Grew up in Kitui.
At home in Basel.
I don’t know Kenya from a resort, I know it from the street. And I check it with Swiss precision.
- 01Village kid from Kabati
Grew up in the village of Kabati in Kitui County, without electricity or running water. I know how Kenya works away from the tourist trail.
- 02Street and Sheng
I didn’t learn Swahili and Sheng, Nairobi’s street language, in a course but in the matatu. I know the tricks and the unwritten rules.
- 03Swiss view
Today I live in Basel and travel to Kenya regularly. I know the questions and worries of travellers from Switzerland, Germany and Austria.
An old friend in Nairobi called me a “proper Mzungu”. He was right: I understand both sides. That’s why you won’t get brochure romance from me, but the unfiltered reality.
Get the free Kenia-CheckWhat I would have
wanted myself.
I write down what I would have wanted when I first came back as a Mzungu. I stick to four rules:
- Every edition has a date. I check rules like entry and fees against the official sources and link them.
- No driver phone numbers. You get a simple routine to check any driver or provider yourself.
- No subscription, no countdown, no pressure.
- No safety guarantee. Nobody can honestly give you one. Instead, a plan for when something goes wrong.
Read my article: Is Kenya safe?
Questions? Write to me at info@saimenkenia.com.