mom and dad kenya

2322 JANUARY – FEBRUARY 2012JANUARY – FEBRUARY 2012

FULL FUN FULL FUN

picture provided by GP Karting

Go-karting has been gaining prominence in Kenya in recent years, most especially in Nairobi

and Mombasa, as more people seek a unique and different experience on their day out and families search for specialist youth entertainment. We report on two of the main go-karting centres. Nairobi Grand Prix (GP) Karting The oldest go-karting track in Kenya is in Nairobi, the leisure Grand Prix (GP) karting track, close to Carnivore Restaurant in Langata and about 10 minutes drive from the city centre. Anybody from an experienced driver to a first-timer can take part in the racing, since the organisers have the experience and technical know-how to ensure participants go through their paces with little hiccups. GP Karting recently re-surfaced the track and they provide racers with a helmet, racing suit and a full driver’s briefing before they are unleashed to race. The split-second, computerised timing system allows drivers to monitor their lap times and see progress as they master the circuit, with GP issuing print-outs and

Recreational parks combine a relaxed ambience for mums to catch up with

the latest fashion magazines as they bask in the sun, while dads catch the latest football updates, and kids tear around indulging themselves in the most vigorous of activities - in complete security. Its a formula that was pioneered in Kenya by the Jolly Roger Theme Park, which entertains an average 300 visitors each weekend. Set on eight acres of prime forest off Langata North Road, just next to Mamba village, the park is within easy reach of Nairobi, but seemingly far away from the bustling noise of the city. Set up some eleven years ago, and with an entrance fee of Sh100 (Sh150 on Sundays), the park has a lounge area for parents to relax in while children play in open space around them. The beautiful compound has lots to offer to keep children entertained, including a wide selection of large bouncy castles, some with water flowing onto to them so that kids can slide down, and a giant crocodile where children can crawl into its giant mouth. “This is a one stop shop for everything that you can define as family fun,” said Allan Lukaria, the park’s field manager. “The wide variety of activities here not only

charts on every racer’s performance. While racing, drivers and fans can enjoy food and drink at the new bar and restaurant, Fat Willy’s Restaurant & Bar, with added big screen televisions showing non-stop sport. At the weekends, the facility also has bouncy castles to keep little ones who are too young to kart occupied. To race, children need to be at least 5 years old. GP Karting hosts Formula 1 style go karting championship on Friday evenings, in karts designed with safety in mind, but not infallibly so. The karts are powered by Honda 160cc four stroke engines fitted with an automatic clutch and are capable of up to 60 KPH! The minimal weight of the go-kart means the adrenaline rush when accelerating and decelerating is incredible. The race track of slightly less than 500 metres in length is lined with tyres for direction and as a safety measure. But sometimes drivers do turn, making care advisable. Drivers race for five laps, star ting from different positions on the grid and with points are awarded against finishing positions. They can take

involves kids in fun learning and playing, but also makes mums and dads forget their daily office commitments, at least for a few hours, with just a few hundred shillings. What could be more fun?” The park has also set aside a picturesque fishing lake for those who love fishing. For an additional Sh400 for adults and Sh200 for kids, families can spend all the time they like out on the lake, shaped in the shape of Africa, though they are required to take their own fishing rods. Guards at the park accompany families onto the lake explaining the names and characteristics of the fish that are caught, ranging from tilapia to catch fish. Staff keep watch over the kids in every section of the park, almost all of which is visible from the central restaurant. A wide selection of local and international dishes are available for between Sh250 and Sh800, and the restaurant is able to host children’s parties if booked two days in advance. Parents can also laze about on Lamu Style beach settees under canvas tents and enjoy relaxing in the sunshine. Wine, beer and sodas are readily available and the bar has a large screen for showing major sports matches. The Jolly Rodger Theme Park is open Wednesday to Sunday from 10am to 6pm.

part in either shoot out races or endurance races. To enter the shoot out races, driver aged 13-16 pay Sh900, 9-12 year-olds pay Sh800 and 5-8 year-olds pay Sh700 for a 10 minute race. In endurance races, 13 drivers pay Sh20,000 all together or individual drivers pay Sh2,200 each. Mombasa Go-KartThe Mombasa Go-Kart track is set on the Mombasa-Malindi main road, near the Severin Sea Lodge, and is also geared to be a complete family outing. The track has a restaurant with several Playstations, a kids playground in the garden, and a large screen for watching sports. The centre offers karting for individuals, parties or corporate groups as fully organised race events or computer timed racing. Helmets and overalls are provided along with 14 Swiss karts and floodlights for night races. While there, families can enjoy and discover the coast too with guided biking offered in the nearby forest, cycling through local settlements and traditional African villages, palm- and mango-tree forests.

Go Karting is a pure adrenalin amusement

and competition sport where participants use

small four-wheeled vehicles (karts) that

come in all shapes and forms, from motorless

models to high-powered racing machines and

even Superkarts, that can beat racing cars on long circuits, reports James

Momanyi

As parents look for ways to spend quality time with their children at weekends and during holidays, recreational parks are opening to give families full days of fun in a way that caters for everyone,

reports Bob Koigi.

Young racers take to tracks of Nairobi and Mombasa

Heading to the Jolly Roger for pirating fun and games


FULL FUN FULL FUN

Though it is less common for people to use stamps these days, following the advent of the internet, Shah says there are still people who collect them. But as the owner of a stamp shop, he says selling stamps is no longer big business, and fears that stamps could become a thing of the past. “In this age of internet, most kids do not even know what stamps are, as they are no longer sent letters,” he said. However, that greater rarity may, conversely, be stimulating more collecting. According to the Postal Corporation of Kenya, Kenyans were first introduced to stamps by the British in 1890, while the first Kenyan stamps came in after independence. Stamp collecting has been around in Kenya since stamps were introduced, but now looks to be becoming more popular as the use of stamps becomes rarer. Collectors value stamps according to value based on artistic merit, theme, rarity, educational value or shape, and sometimes as an investment. There are even Kenyan stamps worth upwards of Sh450,000, making stamp collecting a potentially lucrative hobby. Collectors obtain stamps from mail received, from friends or relatives, by swapping with other collectors, or by buying them from the post office or the stamp bureau.

