Table of contents for Issue 171 - Feb-March 2022 in Msafiri

kanbu DEAR READER Welcome to the February–March 2022 issue of msafiri. We’re confident that 2022 is going to be a good year for travel. As we enter the third year of the pandemic, our resilience remains strong and we are excited to be celebrating the milestone of 45 years serving Africa. Throughout 2022, we will continue to launch new cargo and passenger routes, both regionally and globally. Our new service between Juba and Khartoum, for example, provides much-needed opportunities for boosting business, trade and movement of aid, and is part of our long-term commitment to improving connectivity across Africa. We are also pleased to announce that we have taken the first steps to establishing a Pan-African Airline Group with South African Airways that will further expand customer options across the…

EARTH MATTERS SUPPORTING RURAL LIVELIHOODS THE SPIKY PLANT MAKING AN IMPRESSION ON LOCAL COMMUNITIES Aloe is well known for its medicinal properties. But in dry regions, such as northern Kenya, it is also the natural – and native – choice for a drought-resistant, succulent cash crop WORDS: PAUL UDOTO, @PAULUDOTO Following the revival of aloe growing and commercialisation in Kenya’s Baringo County, a sustainable nature-based community enterprise with immense potential to support rural livelihoods, enhance environmental conservation and nurture entrepreneurial skills is taking root. Aloe exploitation in dry lands is an excellent entry point for rural livelihood support and biodiversity conservation. Initial efforts involving communities in aloe harvesting, processing, product development and marketing in Baringo about 15 years ago failed due to insufficient capital, poor pricing and mistrust among the parties…

BUSINESS LET’S TALK BUSINESS KENYA: A POWERHOUSE FOR CLEAN ENERGY? Kenya’s potential for renewable energy production is big, but the challenges are bigger, according to David Kariuki, CEO of Metrocart Kenya WORDS: MARGARET NJUGUNAH Kenya has huge potential for growing its renewable energy sector to a point where it could even export to other countries. David Kariuki, CEO of Metrocart Kenya, a company offering renewable energy solutions, says the country would do well if it turned to renewable energy to supply the remainder of the population that still lacks power. Data from the World Bank indicates that the country has the highest electricity access rate in East Africa, standing at 75%, both from the grid and off-grid solutions. Additional data from the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa reveals that…

TRENDING SPECIAL REPORT FROM DAKAR FASHION SENEGAL Where design heritage meets modern styling for the New Age African. A special report from Dakar Fashion Week WORDS: ANNABEL ONYANGO | @ANNABELONYANGO BADARAPREIRA FOR SASSY CHIC BOUTIQUE @KINGMAKH FOR L’ARTISANE @PIERREDEPEREOUGES BADARAPREIRA FOR SASSY CHIC BOUTIQUE As your trusted msafiri Trending correspondent, I’m here to inform you that Africans are killin’ it shah! Attending my first ever Dakar Fashion Week (@dakarfashionweek) in Senegal in December 2021 underscores in my mind that African fashion is a gift of greatness to the continent that will continue to be passed from generation to generation. But how do you define “great”? Does great mean that you are commercially successful? Does it mean that you are universally adored? Does being great mean that you are better than the…

MARTIN KIBISU FAHARI INNOVATION RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT LEAD I joined the airline as a member of the cabin crew in 2005, rising to a become a flight purser. Then we started the customer experience project in 2014 and I was seconded to the transformative project with a role as continuous improvement associate before my current role as research and development lead for Faharl Innovation. Q What would you like to innovation hub? We are opening the space for African entrepreneurs to access aviation space and get value on their projects. I would love to see the innovators come up with cutting-edge products, either new or improved, that can add to the aviation value chain. Q Does your team have the resources needed to drive innovation? First, we are happy that…

NAIROBI NATIONAL PARK PARK LIFE Nairobi National Park serves as the city’s ‘lungs’ through various vital environmental services, such as water catchment, fresh air and climate change mitigation. It is also Kenya’s wildlife ‘shop window’ with a diversity of ecological assets remarkable for its size and location. The national park is home to over 100 mammal species, four of which are among the Big Five – lion, buffalo, leopard and rhino. The park is primarily a savannah park with rolling grasslands interspersed with riverine woodland, pockets of whistling acacia, thick bush in the valleys, rocky gorges and dry forest. An ornithological paradise, over 500 bird species have been recorded, 20 of which are seasonal European migrants. Conspicuous species include the marabou stork, ostrich and helmeted guinea fowl.…

VISITING NAIROBI NATIONAL PARK GETTING THERE The park is open daily from 6am to 6pm and is accessible through four visitor entrances by road only, while Langata Gate is reserved for exits only. You may choose to self-drive or join an organised tour. Most hotels in Nairobi arrange full or half-day tours to the park. You can also book a place on the three-hour guided tour run by the Kenya Wildlife Service. An expert guide will drive you around the park in a purpose-built safari vehicle that provides an elevated viewpoint. The Kenya Association of Tour Operators (KATO) maintains a directory of reputable tour operators. Another option is to simply arrive at the main gate of the national park where there are always community tour guides available for hire. WHAT…

