Slums, scenery and security

So much has happened since my last post... where to start!

Let me begin with the flight I joined on Friday. It was the regular shuttle that leaves every week from MAF's Kenya base in Nairobi to Marsabit in the north. As soon as you take off from MAF's hangar at Wilson Airport, you are suspended above the Kibera slums which stretch on and on appearing like a city of their own (see picture). With an estimated population of 3 million, you are struck by the immense needs that lie right in the heart of the developing city of Nairobi. The two hour flight continues over amazing scenery- plush green land followed by the amazing Mount Kenya (the 2nd largest mountain in Africa) and then miles of arid desert. Eventually, you arrive at Marsabit, a dry and dusty outpost of civilisation with a population of just 121,478 spread out across an area the size of England.  

During the flight, I spoke to Alex (see photo) from Caritas, a regular partner of MAF that delivers humanitarian relief all across the developing world. In 2011, MAF flew 2,817 passengers over 122,892 miles carrying 6,442kg of freight for Caritas out of our Kenya base alone. This time, Alex was travelling with MAF to stay at Marsabit for 3 weeks providing specialist support in the development of Caritas' food distribution, agricultural, water and sanitation projects. Alex told me MAF was the only option of getting there- with the overland journey taking up to two days and the risk of bandits, Caritas only use MAF to reach the area... a clear reminder of the importance of MAF in reaching these remote parts of Kenya.

Since returning from the flight on Friday evening, the weekend has shot past. It was busy with meeting staff and attending a local Nairobi church- a truly colourful and lively experience. However, there was a terrorist attack 10 minutes down the road from the MAF compound on Saturday evening. The al-Shabab group threw 4 grenades into a busy bus station killing 6 and injuring many more. It was a scary insight into the insecurity of this area and how fragile life is. Pray for all those effected.

 Tomorrow, I am boarding another MAF plane to fly to our base in South Sudan where I will spend the week seeing the work and speaking to our partners. Will keep you posted on how it goes.