Stayne Enabulele is a Nigerian who came to Kenya as a volunteer at Nyumbani children’s home. But he

turned out to do a lot more than help the home, launching a stamp club that has since grown to include over 30 schools in Nairobi, plus additional members, with the activity taking the city by storm. Nowadays, senior members of the club donate stamps to schools, which are used as star ter packs given for free to new members. The club members meet every first Saturday of the month at different venues for stamp games and competitions. It’s a coming together that has had an unusual impact on the members’ reach and understanding of countries and cultures across the world, say the enthusiasts. Young club members who have taken up stamp collecting as a hobby say they love it and are not about to quit. Nancy, a class eight pupil at Hekima School, is one enthusiastic philatelist. She star ted collecting stamps four years ago, and now has over 1000 stamps in her album. Nancy says she loves the hobby and will continue even after finishing at

Two types of stamp are currently issued in Kenya: commemorative stamps for marking special events or occasions of national or international importance, and definitive postage stamps issued for essential postage purposes. Commemorative stamps are usually withdrawn from circulation after six months at the post office and twelve months at the stamp bureau. Standard postage stamps are released every five years in a full range of about sixteen denominations. The Postal Corporation of Kenya has stamp bureaus at their headquarters in Nairobi and another in Mombasa to serve stamp collectors. Philatelic counters are also available in all Head Post Offices, selling mint stamps, first day covers, souvenir folders, philatelic cards and stamp booklets. They also have a mailing list of all stamp collectors to inform them of the new stamps and a deposit account for each collector to deposit or collect their stamps. Schools with a junior stamp club can register with the Nairobi Stamp Club and join them in their activities for a membership fee of Sh200 per child per year. Sites like www.ebay.com, www.tonybray.co.uk, www.stampcircuit.com, and www.herrickstamp.com auction Kenyan stamps online.

her primary school. But what is gripping these youngsters so firmly? “A stamp is more than payment for mail,” said Pushpendra Shah, proprietor of the Haria Stamp shop on Biashara Street. “It takes someone time to design and needs refined art skills too. Some of them have unique features which stimulate kids thinking and problem solving skills.” Marie Louise, chairlady of the club, agrees. “As tiny as it may look, there are so many things to learn from a stamp,” she says. Stamp collecting is an intellectual hobby as it stimulates the mind, with much to be learned from different stamps. They can be instructive in the history of different countries. Many designs have archaeological, historical or cultural significance. The archaeological and historical figures on the stamps serve as an introduction to a country’s history, focusing on revered heroes and politicians. Some have architectural designs of cities on them, giving an insight into the development of other parts of the world without even having to enter a classroom. They can be an interesting tool for teachers. “It’s interesting and once you know it, you never want to get out,” said Louise. “You do not need to be an athlete, so you can do it for so long.”

Stamp collecting was traditionally a pastime for a selected few, a distant dream for many kids, until a Nigerian volunteer star ted the Nairobi Stamp Club seven years ago, reports Sam Wakoba.

- Stamps first introduced to Kenya in 1890 by the British. Until 1963 stamps bore the images of Queen Victoria and King George VI and imprints of the British East Africa Company.

- First uniquely Kenyan stamp released on 12 December 1963, Independence Day. They bore pictures of farmers, portraits of Jomo Kenyatta and the national flag. Some of these stamps are available on online stamp markets.- Kenya has had almost 280 stamp releases since 1963.

- The most sought after stamps with Kenyan heritage date back to the 1920s. Labelled “Kenya and Uganda”, from when both countries were members of the British East Africa Company, they carry a sketch of King George VI. Due to their rarity, bidding today for these stamps star ts at anything from 400 to 4500 euros.

- In post-independence Kenya the most sought after stamps are from as recently as 2006. The two stamps have imagines of the Lion and the Oryx and Owen and Mzee the tortoise. The former recreates a strange cohabitation in 2006 between a lion nicknamed ‘Kamunyak’ and a calf Oryx at Samburu National Reserve. The latter depicted a similar cohabitation between the tortoise Mzee and a baby hippo at Haller Park, Mombasa.

- Kenyan stamps can even fetch up to one million shillings, according to Monica Kinyua at the Postal Corporation of Kenya. “The rarer the stamp, the pricier it is,” she says.

The Glory of the Kenyan Stamp

Stamps pour global

knowledge into

young enthusiasts


FULL FUN FULL FUN

Family cinema bursts into three dimensions

A new trend for 3D movies originally written as novels or comics is currently dominating family cinemas, attracting more

viewers than the more traditional 2D films.

It is based on the adventures of journalist Tintin and his dog, in Europe, carrying out investigations and problem solving. The new 3D version is based on 3 comic books, The Crab with the Golden Claw, Secret of the Unicorn and Red Rackham’s Treasure. It is 107 minutes long, directed by Stephen Spielberg.

Another classic reinvented in 3D is Puss in Boots. Its new Digital 3D and IMAX 3D computer-animated version was released in theatres in October 2011 and is being shown in Kenyan cinemas through January. The 90-minutes long movie revolves around Puss, a swerve cat. Directed

by Chris Miller, it is based on Charles Parrault’s Puss in Boots fairy tale. In the movie, Puss is referred to King Harold by the ugly step sister and barmaid of the Poison Apple Inn. As a famous ogre assassin, Puss is hired by the king to assassinate Shrek. The film stars Antonio Banderas, Salma Hayek, Zach Galifianakis, Billy Bob Thornton and Amy Sedaris.

Underworld Awakening is yet another new movie in 3D animation. The horror movie is set to be screened in January 2012. It revolves around the vampire warrior Selene, played by Kate Beckinsale, who escapes imprisonment and finds herself in a world where humans plan to

The 3D animated version of Polar Express, the world’s first 3D movie in 2004, earned 14 times more per screening than the 2D version

developed from traditional printing and drawing technologies. It was a new magnet for cinemas and has seen other movies for kids, now set to be watched locally and internationally, piling into the 3D trend.

“The whole point of cinematic imagery is that it’s 3 dimensional,” said film director Christopher Nolan recently. Experts concur. Motion pictures that enhance the illusion of depth of perception

eradicate immortal species such as vampires and lycans.

Another 3D offering coming soon is The Muppets, an American musical comedy. It is the first Disney-produced Muppets film since 1996’s Muppet Treasure Island. Directed by James Bobin, it is set around Walter, a major Muppet fan, his brother Gary and his girlfriend Mary, who must raise millions to save the Muppet Theatre from businessman Tex Richman, who plans to demolish it to drill for oil.

