Ushering in the New Year in Nakuru, Kenya
By Evelyn Gathuru
Happy new year everyone! I’m just back from a lovely holiday break spent with family and friends in Kenya. The highlight of my break was a week spent in Nakuru with my family. This was my first time to visit the town. I probably overlooked it in the past for more popular spots such as the coast or Maasai Mara. However, I was not disappointed! Nakuru is a lovely town with lots to offer.
Three years down the line…
Elections in Kenya have typically been held during the December period, often disrupting the festive season. Our last elections in 2007 and the following disputed results spurred the worst violence the country has experienced to date. Some of the worst fighting took place in Nakuru town. It is estimated that 1,500 Kenyans were killed and 250,000 displaced.
It is somewhat eerie that I would spend my holiday break in the same town where people had lost their lives just three years ago. Although the town has moved on, signs of the violence are still evident. As we drive through the town, my cousin points to several areas saying that these were ‘no-go’ zones during the violence. During this period, many people fled from the Western parts of the country to settle in Nakuru. As a result, Nakuru has experienced a growth surge and is now one of the most diverse towns in Kenya and business is booming as people try to rebuild their lives. It is now Africa’s fastest growing town.
At the end of last year, the prosecutor for the Internal Criminal Court (ICC), Luis Moreno Ocampo released the names of six individuals who were charged with playing crucial roles in orchestrating the post election violence of 2007/2008. For the first time in Kenya, it seemed that justice would be served. The release of the names of the suspects has drawn mixed reactions from Kenyans. Unfortunately, the process has become highly politicised.
Scenery and wildlife
It was great to see that the town is being re-built and tourism had returned to the area. The main attraction in Nakuru town is the lake with its flamingos. I wasn’t too sure what to expect as recent reports on the news had shown that the lake was shrinking due to destruction of water catchment areas. But I was pleased to see that recent conservation activities were bearing fruit. The lake is regaining some of its former glory. I was amazed by the diversity and 
density of the animals we saw including monkeys, baboons, zebras, antelopes, buffalo and various birds and reptiles. Being a few feet away from a herd of buffalos is simply breathtaking! I was hoping to see a lion or two, but that didn’t happen. The tour guides did tell us though, that a pride of lions had been spotted a few days ago in one of the areas of the park that we visited. I think you have to get out pretty early to spot the lions- this is unfortunate for those of us who enjoy snoozing in.
As we usher in the New Year, I continue to hope that the culture of impunity that has plagued Kenya will finally come to an end, and that justice will be done so that beautiful towns like Nakuru never have to be sites of wide-spread politically motivated killings and destruction again.
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