SUSTAINABLE LIVES love letter to a life in the wilds of kenya Meet Sophie Grant – safari lodge owner, advocate of green living and author of The Bush Kitchen: Notes and Recipes from the Wild PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE AUTHOR We have spent the past 12 years building and creating an eco-tourism lodge and safari experience called El Karama Lodge in Northern Kenya’s Laikipia region. Our primary focus is family travel, sustainable tourism and positive impact safaris. Through this work I have met many encouraging guests, both from our country and from abroad, who have connected with the natural world and how we live in harmony with it here. Through these relationships, and those we have nurtured within our team for many years, I could see there was an opportunity…

KQ launches flights between Juba and Khartoum AIRLINE INTRODUCES THREE TIMES A WEEK SERVICE CONNECTING SOUTH SUDAN WITH SUDAN Kenya Airways has extended its reach in the region, boosting its schedule to include three flights per week from Juba in South Sudan to Khartoum in Sudan. The service, operated by a 96-seat Embraer 190 jet, flies from Nairobi to Juba on Wednesdays and Sundays, with onward connections to Khartoum; the return leg operates direct from Khartoum to Nairobi. On Fridays the route flies direct from Nairobi to Khartoum, with the return journey incorporating a stop in Juba. Allan Kilavuka, KQ’s chief executive, said: “Kenya Airways is steadfast on creating free flows of trade and tourism across Africa and in other key markets because we believe our wide network and reliable…

First step taken towards pan-African airline Kenya Airways and South African Airways (SAA) have signed an extension to their Special Prorate Agreement (SPA) to boost connectivity and expand customer options in Africa and beyond. The SPA extension adds to the interline co-operation agreement between the two carriers and forms the first step in establishing a Pan-African Airline Group, as agreed with their recent inking of a strategic partnership framework. Through this agreement, customers of both airlines will have access to more destinations, including New York, London, Amsterdam, Paris, internationally, and Cape Town, Mombasa, Kinshasa, Lagos and Juba, among others across Africa. Allan Kilavuka, chief executive, Kenya Airways, said: “The extension of the SPA will boost connectivity and expand customer options in Africa and beyond. KQ and SAA continue to explore ways…

cargo & fleet CARGO FIRST EXPORT CARGO FLIGHT TAKES OFF FROM KISUMU TWICE-WEEKLY SERVICE WILL PRIMARILY SERVE KENYA’S AGRICULTURE SECTOR, REMOVING THE NEED FOR COSTLY ROAD TRANSFERS TO NAIROBI January saw the launch of export cargo flights out of Kisumu International Airport, with the airline’s first official flight carrying a consignment of chillies to the UK. The new twice-weekly service – operated by an E190 aircraft and providing 6000kg of capacity – offers onward worldwide connections via KQ’s Nairobi hub. Commodities expected to be carried include avocados, fish, chillies, mangoes, pineapple, peanuts, bananas and green vegetables. Last year, the national government allocated Ksh1.2 billion (US$10.6m) to expand Kisumu’s airport, which saw the creation of a Cargo village, incorporating state-of-the-art cold storage facilities. The service became reality thanks to a public-private partnership…

duty free FEELING GOOD A SELECTION OF COOL PRODUCTS AVAILABLE ON BOARD YOUR KENYA AIRWAYS FLIGHT Watches BERING SLIM SOLAR WATCH This light and ultrathin solar watch sits comfortably on your wrist and is characterised by fine is its rechargeable battery – charged by any kind of light and which lasts for six to 12 months on a single full charge. The classically beautiful edged case is made of polished silver stainless steel. Under the crystal-clear, hard and scratch-resistant sapphire crystal glass is a minimalist dial with matching indices and hands, ensuring an elegant and sophisticated look. Fragrances and beauty NUTS ’N’ OILS MULTI-PURPOSE ORGANIC SHEA BUTTER Pure, natural, unrefined, handcrafted raw shea butter, made by Ugandan women using traditional methods. Nuts ’n’ Oils Organic Shea Butter is a 100…

BRILLIANT MINDS A LIFE IN RESEARCH DR BONGUMENZI NXUMALO Meet the South African archaeologist who has shone new light on the ancient African kingdom of Mapungubwe around the confluence of the Limpopo and Shashe rivers WORDS: TABITHA MWANGI Bongumenzi Sthembiso Nxumalo was born in 1988 in KwaNongoma, KwaZulu Natal, South Africa. After his father’s wholesale business collapsed in 1995, the family moved to his grandfather’s home in Umlazi township. At seven years old, having completed a year of primary school, Bongumenzi could not write his name, so he retook his Grade 1. “I struggled to read and write in Zulu and my parents thought exposure to more English would help,” says Bongumenzi. “I was transferred to Melmoth Primary School but had to repeat Grade 3 because I was so behind.” Bongumenzi…