Happy Feet 2, now showing in Kenyan cinemas, is another 3D computer-animated family film, directed by George Miller. Produced in Australia, the film is a sequel to the original in 2006. It stars Elijah Wood, Robin Williams, Pink, E.G. Daily and Sofía Vergarain.

These movies in 3D animation are being screened at Fox Sarit, Numedia Westgate, 20th Century, and Village Market. Perhaps in the future we will see the 4D version - now at the Village Market and combining 3D and other effects - dominate the market just as 3D films do today.

have in fact existed since the 1950s, but were too costly to be viable. The 1980s and 1990s saw a worldwide increase in the number of 3D films, driven by IMAX theatres and Disney. The success of Avatar Pandora in 2009, thanks in part to Kenyan artist and photographer Yvonne Muinde who was behind the imagery concept, was another huge boost to the concept.

But today, more 3D films are available in local cinemas than ever before.

The soon-to-be-released Adventures of Tintin was originally written in the 1940s as a series of comics.

Adventures of Tintin

Underworld Awakening


FULL FUN FULL FUN

Families travelling to the coast now have the chance to feed giraffes, tickle tor toises and see hippos

from close range at Haller Park, with the largest animal sanctuary in Mombasa made more appealing with recently added new attractions. “We have a wide range of attractions for kids and adults, but the most interesting is the feeding of giraffes at 11.00am and 3.00pm and the tickling of tor toises, which has emerged as the top attraction among those visiting the park,” said Terer Kipkoech, Assistant Marketing Officer at Haller. “Visitors can also have an opportunity to see hippos from close range as they come out of water at around 4.00pm in the evening. It’s an amazing spectacle.” The park has also established a new snake park, which was rated earlier this year as the best in the country by the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS). The park has a collection of snakes that includes deadly pythons, puff adders, cobras and the black mamba. “Recently we also staged a coup in the industry when we managed to bring from Malindi a mongoose and a pig warthog that are in a strange relationship. The two were found staying together and since then, they have not left each other. They move together and eat together all the time. It’s a sight to behold,” said Kipkoech. Set next to the Bamburi Cement Factory, the park boasts an enormous variety of animals, reptiles, insects and botanical gardens, as well as a Haller Park Trail, which is the ideal way to see the various animals. Holding or feeding a reptile, such as a snake, is also allowed under the close supervision of a guide. The park shows educational videos, with an emphasis on the history and continuous improvement of the trail. The park star ted as the quarry for a cement factory in 1954.

Cement Company. They rehabilitated the southern 75 hectares of the Quarry and the northern section, which was 11 square km, creating, in the end, a huge natural park. The park is now home to a variety of game animals and birds that each has a function in

The factory sourced its raw materials from the quarry, which held a fossil coral limestone reef that lived under the sea up to a quarter of a million years ago. The limestone mining left the park as a barren piece of land stripped of its natural resources, but it was then

the park’s ecosystem, including hippos, giraffes, buffalos, zebras, waterbucks, elands and oryx. The bushbuck, suni and duiker are not easily seen, as they tend to scamper away on hearing any sounds. The animals most active at night are the bush pig, marsh mongoose and

redeveloped through reforestation and conservation effor ts and is now the natural habitat for a large number of plants and animals. The driving force behind creating the park was Rene Haller, who in 1971 star ted the quarry rehabilitation drive with the backing of Bamburi Portland

serval cats. Some of the famous animals at the wildlife sanctuary include the hippos Sally and Potty. Sally was reared as an orphan by wildlife filmmakers and Joan Root in Naivasha. In 1976, when she was 4 years old, she was brought to Haller Park. She is now around 20 years old and weighs approximately 1 - 1.5 tons. Potty was confiscated from a German zoo because he was not kept properly and transferred to the Nature Trail in November 1986. He weighs between 1.5 and 2 tons. Cape buffalos, waterbucks, elands, oryx, crocodiles, monkeys and tortoises are some of the other animals at the sanctuary. There are also more than 160 bird species recorded to date. Some species that were introduced to the area include crested crane, marabou stork, yellow billed stork, pelican, and Egyptian geese. The bird species that are frequently seen in the Game Sanctuary include gray heron, black heron, great white egret, little egret yellow-billed egret, sacred ibis plovers, white-faced tree ducks (seasonal), African fish eagle and pied kingfisher and malachite kingfisher. Vegetation is also plenty in the sanctuary: Casuarinas, Conocarpus, Algaroba, Neem, Fig and indigenous species Mvule, Mbambakofi, and Mgurure are some of the plantlife one can see at the park. The sanctuary charges Sh400 and Sh150 for Kenyan adults and children, while internationals are charged Sh800 and Sh400. Schools and colleges that make advance arrangement are charged Sh200 for teachers, Sh50 for kindergarten kids, Sh100 for primary pupils, and Sh150 for secondary and college students.

Contact Terer Kipkoech 0724448596 or [email protected].

Sally and Potty lead fan club for amazing Haller ParkMombasa’s huge animal sanctuary has added more attractions and built its biggest following to date, reports James Momanyi

www.wallpaperstravel.com

HEALTHHEALTH

Esther Passaris has been in several management positions, been into and retired from politics, and built her own firm, ‘Adopt a Light’. She

has beauty, fame, money and name, and two children. But despite all of this, her marriage did not last. Yet she feels her kids needed a father figure. “Men of today have no clue about love, they destroy lives, but I want to teach my little boy aspects of love and life, I want to raise a gentleman,”she said. Sharing her views is Angelina Nandwa, herself a single mother of two after she was forced into marriage by her parents with a man thir ty years her senior whom she had never met. Today she is the Founder and Chairlady of the Single Mothers Association of Kenya (SMAK) and is fighting back against the rising tide of one-parent homes. “Our children are meant to grow up in a family, with the mother and the father, but I am seeing so many single mothers come up not because they want, but because our men don’t want to grow up, they ought to be responsible”. SMAK is currently searching for support from donors for research into the number of single mothers in Kenya and is also involved in the education of single mothers, particularly those who drop out of school due to early pregnancies. But, as they work to raise awareness on the needs and responsibilities of fathers, they are aligned with an overwhelming body of evidence that fathers matter – very much indeed. There are now very many studies that show the importance of fathers to child development and moral behaviour. Researchers at the University Of Maryland School Of Medicine in Baltimore found children who have fathers in their lives learn better, have higher self-esteem and show fewer signs of depression than children without fathers. In addition, children who perceive their fathers as supportive feel a greater sense of social acceptance and show fewer signs of depression. “We wanted to see how children viewed their father and how his support was associated with how the children were doing,” said Dr. Dubowitz, who led the research. “We need to find ways to encourage the positive

