A Foreigner in Kenya, Chapter 2

 I don't really have to wait long, but this short amount of time I have to wait gives me time to look around. Two policemen face me, passengers come and go. Many relatives come with them to say goodbye to loved ones or to make sure that the love leaves the country. Everything is possible. Cars come, unload someone, and leave soon. It's coming and going. It's warm, not hot, just warm. I start to sweat in my jacket. I can't see that well either, so I have to clean my glasses. Quickly, I don't have time, the car could come at any moment and I have to read the license plate. A small vehicle has come to take me away. I wave to him, he stops. It's a middle-aged man. Anyone younger than me is middle-aged, which is kind of reassuring. He's got his smartphone in his hand and taps it around. "We're going to the Y Hotel on X Street?" He asks me. I can only confirm. We're leaving. Now some other thoughts come to my head. What I noticed is the fact that there were only a few white people on the plane. When I was waiting for the car, I hadn't seen a single white man! We leave the airport, drive on the highway, for us it's a "normal" road, a federal highway. I have some time, the drive to the hotel is not far, only the traffic slows down. There are strange curves that I can't really understand. But this is Kenya and someone will have thought something. "Not many foreigners here?" I ask the driver. "There are some," he replies. "They don't come in as many numbers as they used to." "Yes," I agree, "It is difficult and expensive. Now everyone needs a negative PCR test in order to be able to get on the plane at all, and here in Kenya that is also checked, which is actually unnecessary, since the airline already has it Checked. Two are better! "" This damn pandemic is killing us all. "" Business is getting less, "I mean. "Issue freeze, restrictions, all of this is wrecking us." "I can imagine that. There was also the lockdown for a few months, which certainly left its mark. It sure hit the economy." He agrees. Then he asks: "How is it in your country?" "Not better. More than a million people have lost their jobs. That doesn't sound too bad, but we only have 3.5 million who go to work. That's a million a lot." "How big is your country?" "Not big, you can hardly find it on the map, we only count nine million." The driver laughs. "A little bigger than Nairobi." "How many people are in Nairobi?" I ask. "I'm not sure, but about five million." "A big city," I can only agree. The Nairobi skyline appears. Skyscrapers shoot into the sky. They stand close together. They give each other shadows. One construction site after the other, one traffic jam after the other, actually just traffic jams. It's being built like crazy. It's the Chinese who build there, which I don't really understand because, I think there are a lot of younger engineers in Kenya who can do that too. However, there must be a drifty reason why this construction project is being carried out by foreigners. The driver doesn't know, so it remains a mystery to me too. Later I found out that an expressway was being built from the airport to Nairobi.

A Foreigner in Kenya, Chapter 1

 Its really amazing when a foreigner stets out of the terminal. What a nice welcome! A soldier is watching you at the door, looking at you and the crowd. Ladies waving hands! Yes, ladies  am here. All the time  have known,  am excellent, well known ìn this World, but  have not known that  am so well recognized in this Part of the World. Handome guy,  must tell myself. What else? 

Those ladies are jumping on me. No surprise! Also some guys trying to come clone but they got chased away by the ladies. I tried to remember my telephone number, no way! Hey men,would you remember your telephone number when two fiery ladies approaching you? Tell thectruth, for sure not. Two black eyes! White teeth, behinde a big smile. Black hair! I feel myself like George Clonney! Must be like that. At this Moment i am the sexiest man alive.... here at the airport for Sure!

"Sir, come with me!," ohne Lady addressed me.

That i would like, my dear, i only thought. "Where you want me to take?" Only hope she will say: to my home.

"Where you want to go? Nairobi?" 

What a pitty! Why she is asking when she know it allready? 

"Yes."

"I give you a fair price!"

That i know. It is always the same story, the fair price. What Is fair and what not? This is the question, Hamlet World answer. 

"How mich?" I ask but i know the price. To high, to much, it is the price for a 'mzungu'. Oder who does'nt know anything.  

