Swimming in Gigiri

Security check at the Canadian High Commission in Gigiri where they used to grow tea. Apparently we built the joint in a very controversial plot of land that I think is some sort of unique forest and pissed off the Green Belt Movement. It's too late now - and we have an incredibly beautiful swimming pool to boot. Don't know if I would feel comfortable lying around in my bikini while passersby were free to see my frightfully pale mzungu skin all greased up in my effort to look at bit more African. I think it would feel a bit strange really in a place where so many people are struggling to feed their family - but I guess the best thing for all of us is to not be fearful of our differences economically and turn away because of them but to focus on the future and what can be done to make things better for everyone.

My friend told me that he doesn't feel comfortable going to Mexico anymore on holiday because inevitably his beautiful relaxed environment is surrounded by poverty and it makes him feel bad reading, eating and be a sloth all day like you're supposed to on holiday. But holidays are good and sunny ones vital when you live in a rainforest like Vancouver. How did all this get so messed up? Why is it that one person's well-earned yearly reprieve is another's bitter reflection? Doesn't every single one of us on the planet deserve the opportunity to drive off with the kids and a cooler of food to find somewhere different and recharge and remind ourselves of what's important? Is it possible to shrink this divide - do we want to?

Adverstiy. That's why I love it here so much - and I don't know if the Kenyans see it as clearly as I feel I do as an outsider. Everyone says there are so many problems here and hardship - but that is always where true opportunity lies. All the things that don't work are actually chances to revolutionize and innovate and employ. Those working already see this, but the majority of folks who have struggled through the difficult past few decades also have fatigue and discouragement to overcome. Just like the expression 'compassion fatigue' when we turn away because the tragedies of others is just too great to witness anymore - there is 'poverty fatigue' or what some call the 'broken window' theory. If this is all you ever knew what would suddenly make you feel optimistic and brave enough to overcome?

I am completely convinced that Nairobi can transform itself into a great world city -it has all the basic elements in place already if the government, private sector and civil society can find a way to blend their differences into something fresh and dynamic like what happened in Curatiba Brazil thanks in part to Jaime Lerner. Instead of the Brazilians being weighed down by all that was malfunctioning they used every chance they had to flip their problems upside down and make the solution work in favour of the average person.

In Nairobi there is - great weather, plentiful food, amazingly talented people who are also caring and warm, basic infrastructure in place and a highly centralized location to other major hubs like Mumbai, Cairo and Rome. The lack of development here could actually work in favour of the urban planners because massive big mistakes haven't been made yet - like huge parking garages that encourage vehicles to enter the city core and cause havoc. Essentially the CBD is a major walking economy which is great -the sidewalks are falling apart but they are mostly there and just need some love. There is green space and roundabouts - a ring road and water and food sytems established.

We all love great cities like New York, London and Sydney and we flock there with all of our savings to spend within them. This could happen in the place of cold water. I have always loved cities and the cool shade they provide by the towers filled with industry and employment and humanity. At this point in time it seems there exists the opportunity to turn our great cities into havens where people work together using new systems of thinking. Urban poverty doesn't have to be the only answer to all this. If we think like the Kenyans and copy their basic design of how a village provides for all - INAWEZEKANA.

This blog does not address the very important issues of HIV/AIDS and rural poverty. There are far more informed and enlightened resources for this kind of information that falls outside my area of expertise. My business is committed to functioning in the city of Nairobi - to celebrate the beauty of what Kenyan urbanization was, is and can become. Jane Jacobs, architecture, piazzas and tourism - come to Nairobi.

Urban Lifestyle Magazine of the Week - QZ (published by www.capitalfm.co.ke)