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WAJIR: A TALE OF HEAT, DUST & WORK

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  19 March 2025 WAJIR: A TALE OF HEAT, DUST AND WORK "Traveling – it leaves you speechless, then turns you into a storyteller. " - Ibn Battuta A mundane street in the outskirts of Wajir Township Its the 19th of the blessed month of Ramadhan 1446AH .... equivalent to 19March 2025. Ramadhan is moving fast; as it always does! Its a dreary day. A constant drizzle has now changed into steady rain. The smell of rain falling on the parched dust - the petrichor is invigorating but the depressed light is making this morning quite wintery. January, February and early March have been searingly hot....dry, dusty, biting heat! Temperatures in Nairobi have surpassed 32celcius on an almost daily basis! The absence of any large water body means a total lack of humidity, so the heat is dry, penetrating heat. And the resultant dust. Mix this all up with diesel and petrol fumes. And for good measures, throw in the noise, the din of boda bodas, matatus, the shrill music s...
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MOGADISHU - A Nation's Effort to Restore Lost Glory

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24Feb2025   Mt Kenya from 30,000ft enroute to Mogadishu - photo taken from my seat window I deliberately choose this quote because the country I am headed to has not known peace since 1991 ... 'May the Power of Love overcome the Love of Power - Ameen!' Once again am headed to Mogadishu. A close friend and long time client, Bashir has called me up to go see the possibility of 2 projects. One an interior job and another a Master Plan. PREAMBLE: Mogadishu, the capital of  Somalia , is the country’s largest city and economic hub. Located on the  Indian Ocean , it has been a key trade center for centuries, connecting Africa, the Middle East, and beyond. Key Facts About Mogadishu: Population:  Over  2 million  people Language:  Somali (official), Arabic, English, and Italian are also used   Currency:  Somali Shilling (SOS) Climate:  Hot and arid, with average temperatures around  27–32°C (80–90°F)  year-round Economy:  ...
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ISEBANIA: A WHISTLE STOP TRIP TO THE EDGE OF KENYA

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21Feb2025 SUNRISE AT MIGORI AIRSRIP I have the blessing of having designed the masjid in Isebania. This is on the edge of Kenya on the border with Tanzania in the Southwest. I travel almost every month to inspect the works. Sometimes it's a day trip and sometimes it's a night out. So here goes. Some of my experiences. Am off to Isebania today. We went through the brand-new Skyward Lounge at Wilson Airport. It's been tastefully designed with comfortable seating and even a Business Centre. The staff are stiff. No smiles. Almost angry! Just work and no jokes. Afterall Skywards Express now belongs to the powers-that-be (we call them wenye nchi). The departure lounge is a long space with a nice winding ceiling. A set of aesthetic-but-rather -uncomfortable wooden seats and another set of more comfortable cushioned grey seats. We all sit facing one another awaiting the boarding announcements. Reminds me of wooden benches of a rural government hospital. The st...
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