I smell a rat!!

Would you Mind moving along please?

I "shared a moment" with this long-legged lovely yesterday in a relaxing and thoroughly enjoyable drive in the Nairobi National Park. And by that I mean the giraffe not my friend and co-pilot Esther.

The giraffe had been having a mid-morning snackaroo when interrupted by the clanging of the diesel powered Land Cruiser as I "snuck up" on her. "Her or him" Esther queried? As looking between the animal's legs seemed both dangerous and overly intrusive at the time, I later looked it up and discovered that you can tell by the hairiness of the horns. Bald horns male -- hairy horns female. Apparently the horny hairy one is the female - good to know.

You lookin' at me? Huh - you lookin' at me!!!

This Buffalo seemed to feel the same way as the giraffe giving me the death stare as we edged up alongside. They are a bigger animal than you would think - and when you come up close it's pretty awesome. The most feared animal on the savanna by far. Coming across single male is near 100% disaster if on foot.

A couple Grants Gazelles posed beautifully for us before we drove to the top of the hill where Ascaries with bundukis (soldiers with guns) protected us so we could get out of the cruiser and gaze through powerful binocs to scan the savanna far below. From this vantage point three rhinos were visible as well as a host of other beautiful beasts. None of the 50+ lions were visible today but I'll be back to see them another time as the main gate is only 15 mins from the house. Although with lions, the hairy horny one is definitely the male. 😉

Small side note - many things I have taken for granted are a source of frustration in a developing country like this. The bank - as an example - accepted money from my employer in the first week of April - but it took 4 weeks to get any out.

The conversation went something like this;

Layne:  why can't I access my money
Bank dudette: because the account is frozen
Layne: but you accepted the money into the account?
Bank dudette: Oh yes - we take money when it's frozen
Layne: (now puzzled)  - how do I get my money out?
Bank Dudettte: Well sir -- you'll have to re-apply

Grrrrrrrrrrr.

And at the park - I don't have a stamp in my passport to show I work here in Africa - I only have a piece of paper because the stamping office is currently closed due to Covid19.

The conversation at the gate went something like this.

Layne: I live here
Gate dude: yes I see that - but you don't have a stamp
Layne: I can't get the stamp as the office closed
Gate dude: yes I know
Layne: Yes but I have the piece of paper that says the same thing
Gate dude: Yes I see that but no stamp so please pay 10x the normal rate.

Grrrrrrrrrrr

Murder in the Kitchen

Waking early one morning this week I was surprised to find a big fucking rat on the couch. As I prefer a rat free environment, I immediately felt both concerned and relieved that while the BFR had in fact entered my home during the night, he had been quickly dispatched by Sunny and Lucky and then placed lovingly on the couch for my inspection and congratulatory remarks.

At first I thought it was a cat that had wandered in mistakenly and unaware of the canine protection unit assigned to my detail  - but no it was in fact a 3kg rat that I suspect would have gone into the freezer and made off with the whole chickens kept there.  Great work Sunny and Lucky - I shall not starve.

As Sunny and Lucky solemnly accepted their thanks and praise my attention turned to the kitchen that now looked more like a crime scene than country kitchen. With the blood splattered walls, all that was missing was the yellow tape, chalk outline of the BFR and the CSI guys in white suits to make it completely legit.

A planned pizza party for my friend Yvonne and her 2 year old son Jake, had to be cancelled today due to significant increases in the number of Covid19 folks infected in her area.

That's a bit of a bummer  -- but good news is that my friend Cliff Cyr has generously parted with a significant amount of his hard earned money to help Yvonne and Jake out. A million thank you's to Cliff for his generosity. It will make a big difference in their lives.

My hope is that with a bit of help, we can continue to support Yvonne and Jake as they make their way along. I have pledged to assist with Jake's school which will start in January and if anyone is interested in helping out a bit - please e-interact a bit o' cashola to: laynemahon@live.com

Thanks for reading ....Layno!!!

Honey on the hill

What a sweet day - Oh Layne  - try to beehive! 😁

As colleagues and I climbed Mount Ngulot, the rain only sprinkled -- mercifully, perhaps even forgiving us for daring to hike on the Mara during the rainy season. There have been countless days of rain mother nature so unrelenting and seemingly angry in her revenge for the environmental atrocities so carelessly committed throughout the world. Is this revenge? - or likely there is a more scientific explanation. I spose the later but as I increasingly lean toward Buddah's teachings - and can't help but think there is a karma angle to all this. Fuck the Nameste - climate change due to environmental degradation is a reality we all have to own.