and supportive role of fathers and father figures in the lives of their children”. According to Dr. Chris Hart, a reputable clinical psychologist in Nairobi, “fathers matter a lot to a child’s upbringing. Boys grow up looking at how their fathers handle situations and will emulate them when they are adults. And even when girls marry, they look at their husbands from their father’s viewpoint and what happens to them in their childhood shapes their lifetime”, he said. Another study shows the importance of both parents involvement for the benefit of kids. Research from UC Riverside concludes that when fathers help with activities in the house and help them do their homework, kids will have a high self esteem and will socialize easily – they also found the parents will also have a good sex life as a result. Mothers too are important for kid’s self-worth and the ability to relate, playing a complimentary role in their confidence levels and acceptance by their peers. A noted sociologist, Dr. David Popenoe, one of the pioneers of the field of research into fathers and fatherhood said: “Fathers are far more than just ‘second adults’ in the home. Involved fathers bring positive benefits to their children that no other person is as likely to bring.” When fathers play with their toddlers, they are not just entertaining them. They are providing a safe, yet challenging arena for toddlers to learn how to interact with the world and with others. These children score higher on tests of thinking and problem-solving skills. Playing with fathers also helps children develop emotional knowledge, so that they can identify their own emotions, acknowledge the emotional experiences of others, and describe the causes of emotions and even develop their intelligence fast. In Kenya, where the media is awash with stories of unfaithful and irresponsible men leaving women at the family helm and causing the breakup of many families, together with the declining importance of the institution of marriage, this message is much needed. Nandwa wishes it could even be taught in schools, and sounds a wakeup call to absent fathers to go back to their families, be close to their kids and do activities with them. From the religious point of view, Elijah Osera, a pastor and himself a father said,

Believed in, cherished and supported: Growing

up with a fatherAs one-parent families continue to rise in Kenya, all research

shows that fathers who are actively involved with their children play a vital role in teaching boys how to be good

men, and girls to choose good men, reports Sam Wakoba.

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PRE-CONCEPTION

“in the African society, fathers provided the guidance and direction for children and acted as their role models and that role is still vital today. Men should still be the head of families, role models and should provide guidance and moral support to their children.” In one study, boys who felt similar to, admired, and wanted to resemble their fathers scored higher on tests of personal moral judgment, moral values, and rule-following. However, boys who did not identify strongly with their fathers showed reluctance to accept blame or guilt when they misbehaved. These boys also tended to have problems with self-control and were more aggressive in school. Fathers provide the necessary dialogue and advice during adolescence as they face heated peer pressure and as they find their personal identity and are a strong influence, especially upon their children’s beliefs, values, and plans for the future. Moreover, because fathers are known as disciplinarians in the home, mothers compliment them with unconditional love, providing a balance needed for security, emotional support, approval and correction that is more difficult in a one parent family. Developmental psychologists call this authoritative parenting and say it’s essential for child growth and children grow happy and fulfilled. Further studies show children whose non-residential fathers pay child support do better in school and have fewer behavioural problems and those who feel close to their non-resident fathers also tend to do better. When non-resident fathers are able to use their time with their children wisely by helping with homework, setting and enforcing rules, and supervising their children, children also benefit. However, even when facing the challenges of single motherhood,

Passaris urges Kenyan women not to abandon their children or see them as mistakes. “Ultimately, it’s the children who pay the price on both sides, because they don’t relate till late, they hate what is unknown, and their innocence is robbed.” She recalls the romantic fairy tale about marriage, that a dark handsome rich man would sweep her off her feet and she would live happily ever after. There would be no kids, just love, romance, stars, wine, good food and lavish surroundings. But when she wanted help with the kids, he told her “that’s your problem”.

Sophie Kilonzo an intern in a Mombasa law firm remembers how she was raised by her mom and an absent dad. She used to think: “it was our fault, as kids, for his absence, that maybe we were inadequate or something and so he didn’t like us,” and now she sees grown men that way. Christopher C. Henrich, Ph.D, Assistant Professor, Department of Psychology, Georgia State University says fathers not only mean better class and exam results for kids, a better attitude and less delinquency, but they bring the promise of better mental health and better future family relationships.

“Any man can be a father, but it takes a special person to be a dad.” Proverb

“One father is more than a hundred schoolmasters.” George Herbert (English Poet and Clergyman, 1593-1633)

“The kind of man who thinks that helping with the dishes is beneath him will also think that helping with the baby is beneath him, and then he certainly is not going to be a very successful father.” Eleanor Roosevelt, wife of Franklin D. Roosevelt, 32nd US president. 1884-1962

“My father gave me the greatest gift anyone could give another person: he believed in me.” Jim Valvano

“Father taught us that opportunity and responsibility go hand in hand. I think we all act on that principle; on the basic human impulse that makes a man want to make the best of what’s in him and what’s been given him.” Laurence Rockefeller

“My father didn’t tell me how to live; he lived, and let me watch him do it.” Clarence Budington Kelland

“I cannot think of any need in childhood as strong as the need for a father’s protection.” Sigmund Freud

“It is easy for a father to have children than for children to have a real father.” Pope John XXIII

“Fathers, like mothers, are not born. Men grow into fathers and fathering is a very important stage in their development.” David Gottesman

HEALTH

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HEALTHHEALTH

EYE CANCEROnly one in ten Kenyan children with eye cancer survives. Yet it is a disease that is highly curable, with 98 per cent of children diagnosed with the same disease elsewhere going on to be treated and cured. The problem in Kenya is late detection, which is now fuelling effor ts to teach parents and childcarers the very visible symptoms of the disease in order to save hundreds of children’s lives, reports Galgallo Fayo

Retinoblastoma is a fast growing cancer, with 95 per cent of cases affecting kids below the

age of three. Tumours can form in one eye or even both. But the cancer is easily cured if detected early enough, and the treatment is free in Kenya. However, in most cases, help is not sought and the cancer causes first blindness and then death, as it spreads to the brain and bone marrow. Retinoblastoma affects about 1 in 15,000 live bir ths, and an estimated 9,000 children develop the cancer around the world each year. But due to global population distribution, 90 per cent of children with retinoblastoma live in less developed countries. This sees 7,000 children die every year due to delayed diagnosis and inappropriate or incomplete treatment. The majority of these deaths occur in Africa. According to the Daisy Eye Care Fund, an NGO working in Kenya to assist the affected children, 74 per cent of children treated in Nairobi die due to lack of awareness and poor access to timely, appropriate medical care. “In developed countries, 96 per cent of children survive. We think national survival is less than 15 per cent. Our experience is typical of developing countries,” says the organisation. Up to 100 children are affected each year in Kenya, of whom just 10 percent are successfully treated. Without early treatment, retinoblastoma quickly spreads to the brain or bone marrow. Even with intensive treatments, the chance of cure is very small once the cancer has really taken hold. Removal of the eye is standard treatment when only one eye is affected, and is vital when there is a risk of cancer escaping the eye.

