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Kenyans are the friendliest of people with a great sense of humour and are very welcoming to tourists. The warmth and welcome given by swahili people is one of the things that make visits to this part of the world so special and has been noted since the first visitors to this area. We strongly recommend that you spend at least two weeks in Kenya, there is so much to see and do, and your flight’s carbon emissions will be more worthwhile.
GOVERNMENT AND ECONOMYThere is now a coalition government after the fraudulent election results announced in December 2007 which caused a wave of protests across the country. There was violence in Nairobi and the Rift Valley, but the coast and Lamu had no problems. Raila Odinga's ODM party resulted from Kibaki's refusal to honour a pledge on constitutional reform. ODM supporters are also impatient for reductions in corruption and poverty. They won a clear majority of MP's, but the presidential election went to Kibaki. There was therefore an impasse with ODM controlling parliament against the powerful presidency. Kofi Annan did a great job bringing the two sides together, and Odinga is now prime minister. There are still constitutional and other issues to resolve, but Kenya is optimistic that good will come out of these troubles. Kenya embarked on a new era of optimism and resurgence after the 2003 elections replaced the one party rule of President Moi with a popular rainbow opposition coalition led by President Kibaki. The new government has acted against corruption which had bled the country’s public and private resources for years, initiated free universal primary schooling and started to restore the economy.
But there is a long way to go with 70% unemployment, widespread poverty and investment starved infrastructure, and the people became impatient with the slow pace of reform. In November 2005 the new Constitution was rejected by a referendum, partly because the president still had too much power to sack the prime minister, and partly because the people are fed up with on-going corruption.
The release of John Githongo’s dossier on corruption in January 2006 threw the Kibaki government into turmoil, and the press and people are impatient for action against corruption.
The economy was growing strongly, but tourism has dropped 90% and Kenya is in for a hard year.
FOOD AND DRINK
Alcohol should not be drunk openly in Lamu, but there are bars where you can get a drink. It is best to drink mineral water and this is supplied aboard the dhow. The government has been making moves to ban smoking in public nationally.
Local restaurants serve mainly seafood with local fruits and my favourite is the local lime juice. Swahili cooking is deliciously spicy without being hot, and is characterized by the use locally grown spices including cinnamon. |
