November-2018

8 / INTRODUCTION
ENJOY YOUR FLIGHT / 9
“This connection will
open up Kenya and the region
to the world”
Dear guests,
As the President of Kenya, I’m honoured to introduce this special issue.
On 28 October, Kenya Airways’ inaugural flight between Nairobi and New York
connects Kenya directly to the United States for the first time in our history.
This is a great achievement that I am very proud of.
Cover Image: Joost Bastmeijer
Kenya Airways has always been known for connecting Africa to the world.
In 41 years, the airline has grown to include 53 destinations in 41 countries
and we are delighted that we can finally venture into North America.
The new non-stop Dreamliner service is set to provide a seamless experience
for business and leisure travellers alike. It will open up Kenya and the region
to the world to enjoy our hospitality and diverse cultures.
Central to all that we do is a commitment to creating opportunities for our
people. This direct flight is a magnificent way for our friends and neighbours
to connect and benefit through tourism, business and trade. The United States
currently ranks seventh as Kenya’s leading partner in overall trade, and third
as Kenya’s leading export destination. This is bound to grow with the new
connection, providing further opportunities for both countries and the region
as a whole.
➔
Kenya Airways World
Travel Awards
• Winner Africa’s Leading Airline:
2016, 2017
• Winner Africa’s Leading Airline,
Business Class: 2013, 2014, 2015,
2016, 2017, 2018
• Winner Africa’s Leading Airline,
Economy Class: 2011, 2018
Making this vision a reality has been a long process and we have had to make
significant investments to achieve the required Category One status. However,
the combined efforts from within government, Kenya Airports Authority (KAA)
as well as Kenya Airways have paid off. I truly appreciate all of the teams that
have worked around the clock to deliver the world-class facility that is now Jomo
Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA). We also cannot forget the crucial role of
our security agencies in ensuring that the airport is secure for all, day in day out.
My administration will continue its support in making JKIA a desired hub for
travellers from all over the world. I am looking forward to seeing even more
direct flights and destinations being offered by Kenya Airways, the Pride of
Africa, as it continues to carve its niche in the aviation industry.
In closing, I hope that you, Kenya Airways’ guests, will personally benefit from
our efforts in your own way; building memories with friends and family,
surprising your loved one with extra-fresh Kenyan roses or enjoying the
spectacular Nairobi sunset and unique New York sunrise on the same flight.
I wish you an enjoyable journey.
His Excellency Hon.
Uhuru Kenyatta, C.G.H.
President of the Republic of Kenya

CONTENTS / 11
SPECIAL
Reversible
Issue
Kenya
13 Habari
Kenya & Africa
19 Travel Essentials
Packing for Nairobi
20 Trident of Beauty
The best of Kenya
30 Three Questions
Kiran Jethwa
32 Two’s Company
Interview with KQ’s leaders
20
40
19
36 Cities at a Glance
Nairobi & New York
38 Three Questions
Mark Stephenson
40 Proudly African
Thandiwe Muriu’s photography
45 Safari Njema
KQ news & service
Contact details Kenya Airways Marketing & Corporate Communications, Nairobi, Kenya, +254 20 642 2000, msafiri@kenya-airways.com Website kenya-airways.com, msafiri-magazine.
com Facebook Kenya Airways Twitter @kenyaAirways Instagram @officialkenyaairways Mediaedge Interactive Ltd. Nairobi, Kenya, +254 20 420 5000 / +254 723 140187 / +254 734
271488, msafiri@mediaedgeke.comHearst Media Nederland CV, Spaklerweg 52, 1114 AE Amsterdam, the Netherlands +31 20 7943500, Website hearst.nl/hearst-create
No part of the contents may be reproduced without prior written permission. While every care is taken to ensure accuracy in preparing the magazine, the publisher and Kenya Airways assume no
responsibility for mistakes and effects arising therefrom. The publisher has made every effort to arrange copyright in according with existing legislation. Msafiri is available on all KQ flights and
at select hotels and businesses in Nairobi. A digital copy is available for free at kenya-airways.com.
CRE A T E

17
17th-century Dutch
settlers once gave the
name Leeuwen Staart
(Lion’s Tail) to Cape
Town’s Signal Hill.
HABARI / 13
Mwanza is known as “Rock City” due to the
many rock formations in the area.
Habari
Art
Afro-Surreal
When David Alabo studied in
New York, he created cover art
for a music single. From there,
the Ghanaian-Moroccan became
a contemporary artist. He now
creates “afro-surrealistic” works
that he explains as: “the fusion
of afro-centric elements with
surrealism, to create paradoxical
fantastical worlds”. @davidalabo

14 / HABARI
HABARI / 15
Nairobi has 391,000 sq m of
shopping centres, making it
one of Sub-Saharan Africa’s
top shopping destinations.
Nairobi
The indigenous people of Mwanza are mostly
Sukuma, which is the largest tribe in Tanzania.
South Sudan’s land area covers
644,329 sq km.
Arts & Culture
With 287 languages, Cameroon is the
most linguistically diverse nation after
Nigeria.
Wine expert
The Wine Shop
Gourmet food
Seven Seafood & Grill
New Year’s Eve
Coastal Kilifi
Music
African instruments
Shuterstock
Rehabilitation
Nairobi Animal
Orphanage
Established in 1964, this is one
of the oldest orphanages of its
kind in Kenya, and serves as
an educational and training
facility where more than 20
different animal and bird species
are rehabilitated back to
health after being abandoned
and injured. You will find
lions, cheetahs, hyenas, jackals,
serval cats, rare Sokoke cats,
warthogs, leopards, various
monkeys and baboons, and
numerous bird species.
~ kws.go.ke
Wine aficionados are particular
about the wine they drink.They
often drive long distances and
go to great lengths to get a
particular bottle, or just find
more wines from all over the
globe. The Wine Shop knows
this discerning client, so they
bring thousands of different
wines close so these people
don’t have to go far. If you’re
too busy to drive to the shop,
you can order online and have
it delivered to your doorstep
before your guests ask for a
refill.
~ thewineshopkenya.com
“I only spend my
time writing
characters who
I believe are
important and
powerful”
– Nnedi Okorafor –
Shuterstock
Renowned chef and restaurateur Kiran Jethwa recently created a
special menu for Kenya Airways’ flights. At Seven Seafood & Grill,
he does his thing with fresh Indian Ocean seafood. We’re talking
about Kenya’s freshest oysters, lobsters, prawns and ocean fish
delivered daily to the restaurant. Because Kenyans in Nairobi are
mainly meat lovers, they’re well catered for here with exclusive,
hand-selected cuts of Kenya’s finest beef, which have been carefully
aged and butchered in house.
~ sevenseafood.net
Alamy
Museum
Nairobi Railway Museum
You might have heard of the Lunatic Express: the name given to
a railway – connecting Kenya with Uganda – built by the British
colonial government in East Africa during Victorian times. You
might also have heard of the famed man-eaters of Tsavo, the
lions that turned the Lunatic Express railway workers into meals.
Yet, it’s surprising how many people don’t know about this gem
of a museum dedicated to Kenya’s rail history.
~nrm.co.ke
Nairobi page text: Jackson Biko
Habari text: Joost Bastmeijer and Saskia Houttuin
Fashion week
Fashion for Africa’s
Little Ones
Africa is home to several popular fashion
weeks, but the African Kids and
Teens Fashion Week is unique: it’s the
only event to exclusively “showcase and
promote African fashion for kids and
teenagers”. This three-day event in Lagos,
Nigeria, features multiple brands,
helping to give the fashion industry’s
small- and medium-scale businesses a
boost by focusing on fashion for young
people.
~ africankidsfashionweek.com
Looking for a place in Kenya to spend
New Year’s Eve? Look no further: Kilifi
New Year is arguably one of the hottest
parties in the country. The music festival
takes place on the coast of Kenya, from
30 December 2018 to 2 January 2019.
Amid wild orange and lemon orchards,
bamboo forests and baobab trees: “Kilifi
New Year culminates with the burning of
a large wooden sculpture symbolising
new beginnings and our shared optimism
for a brighter future”.
~ kilifinewyear.com
Hiking
Christmas with The Malagasy
Madagascar might be the best place to visit this Christmas, especially if you’re hoping
to hit the beach. If you want to spend the festive days being sportive, you can
sign up for the Nosy Be Trail, which runs from the Indian Ocean beaches to the
mountainous area of Mont Passot and Andavadoaka.
~ randorunoi.com/nosy-be-trail
Shuterstock
In Africa, music is everywhere.
Therefore, instruments are everywhere
as well. Here is a list of the
most extraordinary musical instruments
you may encounter when
you travel across the continent.
The Mbira
You can play this
pocket piano with your
thumbs by moving two rows of metal strips
attached to a wooden resonator. Also known as
agidigbo, kisanji and sanza, these instruments
can be found all over the world.
The Udu
The Udu looks like a clay
water jug, but due to the
extra hole, you can play this
as a percussion instrument. It
produces a “water droplet’”kind
of sound, and it’s mainly played by
Igbo women in Nigeria.
Djembe
This well-known, goblet-shaped
instrument originates from West
Africa. Made from carved wood
and animal hide stretched over the
open top, this drum is synonymous
with the rise of the Mali Empire.
The Kora
If you could combine a lute and a harp, you
would get the unusually designed
Kora instrument, which can
also be called ngoni and
gonje.
Shekere
This instrument is often made out of
a gourd. Filled with seeds, small
stones or shells, it produces
sounds when shaken.
Balafon
Made from vines, gourds and wood, this
instrument is played like a xylophone. When you
hit the keys, sound echoes into the gourd below.
The balafon can be
heard in Ghana, Côte
d’Ivoire, Burkina
Faso and Mali.
Shuterstock

