kenya trip - day 1
The development team went on a trip to Kenya to see microfinance in action. The idea was that learning microfinance from reading about it is great, but there’s nothing like seeing a person go from beggar to entrepreneur to really get the power of micro-credit.
There are many, many places in the world where microfinance is alive and well, so the choice was pretty much ours. We went with Kenya. Since I grew up in Africa and had not been there in 20 years, Kenya is a great choice as far as I’m concerned.
I had been looking forward to spending some time there, but the trip itself was not something I was going to enjoy. It took a good 24 hours to go from San Francisco to Nairobi. Definitely the longest trip I have ever taken.
The Nairobi airport was a pleasant surprise. It makes the Kinshasa airport (at least from 20 years ago) look like a small aerodrome.
Visas can be applied for at the airport itself, upon arrival. The line was huge though, but since we had been smart enough to come prepared, with our passports properly stamped, it was a breeze to get in. Another difference with 20-year-ago Kinshasa airport, where getting in the country was an adventure in itself.
Joseph, our cabby dropped us off at the Hilton hotel in Nairobi and recommended that if we were going to go for a walk in the area to “just make sure we don’t cross that street over there”. It’s true that the security searches and the metal detectors to get in the hotel, tipped me off, but still. With all this security checks going on, I feel like having dropped in the green zone in Baghdad, and frankly I would not be surprised to see McCain walking around the perimeter.
Anyway that’s not cool, and now I need to know what’s so bad about crossing the said street (Moi Avenue as it turns out). I will find out tomorrow.
For now, and since the damn cabby freaked us out, we are having dinner at the fine restaurant in the hotel. Great food (I picked from the African menu) and fine beer (not Belgian beer, but does the job).
Kenya being 10 hours ahead of my internal clock was kind of tough. I woke up at 4 AM and watched Amytiville 2 on the telly.
It’s 6 AM now and looking through the window I see that Nairobi is already pretty much alive. There are people everywhere! I can’t wait to cross that infamous Moi Avenue.
I’ll go sit outside and try to have a chat with some Nairobians if I can. Then we will go visit our first Microfinance Institution (mfi from now on), the Kenya Women Finance Trust or KWFT. An MFI whose mission is to empower women entrepreneurs.
Can’t wait.