Tabla de contenidos para Issue 191 - June-July 2025 en Msafiri

DEAR READER Welcome aboard Kenya Airways. We’re delighted to have you with us today. It’s a moment of celebration at KQ – we’ve reported an historic after-tax profit of Ksh5.4bn (US$41.8m) for the 2024 financial year, a dramatic turnaround from a Ksh22.6bn loss the previous year. This 124% improvement is a direct result of our recovery strategy, Project Kifaru, focused on operational excellence, customer service and sustainable growth. With revenue rising to Ksh188bn, and record-breaking passenger and cargo volumes, we’re charting a strong course forward. Free to TAKE HOME We’re also proud to have expanded our cargo operations at JKIA, including a new pharmaceutical facility with specialised cold-chain infrastructure. This positions Nairobi as a leading hub for sensitive exports like medicine, fresh produce and flowers. In our continued commitment to…

For centuries, the verdant landscapes of Murang’a County have been known for their agriculture and tea plantations… and a dearth of electricity. It has meant that economic and social progress has been slow. Yet around 10 years ago, a remarkable transformation got underway, driven by the ingenuity and determination of John Magiro. As a teenager tinkering with bicycle parts to light his family home, Magiro, now 33, has become a pioneering clean-energy entrepreneur, illuminating the lives of thousands and reshaping rural communities. Growing up in Mihuti village, Magiro was all too familiar with the frustrations of living without access to reliable electricity. Families relied on kerosene lamps or expensive batteries, while the national grid remained a costly and inconsistent option. “In my village, there was no power connection. It was…

Could you tell us more about Sheffield Green Solutions? Sheffield is a Kenyan company offering commercial kitchen, laundry and cold storage solutions. Recognising these are typically energy intensive, we provide sustainable alternatives such as steam-based cooking, solar and heat pump technologies to help clients reduce energy consumption. How are you implementing these Green Solutions? We actively integrate sustainable solutions into our projects, such as solar heating to reduce power use, heat pumps to maximise energy efficiency and steam-based cooking systems to lower fuel consumption, helping businesses cut costs and operate more sustainably. Which segment has seen the greatest impact from Green Solutions? Schools and large catering institutions. How can steam-based cooking benefit Kenyan schools? Many Kenyan schools rely on traditional wood-fired cooking, which is slow, inefficient, and contributes to deforestation…

Q WHY DO BIRDS HAVE BEAKS? Believe it or not, beaks evolved to help birds fly. Alongside other adaptations for getting airborne – including wings (modified forelimbs), flight feathers, huge pectoral muscles and a specialised respiratory system – birds also have a super lightweight skeleton. Most of their bones are hollow and some bones found in mammals have been ditched. As part of this evolutionary process, they have replaced the heavy jawbone and teeth with a lightweight appendage made of keratin, like our fingernails. Voila: the beak! Q SO HOW DO BIRDS CHEW? Good question. Without teeth, of course, birds can’t break down or grind up food in their mouth. Instead, they have a gizzard. This is a specialised organ in the digestive tract that serves as a second stomach,…

London is full of so much history – you will learn something new every time you step out into the city. There is also a generosity and ambition in people I haven’t found elsewhere. FAVOURITE PLACE: The Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew is a huge space that looks fantastic at any time of the year. Not only is the outside space extensive, it also houses the world’s largest living plant collection. TOP TIP: Don’t just stop at London. From Brighton to Oxford and Guildford, there are so many other wonderful places that offer history, culture and entertainment, and they are all just a train ride away. HIDDEN GEM: The Druid Street Market in Bermondsey is hosted in the old railway arches. I love the independent businesses that occupy this space,…

1 ARUNDEL CASTLE Most people heading to Arundel Castle (arundelcastle.org) funnel straight through the main gates towards the stone keep (dating from 1067) – but pause instead at the Earl’s Garden with its stunning Italianate terraces, water rills and oak domed pergolas. Then climb the battlements: the views over the South Downs and Arun Valley are cinematic on a clear day. Inside, the library is a hushed cathedral of leather-bound books and mahogany. Swing by the chapel, then backtrack to the Norman keep via the Victorian kitchens. Skip lunch in the gift shop café and walk ten minutes into Arundel town for a pub lunch at The Parsons Table. Afterwards, stroll the paths and boardwalks of the wetlands centre just south of the castle, a haven for kingfishers and endangered water…

It was a short but steep climb through the rainforests of the Morne Seychellois National Park to reach the viewing platform at the top of Morne Blanc. Towering tree ferns, the rustle of leaves underfoot and bird calls filtering through the forest. The air was cool, the shady forest canopy providing relief from the sun as we climbed. Seychelles white-eyes flitted through the undergrowth, and we had fleeting glimpses of an iridescent blue Seychelles sunbird – known as kolibri in Seychellois Creole. Reaching the top, there were panoramic views of the western side of Mahé. Lush rainforests covered the undulating hills, turquoise waters stretched to the horizon, and distant, jewel-like islands dotted a sparkling sea. Brilliant blue skies hung overhead, washed clean by morning showers, while white-tailed tropicbirds soared above…

