1 March 2018

I heard from several people that there has been snow in the greater Seattle area and, although I do remember the chaos it causes there, I am a bit envious.    The weather here in Mombasa has been in the 90’s with humidity at almost 80%.  We are definitely moving toward 2 showers per day heat…and hopefully long rains in April.

Yesterday (28^th), I went back to Kilulu to say good-bye to Freda and, along with the warm clothes I took her a kind of booklet I made for her of photos that will help her remember me and our time together.  Now, I will begin the process of accepting that this responsibility has been removed, letting it go and moving on.

Monday evening this week I received an update phone call from F. Ochieng, the Survey Agent in Nairobi whom we have hired to follow up on final step of the land lease renewal process, and what he told me has again, come out of left field and stopped me cold.

I began the land lease renewal process in 2010 and when Richard & Valerie Vicknair came in February 2014 they helped me move the process along, finally getting the renewal approved and loaning funds short term to make the first annual rent payment at the new lease rate.   Over these last four years, I have been told by every government land official I speak with, that we have almost reached the finish line and have only 5% of the renewal process remaining, although no one could tell me specifically what that involved.   

Early last year the government put a freeze on lease renewals and our files went missing somewhere in the Nairobi land office.  Mr. Ochieng’s phone call informed me that one of the files has now been found so now we can “pay the money and start the process.”  When I asked what process he means and what money he is talking about, he said, “the 150’000ksh per plot for the process. “   It’s a good thing my teeth are glued in because otherwise they would have hit the floor.    This is a completely unexpected 300’000ksh ($3000) we are going to need in order to proceed!!!

I haven’t told Fridah or Erick (base leaders) about this yet because I am waiting for Mr Ochieng to e-mail me a detailed breakdown of what actual steps are remaining in the renewal “process” and how much each step is going to cost.    I am overwhelmed!