A Suprise Visit from City Hall
If there's one thing I have accomplished in the last four years it has been to design a business that is starting to alleviate poverty in Africa. When I think of the condo I haven't bought, the kids I haven't given birth to, the dozens of sleepless nights in Canada and Kenya - the newly growing gray hairs, the criticisms I have swallowed, the father that worries about my safety, the friends who miss me, the mugging I survived and the interest I am paying to god knows how many people - I comfort myself with the very simple thought that if nothing else, I have done something wonderful for Africa. Although I haven't made is succeed yet financially, it is beautifully built and starting to run slowly and carefully.
So I was ready when I was paid a surprise visit by two very sober looking gentlemen from City Council and completely shocked when they asked me at the door of my illegally operating small business - "What is your intention here in Kenya?" I thought Oprah Winfrey must have sent them and not the office that everyone says will be my nemesis, a funnel of endless corruption and lies - the reason why Africa is so messed up. Intention? Was I hearing correctly? I may have no idea how to run a positive cash flow statement yet but I can certainly talk about intention. And so I started telling them how far I have come and how long it has taken - how my business is not only designed to empower orphan children but women and families and Kenya itself because we will become a corporation and pay taxes and if we are given a chance we will be in very high demand.
I must have gone on for quite a while because they really couldn't wait to leave after they gave me their cell phone numbers and suggested I could pay a lower licence fee than normal given the nature of our work. I don't have a line in my budget for corruption fees and I will refuse to pay them. This business is good for Kenya and I believe when you do something good the world helps you. It has so far.
Who are the corruption fees really for? I got talking about this with James and I believe that in some way perhaps only those who are doing something not so great for Kenya have to pay them. That that's the grease you slide on for taking advantage of people or taking away more than you are leaving like the camping motto of leaving no garbage behind - if you do you pay.
When they left I jumped up and down and thanked the team of 3 who just happened to be in the office designing shirts. I know we got this break because they were there too and you can't fool a Kenyan over corruption. The most valuable asset this business has in stock is the 16 Kenyans I have met in the last five weeks who are working and being paid to build the business from scratch. I have always thought of my business as a cocktail party and that I am merely the hostess - throwing open the door and saying "Come in for a drink! You just have to meet Barbra! and Mary, and Joseph, and Stephen and Lois and Nancy and...
Adventure of the Week - South African flight 85 NBO-JBO tomorrow - back in Vancity before next weekend.
So I was ready when I was paid a surprise visit by two very sober looking gentlemen from City Council and completely shocked when they asked me at the door of my illegally operating small business - "What is your intention here in Kenya?" I thought Oprah Winfrey must have sent them and not the office that everyone says will be my nemesis, a funnel of endless corruption and lies - the reason why Africa is so messed up. Intention? Was I hearing correctly? I may have no idea how to run a positive cash flow statement yet but I can certainly talk about intention. And so I started telling them how far I have come and how long it has taken - how my business is not only designed to empower orphan children but women and families and Kenya itself because we will become a corporation and pay taxes and if we are given a chance we will be in very high demand.
I must have gone on for quite a while because they really couldn't wait to leave after they gave me their cell phone numbers and suggested I could pay a lower licence fee than normal given the nature of our work. I don't have a line in my budget for corruption fees and I will refuse to pay them. This business is good for Kenya and I believe when you do something good the world helps you. It has so far.
Who are the corruption fees really for? I got talking about this with James and I believe that in some way perhaps only those who are doing something not so great for Kenya have to pay them. That that's the grease you slide on for taking advantage of people or taking away more than you are leaving like the camping motto of leaving no garbage behind - if you do you pay.
When they left I jumped up and down and thanked the team of 3 who just happened to be in the office designing shirts. I know we got this break because they were there too and you can't fool a Kenyan over corruption. The most valuable asset this business has in stock is the 16 Kenyans I have met in the last five weeks who are working and being paid to build the business from scratch. I have always thought of my business as a cocktail party and that I am merely the hostess - throwing open the door and saying "Come in for a drink! You just have to meet Barbra! and Mary, and Joseph, and Stephen and Lois and Nancy and...
Adventure of the Week - South African flight 85 NBO-JBO tomorrow - back in Vancity before next weekend.
posted by Sue Stanfield at 7:21 AM
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