NAIROBI, SEPTEMBER 12, Over 100 people have been burnt to death, hundreds admitted in hospitals with serious injuries and scores left homeless after a leaking pipeline along Lunga Lunga road, Sinai slum within Nairobi’s Industrial Area burst into flames.
Fuel leaked from a tank at the oil depot into open sewers in Sinai slum. A lit cigarette butt that was dropped into the sewer sparked the explosion and a raging blaze ensued.
It is believed that some of the people who died were trying to syphon petrol as it spilled from the damaged tank. When the sewer caught fire, it quickly spread through the slum burning the residents, their homes and destroying property.
Police cordoned off the area to allow firefighters to battle the raging flames in the surrounding slum. The nature of the explosion and the fierce fire made it impossible to put out immediately as the firefighters could not get access into the burning slum.
Kenya’s Prime Minister and Vice President visited the scene of the explosion and described the occurrence as “shocking”. They appealed to members of the public to offer support to the victims of the fire.
Kenya is one of the world’s largest importers of second hand clothing commonly referred to as “Mitumba” in Kenya.
Clothes and shoppers at the Adams Arcade market, Nairobi
The clothes are mainly donations from Western Europe and North America intended for the poor in Africa and other parts of the world. This however has not stopped businessmen from selling them and making huge profits.
Although second hand clothes trade in Kenya is declining due to the increase of new imports from Asia, it still remains significantly high. The trade has clear consumer benefits. This is especially true in countries with low purchasing power. In Kenya, second hand clothes offer an affordable alternative to the costly Asian imports. The second hand clothes are not only for the poor, those who earn a good income also opt for these clothes as they can buy designer labels and unique garments at an affordable price.
Second hand designer bags: Gucci and Louis Vuitton
The trade supports thousands of livelihoods in Kenya. Second hand clothes trade employs people in trading, distributing, repairing and laundering the clothes. These people would have otherwise been unemployed with no means to support themselves and their families.
Traders at the Adams Arcade second hand market
Apart from clothes, other used items are also traded including toys, shoes, accessories and books.
Second hand shoes and socks
Used books
Ladies' shoes
Although the second hand clothes imports have undermined the textile industries in Kenya, they have provided more affordable choices for Kenyans and employed many, hence a welcome trade.
A tourist village in Kenya’s capital Nairobi, Bomas of Kenya was established by the government in 1971 to preserve, maintain and promote Kenya’s rich diverse cultural values from different ethnic groups. The Bomas of Kenya is also a popular tourist attraction centre that displays and presents Kenya’s culture and heritage in its purest form.
Bomas of Kenya is one of Kenya’s establishments that is striving to promote cultural tourism. Using the abundant cultural resources as a tool for creating economic development, the establishment is also preserving Kenya’s diverse culture for future generations.
Attractions at the Bomas of Kenya
Cultural shows
There are daily cultural shows centred on the diverse cultural backgrounds of Kenya’s 42 ethnic communities including music, dance and exhibitions.
The Bomas Harambee Dancers perform daily a cross section of traditional dances and songs from different Kenyan ethnic groups in traditional costumes with an array of accompanying traditional instruments.
Meru dancers
Luo traditional dance
Traditional villages
The word “Boma” refers to ”African homesteads”. There are several traditional villages each representing one of Kenya’s major ethnic groups and built to original architecture of African homesteads, hence the name Bomas of Kenya.
Masai Village
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Visitors can take a guided tour of the traditional villages and experience the traditional Kenyan lifestyle.
Few places provide the extraordinary opportunity to view wildlife in its natural habitat. Kenya’s reputation as the ultimate tourist destination is well deserved.
There is a wide range of travel choices in Kenya from scenic tours to cultural activities; adventure travels and relaxing holidays. This is what draws a large number of adventure seekers to Kenya annually.
The tourism industry in Kenya is one of the largest foreign exchange earners. Tourism forms a vital part of Kenya’s economy.
The graphic below shows the percentage of tourists visiting Kenya by nationality.
To see an interactive version, click on the map or here.
The range of landscapes, unique geographical features and wildlife means there is plenty to explore and encounter while on safari in Kenya.
Nairobi National Park is Kenya’s oldest national park and the first to be established in East Africa in 1946. The only national park in the world less than 10 kilometres from the city centre with only a fence separating the park from Kenya’s capital Nairobi. The park is home to over 80 different species of animals and over 400 bird species including some migrants from Europe between March and May.
