Msafiri Issue 188 - Dec 2024 - Jan 2025

DEAR READER Welcome aboard your flight with Kenya Airways. Reflecting on 2024, I’m pleased to say there is much to be proud of. In the last issue of msafiri, we reported a half-year profit after tax for the first time in 10 years – a strong endorsement of our strategic turnaround plan, Project Kifaru. Throughout the last 12 months, sustainability and safety have remained the foundation of everything we do. As well as taking part in the SkyTeam Aviation Challenge (encouraging airlines to operate most sustainably), we have recently received certification from the European Union Aviation Safety Agency to show that we meet the safety and environmental protection requirements set by the EU. Free to TAKE HOME Kenya Airways will be chair of the African Airlines Association (AFRAA) in 2025.…

THE REVOLUTION WILL BE TWEETED The Gen Z protests were mobilised virtually. To most Wazee, meetings are done the old-fashioned way: physically. Our kids took our phones and, with the touch of a few buttons, did things that were totally alien to us – like causing whole revolutions. “Hey, how did you do that?” this digital migrant asked his digital native daughter after she fiddled with his phone and made several alien features pop up. Folks, I’m in class. I’m being taught basic phone lessons by my daughter. Hard to believe I’ve owned this phone for several years. ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS MOST WAZEE WANT TO KNOW ABOUT THEIR CHILDREN’S FRIENDS IS WHICH TRIBE THEY COME FROM. IT’S INSTINCTUAL IT'S NOT A CRIME TO LOL DURING PROTESTS Though the…

Why the fuss about happiness? And why does it seem so elusive in today’s world? Can money buy happiness? If so, why do some of the richest people around us appear so unhappy, while some poor ones seem to be living rich, full and meaningful lives? HAPPINESS CAN BE LEARNED AND NATURED Genetic factors have an important role in our characteristics. Research has shown that between 30-40 per cent of happiness is directly or indirectly determined by our genes while the remaining 60-70 per cent is affected by factors we can control such as our state of mind and how we perceive and lead our lives in our various environments. This means that we can shape and build our happiness. No one owes you your happiness. The Harvard study, one…

Naomi Kamau WORLD OF NANA ADVENTURES, KENYA WORLDOFNANAADVENTURES.CO.KE Naomi Kamau did not know how challenging running a tour firm during the Covid-19 pandemic (and in the days after) would be. One day, she embedded herself with traffic police officers manning a road intersection and handed out her business pamphlets to motorists in the hope that some would respond. “Some did,” she recalls. “We even closed a few deals. You must do whatever it takes to get on with it. That is what resilience is all about.” Naomi’s home near Nairobi National Park meant she grew up in close proximity to wildlife. She was an active member of local wildlife clubs. In college, she studied linguistics and tourism, graduating in 2013. “Everything seemed aligned for a career in tourism,” she says.…

MUMI Mumi is catfish among the Luo people, who live near Lake Victoria, or Nam Lolwe as it’s known in the western part of Kenya. The Luo, given their proximity to the lake, obviously have fish as one of their staples. Mumi is a periphery dish, not as prevalent as tilapia or Nile perch. Like its cousin the mudfish (kamongo), mumi burrow in the mud when water bodies recede during the dry season. To catch them, fishermen employ a simple but ingenious technique, pouring water on the surface before hitting the ground with sticks to give an impression of rain which drives the fish from their burrows. They’re then easily caught. The fish are gutted, cut into small pieces and then salted and laid out in the sun to dry.…

Q WHAT DRIVES YOU? My passion lies in showcasing Kenya’s incredible diversity – from its landscapes and wildlife to its rich cultural heritage. Whether it’s the savannah teeming with wildlife, pristine beaches, or majestic mountains, Kenya has experiences that deserve to be shared with the world. Protecting our environment, conserving wildlife, and ensuring that local communities benefit from tourism are key priorities for me. I also want to create opportunities for youth, women, and people with disabilities to ensure the benefits of tourism are felt across the country. I am deeply committed to making Kenya’s tourism sector sustainable -not just in terms of economic growth, but also by positioning it as a top global destination through innovation and partnerships. Tourism has the power to transform lives, and I see it as…