Then back in Nairobi, our last few days, we saw a few more sites such as the Kenyatta center and the view of the city.
Before that, during our fourth week in Kenya, we took advantage of an opportunity to take a road trip across the country. Kim was heading to a work assignment in Kisumu, the third-largest city in Kenya which is alongside Lake Victoria, and we decided to drive instead of fly since it’s only about as far as Spokane to Seattle. We were joined by two Kenyan friends who are colleagues of Kim’s. The drive was unforgettable. We were thrilled to get to see so much of the country. We saw quite a variety of cities, towns, and topography. Kenya is beautiful! I’m not sure what we were expecting, but the countryside is gorgeous. We dodged a few potholes, but in general the highways were in good shape. We saw all sorts of agriculture, including tea, corn and coffee. There were also a few groups of zebras and baboons near the road. We took an alternate route on the way back, which took us near Lake Nakuru and also afforded a stop at a popular roadside “butchery” barbeque spot where we enjoyed some goat leg and liver and “African sausage,” right off the grill.
While in Kisumu, Kim spent a day out in the field, visiting projects that are in the surrounding communities. Nate got to tag along. We drove a couple hours outside of the city of Kisumu into some rural towns where Kim’s company collaborates with other NGOs to support Community Based Organizations (CBO). We visited two groups of volunteer mentors who go door-to-door to educate and support OVCs (Orphaned and Vulnerable Children). The volunteers provide information and some tools to make drinking water safer, bed nets to prevent malaria, HIV/AIDS prevention commodities, and education. School fees are also supposed to be provided for the OVCs. We had the chance to hear from the volunteers regarding the successes and obstacles of their work. It was just a quick glimpse into Kim’s work, but it felt like Peace Corps for a day.
