Part of the activities at the 2019 UN youth camp in Incheon, Korea was to come up with action plans that would implement individual SDGs and help accelerate the implementation of the 2030 agenda. I was put in a vibrant group of 7 youth; Yoonjae Bae (Yonsei University), Hannah Jemaneh (SOAS University of London), Jiyoung Kim (Seoul National University), Jeonghwab Oh (University of St. Andrews), Juneyoub Han (Seoul National University), Suk In Jung (George Mason University) and Isaac Quashigah (Dankook University). We were to battle it out with five other groups.
We toiled for days before settling on a novel idea that went along with company ‘pop-up stores,’ to address SDG number 4-Quality education. Why a Pop-up store? A pop-up store is a temporary space run by a brand, aimed at opening up a physically engaging presence for customers to experience/gain more insight about a product. In our case, we had products/services we intended to share and sell to the public and in turn raise funds to promote quality education in underdeveloped areas.
From the products we had, there were two significant ones; coffee and study kits. The coffee idea predicated on the thought that some coffee farmers from underdeveloped areas have limited markets to sell their coffee to and because this eventually leads to low returns, they are unable to offer their children with quality education. Our pop up store was meant to expose their product to Korean people and help create a new market (Koreans love coffee), which would then improve their sales. From the profits garnered, they would then be able to offer their children with quality education, equip their schools with enough teaching and learning material and enhance the infrastructure.
Enter the study kit, ‘Kio-kit.’ Kio-kit -a digital toolbox, makes it easy for those in the remote/marginalized areas to access quality education. It contains 40 tablets pre-installed with quality school curriculum (sourced from advanced institutions) and then taken to schools in underdeveloped areas so that students there can have similar curriculum experience with those in ‘developed’ schools. It is produced by BRCK, a Kenyan based technology company.
So why have it in our pop-up store?
One Kit goes for 5,000 USD. That is pretty expensive for people, especially for those in the remote areas. Putting it in the pop-up store meant we could share the idea with the Korean public and help raise funds that would support the production of these Kits. The goal is to donate the proceeds to the producing company, help cut on the production costs and therefore make the kits affordable. And scale up the production to boot and make it easy for many to access.
The funds generated at our pop-up stores were to be channelled to projects that sought to address quality education.
Anyway, to cut the long story short we won. We were among the best two groups.
For more, move over here https://unosd.un.org/events/2019-3rd-sustainable-development-goals-youth-summer-camp .
Video Credits: IGEE Institute for Global Engagement & Empowerment
From 14th of February to 15th, Yonsei university hosted a forum on sustainable development dubbed ‘global engagement & empowerment forum.’ The forum convened global leaders from the private and public sectors; experts, policymakers, members of academia, ( just to name but a few) to shape and advance discussions on key development issues. It served as a platform for all stakeholders to collaborate towards accomplishing the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
The opening ceremony was presided by Kim Yong-Hak, President of Yonsei University; Heinz Fischer,11th President of Austria & Lee Mi-Kyung, President of KOICA- who gave opening remarks. The Keynote speeches were then given by Hon. Sebastian KURZ Chancellor of Austria and Hon. Park Won-soon Mayor of Seoul.
14th February 2019; Hon. Ban Ki-Moon offering his remarks. Credits: IGEE
The forum was a mix of several plenary sessions that covered myriad topics ranging from health, women empowerment, Sustainability & future cities, inter-Korean Economic Cooperation, desertification, financing SDGs, technology for future cities, academia and partnerships for SDG implementation, among others.
Other key presenters and discussants were Hon. Ban Ki-Moon, 8th UN Secretary-General; Ms Natalia Kanem, Executive Director of UNFPA; Mahmoud Mohieldin, Senior Vice President of World Bank Group; Helen Clark- former Prime Minister of New Zealand; Irina Bokova 10th Director-General of UNESCO, and many other influential leaders.
The forum was successful in its mission of promoting the gathering of stakeholders and actors to meet together, collaborate, and further the progress of not only SDGs but also the progress of people-centred development, as part of the 2030 Agenda’s five key elements: planet, people, prosperity, peace, and partnership.
In addition to Yonsei University, the forum was co-hosted by the Institute for Global Engagement & Empowerment (IGEE), the Ban Ki-moon Centre for Global Citizens, KOICA, and the Seoul Institute.
