Rotary Club of Mombasa Downtown Makes Nigerian Visit MEMORABLE
The Rotary Club of Mombasa Downtown stepped a stride ahead by securing a visit to the restricted Port of Mombasa for our Nigerian rotarians on their day three in the sun, sand and sea city of Mombasa. Prior to their visit, the club had a meeting to brainstorm on making their stay in Mombasa and by extension in Kenya momentous and memorable. The best of ideas was picked i.e. to engage Kenya Ports Authority to grant us a rare opportunity of a tour drive of the largest port in East and Central Africa that is even hard for many locals to get, for our West African counterparts.
Indeed the club, through our President Hassan Mbondo and Immediate Past President Peter Odera managed to secure the permission to access the Port despite the fact that traditionally they don’t allow visitors on weekends. It was all ‘wow’ after an email from KPA popped in the club group email address. “We acknowledge receipt of your request and we are glad to inform you that permission has been granted to visit on Saturday 9.30am”, the email read. Immediately the club informed Rotarian Jayne of RC Bahari who has been coordinating the exchange program from Coast.
Come Saturday 9.30am, neatly branded to impress and to sale the Rotary brand, we were all at the KPA gate waiting for our Nigerian guests and other rotarians and rotaractors who were accompanying them. As if the gesture was not enough and doesn’t meet the scale of ‘Service Above Self’, we were equipped with ‘Kachiri’ (cassava crisps), bottled water and some energy drinks just in case our energy levels go down as we enjoy the tour. Oooh yes! there was enough for everyone courtesy of Collins and Biata from our club who made it happen.
On arrival of the delegation, we went through security procedure before we were allowed into the Port premises. Once in the Port the delegation was taken through the history of the Port of Mombasa and other small ports of Shimoni, Lamu and Old port. They were also shown various port operations for both containerized and loose cargo and the intergraded security system in place.
Furthermore, they were also privileged to get closer to big vessels that were loading and offloading, driven through the about 10 km port stretch and alighting at every key facility to be explained to. A tour that was to take 45 minutes had to take two hours because every moment was worth stopping and of course the selfie generation was delaying us.
Rotary being a platform of many opportunities as uphold service above self, the visitors got everything to attest to this fact. The port tour was an eye opener as they learnt about maritime business opportunities available between the West and East of our mother continent, Africa. Rotarians were also taken through importation and exportation processes, this was so significant to both the locals and Nigerians because some are in the business and they normally get lied to by their agents. Indeed, this will go a long way in economic development, an area among the Rotary six areas of focus.
In addition rotarians got an opportunity to exchange contacts among themselves and with the Port fraternity something that will add value and enhance online exchange programs. Undeniable Rotary is a one stop shop where you get business opportunities, networking and professionalism while serving the community. The delegation was so enthralled after getting so much than they expected out of this tour. “Wow, we didn’t expect this at all, Oga an exchange program to remember” shouted the mesmerized guests. After the Port tour we embarked on a City tour that covered Mapembeni, Old town, Mamangina to the great historical Fort Jesus.
