Goodbye Kenya - Heading Back Home

We said goodbye to each other last night. This morning everyone left but Tadeu and myself.  Some people had morning flights so they left around 5:30 AM and some members have extended their stay and are on vacation.  They left around 7:30 AM to go on their Safari trips.  My flight is at 11:30 PM and will leave for airport around 8:30 PM. If flights are on time then I will be arriving in USA at Dulles airport around 5:00 PM.
It was a unique experience. I have thoroughly enjoyed my stay and learned a great deal about the culture of Kenyan people, country, lots of many things, and of course about the Energy and Utility Sector. I have made lots of new friends and I am sure we will keep in touch. It was nice to work with IBM Kenya team as well as with the KETRACO and EAPP folks.

Thank you All!

#ibmcsc Kenya

Last Week of CSC Assignment and in Nairobi

Time has just flown by. It is difficult to belive that we landed in Nairobi three weeks ago and this is our last week in Kenya.  This is going to be extremely busy week.  Starting on Monday, my team has meeting with David Mugo/IBM Kenya to go over our design on Tuesday afternoon the entire team is visiting St. Bernard Home for Children, on Wednesday we have a dry run and final check point with the client, on Thursday, our final presentation to all stakeholders, and on Friday we are visiting KenGen Geo Thermal Electricity Generation Plant.  Busy is not the work describe the grueling schedule because we still have to write our final document and review all deliverable and make changes.

Tuesday - Visit to St. Thomas Bernard Children Home (Orphanage)
Last week in Kenya. We visited St. Bernard Children Home Orphanage with a population of about 200 children. My impression is that this orphanage is well managed and children are well cared. There are about 9 homes in the compound and each home has about 12-15 children between the ages of 2 months - 19 years. Children under 11 years age attend school on the campus and then they attend boarding school. St. Bernard Home provides the fees for these children and also provides training for girls in sewing and embroidery, and for boys training in carpentry, metal craft, welding, etc. Once qualified these young adults can find employment and be able to live independently in society.  Here are some of the pictures I took on our visit:

Sewing Shop

Babies between 2 months - 18 months age

Doing Home Work

With Children of Home #8

Wednesday - Presentation at KETRACO

On Wednesday morning my team had a final check point scheduled with the EAPP IT manager Joseph Magiochi. The presentation was also attended by several people from KETRACO including the CEO. The presentation went well and we received positive comments from client.  Here are some pictures from Wednesday:

With KETRACO CEO

Presenting IBM Logo Goodies!

IBM CSC Team with KETRACO Staff

Thursday - Final Presentation

The day has arrived! The final presentation to stakeholders is scheduled for the morning of Thursday, June 28, 2012 and today is the day.  My team has been working extremely hard to get all deliverables ready to be delivered today. The presentation is ready and believe we have a very good, well planned, and credible solution for the Framework Design of the EAPP Information Systems Connectivity and Network. 

The presentation was extremely well received by the stakeholders and other audiences. The team received many positive comments. The EAPP CEO Mr. Jasper Oduor congratulated me in person and commented that it was exactly what they needed to move forward. Great job team!!  Here are pictures during and after our final presentation:

Starting Presentation

Introduction of Team

With EAPP CEO and IBM-Kenya Staff

IBM CSC Kenya-5 Team After final Presentation

We did it!!

Friday - Visit to KenGen Geo-Thermal Plant

Early Friday morning we drove to visit the Kenya Power Generation (KenGen) Geo-Thermal Plant. I have toured the Hydro Power Generation Plant before but this was my first time visiting a Geo Thermal Plant. It was interesting, amazing, and very informative to learn how the underground energy is tapped to generate electricity. Presently, this Geo thermal plant generates enough electricity for all Nairobi and surrounding area. We were given a tour of the plant and the surrounding areas. The plant is located right in the middle of national forest preservation. The ground is owned by government and KenGen is a government owned company. Beautiful surroundings!  Here are some pictures:

Olkaria Geo-Thermal Plant Map

Steam from Underground Well

Pipelines for transporting Steam and Water

Arriving at Olkaria

Friday Evening - Last Evening in Kenya with CSC Team
Time for goodbyes! Wait a minute, we still have entire evening to be together, have fun, and reflect on our assignments. First let's have dinner that John has prepared for us. Actually, John is the cook who we some times hire to cook dinner for us.  We tell him what we would like to eat and he does the shopping, cooking, etc.  Tonight, I belive he has cooked lamb for non-vegetarians and Dal and rice for vegetarians. 

Tadeu - not sure what to do!

John - But this lamb is watching Me!