INNOVATION AT KQ HOW A LOCAL UNIVERSITY PROVIDES INNOVATORS WITH TECHNICAL SUPPORT When the Fahari Innovation Challenge began in July last year, Strathmore University was co-opted to provide technical guidance around accuracy of innovation and entrepreneurial information. The university joined other partners, such as Qhala and SNDBX, in helping entrepreneurs grow their start-ups and address the high levels of youth unemployment within Kenya and the rest of the continent. Linda Kwamboka, the entrepreneur-in-residence at Strathmore University, says her role included designing innovation programmes that support entrepreneurs. “I see the Innovation Hub as an opportunity to integrate current innovative solutions with the market. This will result in cost saving and open opportunities of what one can do in the aviation industry value chain,” says Kwamboka. In addition, Kwamboka says Strathmore was…

kusafiri ALL YOU NEED FOR A SAFE & ENJOYABLE JOURNEY WITH US REMI VACHER/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM Guess where… Ice isn’t something you usually associate with the heat of sun-drenched Africa, but it is out there if you know where to look. Like a surreal moonscape, this spectacular field of gleaming white pillars rises to greet intrepid hikers as they attempt to conquer one of the continent’s iconic landmarks. But which of Kenya Airways’ destinations is home to this most unexpected of natural wonders? TURN TO PAGE 87 FOR THE ANSWER…

MEET THE KQ TEAM JOHN NALIANYA HEAD OF PASSENGER SERVICES Tell us about your journey to KQ. I was working for the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority as an air traffic controller at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA), when, in 2001, an opportunity arose at KQ. I applied and was offered a position of operations officer. Since then I have held various roles, key among them are: duty manager, Operations Control; manager, Operations Control; manager, Crew Scheduling; part-time trainer and operations auditor; head of Operations Control Centre; and now head of Passenger Services. What are your key responsibilities? I am responsible for the overall guest experience at JKIA and all KQ outstations. My responsibilities include delivering seamless customer experience at our airports, both for departing and arriving guests; inspiring staff to…

LOYALTY SCHEME Flying Blue: How to stay Miles ahead Being a member of the Flying Blue frequent flyer programme allows you to earn reward Miles every time you fly with KQ and our partner airlines. And what’s more, it’s free to join. You can redeem your Miles for flights, upgrade your seat, or pay for your accommodation or car rental. Your Miles are valid for life as long as you take an eligible flight at least once every two years. The more you travel, the more Experience Points you receive – earning you greater numbers of Miles and benefits. For more information on Flying Blue, go to flyingblue.com AIRLINE TRIVIA Did you know? The flying time from Nairobi to New York is around 15 hours, but the return journey only…

in-flight entertainment KQ Cinema CHOOSE FROM A HOST OF NEW ON-BOARD CONTENT — THERE’S SOME 80 MOVIES, 55 TV PROGRAMMES AND 1000 MUSIC TRACKS FOR YOU TO ENJOY PICK OF THE FLICKS BLACK WIDOW ACTION A solo movie for Black Widow has been in the works from the early stages of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Now in 2022, we see Scarlett Johansson bring the character of Natasha Romanoff to life one last time in this standalone adventure. This is Johansson’s ninth time starring as the deadly spy turned Avenger, and Black Widow proves a fitting closing chapter for the character of the same name. A fugitive from the US government for violating the Sokovia Accords, we see Black Widow in action without the aid of her fellow Avengers for the first…

LIFE NOTES TO MY FUTURE BETTER SELF 3 THINGS ABOUT LIFE I WISH I KNEW EARLIER In this issue of msafiri, we welcome a new columnist – Nairobi-based medical advisor Lutawo Ouma – who will be writing about how we can learn from our mistakes and seek to become better versions of ourselves WORDS: LUTAWO OUMA Haba na haba hujaza kibaba (SWAHILI PROVERB) Little or small things, when combined together over time, fill up the measure. 01 AT SOME POINT, MY LIFE WILL BE THE SUM OF MOST OF MY DECISIONS What type of diet did I decide to abide to? What type of company did I decide to keep? What was my problem-solving approach? Burn or build? Overcome or run? Whom did I decide to settle down with? What career…