Mother nature being cheerful that morning allowed the team of 10 to enjoy an awesome climb to the rocks that tower above the community we serve in the middle of the Mara. Along the way - we stopped to look at a  traditional beehive - somewhat modernized with aluminum sheeting but very cool and similar to the way it's been doing it for many many years. And a grand view of the lands that gave us the Lion King. Welcome to pridelands.

The weather has made our response efforts for Covid19 tricky at best.  As previously mentioned, the government in their efforts to contain the virus have understandingly imposed movement restrictions making it tricky. For instance - how do you get a journalist out to tell the story? While necessary - there is a dark under belly presented as border guards "cash in" on the opportunity. Questa e la vita!
That said - WE - the org I so proudly work for - and colleagues who share the responsibilities - continue to find ways around all obstacles in our path -- both figurative and real. Below are a couple shots from this week.

....all the while resisting the urge to "floor it" as the water reaches up the doors.

This is the road on April 25th ... earlier in the year we lost a landcruiser at this crossed.

I'm not sure when we came through here on Friday but it was within a few hours of the collapse - tricky business indeed.

Sunny dreaming of chasing cats

Chasing cats - Sunny is driving

I can't tell the story related to the picture beside but promise to do so someday. There are ears everywhere but just let me say that the freedom to criticize institutions in North America, Europe etc. is a luxury often lost on those who come from these far more democratic politically stable countries.

I'll come back to the story related to this picture at some point - but let me say it was taken in the hall of a Nairobi police station and I was there as "the good guy" but feeling all the while that things could go horribly wrong if there was a misunderstanding or an errant word passed across my cheeky lips.


Many people chose not to go to the Popo with a complaint  -- a reality appreciated by the criminals who ply their trades throughout this country.  One might say  to me - if it's so hard - and you don't like it -then leave. Well -- fair point. But just maybe talking about it helps shine the light of truth and justice that can lead to a better world for the good people of this beautiful land. A land mostly of Milk and Honey.

Thanks for reading ....Layno!!

A little shaggy - but is that a big deal?

An entirely new perspective.

Exceptional cup of coffee in hand I glanced out the window and furrowed my brow noting the garbage was still there from last week. As I ran my hand through my hair perplexed, I suddenly realized that my mane while indeed a pretty shaggy afair was unlikely to be trimmed any time soon, Should I take up the challenge myself? Is that a good idea? Hmmm  - I need a different perspective on what is now important. Time to reshuffle the deck of priorities and adjust my thinking. Vanity has certainly shifted downward... way down!

So what's important in this Brave New World  and I use that famous book title as I recall it vividly from my youth. (Thanks again Mom for helping me develop my love of reading.)  Early in my life I remember reading the book and thinking  - will the world always be as I know it? And if not - how will it be different. I think Covid has answered that question for me.

 The battle will be won with small deeds of both self-preservation interspersed with selfless acts of others. Never has there been a global movement so synchronized. As Aldous so insightfully noted in that wonderful text 80ish years ago:


"Most human beings have an almost infinite capacity for taking things for granted"

 ... but may no longer be the case Aldous. Maybe you are not so smart after all!

Road Blocks and Perspiration

WE is intent upon continuing our work in Narok county to ensure that we do the best we can to protect these fine folks from the ravages of Covid19. As mentioned previously, this is both from an awareness and treatment perspective. Over this last week, we expanded our program to prepare for counselling services as well as adding body bags to the next Medical goods requisition as they too may be required. I cringed as I read about the situation in Equador where bodies are in the streets for days as they reel with the near inability of the health care system to respond in a meaningful way.

That will NOT be the case where WE are serving!

So imagine our collective horror as the government announced a complete shut down of all movement between counties in Kenya. Yikes - how do we move medical supplies, food and people to the areas where we work? The answer -- creative planning with fluid interpretation of the rules and regulations. So cleverly disguised as an assistant driver (know here as a turn boy) we approached our first inter-county roadblock with a fair amount of concern. The interrogation process that ensued was a fairly intense ordeal and as I answered my final question I felt the sweat drip down my back. Waved on we prepared for the next 5 roadblocks we were to encounter and practiced and perfected our real life our game of Charades. The work continues!

