My special day in Nairobi

By Joel Mbaka, Elsa Academy, Gucha

As usual, I was reading my favourite Generation Next magazine to which I regularly contribute articles when I came across an invitation to outstanding writers including myself to collect various prizes from Kisumu, Nairobi, Mombasa or Nakuru. I chose to pick mine from Nairobi.

Joel receives his gift from Standard Group PR executive Michael Kivindyo as his parents look on.

The road was good. We passed through many towns such as Keroka, Sotik, Bomet and Narok where we had our breakfast. When we reached Limuru, I was surprised at the sudden change of temperature. It was chilly.

When we reached Nairobi, it was already 10am. People in the city were as busy as bees. There was nowhere to park our car but we patiently searched until we luckily found one slot.

We went to the Standard Group’s offices at the I&M building which has 16 floors. We used the lift and within no time, we were on the 10th floor where I was presented my gift by a Standard Group PR executive.

We later visited the 7th August Memorial Park where many people died after a bomb blast rocked Nairobi in 1998. The American embassy building that was standing at the site was reduced to rubble. Now the park is a reminder of that dark day in Nairobi.

We spent about an hour at the park before leaving for the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport where I saw planes land and take-off. It was an exciting moment. We had our lunch at the airport and then visited the National Museum. I had never been to the Kenyatta National Hospital and I was happy to see Kenya’s biggest hospital.

We later retired to bed at the Hilton Hotel.

The next morning we left for Gucha. Truly, it was a journey I will never forget.