WaCity

A public relations executive who loves the life in Nairobi. Magna cum gaudio. With great joy

[Bloomberg @business]

A startup and some of the world's best known philanthropies are helping Kenya reach its avocado ambitions https://t.co/1OfPRAPANX

[WaCity @Wacity]

RIP Patrick Mukabi #blessings

[Mbugua Ng'ang'a @MbuguaNganga]

I mourn the passing of Patrick Mukabi, the artist behind the iconic paintings in all Java House wall paintings. As a newbie journalist, my bery first assignment was to cover the story of how Mukabi memorialised the 1998 bombing of the US embassy in Nairobi. I have followed his work over the years and my best series from his collection was Market Women. Mukabi did a lot of work teaching youngsters to paint. But above all, he immortalised many aspects of Nairobi social life. He is a national treasure. The city of Nairobi owes him a great of gratitude. We need a City Arts Council to recognise such artists Wangui Maina and Dennis Onsarigo.

[Bankelele @bankelele]

Two Kenyans are competing on the biggest stage in college basketball; USC's Madina Okot, from Mumias, is one of the best centres and Louisville's Grace Mbugua.

This has probably never happened for an African country, and GoK should celebrate this - Michael Finley #KIICO2026

[WaCity @Wacity]

Thanks @cobbo3 this is insightful #blessings

[Charles Onyango-Obbo @cobbo3]

Kenya, Ethiopia, Nigeria Early African Winners as They Harvest Windfall from the Misery of US–Israel vs Iran War
As the world reels from the escalation of the US–Israel vs Iran war that erupted on 28 February, the humanitarian suffering is profound. Yet in the realm of global commerce, a quieter upheaval is underway. With the Red Sea and Strait of Hormuz rendered near impassable – shipping traffic down by 90% – Africa has emerged as the world’s most vital logistics corridor.
•In KENYA, the once-forgotten LAMU PORT has roared to life. Long dismissed by critics as a white elephant, it has seen a 974% surge in volume. Ultra-large vessels, too deep for Mombasa and too exposed for Gulf waters, now dock at Lamu’s 18-metre natural depth.
•ETHIOPIA'S national carrier Ethiopian Airlines has seized the moment. With Dubai and Doha mostly paralysed by airspace risks from Iranian missile and droke strikes, Addis Ababa has become the continent’s primary air-bridge. Cargo revenue is up 14%. High-value goods – electronics, pharmaceuticals, perishables –are now routed through Bole International, bypassing the 40-day sea detour.
•NIGERIA is counting its crude. Brent prices hit $120 per barrel in March. Against a budget benchmark of $64.85, daily revenues have doubled. The government has stumbled into an unexpected multi-billion dollar fiscal cushion.
•DURBAN, South Africa’s main port, has shed its reputation for congestion. It is now clocking 28 crane moves per hour, processing thousands of ships rerouted around the Cape of Good Hope with a rare level of precision.
•MOROCCO'S Royal Air Maroc has moved swiftly. Ten new international routes –including Los Angeles and Beirut – have siphoned off transit passengers who once relied on Middle Eastern hubs. Casablanca traffic is up 12%.
•WALVIS BAY in Namibia has become the first reliable refuelling station for ships emerging from the South Atlantic. Bunkering demand is up 30%.
•The DANGOTE Petroleum Refinery has in Nigeria, is cashing in. In March, it issued an export tender for 84,000 metric tonnes of jet fuel and diesel. It is no longer just a domestic project – it is replacing Persian Gulf supplies for the continent.
•MOZAMBIQUE'S $20 billion LNG project has been fast-tracked. TotalEnergies resumed operations in early 2026. Over 4,000 workers are racing to meet an accelerated production date. Iranian gas is out. Mozambican gas is in.
•At Mozambique's PORT of MAPUTO, volumes grew by 16% in the weeks following the war’s outbreak. Chrome and coal exporters have abandoned northern routes in favour of the safer Indian Ocean–Cape corridor.
•MAURITIUS, ever shrewd, has leveraged its mid-ocean position into a 15% revenue increase. High-end logistics and emergency repair services are now its bread and butter.
But no doubt, the most intriguing twist is the Roll-on/Roll-off (RoRo) revolution in Lamu. Manufacturers are using RoRo ships – where vehicles are driven on and off via ramps – to offload thousands of cars. These are then ferried to the Gulf on small, low-risk boats to avoid the $200,000+ war risk insurance premiums slapped on large carriers entering the Strait of Hormuz.
To protect this windfall, Kenya and Ethiopia have launched joint military operations along the once-languishing Lamu Port–South Sudan–Ethiopia Transport (LAPSSET) corridor. This unprecedented coordination is designed to ensure that the new “safe harbour” of Lamu remains shielded from regional spillover.
And because the closure of the Strait of Hormuz marooned shipping containers, an emergency air-bridge has formed. Nairobi and Addis Ababa are now the primary transit points for consumer electronics flown from Asia to Europe—bypassing the the 17,700KM sea detour.
US leader Donald Trump despises Africa, once labelling its countries "sh*thole", but while many of them will be hit hard by rising energy and fertilisers from America and Israel's attack on Iran, several of them will get a bounty he would never have wished for them.

[Charles Onyango-Obbo @cobbo3]

@AnankeGroup Look at what ET during the 2020 pandemic lockout when the same dynamics played out. It grew dramatically. They are smart at cashing in on crisis.