16 / HABARI
KQ destination, Mwanza, is
the fastest-growing city in East
Africa and the second-largest in
Tanzania.
What’s On
Lake Victoria is the world’s largest lake
and lies in three different countries.
Market
Ghanaian Goodies
Are you in Accra, Ghana, and are you looking for a
place to shop for jewellery, hand-sewn shirts, lotions
or a place to have a tasty bite? Check out the city’s
premier pop-up market for food, music and fashion:
the Accra Goods Market. Every seven months, a
hundred vendors gather for the event at Crystal
Park. The last event of the year will be organised on
7 December.
~ instagram.com/theaccragoodsmarket
Q&A
A Female Comic
Book Hero
Ceremony
Lighting up Christmas
In South Africa’s “Mother City”, Christmas doesn’t
start without the traditional lighting of the Christmas
lights at Adderley Street. In the oldest street of
Cape Town, the “Festive Lights Switch-On” marks
the start of the holiday season and takes places on 3
December. After the lights are on, the summer party
is lit as well: Capetonians dance until the wee hours
of the morning, to music performed by some of
South Africa’s biggest artists.
~ mycapetownstay.com/event/Adderley_Street_Festive_Lights
Black Panther’s sister Shuri has her own comic book
series. Msafiri talks with Naijamerican writer Nnedi
Okorafor, who wrote the new Marvel comic about the
Wakandan techno-genius.
What do you like best about Shuri?
She’s just a really great character. There’s so much to her and the challenge
of starting her narrative in its own unlimited series. Slowly lowering the
reader into it is really a joy for me.
Is she the true Black Panther?
I’ve made it a point not to reveal those kinds of details in interviews,
and let people find that out by reading the actual comic. I’m a fan of the
element of surprise. Sometimes it’s best to let a story reveal such things in
the magical way that a narrative can.
How important is Shuri and Black Panther’s Afrofuturism to you?
She’s as important to me as all complex African female powerful and
flawed characters are. I only spend my time writing characters who I
believe are important and powerful.

Kenya Airways offers
subsidised tour rates of Nairobi
National Park to passengers
with a transit period of seven
hours or more.
Packing for Nairobi
Essentials / TRAVEL / 19
In Nairobi, the highest daytime
temperature is around 24°C, often
dropping to 14°C at night.
Paper and
polyester
hat, Topshop,
US$23.
Hardcover book
Peter Beard by Owen
Edwards and Steven
M. L. Aronson,
Taschen, US$70.
Hard-shell
suitcase
with stopper
function, Muji,
US$197.
Acetate
sunglasses,
Ray-Ban,
US$153.
Leather sandals,
Ancient Greek
Sandals,
US$135.
Body Broad
Spectrum Protection
Sunscreen, Susanne
Kaufmann, US$73.
Adventurer canvas
bag with leather trim,
Sandstorm US$289.
Binoculars,
Bynolyt,
US$234.
Selection: Gijsje Ribbens
Digital camera, Fujifilm, US$1,299.
Notebook with cardboard cover and
spiral binding, Penco Hightide, US$12.

20 / TRAVEL / Kenya
TRAVEL / 21
TRIDENT OF
BEAUTY
Soaring Mount Kenya, expansive Maasai Mara
and tropical Watamu are an UNRIVALLED
COMBINATION you’ll never forget.
text Emma Gregg
AWL Images
Michael Poliza

22 / TRAVEL / Kenya
TRAVEL / 23
Neil Thomas, Michael Poliza, Stefan Nimmesgern
“Mount Kenya’s spacious
foothills offer wide vistas
and fresh, rejuvenating air”
Mount Kenya and Lewa
WHAT TO DO
Mount Kenya Wildlife Conservancy
Home to rescued pygmy hippos, the
centre is helping to conserve rare
mountain bongos and white zebras
by breeding them in captivity.
Nanyuki.
animalorphanagekenya.org
WHERE TO STAY
Fairmont Mount Kenya Safari Club
Founded in the 1950s, this
elegant country hotel has hosted
presidents, prime ministers and
celebrities, from Winston Churchill
to Bing Crosby. Nanyuki.
fairmont.com/mount-kenya-safari
Rutundu Log Cabins
Famous for being the spot where –
in 2010 – Prince William proposed
to Kate Middleton, Rutundu is a
remote hideaway with simple, cosy
lakeside cabins. Lake Rutundu,
Mount Kenya National Park.
rutundu.com
FROM SUN-SPECKLED savannahs
to dazzling beaches, Kenya’s wild places
could inspire a lifetime of adventure.
Few of them, however, can beat Mount
Kenya for splendour, the Maasai Mara
for romance and Watamu for tropical
allure.
ZERO IN
Nanyuki is a town with a trick up its
sleeve. Fly in from Nairobi or zip up the
highway from Nyeri and you don’t just
enter a new neighbourhood; you cross
into a whole new hemisphere.
It’s hard to miss Nanyuki’s geographical
claim to fame. A couple of kilometres
south of its market, there’s a smartly
painted sign marking the spot where the
equator and the main road intersect, and
all over the bustling town centre – from
Moi Equator Girls Secondary School and
St Teresa Equator Catholic Church to
Equator Curios and even Equator Motor
Sales – buildings and businesses bear
celebratory names. If you’re itching to
check (once and for all) whether water
really does spiral anticlockwise in the
northern hemisphere and clockwise in
the southern hemisphere, you’ll find
locals eager to assist. But Nanyuki’s
greatest natural assets unfold out of
town. Right on its doorstep, there are
wildlife-rich grasslands and cool, forested
slopes to explore.
If you roam through equatorial
Africa in your imagination, what kind
of images spring to mind? Steamy Congolese
jungles and the sweltering source
of the Nile? They’re just part of the
picture. Spin the globe east to Kenya’s
Central Highlands, and you’ll encounter
entirely different landscapes. Between
Lake Victoria and the Eastern Rift, the
equator climbs steeply, soaring past the
grasslands of the Mara and slicing
through the tidy farms around Nanyuki,
narrowly missing a towering, snowcovered
cluster of peaks.
PEAK PERFORMANCE
This cluster is Mount Kenya, a threemillion-year-old
volcano with an 80-kmwide
base, its wildest slopes cloaked in
African junipers, giant lobelias, red-hot
pokers and rare afro-alpine shrubs. At
5,199 m, Mount Kenya’s summit is the
second-highest point in Africa after
Mount Kilimanjaro (5,895 m).
Legend has it that when Ngai – the
supreme god of the Kikuyu people –
descended from the skies, he made
Mount Kenya his throne. Whenever
his people built their homes close to the
mountain, they would angle them carefully
so that on opening the door, they
reverently faced the peak.
If you like the idea of starting your
Kenyan adventure on a high, both literally
and metaphorically, it makes sense to >

