Msafiri Issue 186 - August-September 2024

DEAR READER I'm delighted to welcome you aboard your flight with Kenya Airways. We have now resumed direct flights between Nairobi and Maputo - our 45th destination. This is a major milestone in our network expansion journey that complements our broader strategy for 2024, which includes increased frequencies to key destinations such as New York, Paris, Lagos, Accra and Freetown. Aviation is critical to boosting national GDPs by creating jobs and fostering economic activity. The increase in intra-African travel will catalyse economic development across the continent. At KQ, our passion lies in connecting Africa, making trade and travel between our nations more accessible than ever before. FREE COPY! I'm also pleased to announce we are now operating flights to Dubai and the DR Congo with the recently introduced Airbus A330-300,…

Africa is a continent of unparalleled beauty and resilience yet burdened by an enduring challenge: poverty. The roots of poverty in Africa run deep, stemming from a complex interplay of historical injustices, economic inequalities, and systemic challenges. In particular, social services and social support systems struggle to keep pace, leaving millions without access to basic necessities, and exposed to the effects of poverty. Advancing social assistance and transiting households out of poverty (poverty graduation) in the Horn of Africa demands comprehensive and integrated approaches that address immediate population needs while laying the groundwork for sustainable development. By prioritising social safety nets, inclusive economic growth, human capital investments, good governance, climate resilience, and regional cooperation, the region can make significant strides towards reducing poverty, empowering communities, and building a prosperous future…

The Pride of Africa has long supported sports development in Kenya, as part of the airline's commitment to harnessing the country's rich sporting talent. Kenya Airways recognises the unique role sport plays in shaping the nation's identity, and its involvement with the World Rally Championship, the Magical Kenya Open and, previously, the Kenya Rugby Sevens team is testament to that. It was with great pride in July that KQ helped wave the 83 Team Kenya competitors on their way to Paris to compete at this year's Olympic and Paralympic Games, with group managing director and CEO Allan Kilavuka attending the team's kit unveiling ceremony, held at President William Ruto's residence, State House in Nairobi. Kenya Airways will be flying some of the Kenvan athletes to the Paris Olympics.…

1 THE EIFFEL TOWER At 330m high, the symbol of Paris towers above a spectacular city landscape. Built in 1887-1889, La dame de fer (the Iron Lady) formed part of the celebrations marking 100 years since the French Revolution. Visitors can experience the capital from the clouds on three observation levels. 2 LOUVRE MUSEUM The most-visited museum in the world, the Louvre is home to arguably the most famous painting in the world, Leonardo da Vinci's Mona Lisa. But there's so much more to see, not least the Venus de Milo statue, a collection of Egyptian mummies and its innovative reflective glass pyramid entrance. 3 ARC DE TRIOMPHE Commissioned in 1806 by Napoleon to honour his army's victories, it took 30 years to complete, by which time the infamous general…

Lady Susan Wood and her husband, Sir Michael Wood, initially arrived in Kenya to run medical camps under an initiative they founded called The Flying Doctors, later to become the African Medical Research Foundation (AMREF). In the same year, Lady Wood had a vision to use creativity to generate employment for disadvantaged and unemployed people, especially single mothers. With a workforce of two women and a small pottery in her backyard, Kazuri Beads was born. "When Susan started Kazuri she didn't know anything about beading, there was a lot of trial and error," says Noora Zein, marketing, sales and creative designer at Kazuri Beads. "Single mothers would come looking for employment and she would take them in and train them. She would challenge them and tell them to go home…

Njaanuary. That’s the name of the longest month in Kenya. In Swahili, njaa means hunger Kenyans believe the first month of the year has at least 101 days of hardship, especially after we splurge in December like tenderpreneurs. Then there's August. Which, according to most Kenyans, should be renamed Aghast - because it's jinxed. Nobody knows when this jinx began. But we're constitutionally fixed. Guess when Kenya holds its General Elections? The second Tuesday in August, in every fifth year. The drafters of our 2010 constitution were like: "I have a ghastly idea! Do they believe August is cursed? Let’s turn it a notch higher!” Guess where our legislators hold court? Aghast House. HISTORICAL JINXES Kenya's founding father Mzee Jomo Kenyatta died on 22 August 1978. Exactly 25 years and…