[WaCity @Wacity]

We journey on cc @EugenePapa @WehliyeMohamed @KamauWairuri #StareheSchools #OSS #blessings

[WaCity @Wacity]

Starts on the same day as Ash Wednesday. Can’t wait for your 2026 edition @mmnjug . #blessings

[mmnjug™ @mmnjug]

Countdown: 12 days to Ramadhan street food 2026 edition...

You're welcome!!

[WaCity @Wacity]

Fantastic win and recognition; congratulations @mwarv We live for moments like this #blessings

[World Sports Photography Awards @WorldSportsPix]

The World Sports Photography Awards 2026 winners, sponsored by @CanonEMEApro!

The next set of category winners are #motorsports, and those winners are:

🥇 Emerging Ford by @mwarv
🥈 Fossile by Irina Petrichei
🥉 Pure Riding by Matteo Gebbia

#WSPA26 #sportsphotography

[WaCity @Wacity]

#blessings

[Karura Running Club @TeamKarura]

A Heart Congratulations ���to our Ladies Team Captain for a great outing at the @thedubaimarathon 🎉🎉👏🏾👏🏾

[WaCity @Wacity]

Reading through this 🙌 #blessings

[Z Reitano @ZReitano]

https://t.co/bnxvBTWk45

[WaCity @Wacity]

@WehliyeMohamed agreed. This is an important conversation. The Starehe model is life changing. Cc @KamauWairuri #blessings

[Mohamed Wehliye, MBS @WehliyeMohamed]

1/9 One thing many including some at the MoE have not been able to grasp is what Starehe Boys' Centre & School is. SBC is not just a School. It is a centre/home for bright boys from poor background. Initially, the boys used to go to school elsewhere- Pumwani, Eastleigh e.t.c

[WaCity @Wacity]

This is ���� thank you @mohammedhersi for sharing #blessings

[Mohammed Hersi : Mr Optimist @mohammedhersi]

#whyilovekenya

This story was shared in the past by my mentee, Bernard Mungai. His last posting was at Sarova Imperial Kisumu.

In 2010, Bernard walked into my office Sarova Whitesands Beach Resort & Spa to deliver some documents from a law firm for my signature. Once he was done, he politely asked if I had five minutes so that he could share his career aspirations. I gladly agreed.

I was about to enjoy my 4 p.m. tea and requested that a second cup be brought to my office so that we could share it . What was meant to be a five-minute conversation turned into a thirty-minute discussion.

Bernard was very clear about what he wanted. While seated with me in my office as a messenger, he explained that he was studying hotel and tourism management. He requested an opportunity to undertake his industrial attachment at my resort. Through the Human Resources department, this was facilitated. As the saying goes, hard work pays off, and he was later given a chance to join the management trainee programme.

He left my office with a promise that one day he would become a hotel General Manager. Fast forward to last week—I bumped into him at Sarova Panafric, where he is currently the Front Office Manager, just a heartbeat away from becoming a General Manager.

Bernard proudly took me around Sarova Panafric, showcasing their new rooms, spa, and many other impressive improvements.

It is said that when you wash your hands, you can dine with kings at the high table. Young Bernard Mungai washed his hands, and he is steadily growing into a fine hotelier. I am a very proud and happy teacher and mentor.

This time, it was Bernard’s turn to buy me tea—but instead, he treated me to lunch.

Be the candle that lights many more candles since a candle loses nothing by lighting another candle.

Bernard, the sky is not the limit. You will go places.

As always, I choose to remain an optimist.

@KariukiJimi & @SarovaHotelsKen . You are the " University of hoteliers in Kenya". Even international chains who set up in Kenya have tremendous respect for Sarova associates. Keep raising the bar.

[Trung Phan @TrungTPhan]

I wrote about Singapore’s Changi Airport, widely considered the world’s best airport.

Lee Kuan Yew called it “the best investment S$1.5B we ever made”. His philosophy was to wow tourists and investors the second they stepped off the plane…and it worked: https://t.co/ZryHdefvgQ

[Linus Kaikai @LinusKaikai]

WHAT’S WRONG WITH with Africa?

[Njeri Thorne @NjeriBt]

Ad agencies will soon be obsolete..

[WaCity @Wacity]

Word #blessings

[Charles Onyango-Obbo @cobbo3]

Netflix’s "Masaka Kids: A Rhythm Within", which follows the journey of the viral Masaka Kids Africana dance group from Uganda’s south-western Masaka region, is one of the most touching documentaries I have watched in a long while (and I watch a lot). If you need your faith restored in humankind, this will do it.

[Charles Onyango-Obbo @cobbo3]

It is #JacarandaInYourPocket season in South Africa's commercial capital Johannesburg, which runs from from mid-October to mid-November.

[CS Rebecca Miano, EGH @rebecca_miano]

Congratulations to Hellen Obiri @hellen_obiri for such a stunning performance in the New York City Women's Marathon!
Ongera Sharon and Sheila for securing the 2nd and 3rd positions respectively. We celebrate you!

[WaCity @Wacity]

This is what it means to have a national carrier. @KenyaAirways has done us proud. #Proudly🇰🇪 #JakomRIP #Blessings

[Official Kenya Airways @KenyaAirways]

Onboard tribute to the late Rt. Hon. Raila Amolo Odinga by Captain Saviemaria Ondego