24 / TRAVEL / Kenya
TRAVEL / 25
Alamy, Getty Images, Hand Zaround
begin here. Mount Kenya’s spacious
foothills offer wide vistas and fresh,
rejuvenating air. These landscapes beckon
you outdoors to go hiking, mountainbiking
or horse riding; the staff at your
hotel or lodge will gladly arrange it for
you. The region is a conservation hotspot
too. Home to Lewa Wildlife Conservancy,
Mount Kenya Trust and Mount Kenya
Wildlife Conservancy, this is a place
where rare trees and plants are cherished,
and fragile populations of elephants,
rhinos and mountain bongos have been
brought back from the brink.
Throughout the region, the mountain
dominates the horizon, its crags appearing
like a vision in the early morning and late
afternoon when their covering of cloud
melts away. The mountain’s precious
habitats are protected by Mount Kenya
National Park, one of Kenya’s loveliest
natural expanses, which, together with
Lewa Wildlife Conservancy, is a UNES-
CO World Heritage Site.
“Watamu and Malindi
have vanilla-sand beaches
and sparkling waters”
THE COAST IS CLEAR
The next stop is Kenya’s gorgeous
tropical coast. An Indian Ocean getaway
is the perfect way to unwind. Watamu
and Malindi have vanilla-sand beaches
and sparkling waters, dotted with dhows.
Even better, their surroundings are a
UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, harbouring
interesting surprises. Where else can you
practise your yoga skills in a Gaudi-esque
tree house, discover the mysterious ruins
of a 13th-century Swahili town and visit
an expertly run reptile farm, all within
reach of your favourite beach bar?
With marine ecologists revealing the
full extent of the annual humpback whale
migration, this is fast becoming a whalewatching
destination, too. Humpbacks
arrive from Antarctica at roughly the
time that wildebeest pour into the Maasai
Mara, making Watamu and the Mara
perfect partners for a twin-migration trip.
If your idea of bliss is a sunny afternoon
by the pool, Watamu and Malindi
won’t disappoint. And if yoga with a view
is your favourite way to relax, you’re in
luck; Watamu Treehouse, for example,
offers sunset classes. If the ocean calls,
grab a mask and fins, and explore another
world: there’s satisfying snorkelling
straight off the beautiful beach, and
shimmering flurries of parrotfish, butterflyfish
and humbug-striped damselfish to
admire in the coral gardens of Watamu
Marine National Park & Reserve, a short
boat trip offshore. Head out on a scuba
trip or free dive into the blue, and you’ll
soon feel like one of the school. >
Watamu and Malindi
WHAT TO DO
Whale-watching
In humpback whale season (June
to October), Watamu’s famous
luxury resort, Hemingways, offers
morning boat trips. Hemingways,
Turtle Bay Road, Watamu.
hemingways-collection.com
WHERE TO STAY
Watamu Treehouse
With a gorgeous yoga studio and
thatch-topped towers decorated
with splashes of coloured glass,
this unique retreat has lifeenriching
views of forest and
beach. Turtle Bay Road, Watamu.
treehouse.co.ke
Lonno Lodge
A homely boutique hotel on a
wild, rocky stretch of coast, Lonno
has tranquil gardens dotted with
palms and a beautiful, curvaceous
swimming pool. Kanani Road,
Watamu. lonnolodge.com

26 / TRAVEL / Kenya
TRAVEL / 27
“Timelessly romantic and
spectacularly rich in wildlife,
the Mara is Kenya’s
most-visited protected area”
Philip Lee Harvey
Philip Lee Harvey

28 / TRAVEL / Kenya
TRAVEL / 29
Philip Lee Harvey, Joost Bastmeijer
Maasai Mara
WHAT TO DO
Hot-air ballooning
Drift over the savannah, then enjoy
a champagne breakfast. You’re
in good hands with Governors’
Balloon Safaris, a well-established
outfit. Little Governors’ Camp.
governorsballoonsafaris.com
WHERE TO STAY
Fairmont Mara Safari Club
Situated on the Mara River, this
property has 50 lavish safari tents
with four-poster beds, and verandas
overlooking the water. Ol-Choro
Oiroua Conservation Area.
fairmont.com/masai-mara-safari
Sanctuary Olonana
Olonana’s crisp, modern riverside
suites are softened with natural,
organic materials and neutral
colours, inspired by their natural
surroundings.
Mara North Conservancy.
sanctuaryretreats.com
A WALK IN THE PARK
The final stop on your tour is the
Maasai Mara National Reserve (known
locally as the Mara), 250 km southwest
of Mount Kenya. Timelessly romantic
and spectacularly rich in wildlife, the
Mara is Kenya’s most-visited protected
area, and has been voted Africa’s Leading
National Park at the World Travel
Awards five years in a row.
The Mara’s lion, leopard and cheetah
dynasties are stars, and their rivalries,
triumphs and tragedies have been charted
by countless documentaries. You can find
them at any time of year, but the drama
peaks between July and October, when
the region hosts one of Africa’s most
impressive seasonal events, the great
migration. Time your visit carefully and
you’ll witness thousands of wildebeest,
zebras and gazelles arrive from the
Serengeti, attracted by the scent of fresh
red oat grass. Fearsome crocodiles cash
in: lurking in the Mara and Talek rivers,
they wait for the herbivores to cross,
preying on the hapless and weak with
snapping jaws and chilling death rolls.
The best way to enjoy the migration is
to join a safari organised by a company
with outstanding responsible-tourism
credentials. Basecamp Explorer is a
good choice because they partner closely
with the local Maasai community. If you
prefer a little more luxury, Serian runs
beautiful camps that immerse you in the
bush in a manner that shows utmost
respect for the environment. Others, such
as sleek, modern newcomers Angama
Mara or Sanctuary Olonana, encourage
you to swap a morning safari drive for a
guided nature walk, exploring in the
quietest, most eco-friendly way possible.
To crown your visit, you could float
over treetops and epic, rolling grasslands
in a hot-air balloon. But after being
exposed to Kenya’s magnificent peaks,
sun-soaked savannahs and pristine
beaches, the picturesque journey to the
airport will probably do.
➔
Plan your trip
Book your flight on kenya-airways.com
credit xxxxx
“The drama peaks... when the
region hosts one of Africa’s most
impressive seasonal events, the
great migration”

30 / BUSINESS / African Pride
In 2002, Kenya Airways
became the first airline in
the world to operate the
B737-700 with winglets.
Three Questions
Kenya Airways’ Flight Pass enables
savings of up to 50 percent.
Kiran Jethwa
Age
42
Nationality
Kenyan
Profession
Chef
Connection with
Kenya Airways
Developed the first chef’s menu
for Kenya Airways’ flights
Star Chef ’s Bistro
in The Sky
A rising culinary star, Kiran Jethwa is
the first top chef to create a signature
menu for Kenya Airways’ flights.
When someone mentions Kenya
Airways, what comes to mind?
Nostalgia. I’ve been travelling back and
forth between Kenya and the UK with
Kenya Airways for most of my life. These
have mostly been fun family trips for the
holidays with my parents and my brothers.
The airline has been associated with
negativity in the recent past, but now
it’s experiencing a rebirth with such a
dynamic team of people who are really
trying to turn it around.
“It’s a great
privilege to be
the first chef of
the new catering
programme”
The general feeling being onboard a Kenya
Airways flight comes with the knowledge
that you are going to get excellent stuff. Of
course it’s a great privilege to be the first
chef of the new catering programme. There
were so many working parts, such as budgetary
constraints, ingredients constraints,
and client’s requirements. Issues with food
safety were also a big thing. This meant
that, not only was I to set a culinary benchmark,
I also had the task of stretching my
skills and talents beyond the realms that I’m
used to.
What does New York mean to you?
I remember going to New York some years
ago on a family trip. It was my father’s first
time there, and he didn’t really understand
the culture of tipping, which is huge. You
tip everybody in New York. You tip the
taxi driver, you tip the doorman, you tip
the bellboy, you tip the waitress, you tip
the hostess, you tip everybody. Anyway,
we got a taxi from the airport to the hotel
and my dad paid the taxi fare but he didn’t
tip the driver, who went crazy and started
shouting at us. My father – bewildered
– didn’t understand what was going on. The
taxi driver drove off in a storm. At which
point the bellboy of the hotel said, “Sir, you
know you must tip in New York; you must
tip everyone.”
What would you recommend to
someone visiting New York for the
first time?
Cycle around. When I go there, I never
use public transport or taxis; I rent a bike.
It’s a great way to see the city. Also, visit
the Chelsea Market. It’s a wonderful little
market. You can wander around and eat
everything from lobsters to pastries and
ice creams. The huge Italian market is another
good tip; you will find lots of great
products there, such as vegetables, pastries,
olive oil and wine. It’s a sight to behold.
text: Jackson Biko

