Msafiri Issue 189 - February-March 2025

DEAR READER As Kenya Airways embarks on another chapter, I'm thrilled to share developments that highlight our commitment to excellence, innovation and connectivity. Starting July 2025, we'll launch direct flights to London Gatwick, enhancing our UK presence with two entry points – Gatwick and Heathrow. This increases our UK frequency to 10 weekly flights, offering more options and convenience. Gatwick's strategic location ensures access to Southern England, reflecting our growth strategy and reinforcing the UK as vital for trade, tourism and diaspora connections. Free to TAKE HOME We've also renewed our codeshare agreement with China Eastern Airlines (MU), strengthening ties between Africa and China. This partnership extends our reach to key Chinese destinations while offering seamless African connections for MU travellers, fostering global connectivity and enhancing customer experiences. Recent accolades reaffirm…

Wildlife Photographer of the Year was founded in 1965 by BBC Wildlife Magazine, then called Animals. The Natural History Museum joined forces in 1984 to create the competition as it is known today. The annual competition and touring exhibition are now run and owned by the Natural History Museum, London. Today, Wildlife Photographer of the Year is the world's most prestigious wildlife photography award. The winners of the sixty-first competition will be announced in October 2025, and entries to the next round of judging for the competition will open in October 2025 as well. For the past two years, the competition has waived the entry fee for 107 countries across the globe including in Africa. For more details, visit nhm.ac.uk/wpy…

Woe unto any Kenyan brother if he forgets or fumbles Feb fourteenth. He will hear about it when he least expects it. And that's when it will hit him: when a man makes this blunder, anything he says will be used against him. “My, my,” you blissfully blabber on a random August. “You look great today.” “WOMEN HAVE AN ELEPHANT'S MIND AND BELLY; THEY HAVE LONG MEMORIES AND TICKLISH FEELINGS” Nope. It's not a random August. It's exactly 187¼ days after Valentine's Day. And counting. Tut-tut. “Are you trying to insinuate that 187 days, six hours, and nine minutes ago I wasn't looking great?” Crickets. To save y'all brothers from booboos, here are a few tips to survive Valentine's Day… APP TO THE TASK If you have the memory of…

Studies have shown that friendships which provide companionship and social support can predict the wellbeing of individuals and even protect against depression and anxiety. The older I grow, the more I value my time, family and few true friends. I also realise I have become like my mother when I listen to myself lecture my children with statements such as ‘show me your friends, and I will show you who you are’. Here are three realities I have met on my friendship journeys… FIRST, BE YOUR FRIEND If you had a friend who treated you the way you treat yourself, would that friendship last? The best friend you will ever have has been staring right back at you in the mirror. Yes, you. Do not expect anyone to validate, prioritise…

Q WHAT IS YOUR VISION FOR THE TOURISM INDUSTRY? I felt a deep calling to elevate this critical sector for the prosperity of our people and country. My vision is to position Kenya as the premier experiential travel destination globally. By 2027, we aim to welcome 5 million annual visitors, offering immersive, authentic experiences that create lifelong ambassadors for Magical Kenya. To achieve this, we'll diversify our offerings, embrace technology and storytelling, and champion sustainable, community-driven tourism that empowers local populations. Q THE TOURISM SECTOR WAS HIT HARD BY THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC. WHAT STRATEGIES DO YOU PLAN TO IMPLEMENT TO REJUVENATE THE INDUSTRY AND ENSURE ITS RESILIENCE? The pandemic significantly disrupted tourism, including the domestic segment. KTB has developed a comprehensive recovery strategy as tourism contributes 10.4% of Kenya's GDP…

BURGER'S DAUGHTER NADINE GORDIMER One of the most famous literary exports is Nadine Gordimer, who was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1991. Her work was very political, and some of her books ended up being banned by the apartheid government in South Africa. One of these was the 1979 novel Burger's Daughter. The book follows a young Afrikaner woman called Rosa Burger after the death of her parents – both anti-apartheid campaigners. Her mother dies after an illness in prison, where her father also passes away having been given a life sentence for treason. Rosa becomes active in the anti-apartheid movement, but struggles to define who she is in the full weight of her parents’ shadows, in particular her father's. In time, she discovers that she is very…