Preparations

Environmental writing from Kenya (3 minute read)

I’m counting down for my trip now and my to-do list is a mile long. But before I leave, I want to share a few articles which give some different perspectives on Kenya. I know that someone like me, only visiting for a short time and in such a position of privilege, will see and understand very little of the country. But I am trying to get beyond the knowledge of the average tourist, and looking for some Kenyan perspectives on topics that I’m interested in.

The first article is something which really made me smile, because it’s good news about coral, and there’s very little of that around. Coral is under threat from climate change, but there are other threats too. On the coast of Kenya, overfishing is a major problem.

Katana Ngala, though, has made it his personal mission to restore the coral reef in his local area. In a small area of marine reserve, he painstakingly collects broken fragments, grows them up in a nursery and transplants them. I’m not going anywhere close to the coast, but it’s still hopeful to hear what is happening.

‘All will be well’: Q&A with Kenyan fisher turned coral gardener Katana Ngala (mongabay.com) (10 minute read)

When I talk about visiting Kenya, the one food everyone mentions is ugali, a stodgy porridge made from various grains and tubers, but most often from maize. But how has something made from a central American grain become Kenya’s staple food? That is an interesting, and troubling, story.

Here’s a fascinating article from Kenyan Substack writer Christine Gatwiri, which explains ugali’s colonial history.

Cultivation, Commodification and Culture: A History of Maize and Ugali in Kenya (substack.com) (16 minute read)

There’s more from Christine Gatwiri, much more. Her whole newsletter is the interconnection of food, farming and the environment, so it’s exactly the kind of thing I’m interested in. I’m planning to speak with her while I’m in Kenya, so I hope to bring you more about these issues. In the meantime, here is another article she’s written on a subject close to my heart – water.

It’s another complex issue. Kenya earns foreign exchange by exporting food like avocado and snow peas and cut flowers like roses. These crops take a lot of water, just as it takes a lot of water to produce dairy products in New Zealand. But what are the costs of exporting what is known as ‘virtual water’? It’s a question New Zealand needs to ask itself too.

Virtual water trade: Should Kenya rethink food exports? (substack.com) (3 minute read)

No Kenya pictures since I’m not there yet. So here’s a plant I love from the New Zealand bush, a leafy liverwort (image credit: Melanie Newfield)

One thing I’ve learned about Kenya is that I shouldn’t take any plastic bags with me – they have been banned since 2017. Plastic water bottles are also banned in some areas like national parks. However the following article suggests Kenya still has a waste problem. I’ve also planned to talk with the author of this article, so I’m looking forward to seeing how Kenya is tackling issues with waste, and what I can learn from an expert.

Kenya banned plastic bags 6 years ago, but they are still in use - what went wrong (theconversation.com) (4 minute read)

Finally, here’s a powerful short film about a former poacher who is now a wildlife guide. This kind of story is one reason I’m conflicted about my visit to Kenya. On the one hand, I’m troubled by the climate impact of my travel and the wealth disparities. On the other, I know that tourism from people like me is making an important contribution to the Kenyan economy, and providing a livelihood for many Kenyans.

The Last Hunt - YouTube (7 minute video)