First day in Kakamega

We always hit the ground running! After an uneventful but tedious journey from Nairobi (you don't want to know about some parts of the road) we went to the Kakamega Sports Club for supper. What a warm welcome from everyone from the askari (guard) on the gate, to the waiter, to the head cook, to our Tembo board members and good friends Richard & Reuben. Richard entertained us to a meal refusing all protests. Reuben is now a leader in the county council & probably will not have the time to continue on our advisory committee. However, we had a serious discussion about the school in his area where I have done Virtues training and Read for the Top. They claim to have ten dilapidated pit latrines (Reuben says even less)  to serve over 500 children. They are asking for composting toilets and, pending a visit to verify a couple of things, we have promised a unit of 4 doors for the girls and two doors plus urinal for the boys. This is a leap of faith since we have no dedicated funding for sanitation. Anyone who knows of individuals or companies who might support this project, please talk it up. I'll post a video after the visit on Tuesday.
The contest for Form 2 students who have read the Hunger Games will start next Thursday with a showing of the movie.
Then we launch into the anti-violence seminars.

Leaving Nairobi

Our vehicle was delivered in good shape and we leave the peaceful setting of the United Kenya Club for Kakamega today.

A near miss

A herd of these guys ran across the highway in front of us as we left the airport in the early hours of the morning . Our driver braked hard and missed the rump of the last one by inches.

Calm and quiet in Nairobi

Although we were delayed by 3-4 hours because of an engine leak on the plane in London we arrived safely in Nairobi in the early hours of the morning. We were expecting difficulties because of the destruction by fire of the Immigration section at Jomo Kenyatta airport a few weeks ago, we were favourably impressed by the area which has been set up and the efficiency of passing through customs and immigration processes. We have completed the entry requirements yesterday and have the requisite stamps in our passports. Nairobi is peaceful and orderly. There are even working traffic lights (bright, spanking new) at the major roundabouts, although it is obviously going to take a while before drivers actually observe them and the police stop trying to do a better job of directing traffic against the lights.
The news is of course still full of the Westgate Mall attack, but the atmosphere is quiet and letters to the newspapers and editorial comments, though full of sorrow, are united in their determination not to let it affect the smooth running of the country. There are many questions to be answered in the next months about intelligence information and organisational responses. One police commander was shot dead in 'error' by a supposedly cooperating force.
Our vehicle should be delivered to us this afternoon and we drive to Kakamega on Saturday to start organising projects

Terrorist attack at Westgate Mall, Nairobi

The chair of our Kenyan Committee, Richard, has let us know that his family is safe in Nairobi. Although they are faithful customers of the Westgate Mall, they were not there this Saturday when the terrorist attack occurred..

Leaving September 23

We shall arrive in Nairobi on September 25 and hope to be in Kakamega on 26 or 27. We have a substantial grant for water, enough to continue job training and materials for Read for the Top. Mid-November we hope to launch the Virtues Project in Botswana. Follow us on Facebook (TemboinKenya) and on Twitter@TemboinKenya.