32 / BUSINESS / Interview
BUSINESS / 33
Shutterstock
TWO’S
COMPANY
As Kenya Airways’ engines hum between Nairobi
and New York on the recently opened direct route,
the AIRLINE’S LEADERS discuss this major
milestone and the circumstances leading up to it.
text Jackson Biko
Travel tip for New York:
“The best part of New York is just walking the
streets. Going to Central Park, Times Square, and
looking at all the buzz and the high activity”
Curriculum Vitae:
Michael Joseph
Born
1946
Position
Chairman
Location
Nairobi, Kenya
Experience
Managing Director – Mobile Money
at Vodafone; Fellow, The World
Bank; and CEO Safaricom
Education
B.Sc.Eng., Electrical Engineering,
University of Cape Town
What were your own personal
expectations when you took over this
role, and how have they panned out?
Originally, I really didn’t know what
I was getting myself into. I’ve always
wanted to be involved in the airline
industry. I love aircraft. I love watching
them. A long time ago, when I was still
CEO of Safaricom, I said that I would
like to swap jobs with Titus Naikuni who
was the CEO of Kenya Airways at the
time. It started as a joke, but it became
something of a fascination for me. So
when I was asked to do this job, I resisted
initially because I wasn’t quite sure.
Being a chairman is not my strong suit
because I’m not the most diplomatic
person in the world. I’m used to telling
people what to do and then letting them
get on with it. I’m not used to sort of
building consensus on boards. So I took
on the role with some trepidation, but
because the request had come from the
Kenyan president, it was difficult to
refuse. Initially, I thought that, as chairman,
I’d simply attend annual general
board meetings and that would be it.
But it rapidly dawned on me that this
was a much bigger role. The company
requires a lot of attention, a lot of
change, and a lot of structural adjustment:
it’s a big job.
What’s been your most challenging
task so far?
The biggest challenge is summed up
with this question: How do you take a
company that’s 40 years old, with
40-year-old systems (in some cases), with
40-year-old mindsets in a now privatised
corporation that still behaves like a
state-run entity – as it was previously
– and change it? It’s hard to change
people and their culture. There has also
been the challenge of money and our
financial situation, and that continues to
be the biggest challenge today.
Are you making good strides in
changing the culture of the airline?
I think so. This morning, we had our
half-year-results review with investors,
and I made this remark publicly. I said
that if I look back over the last six
months, I definitely feel a sense of
excitement, a sense of belonging, and
a sense of enthusiasm from the whole
Kenya Airways family. I sense that
there’s a different feeling about the way
we do things, right from the management
to the pilots, to the cabin crew,
to the people that work on the ground,
to the people that give you tickets, and
to the people that check you in. I feel
that excitement. I think we’re making
good progress.
So what are you most proud of when
you think of Kenya Airways at this
point?
We’ve survived. It’s a fantastic
airline with a fantastic service level.
Seeing our colours – red, green, white
and black – is just a fantastic feeling.
We’re going to turn around, which I’m
clear about. The kind of conversations
we will have this time next year will be
different. Our flights to New York will
be a regular thing. New York is a big
deal from a business point of view
because we have lots of traffic coming
to East Africa via the Middle East and
Europe. This is not a token thing for us;
it’s more symbolic. It’s the indication of
the beginning of our turnaround. That
we’ve now got enough muscle, enough
energy and enough bravery to take on a
new destination that’s as challenging as
the US shows just how far we’ve come.
What does New York mean to you
personally?
I love New York. I love the noise, the
bad-tempered taxi drivers, the hotels, the
restaurants, the whole vibe of New York;
it’s the gateway to the US. When you
arrive in New York, you know you’re in
the US; it’s that kind of thing.
Flying tip:
Enjoy the experience because it’s
not going to go any faster. Take flying
hustles in your stride: delays and whatnot.
That’s what I do. And I fly a lot.
People talk to me about jetlag and all
these things, but I still don’t get jetlag.
I love reading, so I’m very happy
because I can read as much as I like. >

34 / BUSINESS / Interview
Travel tip for New York:
“Wrap up warm in winter, because it can get
incredibly cold”
Curriculum Vitae:
Sebastian Mikosz
Born
1973
Position
Group Managing Director and CEO
Location
Nairobi, Kenya
Experience
CEO eSky Group; CEO LOT Polish
Airlines; and Senior Advisor
Societe Generale Corporate &
Investment Banking
Education
Sciences PO university, Paris
Last time we spoke, you were only
100 days into your new role. What’s
been the perspective of the business
since then?
The focus is on continuing the
improvement process. We may call it
restructuring. It’s continuing the
improvement of revenues, control of
cost, profitability; basically trying to
bring Kenya Airways back to a much
stronger market position. But it’s also
about improving the perception of the
airline and the atmosphere surrounding
it, so we stop being looked at as we were
in the past. Now, we’re much more
focused on the solutions that we have,
and it shows.
What challenges have you experienced
during this period?
They have been mostly operational
challenges. For instance, we had an
unexpected and very heavy fuel-price
increase, which was contrary to the
industry prediction that it would drop.
What have you been most proud of
since you took office?
There are a number of things that
make me proud. We were able to finalise
the restructuring of our debt last year,
and we have seen an improvement in
our cash flow – reflected in our half-year
results, which show a positive upward
trend. We have also been able to enlarge
our joint venture with Air France-
KLM. We have re-established the pride
of the airline in spite of everything and
are now a group of people that want to
go in the same direction. This helps
with our pride and belief in the airline
market. And I’m proud of our direct
flights to the US, of course. New York
is a strong symbol of our rebirth as
an airline.
What does New York mean to you?
That everything is possible. The
very notion of impossibility is a
limitation of the mind; and only by
taking action do we realise this. I
believe that we can overcome our
perceived weaknesses. For me, it’s a
belief that we can fly everywhere and
do everything; it just depends on us.
We’re in a position to steer the airline
to different skies and New York means
that there is no glass ceiling.
Why should someone choose Kenya
Airways to go to New York as opposed
to another airline?
They should choose the Kenya
Airways flight because it’s non-stop,
because it’s a great aircraft, and because
it has great onwards connectivity.
Furthermore, our excellent crew is
well-trained and highly committed.
We also have a fantastic in-flight
menu developed with one of the most
celebrated chefs in the region, Kiran
Jethwa, who brings a refreshing and
delectable twist to the food we serve
on board.
Ultimately, what is the most important
aspect of this new route?
This route is important because it
shows that we’re really a world player.
The real fight today in Africa is not to
be a regional player, but an international
one. And we’re doing that.
What’s your favourite destination in
Kenya?
The Maasai Mara. I would just
recommend limiting the number of
tourists and the number of cars. The
sunrise seen from a hot air balloon as
you glide over the Mara is nothing short
of breathtaking.

