatus (the ubiquitous Nairobi and country-wide nissan minivans that carry commuters) had to install seatbelts, speed governers and sensible drivers with uniforms, some sanity was restored to our roads. The number of accidents significantly decreased... like 60% decrease!!!Great. But what about school buses, Jakenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6127478.post-1120308214671952142005-07-02T15:40:00.000+03:002005-07-02T15:43:34.676+03:00Matatus... MaThrees... Mats... we love to hate them, fear them and even revile them, but they make a major contribution to our society. Lets face it, without MaThrees we'd be up shit creek as a city. The only major bus company is losing vehicles to its creditors, so "footing" would be the predominant method of transport for Nairobi's denizens.However, I digress: The funny side of the "Matatu Jakenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6127478.post-1120138773062565242005-06-30T16:13:00.000+03:002005-06-30T16:39:33.096+03:00Some new new quickies:Hamerkop Flying LessonsIt seems that a breeding season is coming to a close in the local hamerkop's nest. With much noise and wing-flapping up to five hamerkops (Scopus scopus) have been circling the garden as dusk draws near. A reminder of the proximity of nature in this urban crisis of a city. Speaking of crises....Smog smog smogWell it is expected that a city like NairobiJakenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6127478.post-1118901484048417382005-06-16T08:49:00.000+03:002005-06-16T08:58:04.053+03:00Nairobbery - Tales from Kenya has been hibernating for some long while of late. One wonders why, but reasons are often plain to see. The arrival of a new family member definitely kills any spare time available and while that was now one whole year ago, it takes about one year for the little one to become a not-so-little one. Now she is firmly in the "Toddler" range of being, and perhaps my spare Jakenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6127478.post-1082452370553902392004-04-20T12:12:00.000+03:002004-04-20T12:16:54.983+03:00Reality Check!
Reasons not to live in Nairobi, Kenya:
Security concerns
High taxation with no discernible services
Comparatively low pay across the board
(Unless you are an expatriate, in which case expect excessive fringe benefits)
Pathetic communications and transport infrastructure
Little or no truly inspirational nightlife
High cost of living in Nairobi
Reasons to live in Nairobi, Kenya:
Jakenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6127478.post-1082187441074401212004-04-17T10:37:00.000+03:002004-04-17T10:41:20.936+03:00From February to April... certainly not a regular blogger... yet! However, a number of interesting things have prompted me to add some more blogg from Nairobbery!
Nairobbery Nature
Despite living next to the Nairobi River, which flows through some of Nairobi's slums, namely Kangemi, an astonishing array of wildlife can be observed. I was most surprised to see the largest bird of prey several Jakenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6127478.post-1075808913785974522004-02-03T14:48:00.000+03:002004-02-03T14:50:52.216+03:00So January has already gone, and Valentine's month is here. What's new in Nairobi?
Well for one thing the Michuki initiative to get the public transport sector into a safer state for commuters has been successful in some ways: Most Matatus are off the road, many poeple are staying t home, so I am sure the number of accidents has been reduced. Also it is hard to conceive of an accident when Jakenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6127478.post-1073632177696796762004-01-09T10:09:00.000+03:002004-01-09T10:12:17.310+03:00Happy 2004!
Nairobi has been most unlike itself in the past 3 weeks. First and foremost there have been absolutely no gridlock traffic jams - quite the opposite of our usual commuting experiences.
This all changed on Monday 5th when it seemed the long silent roads took their debts and tripled the size, scale and scope of the traffic of denizens returned from their upcountry/shags/mashambani/Jakenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6127478.post-1070517194561862582003-12-04T08:53:00.000+03:002003-12-04T08:53:24.700+03:00Well a week goes by and the blog sits!
It is December, and the reality of no money for x-mas is upon us!! So looks like a quiet 4 weeks in Nairobi, the city that gets utterly deserted during the holiday times.
In Fact... it is incredible. Public buses were fully booked for the 23rd Dec - 2nd Jan by the end of October. Kenya is a country obsessed with having roots in the country, and going thereJakenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6127478.post-1069833597881056632003-11-26T10:59:00.000+03:002003-11-26T11:00:05.856+03:00A Public Holiday today - Eid - Hurray!
Except of course there is always work to do, so I am in the office alone, updating some of our sites. Ivan Carter for example, is a great white African icon. A white Zimbabwean, he has more in common with his African countrymen than with those of his own race.
However, all is not lost on this nice extra public holiday. A barbeque bekons (Nyama Choma) thisJakenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6127478.post-1069746158899815242003-11-25T10:42:00.000+03:002003-11-25T10:45:09.303+03:00Well, being held up is one thing... being injured in a hold up is another... Here is a friend's story:
"in september i was in the wrong place at the wrong time eating at a restaurant in Timboni which was raided by 8 armed bandits. very early on in the attack just as I had got up and was trying to get my girlfriend, a****, under cover of a table, one of the guys thrust a spear into my back, all Jakenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6127478.post-1069742497225828902003-11-25T09:41:00.000+03:002003-11-25T09:41:45.336+03:00About being held up
Nairobi has, sadly, become a byword for crime. Its a pity because 99.99% of Kenyans are peaceful, content, and very very friendly. That 0.0001% of Kenyans who have taken the road to crime are simply desperate. What to do?
Well, my advice is: "Surrender!"
The other day I was sitting in my office when a call came through on the mobile. I fancied a cigarette, so wandered out Jakenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6127478.post-1069741352051965462003-11-25T09:22:00.000+03:002003-11-25T09:22:40.333+03:00It was finally decided: Time to join the legions of Bloggers, and bring the world some news, tales and information about life in Kenya, especially Nairobi, Kenya's capital city.
Nairobi, affectionately called Nairobbery by its erstwhile residents, is a not-very-large city of about 3 million residents. Some few of these people live in houses and flats (or apartments) in nice, green leafy Jakenoreply@blogger.com0