Last Evening Together
#ibmcsc Kenya

Visit to Lake Nakuru National Park

This weekend we went to Lake Nakuru National Park. Lake Nakuru is one of the Rift Valley soda at an elevation of 1754 m above sea level. It lies to the south of Nakuru, the third largest city of Kenya, in the rift valley of Kenya and is protected by Lake Nakuru National Park. Nakuru means "Dust or Dusty Place" in the Masai language. Lake Nakuru National Park was established in 1961. It started off small, only encompassing the famous lake and the surrounding mountainous vicinity, but has since been extended to include a large part of the savannahs. I think it’s a good place to visit for birds, especially flamingos but you have been to Masai Mara then other big animals probably won’t excite you.

White Rhino at Lake Nakuru

The lake's abundance of algae attracts the vast quantity of flamingos and other birds also flourish in the area. Unfortunately, we did not see flamingos but saw a lot pelicans, baboons, Rhinos, zebras, buffalos, and Giraffe.Our safari driver told us that flamingos migrate to other lakes during May and June and come back in August. Oh yes we did see a lonely flamingo which must have been left behind by the migratory birds. Here are some of the photos I took:

Nesting Birds at the Tree Top

Not Flamingos but lots of Palicans

Pelicans in Flight

Lonely Flamingo

Giraffe in the Morning Sun

Don't have any money - we want a free ride!!

Velvet Monkey

#ibmcsc Kenya

Almost Ending the 3rd Week of CSC Assignment

Almost end of another busy week in Nairobi!  My project team had two check points with our EAPP client. I am happy to report that client is extremely pleased with our progress and design. This is an important project for the EAPP to get next funding from IMF, USAID, or other agencies to implement our solution. And for that reason, I believe anytime we present a new solution or idea, Mr. Joseph Magochi wants everything included in our deliverable.  

Kings College

New College Brochure

Today is Friday, June 22, 2012 and the entire Kenya- 5 team was asked to visit a startup college in the afternoon to talk to students. We arrived at around 2:30 PM at the Kings College. This is a new college started in January 2012, with a population of 40 students, 8 part-time instructors, and 1 full-time librarian. The college was started for the young people who either cannot afford the fees of the accredited college or academically do not qualify for college admission.  The colleges has been given a lot of lands (I believe 25 acres) donated by U.S. missionaries who returned back to USA in 2011.  The college needs funds for books, computers, etc. The Kings College offers diplomas, certifications, etc. at a reduced cost to students who would like to pursue some study to find employment.

Computer Lab Waiting for More Equipment

We introduced ourselves, provided career advice to students, and communicated the importance of education, and staying in the college to complete their education, and this would help them find their dream job in this fast growing country. The overall message was “Complete Your Education and Be Ready to Grab the Opportunity” because Kenya is growing fast with a lot technology companies starting offices almost every day. Below are some of the pictures of Kings College.

Full Time Librarian

Students of Kings College and Neighboring Colleges

                                                                 

IBMers With Students
#ibmcsc Kenya

KFC Beats McDonald! Just for Fun

Driving to work and looking around for the presence of American Fast Food chain.  No sign of McDonald's golden arches - what a surprize!!  Wait a minute - we just spotted KFC sign over the weekend.  Does this mean KFC beats McDonald in penetrating in the African Market?

#ibmcsc Kenya.

Its' Friday - Almost Ending Second Week

The second week of our CSC assignment coming to end.  This week my team (three of us) worked mostly from IBM Kenya office.  I had arranged couple of conference calls with Network Architects in USA and its much easier to have call to USA from an IBM site.  We also discussed our design with IBM - Kenya architect David Mugo. The network design for EAPP is beginning to come alive!  Lot of work but we are also learning a lot about the Energy and Utility Industry.  Really cool!

The IBM Kenya office is in down town Nairobi.  Here are some pictures:

Weekend Visit to Masai Mara

Weekend was a welcome change after an extremely busy week. Three of us are going back home right after CSC assignment while others are extending their stay for additional 10 days after the CSC assignment. The group two has planned a long vacation to see Serengeti, Masai Mara, and other places in Kenya and Tanzania.  The three of us decided to make a quick weekend trip to the Masai Mara.

The Masai Mara National Reserve is a large game reserve in south-western Kenya which is the northern continuation of the Serengeti National Park in Tanzania.  The Masai Mara is named after the Masai people which is traditional inhabitants of the area.

Masai People at the Masai Mara gate

Say Cheese!

The migration has not started yet.  Therefore, we were able to see only the resident animals but it still very nice.  Lots of beautiful scenery.  We did see a after hunt - a pair of lions had killed a buffalo.  Below are a few pictures from my collection.

Blue Chameleon Outside of my lodge

How about a morning walk?

Marching in a line and getting ready for a kill

#ibmcsc Kenya.