A long process of planning and preparation preceded the 2023 Round Square International Conference at Brookhouse. The theme of the conference - The New Africa - reflects our desire to share our experience of 21st Century Africa in all its facets, from milestone achievements to myriad ambitions.

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While you are here we hope you embrace the Kenyan ‘vibe’ to the fullest. Ours is a dynamic country going through sweeping changes on
every level: cultural, social and political.
 

We also hope you get a chance to learn a few words of our national language, Swahili. On that note, we take this opportunity to reflect on two valuable Swahili words that we hope become meaningful for you throughout this week: ‘rafiki’ meaning friend, and ‘mzuri’ which
means good’. Whilst in Kenya feel most welcome and we hope to become ‘rafiki mzuri’ as we share this amazing opportunity.
 

Tiffany and Gideon,
Student Organising Committees.

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Nairobi

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Nairobi, named after a water hole known in Maasai as Ewaso Nyirobi, meaning ‘cool waters’, Nairobi is situated in the south central highlands of Kenya, only 90 kilometres south of the equator. At an average elevation of 1,675 metres above sea level, this capital city enjoys a warm, temperate and sunny climate and, for most of the year, lives up to the slogan City in the Sun.

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With the Athi River Plains dotted with game sweeping away expansively to the south-east towards Mombasa and the coast, the green foothills of Mount Kenya climbing towards the summit in the north, and the sheer majesty of the Eastern Rift Valley to Nairobi the west, Nairobi is ideally situated to begin exploring the beauty of Kenya’s landscapes, its peoples and cultures.

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Buzzing with activity, the city of Nairobi is home to a diverse, multicultural population, including over 40 ethnic groups. During the day, bustling crowds weave through the busy streets, dodging buses and matatus. Small, colourful stalls selling everything from flowers to batteries, from shoes to incense, sit beside large malls and markets.

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Numerous parks and green, open spaces compete with building developments as the city continuously expands to tackle the challenges of traffic and population growth, while the jacaranda-lined avenues of gated residential communities contrast starkly with sprawling informal settlements.

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To the north-west of the city is Brookhouse Runda campus and situated south-west of the city, Brookhouse Karen campus lies just across the road from Nairobi National Park, one of the most notable aspects of this African city.

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Established in 1948 to preserve the natural environment, the Nairobi National Park has been dammed in several places to secure a year-round water supply and thus is home to a wide variety of wildlife. Close by, nestling in the lower slopes of the Ngong Hills (so-called by the Maasai for resembling the knuckles of a fist) is the settlement of Karen, named after Danish author Karen Blixen of Out of Africa fame.

Nearby, the Animal Orphanage, Giraffe Centre and the Sheldrick Elephant Nursery provide further opportunities to view some of Kenya’s spectacular wildlife close up. Nairobi in 2023 is a major hub for technology in the region, a key UN headquarters, a major tourist drawcard and the bustling centre of the East African region. Welcome to Nairobi.

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Olivia and Bradley,

Student Organising Committee

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Good to know

 

• International dial code for Kenya is +254

• Time zone: GMT+3 in winter and GMT+2 in summer.

• The country has two official languages Kiswahili (Swahili) and English, but tribal languages are widely spoken.

• We don’t drink tap water, instead houses and public buildings have water fountains (the type with a standing bottled fountain).

• Although they have become less frequent and shorter, power cuts do happen meaning no electricity and power for a given time. All large shopping malls and supermarkets are fitted with generators for such instances. And an increasing number of houses now have solar panels. 

• Jamhuri Day is the name given to Kenya’s independence day which is celebrated on 12th December. It is a public holiday. This year will mark Kenya’s 60th anniversary.

• The Kenyan flag is made up of black, representing the people of the Republic of Kenya, red symbolising the blood shed during the fight for independence and green which celebrates the countries wildlife and landscape. The smaller stripes symbolise peace. Centred in the flag, are two spears and a shield which is similar to the ones carried by the Masai people. 

• Kenya’s national anthem is “Ee Mungu Nguvu Yetu” which is Kiswhailli for “Oh God of All Creation”. There's a Swahili and an English version: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LvDhe2fIaYE

• The first Prime Minister of Kenya was Jomo Kenyatta and the international airport JKIA is named after him.

• Plastic bags have been banned in Kenya since 2017 so shops use fabric bags or paper bags.

• Most residential areas are gated communities with security guards at the gate to let you in.

• The country's national animal is the Lion, symbolising charisma, courage and strength.

• All Kenyan number plates start with K and the number printed/ etched on passenger windows and wing mirrors. 

• There are around 42 Kenyan tribes, though this number is disputed.

• Nyama choma or “barbecued meat” is considered to be the national dish of Kenya. It is lightly seasoned red meat, often goat or lamb and it is typically served with ugali and skuma wiki (cooked spinach). Though each tribe has its own dish.

• The Kenyan currency is the Kenyan Shilling (KSH/-). Debit cards and credit cards are accepted at most major stores, most locals use Mpesa a phone-based money transfer service that deals with payments and micro-financing services. It was launched in 2007 by Safaricom, Kenya's largest mobile phone providers. It's advised to carry cash as it is often a cultural preference, especially for smaller transactions.

• Lake Victoria, which is in Kisumu, western Kenya is Africa’s largest lake

• Mount Kenya is the second largest mountain in Africa, after Kilimanjaro

• Although found in Kenya Starbucks is not as readily available, Kenyan favourites are Art Café and Java House.

• The official portrait of the Prime minister Dr William Ruto is found in official government buildings and some business opt to display it also.

• The Nairobi express way was constructed in 2022 and it is a 27 kilometres (17 mi) toll road in Kenya, connecting Jomo Kenyatta International Airport to Nairobi's Westlands area and it is a great way to take in the country's cityscape. 

• There is a large Indian community in Kenya, due to their shared maritime links from centuries ago and Indians helping to build railway links between Uganda and Kenya during the British empire. To recognise their socio-economic and political contributions to Kenya, the Indian community was recognised as Kenya's 44th tribe (we said the number was disputed) 

• Although not an everyday occurrence wild animals like lions can be seen on Nairobi’s roads. This is because the city is home to the worlds only national park which is situated in a capital city. It is common to see monkeys though so keep your eyes peeled.

 

 

Phases:

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• Jambo - Hello

• Asante (sana) - Thank you (very much)

• Karibu - Welcome

• Rafiki - Friend

• Mzuri - Good

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