LISTEN & LEARN Pick up a new language with these apps… BABBEL THIS APP USES A “SCIENTIFICALLY PROVEN METHOD” TO HELP YOU MASTER A NEW LANGUAGE IN AS LITTLE AS THREE WEEKS. YOU CAN EVEN DROP INTO LIVE ONLINE CLASSES TAUGHT BY WORLD-CLASS TEACHERS. BABBEL.COM BUSUU BUSUU HELPS YOU LEARN 12 LANGUAGES IN THE COMPANY OF NATIVE SPEAKERS. IT’S IDEAL FOR BUSY PEOPLE AS ITS BITE-SIZE LESSONS TAKE UP JUST 10 MINUTES OF YOUR DAY. BUSUU.COM ROSETTA STONE THE BEAUTY OF THIS APP IS THAT IT USES ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE. THE APP ‘LISTENS’ AS YOU SPEAK, CORRECTING YOUR MISTAKES IN REAL TIME AND DEMONSTRATING HOW CERTAIN WORDS SHOULD SOUND. ROSETTASTONE.COM…

WELLNESS 5 YOGA STYLES NEW YEAR, NEW YOU Yoga has been proven to reduce anxiety, improve mental health and increase focus and capability. So, even if you can't make the Kilifi Wellness Festival taking place in Kenya during February, there’s no excuse not to take care of your mind, body and soul with these five yoga techniques WORDS:TAMARA BRITTEN Hatha/Vingasa Hatha is an umbrellaterm for forms of yoga that fuse a sana with pranayama - or poses with the breath. Participants move through a series of poses, with emphasis on alignment, while using breathing techniques. Vinyasa Flow, amore recent variation, moves faster between poses in choreographed sequences. All forms of Hatha have been shown to improve strength, endurance, balance and flexibility, but the benefits go far beyond physical fitness. Yin…

GRACE VIHENDA FAHARI INNOVATION HUB LEAD I joined the airline as a planning analyst in 2011. I was a planning engineer for four years and then served as a continuous improvement associate before moving to strategy and special projects. Currently I look after business development at Faharl Innovation. Q Why has the airline drive growth? We either innovate or die. We know that when Covid-19 hit, the planes were grounded and the entire team had to think outside the box. We had to look for ways to collaborate both internally and externally. We want to develop new products and help the organisation diversify outside of our core business by using our wide customer base. There was a sense of urgency that made the airline think innovatively. Innovation will help with…

DUBAI EXPO 2020 BEYOND EXPO: Ten more things to see and do in Dubai PATRYK KOSMIDER / SHUTTERSTOCK.COM 01 OLD DUBAI SOUKS ‘Old’ Dubai might not actually be that old but still has heaps of traditional character. Window-shop your way through the dazzling Gold Souk, take an aromatic stroll through the adjacent Spice Souk, then head over to Bur Dubai’s Textile Souk, with its photogenic old coral-stone shops shaded beneath an enormous timber roof. CHECCO2 / SHUTTERSTOCK.COM 02 JUMEIRAH MOSQUE Tours of Jumeirah Mosque offer non-Muslims a rare chance to step inside a functioning mosque, while the informative guides offer insights into the Gulf’s religious beliefs and cultural traditions, covering everything from the core tenets of Islam to the low-down on how locals manage to keep their robes so white.…

WINNERS KENYA AIRWAYS PICKS UP TWO MORE AWARDS Kenya’s national carrier has scooped Best Employer Brand 2021 in Sub-Saharan Africa at the LinkedIn Talent Awards. The awards shine a spotlight on companies and people across the world who have excelled in engaging with talent, creating inclusive workplaces, building strong employer brands, encouraging learning and development, and focusing on employee retention. Evelyne Munyoki, KQ’s chief people officer, said the airline remained committed to putting its people first and would continue to invest to empower its staff with the right tools and knowledge to deliver the best-quality service for customers. “Being recognised as a Best Employer in Sub-Saharan Africa is a reflection of the passion of our teams to ensure we continue to live our purpose of driving sustainable development in Africa,”…

pride YOUR CAPTAIN SPEAKING: CONSTANT OTERI CAPTAIN, BOEING 787 DREAMLINER AS CAPTAIN CONSTANT OTERI GETS SET TO RETIRE AFTER 43 YEARS AND 28,000 FLYING HOURS WITH KENYA AIRWAYS, WE CELEBRATE HIS DISTINGUISHED CAREER. AS HASSAN AHMED, MANAGER OF KQ’S BOEING FLEET, SAYS: “WE ARE HUMBLED TO FEATURE CAPTAIN OTERI IN MSAFIRI. HIS IMMENSE CONTRIBUTION TO THE AIRLINE ISN’T TAKEN FOR GRANTED, AND HE REMAINS AN EXAMPLE TO ALL OF US.” Q Why did you want to become a pilot? It was my childhood dream in primary school, after I saw some aircraft pass high above in the sky with something that looked like white smoke behind them. Q What, to you, makes Kenya Airways ‘The Pride of Africa’? Kenya Airways operates with timekeeping seriously in mind. Its equipment is efficient and…