But in Kenya, and African countries in general, the survival rate is low because most parents delay before taking their kids to see an eye doctor. This is partly due to lack of awareness of the disease, or concerns over the bill. Daisy Eye Care recommends visiting an eye specialist, known as an ophthalmologist, as soon as any signs of the disease are evident. Deploying both medical and non-medical staff, the Daisy Fund works to raise awareness of the disease and provides medical care and family support. It also assists affected families with counselling, with children that have lost an eye often stigmatised afterwards and facing problems living a full and happy life. The organisation was established in the UK in 2004, inspired by the experiences of two little girls, Daisy and Rati, who struggled to get the care they needed after being diagnosed with the disease. Daisy was an English girl who struggled with retinoblastoma for five years, and needed specialised treatment in Canada. Her parents established the Daisy Fund to raise money for her treatment and, although she lost both eyes, today she is a happy and healthy girl. Rati was a girl in Botswana who was diagnosed with a recurrence of retinoblastoma following the removal of her eye. Her family sent out an email which was picked up by retinoblastoma survivor Abby White, who star ted advocating for Rati and her family. The eventual death of Rati saw the fund expand to assist Africa. Daisy Fund now specialises in covering the treatment costs for children who get the disease in Kenya. The most common early sign of retinoblastoma is a white pupil, usually noticeable in a dimly lit room or in a flash photo. This is not

always seen, however, as it comes and goes. Other symptoms include a squint, or red, painful and swollen eyes. Trilateral retinoblastoma causes a range of symptoms, depending on its location in the brain. The tumour is not painful in the early stages, and although the child’s vision deteriorates, 90 per cent of the kids are still too young to tell their parents that they are having problems with their vision. If the tumour grows and fills the eye, it blocks blood from reaching the eye and the child is finally blinded. Treatment options include laser treatment, cryotherapy (freezing), chemotherapy and radiotherapy, with surgical removal of the eye the last resort. Even when eyes are saved, many children suffer severe loss of vision. But when the tumour reaches the brain, it is extremely difficult to treat, with most children dying within 12-18 months of diagnosis. The role of parents in spotting signs of the cancer and seeking medical help at the earliest opportunity is crucial in improving the survival rates. In the UK, parents play a greater role in early detection, with 85 per cent of cases diagnosed resulting from parents spotting the disease’s symptomatic white pupil through flash photographs. Some 98 per cent of childhood retinoblastoma cases are successfully treated in Britain, a statistic that Kenya is way behind on. But with survivors round the world seeking to raise awareness of the disease, the hope of the Daisy Fund and others is that Africa can star t to take steps in dealing with the problem more effectively, saving the lives and eyes of hundreds of Kenyan children in years to come.

34 JANUARY – FEBRUARY 2012


The courses are proving popular, according to instructors, because Lamaze is based on the idea that bir th is a natural thing. The classes equip expectant mothers and fathers with information about the baby’s bir th, including pain management, breathing and what to expect during labour and delivery. Lamaze instructor Carol Kisiangani has experienced the surge in couples looking for modern antenatal care, having seen the size of her own classes double. “Previously, I would have one or two classes a month, but now, I have three or four classes a month,” she said. She teaches at least 6 to 8 couples per class. Lamaze classes were developed by French obstetrician Dr. Fernand Lamaze in 1951. They include bir thing techniques, labour positions, information on how to use hydrotherapy, hot/cold therapy and massage, and focus on labour, bir th and care in the early postpartum period. The difference between Lamaze and other courses, for example Bradley and Bir th From Within, is the training of the staff. In other courses, midwives have learned the basics through experience, but Lamaze instructors have been specifically trained for the task in hand. The technique does not aim to make the labour process less painful, but helps women understand and work with the pain. Its philosophy is that the pain mothers go through during labour acts as a protective force for their body, as part and parcel of a natural bir thing experience. Lamaze emphasises the need to have a supportive partner during labour, rather than a coach instructing you on what to do. Expectant fathers take part in the pregnancy and bir th process, and medical intervention during childbir th is discouraged unless

When it comes to antenatal care, traditional practices are slowly fading

away to be replaced by modern techniques, principle among them the Lamaze technique, now available at a cheaper price and becoming widespread across the country thanks to its value in helping women feel confident in their natural ability to give bir th. In this, knowledge is one of the most vital contributors to healthy bir ths, report NGOs. As it is, there has been a general rise in antenatal care amongst Kenyan women in recent years. According to a Kenya Demographics Health Survey in 2010, 92 per cent of Kenyan women received antenatal care from medical personnel and midwives, up from 88 per cent in 2003. But education remains crucial in reducing the number of female deaths attributed to childbir th, currently at 488 per 100,000 bir ths, report specialists. And Kenya’s progress in that regard has been slower than many other African nations. Some 44 per cent of bir ths in Kenya now took place under the supervision of skilled attendants, but 28 per cent still happen under

absolutely necessary. The technique offers different courses for different stages, including pregnancy, childbir th and parenting. The pregnancy classes are attended between the first and second semester, with topics such as diet, exercise and how to cope with pregnancy. The childbir th classes that follow concentrate on labour preparations and how to deal with the process. These classes take a total of approximately twelve hours and parents enrol during the last semester or at the beginning of the seventh month of the pregnancy. The final stage looks at managing the baby, breastfeeding and parenting in general. It is recommended that a first-time mother attends all three of the classes, but experienced mums can also attend, with experts saying that every pregnancy is different. Various hospitals in Kenya offer the technique at affordable prices. The Mombasa Hospital offers Lamaze classes for women pregnant by 36 weeks or more at Sh300 per session on Mondays to Wednesdays from 2pm to 4pm. They are contactable on are (041) 231291. In Kisumu, the Milimani Maternity Hospital offers the courses Monday to Saturday, depending on an appointment with the doctor, from 10am to 5pm. It costs Sh600 per session. They can be contacted on (057) 2021450. Nairobi Hospital offers Lamaze

traditional supervision, 21 per cent under the supervision of relatives and friends, and 7 per cent of women receive no assistance at all. It’s a backdrop for which few are well prepared. However, many more women are now turning to ante-natal classes to prepare themselves for the bir th, so that they themselves are better equipped to know what is happening adn the best things to do. This used to be an expensive option. As recently as last year, Lamaze classes in Nairobi were costing as much as Sh1,500 per session. However, hospitals in Mombasa and Kisumu are now offering courses for as little Sh300 to Sh600 per session.