36 / TRAVEL / Cities at a Glance
TRAVEL /37
Population of New of New York York
Population of Nairobi of Nairobi
= 4.3 = 4.3 million
Rain Rain per year: per year:
110 110 cm cm
Largest Largest
snowstorm:
70 cm 70 cm
(January (January 2016) 2016)
= 8.6 million
Rain per
= 8.6 million Trade Trade
Trade Trade
Rain per
year: year:
Official Official name name NAIROBI NAIROBI
100 100 cm cm
Local Local time time UTC UTC + 3h+ 3h
Currency Currency Kenyan Kenyan Shilling Shilling
(KES) (KES)
Import Import Export Export
Export Export Import Import
Official Official name name NEW NEW YORK YORK CITY CITY
Languages Languages English, English, Swahili, Swahili,
Local Local time time UTC UTC – 4h– 4h
more more than than 40 local 40 local
Currency Currency US Dollar US Dollar (USD) (USD)
ethnic ethnic languages languages
Languages Languages English English
Flight Flight info info KQ departs KQ departs every every
Flight Flight info info KQ departs KQ departs at 12:00 at 12:25
day from day from Jomo Jomo
p.m. p.m. from from JFK Airport, JFK Airport,
Kenyatta Kenyatta Internationanational
Airport Airport
Inter-
landing landing at Jomo at Jomo America’s America’s biggest biggest export export is is petroleum, followed followed by by monolithic
Kenya’s Kenya’s biggest biggest export export is tea. is tea. Other Other exports exports are cut are flowers, cut flowers,
Kenyatta Kenyatta International
integrated circuits. circuits. It’s biggest It’s biggest import import is also is also petroleum,
processed processed petroleum petroleum oils, oils, beans, beans, titanium titanium and and pineapples.
(JKIA) (JKIA) at 11:25 at 11:25 p.m., p.m.,
Airport Airport at 10:30 at 10:55 a.m. a.m. followed followed by by automobiles.
The biggest The biggest import import is is petroleum.
arriving arriving at JFK at JFK
the following the following day. day.
Airport Airport at 6:25 at 6:25 a.m. a.m.
the following the following day. day.
HISTORY HISTORY
HISTORY HISTORY
1650 1650 ’75 ’7517001700’25 ’25 ’50 ’50 ’75 ’7518001800’25 ’25 ’50 ’50 ’75 ’7519001900’25 ’25’50 ’50 ’75 ’7520002000 1875 1875 1900 1900 ’25 ’25 ’50 ’50 ’75 ’75 2000 2000
’25 ’25
In 1664, In 1664, the British the British seized seized For the For next the next century, century, the the
“New “New Amsterdam” from from population population increased, increased, with lots with lots
the Dutch the Dutch and gave and gave it a it a of immigrants of immigrants from from Europe Europe and and
Business Business
new name: new name: New New York York City. City. slaves slaves from from Africa. Africa.
Global Global organisations in in
New New York: York: The The United United
Nations, Nations, American American
Tallest Tallest building: building:
Express, Express, American American Stock Stock
One One World World Trade Trade Center: Center: 541 541 m m
Exchange, Exchange, Ernst Ernst & Young, & Young,
Floors: Floors: 104 104
600 m600 JPMorgan m JPMorgan Chase Chase and and
Goldman Sachs Statue of
Opened in: 2014
Goldman Sachs Statue of
Opened in: 2014
Liberty
Times Square
500 m
Liberty
Times Square
500 m
Broadway Broadway and and the the
Theatre Theatre District District
400 m400 m
300 m300 m
New New York York City was City the was capital the capital of the of the
US from US from 1789-1790. But it’s But still it’s the still the
country’s country’s most most vibrant vibrant city and city and
cultural cultural capital. capital.
Empire Empire State State Building Building
British British colonists colonists founded founded Nairobi Nairobi in in Nairobi Nairobi replaced replaced Mombasa Mombasa
1899 1899 as a camp as a camp for labourers for labourers who who as the as capital the capital of the of British the British
were were building building the the Mombasa–Lake protectorate protectorate in 1905. in 1905.
Victoria–Uganda railway railway line. line.
Ngong Ngong Hills Hills
The peak The peak is at 2,460 is at 2,460 m m
Nairobi Nairobi Karen Karen Blixen Blixen
National National Park Park Museum Museum
Kenya’s Kenya’s first national first national park, park,
Giraffe Giraffe Centre Centre
est. 1946 est. 1946
Kenya Kenya gained gained independence from from
the UK the on UK 12 on December, 12 December, 1963. 1963.
Nairobi Nairobi
National National
Museum Museum
Tallest Tallest building: building:
Britam Britam Tower: Tower: 200 200 m m
Floors: Floors: 32 32
Opened Opened in: 2018 in: 2018
Business Business
Global Global organisations
in Nairobi: in Nairobi: The United The United
Nations, Nations, Coca-Cola,
Heineken, Heineken, Red Red Cross, Cross,
MasterCard, IBM, IBM,
Toyota Toyota and and Pfizer Pfizer
400 m400 m
300 m300 m
Tom Tom Mboya Mboya
Monument
200 m200 m
200 m200 m
100 m100 m
Broadway Broadway
100 m100 m
NEW YORK
Tree
Tree
The Christmas The Christmas
tree tree at at Rockefeller
Center Center is usually is usually
a Norway a Norway spruce spruce
that’s that’s 21- to 21- to
30-m 30-m tall. tall.
Yellow Yellow Taxi Taxi
The iconic The iconic
taxi was taxi was
painted painted
yellow yellow to to
make make it it
more more visible. visible.
Pride Pride
The Statue The Statue of of
Liberty Liberty was was
transported by by
boat boat from from
France France in in
the 1880s. the 1880s.
It is 93-m It is 93-m
tall. tall.
Subway Subway
The New The New York York City City subway subway is the is the
largest largest rapid rapid transit transit system system in the in the
world world by number by number of stations: of stations: it it
has 472 has 472 stations stations in operation. in operation.
Sources: cia.gov, census.gov, nationsonline.org, history.com, wits.worldbank.org, weather-and-climate.com, data.worldbank.org
1,000 km 1,000 km
Sources: cia.gov, census.gov, nationsonline.org, history.com, wits.worldbank.org, weather-and-climate.com, data.worldbank.org
Infographic: Chantal van Wessel/Vizualism Text: Yvette Bax
Infographic: Chantal van Wessel/Vizualism Text: Yvette Bax
NAIROBI
Acacia Tree
1,000 km 1,000 km
Nairobi–Mombasa Train Train
The The Nairobi–Mombasa Standard Standard Gauge Gauge Railway, Railway,
which which opened opened on 31 on May 31 May 2017, 2017, connects connects the the
port port city of city Mombasa of Mombasa with with Kenya’s Kenya’s capital. capital. Matatu Matatu
A popular A popular form form of transport of transport in in
Kenya, Kenya, the matatu the matatu is a taxi is a that’s taxi that’s
often often
adorned adorned
with with
paintings. paintings.
Acacia Tree
Prevalent Prevalent in Kenya, in Kenya, the acacia the acacia tree tree produces produces the the sought-after
raw material, raw material, gum gum arabic, arabic, which which is used is used in a in multitude a multitude of of
products, products, such such as adhesives, as adhesives, pharmaceuticals and and sweets. sweets.
The The African African Lion Lion
Found Found in Kenya’s in Kenya’s national national
parks parks and and reserves, reserves, the the
African African Lion Lion lives lives in a in unit a unit
of approx. of approx. three three males males and and
a dozen a dozen females. females.

38 / BUSINESS / African Pride
In June 2018, Kenya
Airways began operating
direct flights to Cape Town.
Three Questions
Want to know the carbon emission
of your flight? Visit climatecare.org
and click on the carbon calculator.
Mark Stephenson
Age
50
Nationality
British (since 1968) and
Kenyan (since 2008)
Profession
Managing Director,
Sandstorm Kenya
Connection with
Kenya Airways
Made the special amenity
kits to commemorate the
inaugural flights between
Nairobi and New York
“The way that
the Kenya
Airways crew
looked after him
was simply
amazing. That
stuck with me”
Travel in Style
with Sandstorm
Mark Stephenson, whose company
makes handcrafted bags, created the
amenity kits for the inaugural direct
flights between Nairobi and New York.
When someone mentions Kenya
Airways, what comes to mind?
Family. I don’t have kids, but I know
enough people with kids to know that
flying with them can be stressful. An old
friend of mine came to visit me last year,
flying alone with his eight-year-old twins,
and he said that the way that the Kenya
Airways crew looked after him was
simply amazing. That stuck with me.
What does New York mean to you?
Twenty years ago, a long time before
Airbnb, I was travelling to New York
for a week and found a place online called,
Heart of Soho B&B, which looked quite
interesting. I think it was on Spring Street.
I wrote to them and made a reservation
for my girlfriend and I. We turned up
as planned and met the owner Pam, a
sculptor, and Jay, a food
writer who promptly
handed us – two complete
strangers – the keys to
their beautiful loft apartment.
I was bowled over by
their trust, warmth and
generosity. We arrived as
guests, but we left as friends.
We went to stay with them
in The Hamptons the
following summer.
What would you recommend to
someone visiting New York for the
first time?
Go for the brunch at Fanelli Café. I visited
this café for the first time 25 years ago
when I first went to New York, and I visit
every time I return. It’s considered the
second-oldest food-and-drink establishment
in the area: it has been operating since
1847. Artists, like me, are drawn to it. Also,
if you have time, visit the High Line: it’s the
most amazing park built on a historic railway.
It’s something of a wonder, really.
text: Jackson Biko

40 / PHOTOGRAPHY / Fashion
PHOTOGRAPHY / 41
PROUDLY
AFRICAN
As a teenager, THANDIWE
MURIU searched for a reflection of
herself in international fashion
magazines. What she found was a
career in commercial photography.
text Wanjeri Gakuru

42 / PHOTOGRAPHY / Fashion PHOTOGRAPHY / 43
“You are enough;
everything about you
is enough”
“THERE’S ALWAYS been a little
revolutionary in me,” says Muriu. “We
tell ourselves that we’re not good enough.
We need to change that narrative. You are
enough; everything about you is enough
and beautiful. We need more people
saying this.”
Over the course of 10 years, the
Nairobi-based shutterbug has developed
a distinct portraiture style that combines
superb picture composition and lighting
on subjects sporting vibrant colours,
textures and patterns. When she was at
the tender age of 22, Muriu clinched the
Most Promising Young Photographer of
The Year title at the 2013 Kenya Photography
Awards, and she had her Camo
series featured in the 2016 Picture Africa
Exhibition (South Africa).
PORTRAIT OF THE ARTIST
Muriu’s favourite part of planning a
shot is selecting the props. She draws
inspiration from observation and research.
Nostalgia for the Nairobi she
grew up in often wends its way into her
work, but whether the selected item is a
flower or drink cans, Muriu seeks to make
art first and foremost, even on projects
that are commissioned.
She has shot lookbooks for major
brands, including Ichyulu and Koy
Clothing. And a photo spread she did
for Dubai-based women’s line, Mochi,
appeared in Harper’s Bazaar Arabia. Yet
even as Muriu’s star rises, she remains
keen on helping other budding photographers.
She’s taught workshops in Kenya
and Uganda, and she started a YouTube
series featuring tips, tutorials and reviews.
“I recognise that people took time
to invest in me, and now I’m passionate
about teaching and contextualising this
field for other Africans: Kenyans specifically.
People just need encouragement,”
she says.
REALISTIC DREAMER
Muriu is fired up about her continued
growth as an artist. “This isn’t my Plan B;
I want to be here. But I’m a realist and I
had to ask myself to actually dream.
That’s the only way to push the envelope.”
She’s currently working on an
extension of the Camo series, which
focuses on African hair. It’s slated for a
November 2018 release online and in
(limited) print. “Good things can come
out of Africa. We can do amazing things.
We can lead the pack,” she says.