Towards the start of Summer, I got accepted into UNOSD’s (United Nations Office For Sustainable Development) annual youth camp on SDGs. The camp is cohosted with the UNPOG (United Nations Project Office on Governance) and Korea Environment Corporation. The forum first took place in Seoul and then carried on in Incheon S. Korea for 4 days. A group of 47 enthusiastic youths (out of 300 or so applicants!), all interested in SDGs met to discuss and learn. The energy in the meet-up rooms was on a whole new level. The discussions were very engaging, going by the quality of participants; graduate students, experts and young leaders alike, at the guidance of UN experts. We looked at how we ought to maximize Frontier technologies (while addressing the dangers they pose) for public service delivery to realize the 2030 Agenda; how to tackle climate change; how to promote decent work and economic growth, and few more topics within the framework of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
I must say the cake’s icing was in the quality of personal interactions I had with fellow participants, particularly my group members. They were a smart, driven and open minded lot. Their stories and take on the myriad daily discussions shaved off my ignorance and added to my existing knowledge. Bottom-line, I learnt much more than I had anticipated, acquired new invaluable friends and made long lasting memories that I’ll one day look back to and murk, ‘I made the most out of my youth!’
PS: We had an inter-group project contest that tasked us to come up with creative ways to implement the SDGs. After toiling away for weeks we eventually won. And that was great.
Last Sunday I had an interesting chat with a friend who, a few weeks prior, had completed a Masters Degree in Medicine at a university in Seoul. The banter started with the commonplace complaints on weather, school(on my part) and then transitioned to her field of research and then cancer. Being an expert, she waxed lyrical about the emerging forms of cancer and how doctors have taken to research to combat its growth. However, it did not stop her from worrying about the possible causes. The increase in global warming (read depletion of the ozone layer) and the ‘chemical’ laced foods that keep filling up grocery stores by day have worried her sick. Her latter worry rung true when I bumped into this DW documentary, that questioned the hype we place on organically farmed foods. The recent cases of chemical abuse in the preservation and processing of foods in my country Kenya have made me sympathize with the hazardous trajectory we are now trudging on.
A couple of decades ago we ate healthy. A good number of humans ate foods straight from ‘healthy farms. The air, soils and water were less contaminated and so the food we grew sprouted ‘naturally with more nutrients to boot. Humanity relied less on ‘manufactured’ foods and since the demand and supply mechanisms did not work in their favor there was no room for (capitalist) opportunists to manipulate the production process for profiteering purposes. But fast forward to present day and things are different. With the increase in population, global warming and urbanization the market for ‘processed’ foods has widened. And because the demand has overpowered the other side of the see-saw, ‘opportunists’ are doing everything in their power to speed up supply to the detriment of people’s health. This sense of haste has taken over the farms and now conventional/inorganic farming has domineered over organic farming. When you walk into grocery stores or supermarkets to purchase ‘fresh’ food stuffs it is crystal clear that most are products of conventional means of farming.
To illustrate how ‘capitalism’ has influenced farming, let us look into this simple example. A farmer signs contracts with grocery stores, and because they are keen to mint much from the rising urban population they will demand that the produce is brought as soon. Left with no choice, the farmer yields into this pressure and turns to conventional/inorganic farming (which requires a high use of pesticides and chemicals) to speed up the production process. Turns out that the harvested fruits, vegetables and grains will carry traces of pesticide residues that will eventually enter our bodies. Because the cattle are fed on fodder/grass cultivated on pesticides, milk is not spared either. Do not get me started on broilers and pigs.
How about the little organic farming going on? Danger lurks too. It is noted that somewhere in Europe when conventional farmers spray their farms, pesticides get blown to ‘organic’ farms. Also, when it rains some chemicals spread out to other farms by help of running water. This means when organic farmers take to farming their crops are prone to contamination.
Well, I am not against the use of pesticides or chemicals in food processing but rather the abuse. Unless we bring in serious reform mechanisms, the rain will not stop beating us. And however serious my determined Doctor friend pours herself into cancer research, her efforts will prove insignificant when the causes get increasingly fueled.
Joe Studwell’s book,’ How Asia Works’ gives a concise analysis of how the Asian miracle came about. How Japan, S. Korea, Taiwan and China achieved rapid economic transformation. And goes a step further to explain why some of their South East neighbors were unable to do the same. These are Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand.
Studwell argues that three government interventions are critical to speed up economic development (based on the study of the mentioned N.East Asian countries). First is maximizing output from agriculture by restructuring agriculture to highly labor-intensive household farming. This makes use of all available labor in a poor economy and pushes up yields and output to the highest possible levels. The overall result is an initial productive surplus that primes demand for goods and services. Increase in agricultural output leads to increase in surplus. This implies more savings which are thereafter used to finance industrial investment.
The second intervention/ideally the second stage is to direct investment and entrepreneurs towards manufacturing. The governments promotes accelerated technological upgrading in manufacturing through subsidies conditioned on export performance. For the case of N. East Asia, local firms were cushioned and offered credit support to excel and become globally competitive. Those that did not perform were culled.