bir thing classes on Wednesdays from 5.30-8pm. Mothers are advised to begin the classes between the 30th and 32nd weeks of pregnancy as the classes run for six weeks. The whole package, which includes tutorials, notes and refreshments, costs Sh7000. Hospital contacts are 020 2727 8003. The Aga Khan Hospitals in Mombasa and Nairobi also offer bir thing classes, , in the regular form of a session per day, or as a crash course, where one learns the full course in one weekend. The regular classes run one day a week either on Tuesday or Thursday from 6-8pm. Expectant mothers can attend once they are 27 weeks pregnant or more. The crash programme is for those mothers who are as late as 34 weeks. It runs Friday from 6-8pm, Saturday from 9am -5pm and Sunday from 2-5pm. Charges are Sh7800 for the regular course and Sh9000 for the crash program. The Aga Khan Hospital can be contacted on 020 366 200. Karen Hospital on Langata Road offers Lamaze classes for mothers from two months onwards on Saturdays from 10am to 12 noon. The classes are in six sessions and one has to book through the nursing consultant clinic on 020 661300. Charges are Sh1500 per session. It is highly recommended that pregnant women be accompanied by partners during the bir thing classes, though there are no extra costs for the partner.

HEALTHHEALTH

Learning about labour - the Lamaze wayMore Kenyan mothers are looking to modern bir thing techniques to help them through their labour in a shift that is elading to better deliveries adn fewer bir thing complications, reports Stella Kabura

Lamaze classes were developed by French obstetrician Dr. Fernand Lamaze in 1951. They include birthing techniques, labour positions, information on how to use hydrotherapy, hot/cold therapy and massage, and focus on labour, birth and care in the early postpartum period.


Cristina Ricci, 37, gave bir th to her son nearly three years ago, and named him Leonardo after her

favourite ar tist, Leonardo da Vinci. Leonardo’s father never knew about his baby boy because he had been in a coma for several months prior to his son’s bir th, following a road crash. He had been driving a lorry in Turkey at the time. Sadly, Cristina could not travel due to her pregnancy nor could she afford to pay the flight to see him in hospital in the days before he died. She never got the chance to tell him that she was pregnant. Despite suffering from her loss, when Cristina gave bir th to her beautiful Leonardo she knew that she had to do everything to make sure her son had the best beginning to life. She wanted Leonardo to have friends and interact with all sorts of children so he could understand how to behave with babies his own age. Unfortunately, there were only two children in her neighbourhood aged

Every month, we go to rural areas to operate on deaf children,” said Owen, the Project Coordinator for

Operation Eardrop Kenya. Those with acute problems are given first priority, in a programme that now operates on close to 500 cases a year, from different parts of Kenya and in various hospitals, including KNH. The initiative holds regular fundraising events and this year aims to raise Sh10m. Reports say that more than 250 million people worldwide are now suffering from hearing loss. But in Kenya, the ‘Eardrop’ drive has seen the number of cases dropping in some areas. In 1990, a study on about 5,000 Kenyan primary school children revealed that the prevalence of hearing problems was 2.2 per cent. But recent studies indicate that the prevalence rate is now 1.5 per cent, with 3 in every 1000 kids suffering hearing loss in both ears. However, there are risk factors that can lead to problems, including listening to loud sounds. Sound is measured in decibels. An ordinary conversation measures at around 60 decibels. Noise from traffic is higher at around 85 decibels. But amplified music can be far louder. Children who repeatedly board matatus with loud music are at risk, say medics, as

9 and 15 - not the right age to be playing with her son. After searching high and low for a suitable play groups for her baby, she decided the only answer was to star t her own group, encouraging mothers from around Nairobi to bring their children, “I set up the group for my son, so he could interact with kids and understand how to behave with children his own age,” she said. The group, which takes place on Saturday mornings at 10.30am, officially star ted early last year and has already attracted dozens of parents and their young children from around Nairobi. Cristina, along with other like-minded mums, dedicates her time and effor t to make sure the toddlers have an enjoyable time. Every Saturday, Amani ya Juu café off Riverside Drive, becomes alive with laughter as babies and toddlers play in the sandpit, on a rickety bridge, sing and listen to poetry and stories, play with bubbles and games and have their faces

sound constantly heard at the level of more than 85 decibels can lead to hearing loss. The ideal volume of sound is less than 75 decibels, says the National Institute of Deafness and Communication Disorders. However, the drive to reduce the total number of cases of hearing loss continues to expand. In its early years, Operation Eardrop Kenya mainly focused on providing free ear surgery for children using specialists from Netherlands. Later on, they began a rehabilitation program, in which hearing aids were given to schools for the deaf, while teachers learned how to make ear moulds for pupils. “There were lack of funds, we didn’t have proper outreach,” recalls Owen, adding that the outreach grew

painted. Parents can choose to leave their children there, or better, stay and meet other new mothers from many different backgrounds. “I have already met such interesting people from the group, from all different countries, including Italians, Spanish and, of course, many Kenyans”, said Cristina. The café, with an outside playground, has opened its gates to mothers to gather there, as long as they purchase drinks from inside. All the money raised goes to Somalia refugees. Sometimes Cristina asks for a contribution to pay for activities, such as face painting – this is usually between Sh100 and Sh200. Both a full-time mother and a schoolteacher, Cristina has dedicated the last 10 years of her life to looking after children. Cristina was born from Italian parents who came to work in Kenya. Her Grandfather was a prisoner of war and was held in a concentration camp under Mount Kenya before he went back to Italy to get his wife and Cristina’s aunt and subsequently came to Kenya to settle in Machakos. In the late 1960s they moved to Mombasa north coast in Kilifi. Cristina is now looking to set up a baby book club, where parents can bring their children and read together. She is looking for anyone interested in joining her. When asked why she is dedicating her free time to helping others, she said, “My inspiration is my son, for anything and everything.”