HOLLYWOOD NEW RELEASES ONE OF THEM DAYS When Alyssa’s boyfriend disappears with their rent money, she and her roommate are thrust into a wild race across Los Angeles to avoid eviction. What follows is a whirlwind of misadventures, questionable choices and unexpected moments of heart. One of Them Days is a sharp, stylish buddy comedy that captures the chaos of young adulthood – and the kind of friendship that holds strong, even when everything else is falling apart. ALARUM In this high-stakes spy thriller, Scott Eastwood and Willa Fitzgerald star as Joe and Lara, former intelligence agents who have gone off-grid and got married. Their peaceful retreat in Poland is shattered when a plane crash near their resort reveals a deadly conspiracy involving a stolen flash drive. As old enemies…

WELL SPOTTED There is nowhere in the world better than Kenya’s Maasai Mara for big cat encounters. Whether it’s lions lounging on rocky kopjes, leopards slinking through the twilight or cheetahs cavorting across the grasslands, the Mara and its neighbouring wildlife conservancies promise spectacular sightings – helped in no small part by superb local guides based at fabulous camps and lodges. Following Kenya Airways’ new codeshare agreement with Safarilink and their fleet of Cessna Caravans and Dash-8 aircraft, it’s now easier than ever to seamlessly connect with flights to airstrips in the Maasai Mara, as well as Amboseli, Nanyuki and Samburu. Visit our website – kenya-airways.com – to plan your fly-in safari. Never stop dreaming about travel…

Joseph Mwenda Munoru aka DJ Joe Mfalme DEEJAYJOEMFALME.COM Joseph Mwenda Munoru, known by his stage name as DJ Joe Mfalme, is one of the most sought-after entertainers in Kenya’s showbiz scene. He began collecting music at 16 years of age. By 21, Munoru was voted as a runner up in a deejaying competition before starting his 12-year stint as a top DJ with a local radio station. A highlight of his career was playing for three consecutive years at Big Brother Africa, one of the biggest reality shows on the continent. “That opportunity opened doors for me to play across different stages in Africa, including the biggest beer festival in Zambia attended by more than 20,000 people,” says Munoru, who has collected over a dozen awards in his career. Munoru…

Growing up in the countryside, my childhood was filled with adventures – playing and running through large fields without a care; climbing and falling off trees; playing in the rain, exploring swamps, chasing grasshoppers, putting them in plastic bottles and force-feeding them grass; setting basin traps for birds only to release them; and visiting animal and coffee farms. I brought home tadpoles and farmed fish. Harmless snakes were common. Despite the occasional mishap, fear was not something I knew then. Life was calm and slow. However, an unexpected move to the city completely changed my reality. Living in an apartment, surrounded by concrete walkways and tarmacked roads, my outdoor space was limited to the parking lot. I didn’t realise it at the time, but a part of my adventurous spirit…

FORM SMART SWIM 2 Imagine ‘Iron Man goggles’ for the pool. For the first time, the Form Smart Swim 2 bring augmented reality underwater with real-time stats such as heart rate, distance, pace, and stroke count that float right in front of your eyes while you glide through the sea like a champ. Approved for triathlons and made for serious swimmers, they’re sleek, smart and very handy when trying to pace yourself in the early stages of a race. $199 ● FORMSWIM.COM WILSON RF 01 PRO TENNIS RACKET Developed in collaboration with tennis legend Roger Federer during his final tour in 2024, this Wilson racket is engineered for maximum precision and power. One of the lightest models on the market with an unstrung weight of 320 grams, it features a…

Wandering London can feel like a mini world tour – so many languages being spoken, glimpses of all sorts of traditions, people from every imaginable background. It’s this amazing mix that somehow makes everyone feel like they fit in and belong. I also love the fact you can have such a brilliant day out without spending a fortune. From incredible Royal Parks to street performers along the South Bank and so many iconic views. FAVOURITE PLACE: Windsor Great Park. This huge open space feels like an amazing escape – really old woodlands, wild deer just wandering around, stunning views of Windsor Castle. You can easily spend a whole day there exploring everything from the famous Long Walk to peaceful areas around Virginia Water. It’s a wonderful break from the busy…

The South East of England is a meeting point and melting pot of so many cultures, making London my all-time favourite city, to live or to visit! From food to culture, there is always something to do and see in London. FAVOURITE PLACE: Some of my most memorable days in London are at the height of summer, making my way across London on foot, from Tower Bridge all the way to Buckingham Palace. TOP TIP: With every cuisine under the sun, try a little something in every little pocket of London, and sample various flavours and cuisines from many continents. If you enjoy a sundowner, the city has the best rooftops restaurants and bars! HIDDEN GEM: Shima Gardens at the Londoner, Leicester Square, for cocktails and Japanese food.…