The lady answers fast. "3000."

Now comes the second lady. "Sir, i give you a lift for 2500!" 

The first lady is angry. Why not? The second one is disrurbing her Business. She is Shootingstar to the second lady. 

"2500 is better," i said. 

"Ok, 2500," the first lady agreed.

"2000!," shouted the second lady.

"Not to Bad," i answered. "But still to Expansion."

The first lady left, went back. No business for her, that is what she believes. 

"So what you say?"  The remaining lady ask with a big smile.

What can i tell her? That she is nice, beautyful, charmant? She knows it, thats why she is doing this job.

"No way," I toll her. 

I called Uber. That costs me 500. 

Welcome to Kenya. 

The first day can continue.

A Foreigner In Kenya

 A Foreigner In Kenya

What can I tell you? Kenya, the country of nature, of wildlife, and, last but not least the country of the Rift Valley.

Let me start from the beginning. The beginning is usually at the airport. You're very exited about this adventure which is in front of you. Many people have been here, all of them have told a story, different ones but exiting.

You got everything in your pocket. Passport is at the moment not so important. Important is the PCR-Test - of course a negative one. Passangers lining up in a line, waiting patiently, holding their result in their hands. A guy is checking it, reading, then saying: "It's OK". You're going forther, some steps, you must show your QR - Code. This got copied. Some steps later you have to wait on a spot, your temperature got measured. 

This procedure takes some time. But Passangers are used to wait. They have to wait everywhere. Flight time is sometimes shorter as the flying time.

From now on you have to run down a long gangway. Money hangers are there. ATM also. I tried to change money at one office, they refused, they only take cash and I'm always short of cash, I prefer to use credit card. The only change to chance to change is the ATM. Here the amount is limited. That's bad! What you can do?

Next stop is Immigration. You need a visa. Funny thing, visa you have to apply online. After three days you will get a visa, that means a peace of paper. That's not a visa, the visa you hopefully applied for, gives you the nice immigration officer.

"Welome, Sir", greeting me the officer. Actually I like more the ladies. They got more sense.

"Good day, " usually I'm answering.

I'm a kind guy.

I give him this peace of paper, my passport.

"What you're doing here?"

Acctually it's written on this visa paper.

"I'm tourist."

"Tourist?!" can I hear here a surprise?

"Yes."

"Where you're going? Staying in Nairobi or you go somwhere else?"

"I'm going to Nakuru, looking at the lake and the wildlife."

"i give you one month."

You you have to smile, a Foto is taken. A stamp is given into your passport. You're released.

Colloct your luggage, you can go out of the airport terminal.

Kenya, here I am.

Continue reading

https://charlykappel.blogspot.com/2021/08/a-foreigner-in-kenya-chapter-1.html

https://charlykappel.blogspot.com/2021/08/a-foreigner-in-kenya-chapter-2.html

https://charlykappel.blogspot.com/2021/09/a-foreigner-in-kenya-chapter-3.htmll

https://charlykappel.blogspot.com/2021/09/a-foreigner-in-kenya-chapter-4.htm

https://charlykappel.blogspot.com/2021/09/kwa-moyo-wangu-wote.html

https://charlykappel.blogspot.com/2021/09/foreigner-in-kenya-chapter-6.html

https://charlykappel.blogspot.com/2021/09/a-foreigner-in-kenya-chapter-7.html

https://charlykappel.blogspot.com/2021/09/nakupenda-i-love-you-what-beautiful.html

https://charlykappel.blogspot.com/2021/09/a-foreigner-in-kenya-chapter-10.html

Heinrich Schliemann's files are protected for conservation purposes.

The documents on the complex acquisition history of the famous Troy collection are thus secured for the long term. The files are then available again for research and exhibition purposes. On the occasion of Heinrich Schliemann's 200th birthday on January 6, 2022, the Museum of Prehistory is preparing a large special exhibition. As part of the project, the acquisition files for Heinrich Schliemann's collection of Trojan antiquities are to be revised in terms of conservation and thus preserved in the long term. 

