I don’t know where I have been (and I suspect it’s been a very deep hole) that I found this website on an initiative by the Government of Kenya. It’s interesting that we had to go through the skirmishes for the government and Kenyans to realize the value of Domestic tourism! It’s good however that we’ve woken up now… we need to learn to be self reliant in all aspects especially appreciating the land that we love so much.
It was a couple of years back when I was watching The Constant Gardener and getting shocked at the lovely views that the movie had of my very own country! I was seated next to a KC at the time and they talked nonchalant about having being to that beautiful location and other places I have never been. I was embarrassed about my pride of traveling many other countries in the world save for my own back yard. Yet we take pride in living in Nbi, going to shags once or twice a year and coast over New Years. That to us is seeing our country! But it’s never too late.
Hopefully with the launch of Tembea Kenya (and many such initiatives) isn’t just a farse but will find a way of changing the mind sets of Kenyans and the service providers (especially) on seeing this beautiful country. I remember over the January period when one service provider was asked if they would be reducing their prices to attract more local tourists he went on to say how reducing prices would attract characters that they don’t deem worthy of using their facilities; ofcourse I have paraphrased it but it was both ashaming and angering to hear a fellow Kenyan say that.
Also it should also be made much more affordable to travel internally. I wonder if primary school kids still do those yearly trips to Tsavo or Amboseli (my school didn’t ever give us such a treat!) but those activites should be encouraged every year so that children can gain an appreciation of their own country at an early age and stop craving the business of “flying out” as soon as they are done with form 4. I also commend what Nakumatt is doing with their current promotion where one wins a trip to some place in Kenya… maybe we should stop those WIN 1M or 10M promotions and send people to see their own country!
Either way we should all encourage each other to TEMBEA KENYA!