SAFARI NJEMA / 45
Covering 3.41 sq. km, New Yorkʼs
Central Park is larger than the
Vatican City in Rome as well as
the entire country of Monaco.
✈ To book flights to New York,
go to kenya-airways.com.
Safari Njema
Jasmina Tomic Photography, Getty Images
Taking flight
Connecting for
Growth
A new route opens up new markets for
passengers and goods but also generates
additional revenue locally, Kenya Airways
Group Managing Director and CEO,
Sebastian Mikosz says, regarding the
launch of the direct flight to New York.
From left to right: Kenya Airways Group Managing Director
and CEO, Sebastian Mikosz; Cabinet Secretary East African
Community and Northern Corridor Development, Peter Munya;
Kenya Airways Chairman, Michael Joseph; H.E. President of the
Republic of Kenya, Uhuru Kenyatta; Cabinet Secretary for Foreign
Affairs Monica Juma; Principal Secretary State Department for
Transport and Kenya Airways board member, Esther Koimett

The famous Rainbow Room
is located on the 65th floor
of 30 Rockefeller Plaza,
Manhattan’s iconic
art deco skyscraper.
News
SAFARI NJEMA / 47
✈ Kenya Airways guests
can order a special meal for their
dietary or religious requirements
up to 24 hours before departure.
Jasmina Tomic Photography
From left to right: Kenya Airways Group Managing Director and CEO, Sebastian Mikosz; Kenya
Airways Chairman, Michael Joseph; Principal Secretary State Department for Transport,
Esther Koimett; H.E. President of the Republic of Kenya, Uhuru Kenyatta
Principal
Secretary
State Department
for Transport
Esther Koimett
H.E. President of the Republic of
Kenya, Uhuru Kenyatta
Africa is home to many of the fastest
growing economies. It is the next investment
growth frontier in the world, with
export earnings to the US continuing
to exhibit an upward trend. The main
export commodities – apparel and
clothing accessories – constitute more
than 60 percent of total domestic
exports to the country. Last year,
domestic exports of apparel rose by
5.9 percent to Kshs 30.2 billion.
“The aviation industry has great
potential in Africa and it is projected
to have about six percent annual average
passenger growth over the next 20 years,
translating to 274 million additional
passengers. Our non-stop flight between
Nairobi and New York City will ease
business links, investment and academic
exchanges for many Kenya Airways
guests who study, work, tour and do
business in both countries” Mikosz said.
He was speaking to business leaders and
investors at the Rainbow Room, 30
Rockefeller Plaza, New York City.
The event was also attended by H.E
President Uhuru Kenyatta.
“We are indeed excited to be the first
East African carrier to operate non-stop
flights to New York. It is a big milestone
for us to add the 53rd destination to our
growing network,” Mikosz said.
President Kenyatta said that the Kenya
Airways non-stop flights will boost
business and trade ties between Kenya
and the US, and make it cheaper for
people to travel.
“The non-stop flight to the US is an
opportunity to bring our two nations
closer together, not just from a tourist
point of view, but also as two societies
that share common values, coming
together to bridge a gap between Africa,
the Western Hemisphere and America,
while also bringing our people much
closer together,” President Kenyatta said.
The president also urged investors and
the business community at the dinner
to seek partnerships to accelerate
American investments in Kenya and
open new frontiers in enhancing
tourism, trade and investment opportunities.
The flight will depart daily from
Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in
Nairobi at 11:25 p.m., arriving at John
F. Kennedy International Airport in
New York City at 06:25 a.m. the next
day. From New York, the flight will
depart at 12:00 p.m. landing at JKIA
at 10:30 a.m. the following day.

48 / SAFARI NJEMA
SAFARI NJEMA / 49
Kenya Airways Pride Centre
opened in 2007 as Africaʼs
premier training facility
for aviation and hospitality.
News
✈ Kenya Airways launched
a carbon offset programme
in 2011, the first African
airline to do so.
How many Miles did you
earn while flying to your
current destination? Find out
online with the Flying Blue
Miles Calculator.
Flying Blue
✈ There are new discounted award
tickets, or Promo Awards, available
every month, saving you up
to 50 percent on Award Miles.
Permit
Formal Approval
It was a big day when Kenya Airways received the Last
Point of Departure (LPD) confirmation affirming that Jomo
Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) meets the Transport
Security Administration (TSA) security standards. The US
Ambassador, Robert Godec presented the letter to Kenya
Airways Group Managing Director and CEO, Sebastian
Mikosz at a ceremony held at the Kenya Airways Pride Centre
in Embakasi, Nairobi.
“We are delighted that JKIA has been granted the Last Point
of Departure status. This will now permit us to fly daily nonstop
flights to John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) in
New York as scheduled,” Mikosz said.
“As a result of our LPD status, JKIA will catapult itself as a
premier aviation hub, not only for the region but also for the
continent. This is a major game changer and we expect a
major boost to trade and tourism in Kenya,” Chairman of
the Kenya Airports Authority (KAA), Isaac Awuondo added.
From this new route, East Africa’s largest economy and the
entire region stand to benefit, not only in tourism, but in the
overall sustainable development of the continent.
US Ambassador to Kenya, Robert Godec (left) hands over the
Transportation Security Administration Last Point of Departure
confirmation letter to Kenya Airways CEO, Sebastian Mikosz.
Education
Constructing
Classrooms
Rural Kenya faces a severe learning crisis due to
poor education infrastructure. Wildlife Works,
Kenya Airways’ carbon-offsetting partner, is
working hard to address the challenges that
thousands of children face in accessing quality
education in Tsavo’s Kasigau Corridor.
Membership levels
Redeem
Your
Miles!
The Flying Blue frequent flyer programme allows you to earn
Award Miles for every flight you take with Kenya Airways or
a SkyTeam partner.You can redeem your Miles to fly with
KQ-operated flights or upgrade your seats to Business Class.
There are four membership levels in Flying Blue and with each qualifying
flight you take, you earn Level Miles. When you first enrol, you will be
awarded Ivory status, which progresses to Silver, Gold and ultimately
Platinum. The more you travel with KQ or one of our partner airlines,
the higher your level becomes, which results in you earning more Award
Miles and enjoying more benefits.
Award Miles can be redeemed for flights to destinations selected by
Kenya Airways or our SkyTeam partner airlines. Your accumulated
Award Miles remain valid for 20 months, which can be extended every
time you fly with Kenya Airways or one of our SkyTeam partners, if you
fly at least once every 20 months. The total number of Miles credited to
your account depends on the distance you have flown and travel class
that you have chosen.
~ Enrol now and start to enjoy the benefits Flying Blue has to offer.
Go to flyingblue.com for more information and to sign up.
1
Exchange
Award Miles can be redeemed for a flight to
any Kenya Airways destination or an upgrade to
Business Class.
2
Check
Your choice of destination determines the
number of Miles required for your Award ticket. So
please check if you have sufficient Miles for your
choice. You can check this on flyingblue.com. It is
advisable to have flexible date options in case your
initial choice is not available.
3
Redeem
Once you have made your choice, you can
redeem your Award Miles in several ways:
A. Call the Kenya Airways contact centres in
Nairobi on +254 20 327 4747; +254 734 104747
or +254 711 024747.
B. Visit kenya-airways.com and go to
Flying Blue and then Award Booking.
C. Visit flyingblue.com and go to Spend Miles.
For further information, you can always contact us
at kenya-airways.custhelp.com.
4
Easy Does It
Five steps to make
the most of your Miles.
Tax
Award Miles do not cover tax charges. These
will need to be paid for by you, and can be done so
via credit card, M-Pesa or a cash payment at any
Kenya Airways office.
“We expect a major
boost to trade and
tourism in Kenya”
− Isaac Awuondo −
Chairman of the Kenya Airports Authority
The majority of students in the Kasigau Corridor REDD+
project area have not historically had access to quality
education because of a lack of classrooms and insufficient
facilities at their existing schools. Wildlife Works has therefore
commissioned the renovation and construction of over 25
classrooms and facilities at schools in the area.
In addition, there are a further 20 improvement projects
ongoing, which will positively impact the lives of hundreds
more students. Enrolment at local schools has increased and
ensuring students have access to quality education will safeguard
their future.
Wildlife Works recognises that building classrooms and
adequate facilities for schools is crucial for providing the
conducive learning environment that children need.
~ Visit wildlifeworks.com to find out more.
5
Ticket
Once payment has been received, your e-ticket
will be sent to you by email.
~ Award tickets are subject to seat availability. In the
event that no seats are available, you can opt for a Flex
Award, which gives you a confirmed ticket for double the
Award Miles.
~ Award Miles can be used to upgrade to Business
Class when you have already purchased an Economy
Class Kenya Airways ticket on B, Y, M and U classes for
all routes. All upgrades are subject to seat availability in
Business Class.