For more information contact [email protected]

HEALTH

Operation EarDrop expands drive to cut childhood hearing loss

Playgroup’s joy born of mother’s early tragedy

Inspired by the gains they have made in cutting the number of Kenyan children with hearing problems, Operation Eardrop Kenya is pushing to reach even more Kenyan kids with treatable hearing ailments, reports Stella Kabura

A Mombasa-born mother, who tragically lost her husband just months before their baby was born, has set up a new playgroup in a bid to find playmates for her little son, reports Larisa Brown

Losing hearingTreatable hearing losses in Kenya are:- conductive hear loss where sound isn’t conducted properly from the outer or mid ear to the inner ear.- sensorineural hearing loss, where the inner ear is unable to properly transmit sound to the brain. Here, the hair cells inside the ear, especially those for high frequency hearing, have withered due to age, noise, or medication, and they no longer pick up sounds properly.- mixed hear loss that includes both sensorineural and conductive hear loss problems- chronic middle ear infections also caused by ENT(ear nose throat) diseases that lead to hearing loss are treated by ENT specialists at the Kenyatta National Hospital and Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital Eldoret for youth between 6 to 18 years.

over the years and began spreading to various parts of Kenya, including Nyanza. “Now we operate on average 30 children every month,” he says. But some months it is more. In March 2010, surgery training sessions were done by post graduate Ear Surgery and Temporal Bone doctor trainees, in which they operated on 34 patients at Kenyatta Hospital. Away from the ear operations, the organisation’s fundraising events include an annual dinner each Christmas at the National Museum of Kenya.

For more details, Owen of Operation Eardrop can be contacted on 0734348620 or 0202680937/8 or [email protected] .

FEATURE


FEATUREFEATURE

Baby ahead: check out the insurance limit!Mothers covered by maternity insurance are often getting caught flatfooted when their spending on ante-natal care and delivery overshoots the maximum maternity allowances built into their policies, report Galgallo Fayo and Bob Koigi

differences in the prices of C-sections, which cost Sh115,000 at Mater, but rise as high as Sh155,000 at Nairobi Hospital. Nairobi Hospital also offers more expensive packages if mothers decide to have a private doctor. MP Shah Hospital charges Sh50,000 and Sh125,000 respectively for a normal delivery and C-section, while at the Aga Khan a delivery is Sh54,600 and a C-section Sh151,000. These kinds of delivery costs outstrip most of the insurance deals available for mums, especially when previous costs incurred for antenatal scans, check-ups and care are taken into account. Concerns over finance when it comes to settling maternity costs have seen many women shy away from going to health centres, preferring to give bir th at home. Kenyan government statistics show that 56 per cent of women give bir th at home, which potentially puts both mother and baby at risk. The figure is larger in rural areas and informal settlements, standing at 63 per cent. Kenyans employed in the formal sector pay for mandatory health coverage, but 11 million adults working in the informal sector, along with their dependants, have no such insurance. These people represent the most vulnerable segment of the population. Only around 5 per cent of Kenyans have medical insurance, according to Samuel Agutu, whose company Chamgamka Micro Health Limited has devised a cheaper form of insurance to try and encourage more people to invest. The scheme encourages mothers to save for the cost of childbir th through a medical smart card system. The

Many working women, especially in corporate insurance schemes, are not aware of the

conditions set in their policies for maternity. While covers vary between different insurance companies, analysts advise expectant mothers taking maternity cover to sort it out well in advance and make sure they fully understand how much their insurance allows them to spend and what it does and does not cover. Employers have also been urged to educate their employees in the dynamics of maternal insurance and assist them in making informed decisions. An expectant mother paying Sh40,000 in premiums and taking frequent antenatal classes can easily find herself covering her own delivery charges if the cost incurred for pre-pregnancy care surpasses the insurance company’s limit. Different hospitals have different rates, meaning the type of hospital the expectant mother chooses to visit is crucial when it comes to overspending on their insurance limit. The rates are lowest at government hospitals, with the Kenyatta National Hospital private

prepaid card, offered at Pumwani Maternity Hospital, enables holders to upload money through M-PESA and treatment is then paid for using funds on the card. “Without medical cover, meeting maternity costs becomes a challenge for most people in Kenya and despite government hospitals charging very modest fees, families cannot pay the charges,” said Agutu. “Thus, women continue to deliver at home with the help of inexperienced people and most die when emergency situations present.” The amount of time the expectant mother had held the policy is also taken into account when insurance companies determine whether and how much they will cover. Every policy available stipulates that a mother must have been a member for at least ten months in order to get delivery costs covered. There are no options to get cover once pregnancy has occurred. This means that women need to be insured before they get pregnant to get any maternity benefits. However, for those that know children are ahead, much of the cost of a first-class delivery can be met with some forward planning. One of the largest medical insurers in Kenya, AAR, offers a Cover Me plan that covers for maternity. It has a period of one year after membership before it will cover maternity costs. The plan can either be set up as in-patient only, or for both in-patient and out-patient costs, with limits of Sh200,000, Sh500,000, Sh1m and Sh2m. Within these limits, the plan caters for maternity bills of up to Sh75,000 on the Sh200,000 and Sh500,000 limits, and up to Sh130,000 for Sh1m and

above limits. The AAR cover is accepted by most hospitals, including Mater Hospital, Aga Khan, MP Shah, Karen Hospital, Nairobi Women’s Hospital and Guru Nanak, among others. Resolution Health has three covers that cater for maternity: Executive, Premier and Premier Plus, all with a qualifying period of 10 months. The Executive plan has a Sh2.5m limit, with maternity cover of up to Sh50,000. The Premier plan has a limit of Sh5m and maternity cover of up to Sh75,000, while on the Premier Plus, with a limit of Sh10m, maternity cover is offered to a maximum of Sh100,000 Blue Shield Insurance has a medical scheme known as Uzima Tele, offering in-patient cover only, as well as an outpatient policy known as Uzima Akiba. The qualifying period for maternity cover is 10 months, but will only cover a first C-Section, up to Sh75,000, and not any subsequent C-sections. Minimum contributions per month with Blue Shield are Sh1,500, and the scheme is accepted at most hospitals, including Aga Khan, MP Shah, Avenue Health Care, Cannon, Equator, Nairobi West hospital, and Nairobi Women’s Hospital. UAP insurance also offers comprehensive medical cover, known as MAXIMED, which caters for maternity. To take out the policy the expectant mother is required to have at least one other insurance policy with UAP, be it home insurance, property insurance or life insurance. Across all the policies, however, including the most expensive, none yet offers sufficient maternity cover to cover the full cost of a C-section at the upper end of Kenya’s private hospitals.