Wildlife watching
Leopard
The park covers 117 square kilometres with rich vegetation, water sources and breathtaking landscapes.
Some of the animals that can be spotted on a game drive in the park include giraffes, leopards, zebras, buffalo, antelope, lions, cheetah and rhino.
Animals around the park can be photographed with Nairobi’s beautiful skyline in the backdrop.
Rhino Sanctuary
One of Kenya’s most successful rhino sanctuaries, the Nairobi National Park has the largest number of black rhinos in the country . The Nairobi National Park continues to successfully operate a breeding and restocking program for black rhinos to the rest of Kenya’s parks and reserves.
Black rhino at the Nairobi National Park
Attractions inside and outside the park
The Nairobi National Park is an ideal venue for a day trip in the wild away from the city. Some attractions at the park include:
A nature trail along the Athi River that offers a unique opportunity to view hippos, crocodiles, monkeys and several bird species.
Entrance to the Nairobi Safari Walk
The Nairobi Safari Walk
The Safari Walk offers the rare chance to view different animals in their natural habitat with bits of information educating the public on the different species they come across. The raised timber boardwalks make for great viewing points and an informative walk.
Raised timber boardwalks
Nairobi Animal Orphanage
A small enclosure outside the park that shelters orphaned, abandoned or wounded animals from the park that are looked after until they are well enough or old enough to be released back into the wild.
Baby antelope
The rare Albino Zebra at the Safari Walk
What to take with you on a day at the park
Drinking water, picnic items, binoculars, a hat, sunscreen, sunglasses, insect repellant, guide books and of course a camera to capture the magical moments.
Its been almost 13 years since the terrorist bombings in Nairobi and Tanzania that led to the death of over 200 people in an act believed to be masterminded by Osama Bin Laden.
Rescuers trying to free victims trapped under the rubble
Does Osama’s death mark the the beginning of the end of terrorism or does it spell doom for Kenyans who are already living in fear of fresh attacks by Al-shabab, a militant group linked to Al-Qaeda?
Monday, 24th January 2011. Philanthropist Melinda Gates was in Kenya to oversee the introduction of the new pneumonia vaccine that will save the lives of millions of children all over the world. The new Pneumococcal Vaccine protects against 10 strains of pneumococcal bacteria that cause Pneumonia.
The vaccine will officially be launched in Kenya on the 14th of February, 2011. The Gates Foundation has so far donated over 23 billion dollars towards public health and immunisation. The foundation drives research and development of new vaccines for the developing world. According to statistics from the World Health Organisation (WHO), 20,000 children die from Pneumonia in Kenya. The new vaccine will go a long way in preventing deaths from the preventable disease.
Trials of the new pneumonia vaccine were conducted in Kenya for over 10 years but the Kenyan government has been unable to purchase the same vaccine from an American drug manufacturer due to its high cost. A fact that Public Heath Minister Beth Mugo finds unacceptable. Melinda Gates challenged the developing countries’ governments to commit more money towards immunisation and health to save children. Her vision is to see that every child lives to see a healthy life. Watch Melinda Gates’ interview here. The vaccine that was only available in Private hospitals before will now be offered free of charge from all public hospitals in Kenya.
Definitely a step forward for Kenya and Africa as a whole in the fight against the killer pneumonia. Most of us are lucky to have suffered from pneumonia and recovered. My brother was also lucky to have battled the disease at the tender age of 6 months. Had the vaccine been available, this is a situation that could have been avoided. However, this is not the case for many other children in Kenya and all over Africa who do not live to see their fifth birthday. Finally, we get to save these innocent lives and see these children grow to their full potential.
NAIROBI, SEPTEMBER 12, Over 100 people have been burnt to death, hundreds admitted in hospitals with serious injuries and scores left homeless after a leaking pipeline along Lunga Lunga road, Sinai slum within Nairobi’s Industrial Area burst into flames. Fuel leaked from a tank at the oil depot into open sewers in Sinai slum. A [...]
Kenya is one of the world’s largest importers of second hand clothing commonly referred to as “Mitumba” in Kenya. The clothes are mainly donations from Western Europe and North America intended for the poor in Africa and other parts of the world. This however has not stopped businessmen from selling them and making huge profits. [...]
Nairobi National Park is Kenya’s oldest national park and the first to be established in East Africa in 1946. The only national park in the world less than 10 kilometres from the city centre with only a fence separating the park from Kenya’s capital Nairobi. The park is home to over 80 different species of [...]
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