The files from the years 1871 to 1939 consist almost exclusively of unique handwritten documents and relate to the acquisition history of the Troja collection of the Berlin Museum of Prehistory and Early History. Heinrich Schliemann's correspondence with the directors and employees of the Royal Museums, as well as numerous letters from well-known personalities such as Otto von Bismarck, Crown Prince Friedrich Wilhelm and the medical doctor and prehistorian Rudolf Virchow, are preserved in the seven volumes of files on a total of around 2,700 sheets. The files deal with one of the most extensive and historically most interesting collections of the Museum of Prehistory and Early History in Berlin. It documents the history of the Schliemann Collection over a period of almost 70 years. The complete preservation of this written tradition, even during the years of war and division, is a particular stroke of luck. The written tradition with its historical, cultural and legal references is of particular importance for research and against the background of the war-related relocation of parts of the collection. The seven file fascicles have never been edited for conservation purposes since their creation. Due to the frequent use, they show significant substantial damage. Preservation of the files is necessary in order to prevent further loss of substance and to guarantee the long-term usability of the files. As part of the project, the acquisition files for Heinrich Schliemann's collection of Trojan antiquities are to be revised in terms of conservation and thus preserved in the long term. The files from the years 1871 to 1939 consist almost exclusively of unique handwritten documents and relate to the acquisition history of the Troja collection of the Berlin Museum of Prehistory and Early History. Heinrich Schliemann's correspondence with the directors and employees of the Royal Museums, as well as numerous letters from well-known personalities such as Otto von Bismarck, Crown Prince Friedrich Wilhelm and the medical doctor and prehistorian Rudolf Virchow, are preserved in the seven volumes of files on a total of around 2,700 sheets. The files deal with one of the most extensive and historically most interesting collections of the Museum of Prehistory and Early History in Berlin. It documents the history of the Schliemann Collection over a period of almost 70 years. Collection and file documentation are to be seen as a unit. The complete preservation of this written tradition, even during the years of war and division, is a particular stroke of luck. The written tradition with its historical, cultural and legal references is of particular importance for research and against the background of the war-related relocation of parts of the collection.

Arrested

 I am on holiday in Kenya. I have to wonder why I'm being arrested here for nothing. Here is the whole story. I went to Mombasa because everyone here raves about this city. My first impression was not very positive. I saw a lot of sex tourists, old white men with young black women. I was ashamed, I have to say. OK, I went to the beach to have fun in the Indian Ocean. So I went to a public beach. At the beginning of this beach there were young men and they all wanted something. I ignored them and wanted to go to the sea, which was about 100m away. On the way there, the police called me to come to them. I went there. They were sitting at a small house and talking. A lady said to me that I was under arrest. Why, I asked. She said because I tried to go on a closed beach. How was I to know that? I was told that it would be written on a board. I didn't see one. I meant, yesterday I was also on the beach and there were a lot of people. That was another state, kilifi and now I am in Mombasa. I meant that it is strange that the police are sitting here, watching me enter a closed beach and just let it happen without warning or informing me. The police's actions must be seen as premeditated because if the beach is closed, then it is their job to guard that no one enters that ground. I remarked on this, apparently the chief said they were only carrying out orders issued by the governor. I can't believe, and I don't accept, that the governor gave such an order, that was an excuse and nothing else. What the police did was simply rubbish. After two hours in prison I wanted to know what would happen next. You must be patient, said the lady. I replied that my question was about the time and not how I should be. She had called and a car was on its way to take me to prison. That was too much. I am sick, I need my medication, I cannot get involved in a maybe. I called the embassy, that's when they got nervous. Threat after threat. The lady and 4 other policemen wielding their guns. Maybe they wanted to scare me. Maybe they were trying to scare me. I said to the lady, are you going to shoot me? Why do I say that? I'm not walking around with a gun, and in a cell. Finally, my companion was asked for 2000 kshs. It was a bargain, because normally they ask for 5000 kshs. I would be released, now I was allowed to walk across the closed beach! The private beaches were open. A little further away, I went swimming after all. However, I did not like it. The behaviour of the police raises many questions. No one can or wants to answer them.