wing offering a normal delivery package for Sh14,000 and a C-section for Sh80,000. Pumwani Maternity Hospital charges Sh4,000 for a normal delivery, while a C-section costs as little as Sh7,000. Yet media reports paint a gloomy picture of the facility, with poor hygiene and staff shortages leaving it ill-equipped to handle the large numbers of people requiring its services. At least 100 babies are born each day in Pumwani’s tired cement building, which has seen few upgrades since it opened in 1926. In September, a government task force found corruption, lack of critical supplies, mistreatment of mothers and absenteeism among doctors at Pumwani. More than 1,000 children died at the hospital in the last year. And while 13,000 women gave bir th normally, 253 developed complications and 13 died. Having the baby at a private hospital is therefore a preferable option to many, but is a much pricier affair and can cause problems when it comes to insurance. At Mater Hospital a standard delivery costs around Sh40,000, whereas at Nairobi Hospital the cost is Sh55,000. There are also


FEATURE FEATURE

Kenyan film schools for kids draw awards

on 5 continentsA desire to cultivate the next generation of film makers to elevate

the Kenyan film industry has spawned a string of film schools purely targeting kids and quickly winning international awards and

recognition, reports Bob Koigi.

Kenyans are far more likely to watch a Nigerian movie than a Kenyan movie, but it’s a trend the local

industry is now keen to reverse, as producers, directors and film-makers move into film schools, designed to stimulate and equip the country’s youth in driving a cutting edge film industry. Early moves have met with almost instant success, in the form of multiple international awards for the children’s movies. Lola Kenya Screen, an audiovisual media movement for children and youth in eastern Africa, has held annual cutting-edge workshops in creative documentary film and critical writing in Nairobi since it was first set up in 2006. Already, 142 children and youth from Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania and Zimbabwe have gained skills in creative and cultural entrepreneurship though the school, with 61 trained in filmmaking, 24 in creative journalism training, 11 in event planning and presentation, and 20 in critical appreciation of film through judging. Additionally 26 youth have been equipped with the skills to make

television drama and documentaries for children and youth. Presented in the framework of the pan African Cinetoile African mobile cinema network, these workshops, which take six days, are hinged on the popular learn-as-you-do skills development method, where kids are encouraged to come up with ideas on what they would want to film. “Our hands-on mentorship is important because it equips the generation of today and tomorrow – children and youth – with the skills for their day-to-day living, even long after the workshops,” said Ogova Ondego, Director of Lola Kenya Screen. As the children work under strict deadlines, just like a normal field filming schedule, parents or guardians support comes in handy to spur them on in the six days of training. Using modern cameras, and a variety of editing softwares, the kids write the scripts themselves and go to the field to shoot and edit the footage. So far, 20 short animated, 12 documentary and five drama films have been made by children and

youth while many talents from the writing workshops have joined the mainstream mass media organisations in the region as presenters of kids’ programmes, like Club Kiboko on KTN. In the past, films shot by the kids have won awards in worldwide film festivals for children. When the school compiled and entered the first DVD collection in 2007, called ‘Film by Children for Children’, it won the Grand Prize at the 5th World Summit of Media for Children and Youth event held in South Africa. Another successive compilation in the same year collected 5 international awards from all continents, while others were nominated for the best short documentary award and the best animation film award at the Africa Movie Academy Awards in 2009. “There is a big problem in getting a sufficient number of films from Kenya just to feed a film festival, let alone television broadcasting or cinema. Kenya is still deep in the woods as far as filmmaking is concerned, largely due to producing too expensive films, which end up

not getting viewership locally, and therefore the producers cannot recoup their expenses. These children could change that with the low budget films that we are teaching them to produce,” said Ondego. Adede Hawi Nyodero, a student at The Kenya High School, Nairobi, is a regular participant at Lola Kenya Screen. “Through Lola Kenya Screen, I have had the privilege to speak about children’s welfare and filmmaking on international radio and television networks that broadcast around the world; including M-Net (Multi Choice) of South Africa, and Kenya’s Kenya Broadcasting Corporation and Africa Radio Service. I have also been featured in newspapers, magazines and several online publications. I feel that filmmaking can make a great impact in children’s lives and should be introduced in all Kenyan schools,” she said. Another film school, Ephantus Film has already trained 36 kids between the age of 8 and 18 in rigorous hands-on training in film and documentary making, lighting, scriptwriting and editing. The kids who recently graduated are

now engaging in small documentary production projects in their schools. The success of the first course has inspired the film company to open doors to more kids as appetite for film classes grows larger. This year, the group hopes to recruit some 100 kids into the film school for a six months course, free of charge. “We want to make sure that we reach as many talented children as possible and ensure we only have the best and those who have the burning desire to pursue film making. That is why we are working with children organizations and churches to pass the recruitment message,” said Ephantus Njenga, one of the directors of the film company. Once children report at the school, they are auditioned to determine their learning capacity and their specific interest in film production. After passing the interview, they star t the first month with the basics of film production which includes theory work before getting into technical aspects. “We want to make sure that the new class gets what their counterparts

missed in terms of rigorous practical training,” said Ephantus. Classes are offered predominantly on weekends, when the kids are free from school, and are spaced at 2 hour intervals, with breaks of 30 minutes.

This year’s students, like their counterparts in 2011, will be

taught how to produce creative camera shots such

as those in celebrated world film director Stephen Spielberg’s movies, as well as camera tricks and

special effects that

make a good low cost film. Students will also learn indoor and outdoor lighting techniques for film production and video editing, using Ephantus Production Company’s state of the art film equipment. Script writing and casting for actors and actresses is also included in the course. At the end of the course, the graduating film students showcase their own films in front of respected film directors in Kenya. The overall best film will receive an award, with the best production crew being given an opportunity to expand their tentacles by doing other films and working with famous film producers locally and internationally. The early success of these new film schools is being taken by many in the industry as a sign that Kenya may now move to develop a more robust local film industry that will fur ther benefit with the expected broadcast digital migration of all TV channels, set to creat far larger demand for locally produced film and content.

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