The day ends as dusk captures the days on the Mara  over our housing complex.

Above and beside are my new accommodations as we are doing our best to minimize costs associated with operation to ensure we maximize the funding for the response. Unlike my fancy Nairobi accommodations, this is not exactly the Hilton, though comfortable and peaceful. Meals are simple but prepared fresh by Henry who always greets you with a big smile and hearty good morning.

Electricity and internet are luxuries that are more unpredictable than a Donald Trump policy on Covid response. What a moroon .... or is that moron?

Hehe - like a dumb and dumber remake ...not if - when .... :)

The roads change daily wit hth rains - each time you pass its a new adventure.

Even Lucky and Sunny are bored with the Covid lock down...  having taken ownership of the couch. I took away their remote though. Too much TV can be bad for dogs.

Thanks for reading .....Layno!!

WE!! are ready!!

My colleagues and I dedicate ourselves to managing a division and concept known as WE villages. The idea here is that our Canadian based charity organization supports villages in rural Kenya (and other countries though not with my involvement) through 5 pillars of support. Those being:

1. Health

2. Education

3. Food

4. Water

5. Opportunity

Previously I have talked about WE farms ( and my rather steep learning curve here - in fairness -- call it a wall not a curve) and now I'll talk, at this most opportune time, talk about our 1st pillar  -- that being health.

We operate a clinic and hospital in 2 communities providing a soup to nuts suite of services provided at very affordable costs. It's a sweet partnership between local government and our charity that works really well. It saves community members from traveling great distances for medical care which translates to saving lives. We offer dental care, renal, surgery, eye care and a surprisingly comprehensive number of other services.

And now!!! perhaps our reason for being; responding to our globally shared crisis: Covid 19. WE Charity deserves full marks for quickly focusing on working hard to make Narok county (where we work) the least affected in all Africa. A lofty goal to be sure but better to shoot for the stars and settle for capturing the moon.

We are mobilizing with a 2- stage response. First - an awareness campaign bringing messages about the seriousness and prevention of this disease to the people in their communities where they live. These rural communities are well off the beaten track requiring Land Cruisers and motorcycles to get us where the people are. As a side note, our Friday campaign report highlighted the very concerning statistic that 20% of the people we reached were unaware of the virus. As we can't gather the people -- we use a Land cruiser with PA system and spread the message. We hand out soap and pamphlets ensure that masks are in place to help convey the seriousness of this situation. Also community leaders join us so that we can communicate to them in the Kipsigis and Maasai language as well as Swahili.



From previous blogs, you may remember my ever - amazing and good friend Lucy who has stepped up to assist us with her Mass Media engagement skills. Working with Lucy's firm, we are targeting the youth in the community through social media  - insisting that the youth explain to their parents the seriousness of the situation and what to do about it. Thanks Lucy - you rock!!

And now to treatment... In the shot below you see the beautiful WE College that for the time being is being converted to a mass treatment facility. We are diverting patients from the Baraka hospital through a series of tents that lead to hospital for sick but non-covid, isolation for potential contact with Covid infected, treatment/ referral for those with presumptive cases and of course testing.  As the next days pass we will be racing the clock to educate as many people as possible and prepare for any eventuality that may come our way. WE are Ready!!!!

The Administration block and parking lot are now converted to a mass treatment center - with the hope it will not be needed.

On a lighter note, I am grateful to colleagues Mike and Robin who returned to the USA recently but are allowing me to care for Lucky and Sunny for the time being. Both are super friendly guys also committed to helping with the Covid19 campaign.

Lucky hard at work

Sunny hard at work

Lastly, but most importantly --  yesterday marked the end of an era for me as my last surviving grandparent  passed peacefully onward. She helped raise me in my early years and was forever after a fixture in my life in both spirit and body. Lazy summer days on Saltspring island with her will always be my fondest memories. She was extraodinarily kind and fond of me and for that I celebrate her 99 years on the planet and the impact she had on my life. Time to hoist a single malt and reflect on how I got here and to whom I owe a great debt of perpetual gratitude.  Cheers Gran! Keep smiling brightly!

Gran with her 3 kids and my Dad in April of this year (2020)

Thanks for reading .......Layno!!