Wow, it's long since I've posted anything on this site.

First, all VOLINA and AFRICANESE, good work on the new posts and pictures.

LONDONER, You sound like a reasonable person, but you're trivial squabbling make you seem petty and vindictive.

I've followed this post and I must say the negative vybes were started by "IGNORANT" who says's he's Nigerian.

I'd expect you to at least rebuke this guy who's your countryman. I'd heavily rebuke any kenyan who dares post uncalled for rude remarks on this forum despite me being kenyan.

Kenya right now has undergone a very dark period and we're not trying to hide anything, we acknowledge that in Kenya we do have problems and we're working to resolve them which will include compromises.

now, once these problems are resolved, Kenya will surely rise. why do i say this ? It's not out of arrogance or anything, but just knowing having grown up in Kenya, Kenyans resilience and re-solve is very amazing. Kenyans endured hard life during the Moi years of dictatorship. KENYANS WANT TO MOVE Ahead and progress.

One thing that has amazed me is the level of business confidence in Kenya despite the chaos. The Liberty Insurance group is to set up shop in Africa with offices in naija and Kenya. They chose Nairobi to be their H/Q DESPITE THE political situation which they termed as temporary. They and alot of international investors know that the fundamentals in place in Kenya are solid.That's why GE, Coke, Google, Yb and Rubicam set up their Africa regional H/Q 's in Nairobi and haven't relocated yet.

Granted, we still have a long way to go and there remains alot of work to be done, that's why the government's slogan was "Kazii iendelee" which means " let the work go on" and the opposition slogan was "Kazi ianze" which means " let the work now start"

As we speak, the opposition nd government have worked out a deal. so put those slogans in place i.e. Let the work go on and let the work begin, and guess what ? you have a motivated working nation building up their economy.


NAIJA is a huge economy, and in Kenya I don't think we're no where close.NAIJA is doing big things for those of you who don't know, it may not reflect in Lagos pics or elsewhere but I know for sure NAIJA is rising.Plus NAIJA have a bigger population than any African country, so there population is a real challenge.

But keeping putting good posts wherever you represent.

and LONDONER continue with your good posts too, just don't let people like ignorant give naija people a bad name.

@ AFRICANESE, the first two photos you posted , is that westlands or downtown naiobi ?

Man!! Nairobi has really changed ( for the better ) since the last time I was there.

I just have one question: the last two photos, is that Nairobi or Abuja ? and If It's Nairobi? where are they located- the buildings and what's the name ? they look like some sort of business park ?

@ROPIE, did you get any photos of westgate mall ?

and NDIPE, there's no dreary weather in nairobi or africa . everyone in africa should appreciate their weather. living in the northeast U.S. I came to appreciate the beautiful nairobi weather.

ROPIE

Wow nice view from capitol hill. Nairobi is trully becoming green again.

It seems it's really improved coz when I was there (6 yrs ago) it was dirty, dusty and a foul place.

It seems the new administration has done alot to revive it which is good.

ALSO, I've been reading in bits and pieces about a massive redevelopment around KICC Into some Mega complex.

Do you Know anything about it and what's the progress ?

hey ROPIE,

thx a bunch for the regular photo updates, keep up the good job.

I was wondering if you have any phtos of the westgate mall anchored by Nakumatt ?

thx

ROPIE,

Eaze up on the optimism chief, I'm not being negative but claiming that Kenya will topple india as an outsorcing hub is stretching it.

India has been doing this for a while and they have a tonne of experience plus contracts. It will take time before we take away market share from them, because we have to build credibility. and remember, in kenya we still have a perception problem. Alot of western folk think of kenya as ideal for safari, etc, not outsorcing, but that can be overcome.

In May Feb this year I met a few kenyan businessmen who'd come to boston for a conference. one of them had a very smart strategy about competing with india for outsourcing.
His idea was that Kenya will look to complement India not compete directly. very smart and it made sense.

One thing I'd like to emphasize again and again is that for any country to improve , it requires god strong and visionary leadership.
I like Dubai because despite having oil resources, it has aggressively diversified it's economy to the point that it is a top 5 global finance center after NYC, London, Hong Kong, Sydney.
They have a visionary leader. I mean, the guy could have sat back and said he'd be all set coz of their oil, but No, he diversified the economy.
5 years ago in kenya, it was not this way. we had a leader who stagnated the economy and he;d been in power for 24 yrs.
Right now kenya is aggressive and it's playing catch up, that's why I say that we have just begun.
South Africa gets props not doubt, but let;s be honest, alot of he development there was done during apartheid, the white minority gvt there really built their economy, but Kenya's economy is majority indigenoues. Yes kenyans have built kenya, black, indian, arab, white, all have built it.

South African companies expand everywhere in the continent but have the hardest time setting shop in kenya. Most of their firms come in and encounter such stiff competitition that they end up closing shop. Barnetts furniture tried but the local furniture manufacturers beat them out.
South African Brewing had a difficult time sustaining market share dominated by kenya breweries.
Just recently the kenya railway system was privatise and sold to a south african firm. So far, there is not a whole lot of people happy with them. To kenyans, they are slow at adapting.infact their own CEO complained that kenyans are an impatient lot, they want to see results ASAP! and he was right.

The current kenyan govt is very agressive and progressive too. they are pushing for the forging of the east africa community, made up of 5 countries.
They are doing this in order to market and position the area as one encompassing over 100 milliom people as opposed to a single country. This is a very smart move, and again I repeat, it all boils down to leadership.
I am surprised at people from Naija saying that Nigerians are loosing their identity/culture and following Mr Biggs.
I must say, I'm shocked coz all the Naija people I've encountered are always proud of their heritage. but again, I'm in the sttae, maybe the Niaja people in Nigeria behave that way.

NAIROBI Is just beginning to emerge. The whole country is very bullish economically. The best is yet to come.

The Government is planning 3 major resort cities that cater solely for tourist attractions, something akin to Sun City South Africa, or Vegas.

The company that manage/own the KICC Building are planning a MASSIVE expansion that will cost kshs 17 billion to build an expand the KICC to a fully fledged international conference complex, that will house a seven star hotel, malls, restaurants, helipads( for shuttling btween the airport and the center), churches, mosques, etc.

The Plans have already been submitted to the authorities for approval.

By early 2009, all the kenyan districts will be connected/wired via fiberoptic cable, thereby making kenya the african country with the highest amount of broadband penetration. Actually a big portion of the country is already internally wired, all that's pending is the building of the external fiber optic cable that will connect kenya to the outside world, and that i t an advanced stage.

The Port of Mombasa is operating 24/7 and by 2009 it will a paperless port, everything will be computerised.

Right now, no doubt kenya is at an increasing economic trajectory and this will go on because of the policies the govt is setting. Y'all must understand that it was not always this way. But Since the change of leadership in 2002, the new govt proceeded to revive kenya.

I think everything good is derived from good leadership.

To all the Naija people out there, I must say that Naija is a force to reckon with too. Naija is the one of the few developing nations to completely pay up it's international debts, a very big move.

Naija people - at least the ones I've met here in the states are a very aggressive lot, especially the young educated ones.
one main challenge Naija has despite having oil is the population. 100 million plus people; that will definitely put a strain on the resources, but Naija is one african tiger too, I don't know much about political freedoms there though