Third is to make crucial interventions in the financial sector, focusing capital on intensive, small-scale agriculture and manufacturing. The state’s role is to keep money targeted at a development strategy that produces the fastest possible technological learning and hence the promise of high future profits rather than on short term returns.
The emphasis that Studwell puts on land distribution is one developing countries cannot afford to eschew. Land is a valuable natural resource that if effectively put to use can lead to agricultural output of epic proportions . Successful countries, as Studwell observes empowers the citizens by giving them access to land. Coupled with massive subsidies, better technical infrastructure, a cushioned market and a window to export, performance shoots. Interestingly, collective household farming in an area leads to high aggregate agricultural produce vis-à-vis the large scale model. Most developing countries have failed to exercise this because of poor land reforms.
I get miffed when western powers reprimand developing countries for doing what they ‘themselves’ did in their earlier stages of development. The author bears out the irony at some point. He acknowledges that in the modern economic era where ideas of free markets have taken precedence, policies to protect local industry and create a forced march for exports may sound more like a list of crimes. That we are raised to believe that in rich countries all the wealth is the product of competition. The shocking reality is that every economically successful society has been guilty, in its formative stages, of protectionism. The aforementioned N. East Asian governments understood this well and continuously ignored the policy advice rendered by the US and the Bretton woods institutions. They never took interest in ideologies pioneered by Adam Smith and David Ricardo but took to heart Friedrich List’s ideology in favor of protectionism. According to List, free trade should be a country’s ultimate goal after manufacturing capacities have first been raised through protectionism. Accordingly, the countries enacted policies to protect themselves against the shocks and whiplash of global-capital flows and made sure their financial institutions served the country’s long-term development ends.
The author’s brilliant assessment got me to jot down a number of points. First, it appears that if a country wishes to industrialize it first needs to develop its agriculture. As agriculture grows and enough savings are made, it transitions to industrialization using the savings to fund this phase. Second is that these ‘important’ international institutions do not hold all the answers to development. At some point, a country needs to take their advice with a ‘pinch of salt’ or keep its economy on a short-leash. Third is that at its formative stages, a country needs an ‘iron-fist’ kind of leadership and that democracy, though good, can drag down the development process. Fourth, is that though the ascend to the top might have looked rosy going by these 4 countries’ romantic ‘rags to riches’ stories, it is far from the truth. It was no walk in the park. The countries were built on sweat, tears, humiliation and sacrifice. There were lots of tests, trials and multiple errors. And therefore developing countries ought to keep that in mind.
Joe Studwell did an outstanding job on this book. I highly recommend.
Dr. Lassina Zerbo, head of CTBTO speaking at the Forum. Photo: Courtesy of Dr. Lassina Zerbo (Twitter)
On the 31st of May 2019, I went to Yonsei University to attend a forum that sought to involve the youth in the Global Nuclear Dialogue. There were these global leaders who gave important speeches on the need to transform global crises into extraordinary creative opportunities for dialogue and engagement. They preached nuclear disarmament, warned about the dangers of nuclear weapons and encouraged countries to pursue other forms of energy other than nuclear. Of these were H.E Ban Ki-moon- former Secretary General of UN, Dr. Lassina Zerbo, Executive Secretary, Preparatory Commission for the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO) and Dr. Heinz Fischer, 11th President of Austria. The subsequent sessions weighed in on the role of Youth in denuclearization, gathering a group of young scholars who took it up with zeal and extensively discussed the subject.
The elephant in the room was N. Korea whose persistent nuclear tests have caused their neighbors sleepless nights, and other nations who have already built nuclear weapons. The goal now is to discourage these nations from toying with those weapons and preventing others who would think investing along those lines. It is noteworthy that the 2011 Fukushima power plant accident (Japan) send across a serious message. As a result countries like Germany have planned to shut down their nuclear power stations by 2022.
But then you ask, what has been done so far to address these concerns? Bring in CTBT. The Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) bans nuclear explosions by everyone, everywhere: on the Earth’s surface, in the atmosphere, underwater and underground. The treaty came into force in 1996 and its commission is headquartered in Vienna, Austria. 184 countries have signed the Treaty, of which 168 have ratified it, including 3 of the nuclear weapon states : France, Russian and UK. But some specific nuclear technology holder countries must sign and ratify before the CTBT can enter into force. Of these, 8 are still missing: China, Egypt, India, Iran, Israel, N. Korea, Pakistan and USA. India, N. Korea & Pakistan are yet to sign it. The most recent nuclear technology holder country to ratify the Treaty was Indonesia in 2012.
