Couchsurfing in Nairobi

Theresia's husband, Mutisya, picked me up from the airport. He's a chatty, sociable guy who runs businesses as diverse as a travel company, a children's home, and stock trading. But his latest venture is politics. During the 20 minute drive from the airport to his home, we stopped 3 times to shake hands with seemingly innocuous people on the street. After a shower, nap, and my first dose of Kenyan cooking (being a vegetarian here is going to be next to impossible!) we met up with Karen, a young family friend and neighbor. I was told that we were going for a tour of the city. Along the way, Mutisya continued his political socializing from the drivers seat--waving at people on the street, his big, over zealous grin plastered beneath his eyes twinkling with the possibility of political victory fame. What I thought was another of his social stops was in fact "a gathering of a few politicians," AKA a political rally. Great, I thought. My parents would kill me if they knew I was here. Within 3 hours of landing in Kenya, I've somehow found myself in the center of a rowdy, rambunctious political rally--the very first place every travel advisory tells you to avoid. But here I am, an obvious outsider among the hundreds of bright orange t-shirts, bandanas, and banners collectively pulsing with excitement, energy, and anticipation.
Nairobi is holding local elections on June 11 and Mama Taa, as she is known among her supporters is running for a post in the senate. Running isn't exactly the right description of the political process here, bribery and corruption is a better fit. Mama Taa is holding a rally to speak to her supporters and to raise money for her campaign fund. But in order to draw a crowd, politicians provide free food and drinks to attendees, and often times, hand out cash as a sort of door prize. In a country where unemployment is rampant, where food and oil prices are soaring, of course people will come out for a free meal and the chance for a little cash. It's African corruption at its finest. But in truth, is it really any different than our own political system? Our politicians wine and dine the rich to get support too...only here its the poor who are bribed and brainwashed with lofty, impossible promises into voting.