Msafiri Issue 185 - June-July 2024

DEAR READER Welcome aboard your flight with Kenya Airways. There's lots of positive news to share with you in this issue of our award-winning inflight magazine. From mid-June, we will operate new flights between Nairobi and Maputo, flying to the Mozambique capital on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays. Read more about this dynamic city inside. We also have a feature on Eldoret where we resumed flights earlier this year as an important step towards post-pandemic recovery. FREE COPY! New York and Paris also feature in this truly global issue of msafiri. We have increased the number of weekly flights to both destinations to meet the growing appetite for travel to Kenya. And, of course, all eyes will be on Paris over the coming weeks when the city promises to host an…

TAKE ME THERE Uganda is set to welcome runners from all over the world at the third Tusker Lite Rwenzori Marathon on 24 August 2024. This exciting event takes place in the foothills of the Rwenzori Mountains – the ‘Mountains of the Moon’ – in western Uganda, offering participants a challenging course in stunning scenery. A world-class event certified by the World Athletics Federation, the Rwenzori Marathon is the only certified marathon in Uganda. Established to create positive social change in the Rwenzori region, it aims to promote healthy living, boost tourism and support local communities through the power of running. It also hopes to highlight the beauty of the Rwenzori Mountains, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The race features both a full and half-marathon course, as well as a…

A few years ago, I discussed talent versus training with award-winning actress and co-founder of Shorts from Africa, Nyokabi Macharia. Although she highlighted the importance of training and talent to one's craft, she added a third factor to the mix: confidence. “I think confidence is the one thing that will make you succeed,” she says. “I've seen extremely talented people who lack the confidence to put themselves out there. And the less you put yourself out there, the less people get to know you and the less people are interested in you. “For instance, in our local industry, some people do what some of us would consider ridiculous work when it comes to creativity, but because of the confidence they have in what they're doing, people start buying into it…

COURAGE IS THE COMPLEMENT OF FEAR A person who does not fear cannot be courageous. A brave person is not someone who does not feel scared, but remembers their purpose and destination, acknowledges their fears and conquers them. It is doing what you are afraid to do. Courage propels one to act, thereby breeding confidence. Worry breeds inaction, which carries with it doubts, fear, stagnation and regret. A hero is no braver than an ordinary man, but he is brave five minutes longer RALPH WALDO EMERSON GOING IT ALONE Sometimes courage will require that you walk away from familiar circles, crowds and routines, forcing you to swim alone in the deep waters. You either make the tough decision or forgo the growth, there is no sitting on the fence. Moreover,…

Lucy Muchemi MAVENS PLUMBERS, KENYA FACEBOOK: MAVENS PLUMBERS LIMITED Few women get into the trenches with pipes, wrenches and glue to work as plumbers. Lucy Muchemi is among those few who have dared to get into a sector long associated with macho men. Muchemi is softly spoken with an easy smile, the only items giving her away being the safety helmet, steel cap boots and a yellow jacket – her attire on construction sites. Tees, elbows, nipples and unions are now part of her vocabulary. In 2012, Muchemi and a friend opened a plumbing business with what she calls a “modest” capital investment of about Ksh100,000 (US$765). The business made some returns, but things quickly went south. “The business failed miserably because my partner and I were two people with…

“THROUGH MARKETING CAMPAIGNS, WE AIM TO HIGHLIGHT EXTRAORDINARY ADVENTURES, LUXURY EXPERIENCES, CUL TURAL IMMERSION AND FAMIL Y-FRIENDL Y OFFERINGS” WHAT MADE THE MMWCA AND THE COUNTY GOVERNMENT OF NAROK DEVELOP THE ONE MARA BRAND INTEGRATED MARKETING STRATEGY? We noticed several challenges hindering the Greater Maasai Mara ecosystem from realising its full potential as a world tourism destination, especially the lack of a unified marketing strategy, poor synergy among stakeholders, overcrowding during peak season and negative publicity. These issues undermined the long-term sustainability of conservation and visitor experience of the ecosystem. Recognising the need for a cohesive approach, our new framework seeks to streamline messaging, harmonise marketing efforts, enhance collaboration, set standards and present a unified front to showcase the unique offerings of the ecosystem. HOW WILL THE CONSOLIDATION OF THE…