WHAT I LOVE ABOUT LONDON/SOUTHEAST: As someone who loves sport and music, London has so much to get involved in, both in terms of participating and watching. FAVOURITE PLACE: Koko in Camden is a former theatre converted into an amazing live music venue, though there are so many others, from Shepherds Bush Empire to the O2 to the Brixton Academy. TOP TIP: As the phrase goes, explore off the beaten track. London is very tourist-driven but the best treats are the little places most miss out. HIDDEN GEM: Non-league football in London and the Southeast is a chance to connect with players and fans in a way you would never experience with the bigger teams.…

“i learned that we had only really scratched the surface,” answers Sir David Attenborough in response to my question. As a first guess you might imagine the 99-year-old British natural historian had been quizzed about his work exploring the deep oceans; or perhaps he’s referring to what he gleaned from time spent on the planet’s polar extremes. Instead, the world-renowned broadcaster and biologist had been asked what he had learned about Africa – the result of over 100 expeditions across 30 countries on the continent, and many many years of filming. “You leave with so many questions answered, but so many new ones unanswered!” he laughs. “There is just an abundance to learn, to take in, to understand, and the reality is no-one ever can. It is the most remarkable…

Our winter falls from June to August. These months have taught me two things. One: a reliable weather app is key. And two: I need a versatile wardrobe whenever I’m out and about. Otherwise, I’ll receive a spontaneous makeover. BEEF Is it just me, or does it seem like the weather has beef with our weatherman? Why, weather patterns are always contradicting the poor forecaster. In winter, our meteorological department can swear temperatures will hit sub-zero and they’ll advise us to wear multiple layers. Only for the weather to go: “I’ll ruin the weatherman’s whole career.” Well? You guessed right. That’s the day the sun will scorch like it’s settling scores. Nope. I refuse to be collateral damage in this beef. My solution is my reliable weather app, which always…

It is how we react when angry that can make or break us and our relationships. What causes us to react the way we do when we are angry? Over the past few years, my anger management process has taken an outwards to inwards shift. I have graduated from focusing on how I express myself when upset to unpacking what the anger is hiding. Let’s explore, not how to react to anger, but how to unearth the meaning behind it. 01 ANGER IS A SECONDARY EMOTION After the loss of a close friend, I became angry for several days. I wore that anger tighter than an undersized brassier. My chest hurt. My back ached. A persistent nausea and headache ensued. I felt trapped, lost, and suffocated. I became impatient, irritable and…

Kenya Wildlife Service’s (KWS) bold restocking initiative has brought zebra, hartebeest and impala back to Shimba Hills National Reserve. The plans are ongoing to translocate giraffe, buffalo and eland to this coastal paradise that is already home to elephants and the rare sable antelope. Now, with wildlife returning and tourism growing by 25%, the ecosystem is thriving once again. Dr Isaac Lekolool, the KWS Head of Veterinary and Capture Services shares the story with us. SHIMBA HILLS NATIONAL RESERVE AREA: 300 SQ KM LOCATION: KWALE COUNTY, SOUTH COAST DATE OF GAZETTEMENT: 1968 DISTANCE FROM MOMBASA: 56KM Q WHY FOCUS ON SHIMBA HILLS FOR THIS PROJECT? Shimba Hills, dubbed the Paradise of the Sable Antelope, is one of those magical coastal forests that is home to rare species, but over time…

Despite being a major city, London and the suburbs have so much parkland. You are never more than a few hundred yards away from a green area where you can get away from noise and hustle. FAVOURITE PLACE: Hyde Park. Over 350 acres of green space accessible 24/7. TOP TIP: London is tech-heavy, and more and more is becoming cashless. While this sometimes presents challenges, it does make getting around quick and simple. From using the London Underground to boarding buses, accessing tourist attractions and everything else besides, it’s a clean and efficient way to experience the city. If you are with children, I would still have a few coins to hand as they generally find things to spend them on, from arcade machines to offering something to buskers! HIDDEN…

The transport links are amazing and you can easily walk from one side of the tourist area to the other in a day, stopping along the way to take in what’s around you. FAVOURITE PLACE: Covent Garden is a place that is caught in time. Despite it dating back to the 17th Century, and its hundreds of years as a market, these days it’s a stylish shopping precinct. As well as shops, there are restaurants, museums, and it’s located close to the city’s theatre district, as well as the wonderful River Thames. Borough Market, though not nearby, is also well worth a visit. TOP TIP: The London Underground is clean, efficient, relatively cheap and, in the case of the newly-opened Elizabeth Line’s stations, an amazing thing to marvel at, but…