You should do something, not everybody is a sextourist. Actually im a doctor in philosophy, writing a book about Africa. I came here to see life of Kenyans. 

The following message arrives me:

Hi! Very sorry for your bad experience. I just want to tell you that what happend to you happens also to Kenyans many times. Once my underaged son was arrestet at the same beach together with his friend, because of loitering around. He was there with the whole family of his friend and the parents tried to explain the officers that the boys weren't alone but they packed them in the lorry and drove them to the police station Bamburi. The father had to pay 5000.- to get them released. Bamburi police station is one of the corruptest on the cost. Police harassment and killings are a big problem here.

Corruption in Afrika

 Corruption in Africa

Our beautiful continent has over fifty countries. Some of these countries are ruled by corrupt leaders. They influence the judicial system, award jobs to their relatives, and limit the freedom of the press. This results in many African countries having a small wealthy elite while the majority of the population live in poverty and desolation.

We can only take a look at the number 1 and the last one.

According to Afrikanza:

1 - Somalia

10 - Central African Republic

According to AnswersAfrica:

1 - DRC

10 - Cote d'Ivory

According to  jatoday:

1 - Angola

10 - Somalia

What we can see here is simple. All African countries are driven by corruption. The lists are not important, important is that nobody is declaring that his country is not corrupted.

Let's have a look at Kenya.

This is the corruption report from 2020 from the Risk and Complying Portal. 

Kenya’s competitiveness is held back by high corruption levels that penetrate every sector of the economy. A weak judicial system and frequent demands for bribes by public officials lead to increased business costs for foreign investors. Widespread tax evasion hinders Kenya’s long-term economic growth, and fraud in public procurement is rampant. Corruption, active and passive bribery, abuse of office and bribing a foreign public official are criminalized under the Anti-Corruption and Economic Crimes Act 2003, in addition to the Bribery Act of 2016 which strengthens the fight against the supply-side of corruption. Facilitation payments are criminalized and there are rules for what types of gifts public officials are allowed to accept. Adequate enforcement of Kenya’s anti-corruption framework is an issue as a result of weak and corrupt public institutions.

Corruption is rampant within Kenya’s police. The Kenya National Police Service is ranked as the most corrupt institution in the country, and bribery is reported to be the only way to access the police and expedite services (HRR 2016).

The competitiveness of Kenya’s business environment is impeded by rampant public-service corruption. Complying with administrative requirements takes a lot of time and is plagued by red tape (GCR 2016-2017).

There is a very high risk of corruption in Kenya’s land administration. Kenyans report a high likelihood of bribery demands in meetings with land service officials, and corrupt practices reportedly occur in almost 20% of all interactions (TI Kenya, 2014). 

The tax administration in Kenya carries a high risk of corruption. Companies report that irregular payments and bribes in the process of tax payments are very common (GCR 2015-2016).

Kenyan public procurement is subject to rampant corruption and bribery. Companies report that bribes and irregular payments are highly common in the process of awarding public contracts (GCR 2015-2016).

Businesses should note the enforcement of anti-corruption legislation in Kenya is inadequate as a result of the weak judicial system and a lack of strong institutions (BTI 2016).

Kenya’s Constitution guarantees freedoms of press and expression (HRR 2016). In practice, the government does not completely respect these rights; journalists are facing increasing pressure from authorities and new laws that challenge their ability to report freely (FotP 2016).

And that's not all.

Companies face a moderate risk of corruption when dealing with Kenya’s judicial sector. Companies report bribes and irregular payments in return for favorable decisions are common (GCR 2015-2016).