THE VIEWFINDER

NEWSLETTER: ISSUE NO 31, MARCH 2003

[New Website] [New Hope for Kenya] [KWS News] [New STD area codes] [Weather] [Work Front]

NEW WEB SITE

With a lot of patient help from Delulu, Dae Sasitorn and Piers Warren, we think our new website is a great improvement on the old one. Any comments and suggestions would be welcome.

NEW HOPE FOR KENYA

The elections in December went peacefully and resulted in an overwhelming victory for the National Rainbow Coalition (NARC), a combination of opposition parties. The new president, Mwai Kibaki was installed with a jubilation that has not been seen in this country for 40 years. He quickly installed a vibrant team, promising to end corruption, improve the economy, and repair the sadly run down infrastructure. Roads are being fixed, garbage is being collected, street families have been re-homed, primary education is now free, and huge amounts of money and land that had mysteriously disappeared under the old regime are being recovered. The sound of new brooms is deafening though cynics have pointed out that not everyone in power is a new broom, having switched political allegiance only just before the elections. But at least they know which carpets to look under to find the dirt. The new minister for Tourism and Information Raphael Tuju is a young, dynamic businessman with his own communications company. One of his first actions was to hold a meeting of all stakeholders in the film/television/media business, and over 200 people attended. At this meeting, Mr Tuju promised to remove all obstacles that threaten the film business, and to ensure that Kenya is marketed as a film-friendly country. The fact that "Nowhere in Africa" (filmed in Kenya) has been nominated for an Oscar is expected to have a very positive effect on the industry.

We have acquired another tortoise, which was being kept tied up by squatters up the road. He is smaller and faster than Sid, and they both have the run of the garden. They are both gay.

KENYA WILDLIFE SERVICE NEWS

In our last newsletter, we said that entrance fees to some National Parks were about to be increased. This is true, but the implementation date has been put forward to 1st April, rather than 1st January 2003. The new Director, Michael Wamithi has announced that Paula Kahumbu is now an Assistant Director, in overall charge of all National Parks, and this is good news. Paula first attracted attention when she established the Colobus Trust by building rope ladders across the busy Diani Beach road in an effort to stop monkeys being hit and killed by fast moving vehicles. Last year she led Kenya's delegation at the CITES meeting in Santiago, and she works tirelessly for wildlife.

NEW AREA CODE NUMBERS

With effect from April 1st, all STD area codes in Kenya will change. The old numbers will remain operational for three months, and will then be phased out. The new numbers for the main towns are as follows - if you have trouble getting through to smaller towns and need help, please contact us.

Nairobi 020 Nakuru 051 Nanyuki 062 South coast 040 Kericho 052 Isiolo/Meru 064 Mombasa 041 Eldoret 053 Kiambu 066 North coast 042 Kitale 054 Thika 067 Naivasha 050 Kisumu 056 Embu 068 Narok 050 Nyeri 061

In addition, some exchanges will add a digit at the beginning of each number, for example Lamu, Kilifi, Isiolo, Eldoret, Kisumu. Again, please contact us if you have trouble getting through.

WEATHER

After exceptionally heavy rains over most of the country at Christmas/New Year, the weather got back to normal in January. We measured only 8.5mm of rain in January and 8.4mm in February. Early March saw the highest temperatures recorded in Kenya for 42 years. Even in Nairobi at 6,500 ft. above sea level, afternoon temperatures indoors soared to 87F, and every living thing is gasping for breath. The troop of Sykes monkeys that visit regularly are desperate for food, and are now eating the flowers of the Nandi flame tree (Spathodia campanulata), augmented by sunflower seed from the bird table when the dogs are not looking.

THE WORK FRONT

2003 will not go down as the year with the busiest start. For the first time in many years, March arrived and we have still not hit 20 crews. We have assisted people from seven countries, and covered quite a variety of subjects, but have to admit we have not been stretched. We don't believe that a war in Iraq would affect most intrepid film makers, but maybe people are holding their breath. We shall wait and see, and hope that things improve.






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