SkyTeam operates more than
17,000 departures a day to 1,074
destinations in 177 countries, and
offers SkyTeam members 600+
lounges in airports worldwide.
SkyTeam
SAFARI NJEMA / 51
✈ Founded in June 2000, SkyTeam is a
major airline alliance that consists of 20
carriers from 5 continents.
Seamless Seating
Say hello to our latest innovation that’s
designed to make your travelling life that
little bit easier. Aeroméxico and Delta
became the first SkyTeam members
to utilise new technology that allows
passengers to book seats for their entire
journey when flying with the two airlines.
In the future, more SkyTeam members
will allow you to select your seat, purchase
a preferred seat, or even see seat
availability in a real-time map.
Digital Airport Maps
Never get lost in an airport again with
our new navigation tool. The digital
airport maps – currently available at 14
airports worldwide – enhance your
airport experience and find your gate
or one of the 600+ lounges available to
Elite Plus, First Class and Business
Class customers. Find the maps on the
free SkyTeam app, which is available for
Android and iOS.
New technology
We’re taking tech.
to new heights
New developments in technology are transforming
how we live, work and, in the SkyTeam family, how
we travel. Our technology investments, which can be
experienced across the global network, will streamline
your experience and make travelling more seamless
than ever. Here’s how.
SkyTeam Rebooking
Flight delayed, cancelled or diverted?
The next time you find yourself affected
by travel disruption, simply head to a
SkyTeam member airline’s ticket or
transfer desk, and the agent will reroute
you onto the next available SkyTeam
flight using SkyTeam Rebooking: easy!
The service is currently available at 43
airports worldwide, with more being
added each month. With 20 airlines in
the SkyTeam alliance, you’ll be on your
way in no time.
SkyTeam Find Flights
It’s easier than ever to plan and book
trips across all member airlines with our
new metasearch, available on skyteam.
com. Passengers can access real-time
availability, schedules and flight prices
across the alliance’s 1,074 destinations, as
well as codeshare and connecting flight
options, which are displayed together on
one page. Simply head online to our
website and click “Find Flights”.
We hope that our tech. offerings make
your experience as stress-free as possible.
~ Visit skyteam.com for more details.

52 / SAFARI NJEMA
SAFARI NJEMA / 53
Global Network
Kenya Airways Fleet
UNITED
STATES
London
GREAT-BRITAIN
THE NETHERLANDS
Amsterdam
Paris
FRANCE
Boeing 787 Dreamliner
Aircraft 7; Seats Economy 204, Premier 30; Crew 14;
Seat pitch Economy 32”; Premier 75”; Max. take-off weight
227,930kg; Fuel capacity 126,903 litres; Range 14,500km;
Typical cruising speed at 35,000ft Mach 0.85; Thrust per
engine at sea level 69,800lbs; Wing span 60.1m; Length
56.7m; Interior cabin width 5.49m
New York
SENEGAL
Dakar
Bamako
Freetown
SIERRA LEONE
Monrovia
LIBERIA
MALI
COTE
BENIN
Abuja
D'IVOIRE
GHANA
Lagos
Abidjan
Accra
Cotonou
SUDAN
Khartoum
NIGERIA
UNITED
ARAB
EMIRATES
Dubai
Djibouti
DJIBOUTI
Addis
Ababa
SOMALIA
CENTRAL
SOUTH SUDAN
ETHIOPIA
CAMEROON
AFRICAN REPUBLIC
Juba
Douala
Yaoundé
Mogadishu
Bangui
UGANDA
KENYA
Entebbe/Kampala
Libreville
Kisumu
GABON
Kigali
NAIROBI
RWANDA
Brazzaville
DEMOCRATIC
REPUBLIC OF
Bujumbura
Kilimanjaro
Mombasa
Kinshasa
THE CONGO
BURUNDI
TANZANIA
Mahé
SEYCHELLES
Dar es Salaam
Luanda
Moroni/COMOROS
ANGOLA
Lubumbashi
MALAWI
Dzaoudzi/MAYOTTE
Ndola
Lilongwe
ZAMBIA
Lusaka
Blantyre
Nampula
Livingstone
Victoria Harare
Falls
ZIMBABWE
Antananarivo
MAURITIUS
MOZAMBIQUE
MADAGASCAR
Mumbai
INDIA
Bangkok
THAILAND
CHINA
Guangzhou
Boeing 737-800
Aircraft 8; Seats Economy 129, Premier 16; Crew 8;
Seat pitch Economy 32”, Premier 47”; Max. take-off weight
79,015kg; Fuel capacity 26,020 litres; Range 5,665km; Typical
cruising speed at 35,000ft Mach 0.78; Thrust per engine at
sea level 26,400lbs; Wing span 34.3m; Length 39.5m;
Interior cabin width 3.53m
Boeing 737-700
Aircraft 2; Seats Economy 100, Premier 16; Crew 7;
Seat pitch Economy 32”, Premier 40”; Max. take-off weight
70,080kg; Fuel capacity 26,020 litres; Range 6,225km;
Typical cruising speed at 35,000ft Mach 0.785;
Thrust per engine at sea level 26,400lbs; Wing span 34.3m;
Length 33.6m; Interior cabin width 3.53m
Johannesburg
Maputo
Chantal van Wessel/Vizualism
SOUTH
AFRICA
Cape Town
Embraer 190
Aircraft 15; Seats Economy 84, Premier 12; Crew 7;
Seat pitch Economy 31”, Premier 38”; Max. take-off weight
51,800kg; Fuel capacity 16,153 litres; Range 2,935km;
Typical cruising speed at 35,000ft Mach 0.82; Thrust per
engine at sea level 20,000lbs; Wing span 28.72m;
Length 36.24m; Interior cabin width 2.74m

54 / SAFARI NJEMA
SAFARI NJEMA / 55
The Nairobi National Park
stopover package allows guests
travelling on flight KQ101 from
London Heathrow to enjoy a
wildlife tour during their transit.
Welcome to Kenya
✈ Passengers travelling in
a group of at least ten
(economy cabin) or five
(business cabin), can
request for a group fare.
SOUTH-
SUD A N
E T HIOPIA
Practical tips
Getty Images
Getting around
On Arrival
TO THE CITY
Jomo Kenyatta International Airport is about a 30-minute drive away
from Nairobi city. Moi International Airport, Mombasa is a 20-minute
drive to Mombasa city. More time is needed during rush hour.
VISA
Most visitors to Kenya require a visa. Multiple and single entry visas are
available. You can apply at any Kenya High Commission or Embassy
prior to travelling. The single entry visa (obtainable upon arrival at the
airport) is US$50 (correct at time of print) or the equivalent in local currency.
You will also require a passport that is valid for three months from
the moment of entry.
Health
Emergency services
Dial 999. Note that
ambulance services are
mostly private. Services
include: St Johns
Ambulance +254 72 161
1555 or Kenya Red
Cross Ambulance
+254 71 771 4938.
Hospitals
Nairobi and Mombasa
have good hospitals.
Medical expenses
Make sure you have
adequate travel health
insurance and accessible
funds to cover the cost of
any medical treatment.
Consultations and
treatments will have to
be paid for at the time,
and the costs claimed
back later.
General
Voltage
240 volts AC, using
three-square-pin,
13-amp-type plugs.
Security
It is advisable not to walk
alone in isolated areas
in towns or on beaches,
particularly after dark.
Tipping
Tips are appreciated. Most
hotels/restaurants add a
10 percent service charge.
Water
It is wise to drink or use
only boiled or bottled water,
and to avoid ice in drinks.
Self-drive
Traffic adheres to the lefthand
side of the road, and
most cars are right-hand
drive. A current driving
licence with photograph is
accepted for up to a threemonth
stay.
Public transport
Nairobi is the only city with
an effective municipal bus
What & How
service. Local (private)
matatus are the main
means of getting around.
Taxi service Uber operates
in Nairobi and Mombasa.
Photography
Taking photographs of
official buildings, including
embassies, can lead to
detention. Photography is
also prohibited at airports.
Embassies & consulates
All embassies are
located in Nairobi.
ID
You must carry a valid form
of ID with you at all times.
Post office
Open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.,
Mondays to Fridays; and 9
a.m. to 12 noon Saturdays.
Telephone/internet
Phone cards may be
bought from post offices
or international call
offices. Emails can be sent
from most hotels.
Money matters
Currency
Kenyan shilling (KES)
Currency regulations
There are no restrictions on
the movement of currency
into or out of Kenya for
currency transactions.
Banking
Banks are generally open
from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.,
Mondays to Fridays;
and 9 a.m. to 12 noon
Saturdays. Banks in
coastal towns open
and close half an hour
earlier. Most ATMs accept
international VISA cards.
Credit cards
Visa and MasterCard are
widely accepted.
Hotel bill payment
Pay in Kenyan shillings or
convertible currency.
Most hotels also accept
credit cards.
Gulu
UGA N D A
Lokichokio
Sibiloi
Central
National
Songot 1755 m Island
Park
National
Park
Namoratunga
Muruasigar
Stones
2149 m
LAKE
TURKANA
Lodwar
Nasolot
National
Reserve
Maralal
Saiwa
National
Matthew’s Peak
Swamp
Sanctuary
2375 m
Mt Elgon
National
National Park
Kaisungua
Maralal
Reserve
Kitale
3167 m
Samburu
National
Mt Elgon
Kerio Valley
Reserve
Shaba National
4322 m
National Reserve
Reserve
ELDORET
Archer’s Post
LAKE BARING O
Kakamega
Buffalo Springs
Forest Reserve
Lake Bogoria Isiolo
National
Meru
Reserve
National Reserve
National
Kakamega
Park
Ndere Island
Nanyuki
National Park
KISUMU
Meru
Mt Londiani
Rusinga Island
Kericho
3000 m
North
Nakuru
Mt Kenya
Kitu
Lake Nakuru
5199 m
National
Mfangango
National
Park
Nyerri
Embu
Reserve
Island
Kisii
Muranga’a Mwea
Ruma
Hell’s Gate
National
LAKE
National
National Park
Mt Longonot 2777 m Reserve
Park
RIFT VALLEY
VICTORIA
Longonot National Park
Thika
Migori
Narok
NAIROBI
Oi Donyo National Park
Masai Mara
Nairobi
National Reserve
National
Park
Chantal van Wessel
TA NZANIA
South
Turkana
National
Reserve
South
Island
National
Park
RIFT VALLEY
LAKE
MAGADI
Shompole
Conservancy
CHALBI DESERT
Loiyangalani
Mt Kulal 2285 m
OFFICES & AGENTS
Head Office Airport North Road, Embakasi
P.O. Box: 19002 – 00501 Nairobi, Kenya, Tel +254 (0)20 6422000,
Safaricom +254 0711 02 2000, Airtel +254 0734 10 2000
Contact Centre (24 hours) Tel +254 (0)20 3274747
Safaricom +254 0711 02 4747, Airtel +254 0734 10 4747
Email: customer.relations@kenya-airways.com
JKIA Sales Office Terminal 1C – International Departures
Tel +254 (0)20 6423506/8,
Terminal 1D – Domestic Departures Tel +254 (0)20 6423570
Baggage Services Tel +254 0737 33 3954
Email: delayedbaggage.nbo@kenya-airways.com
Kajiado
West
Chyulu Game
Conservation
Area
Amboseli
National Park
Mt Kilimanjaro 5895 m
Marsabit
National
Reserve
Losai
National
Reserve
Marsabit
Marsabit
National
Park
Tsavo West
National
Park
K ENYA
Tsavo
East
National
Park
Voi
Kora
National
Park
Moyale
Rahole
National
Reserve
Mwaluganje
Elephant
Sanctuary
Shimba Hills
National
Reserve
Garissa
MOMBASA
Wajir
Tana River
Primate National
Reserve
Malka Mari
National
Reserve
Arabuko
Malindi Marine
Sokoke
National Park
National
Park
Malindi
Watamu Marine
National Park
Diani
Kisite Marine National Park
Kisite Marine National Park
Boni
National
Arawale Reserve
National
Reserve
Dodori
National
Reserve
SOMALIA
INDIAN
OCEAN
100 km

SAFARI NJEMA / 57
Cargo
Mail
First-Class Shipping
Text: Ben Clark
The Cargo Express Centre, which
opened in April last year, gives
Kenya Airways a strong strategic
position from which to serve the
express-mail market and the
growing worldwide e-commerce
segment.
The objective of the express centre – a
state-of-the-art, 15,000-sq-m warehouse
for premium cargo, such as courier and
express shipments – is to provide leading-
edge infrastructural support, as well as
process efficiency, for its premium clients,
which include courier and mail operators
(and their consolidators); e-commerce
players; diplomatic missions; and freight
forwarders.
By uniting all stakeholders under one
roof, the centre ensures the fast delivery
of import and outbound shipments,
which are processed faster – around the
clock – with short cut-off times. The
centre’s layout improves efficiency and
reduces the waste associated with process
flow, especially motion.
“Premium cargo now has a premium
lounge,” says Daniel Salaton, E-Commerce
and Express Cargo Manager at
Kenya Airways. “If it travels premium,
we handle it premium on the ground. In
terms of turnaround time, this means
that shipments are ready for collection
at the express centre an hour after the
aircraft arrives.”

58 / SAFARI NJEMA
KQ won the Best
Business Class in
Africa for five years
in a row from World
Travel Awards.
Get Comfortable
✈ KQ received an International
Safety Award in 2016 and 2017
from the British Safety Council.
What you need to know
Flight Mode
Safety
Please watch the safety demonstration before
take-off and refer to the leaflet in your seat
pocket. Smoking is prohibited on all flights.
Electronic devices including laptops, tablets
and mobile phones may not be used during
take-off and landing.
Hand luggage
Place hand luggage in the overhead storage
or beneath the seat in front of you. Cabin crew
will remove hand luggage from passengers
seated in exit rows for take-off and landing.
1 Get a good night’s sleep, eat a light
meal and take some gentle exercise
before your flight.
Travel
On The Move
Six top tips for a healthy and comfortable journey
2 Wear comfortable clothing and shoes.
3 Keep your circulation going by standing
up and walking in the aisle when
possible. Flex muscles in your feet, arms,
shoulders and neck.
4 Low cabin humidity on longer
journeys can cause dry eyes, nose and
throat. Remove contact lenses and apply
“To get lost is to
learn the way”
– African proverb –
moisturiser and lip balm. Avoid salt,
drink plenty of water and moderate
your intake of alcohol, tea and coffee.
5 When travelling across time zones
your body’s sleep rhythms can become
disrupted, leading to insomnia, loss of
appetite and fatigue. Try to give yourself
some time to adjust to new night and
day cycles when you arrive.
6 On arrival spend as much time as
possible outside. Sunlight helps your
body to adjust to a new time zone.
Seat adjustments
Ensure your seat is upright for take-off and
landing.
Infants
Baby-changing tables can be found in
selected toilets. The crew will help prepare
baby food. Cots are available on some flights.
Inflight service
A hot meal is normally served during longhaul
flights. Special-diet or vegetarian meals
are available when pre-ordered. There is a
courtesy inflight bar service for wine, beer,
spirits and soft drinks.
Entertainment
Seat-back entertainment featuring a range of
movies and music is available on our long- and
medium-haul flights. Please refer to the IFE
guide in Msafiri.
Take-off
The aircraft climbs steeply immediately after
take-off. Shortly afterwards you will hear
a reduction in the engine sound, while the
aircraft continues to climb. All aircraft cabins
are pressurised. Due to a change in pressure
during take-off and landing, some passengers
may experience slight discomfort in their ears.
Relieve this by swallowing, yawning or pinching
the nostrils gently, while keeping lips sealed.
Landing
After touchdown you may hear an increase in
engine noise due to the reverse thrust applied
to assist braking. Remain seated until the
engines are off and the doors are open.

TURN AROUND ➤ TURN AROUND ➤
Chris Nova Photography LLC
Joost Bastmeijer