So folks, why am I confounding you with all these statistics? It is pretty simple. You could be coming from one of these ‘reluctant countries’ and in one way or the other, you could cause your government to join the bandwagon. A simple tweet, a facebook update, an academic forum, a newspaper article, one of these could spur the debate and make your government see the need to sign and ratify the treaty. And we will inch towards sustainable global peace.
Life & Work of His Excellency Ambassador Mohamed A. Gello, MBS, Head of Mission, Embassy of the Republic of Kenya in the Republic of Korea-
He is the current Ambassador of Kenya to S. Korea. We delve deep into his profile, from schooling straightdown to his career. Have a read.
Education
His Excellency Ambassador Mohamed A. Gello is a career diplomat and a holder of Bachelors of Science Degree from the University of Nairobi. He also holds two Masters of Arts Degrees in Public Administration from the Punjab University, Chandigarh, India and in International Studies from the University of London in the United Kingdom.
His career in the Public Service
Amb. Gello began his career in public service as a graduate teacher at the Wajir High School in 1986 before joining the Kenya High Commissioner in New Delhi, India as an Education Attaché in 1988-94. He also served as an Education Officer I in the Ministry of Education in 1994-95 before joining the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as the Head of Education and Training Division from 1995-2000 after which he served as Deputy Chief of Protocol up to the year 2002. He then joined the Embassy of Kenya in Washington DC in the United States as Foreign Service officer I up to the year 2006. He headed the China Desk from 2006-09 before his appointment as the Ambassador of the Republic of Kenya in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) where he served from 2009-2015 before his next assignment as the representative of the Head of State in the Republic of Korea from February 2015 to date.
During his 33 years in public service, H.E. Gello has distinguished himself for his exceptional dedication to work and results oriented approach in the dispensation of duty. For this reason, the Ambassador has worked on specialized assignments to steer key committees on strategic themes of national and global interests including as: member of the Ministerial Executive Committee on the organization of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCC) and the 12th Conference of Parties; member of the Ministerial executive Committee on the organization of the 8th Basel Conference; and member of the Task Force on the Rationalization, Restructuring and the Strengthening of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. For his dedication to service, Ambassador Gello received the Head of State Commendation, Member of the Burning Spear (MBS) on 12th December, 2012.
So what are some of his achievements as Kenya’s Envoy in the Republic of Korea?
During his tenure, Amb. Gello has facilitated several high level exchanges between Kenya and Korea. The former President of Korea Ms. Park Guen Hye visited Kenya in May, 2016. The Prime Minister H.E. Lee Nak-yeon was in Nairobi in June, 2018 where he held consultations on mutual cooperation with H.E. President Uhuru Kenyatta and the Deputy President H.E. William Ruto, while the Kenyan Cabinet Secretary for Foreign Affairs Amb. Monica Juma was in Seoul in October, 2018 in the first ever visit by a Kenya Minister for Foreign Affairs to Korea. These high level exchanges denote the levels of commitment invested by both parties in deepening the existing lines of collaboration.
Since 2015, an unprecedented number of Agreements and Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) have been signed between Kenya and Korea in fields of mutual interest such as health, education, agriculture, cultural promotion, ICTs, energy, infrastructure, fisheries, water and sanitation as well as trade and investment. It is worth noting that the Agreement to establish the Kenya Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) was signed in May 2016 in anticipation of Kenya’s need for highly skilled personnel to drive the Big Four Agenda entailing universal health care provision, food security, affordable housing and industrialization in the backdrop of the 4th industrial revolution.
In the endeavor to increase the value and volume of the export of Kenyan products to Korea, Amb. Gello has spearheaded sustained engagement with the authorities of the Government of the Republic of Kenya to address the non-tariff barriers impeding bilateral trade. This culminated in the securing of clearance for the entry of Kenyan bananas and broccoli into the Korean market with negotiation for the access of avocados still in the pipeline.
The Mission, under Amb. Gello’s stewardship has established cordial relations with the Kenyans living in Korea through close collaboration with the officials of the Association of Kenyans in Korea (KCK) evident in the various joint activities co-sponsored by the Embassy. The Mission has for the first time employed two Kenyans on a full time basis to the post of Administrative Assistant and Accounts Assistant. The Mission also established an internship programme that has benefited a number of Kenyans in Korea and furnished them with the requisite skill and exposure to navigate the highly competitive job market. All these initiatives have served to greatly enhance the Mission’s Diaspora outreach programme.
Kenya’s presence and prestige continues to grow in Korea due to the synergy generated by the close engagement with the Host Government as well as the Kenyan Community. This was evident in the support and participation of the Government of the Republic of Korea at the highly successful first ever global Sustainable Blue Economy Conference (SBEC) held in Nairobi on 26th-28th November, 2018 in Nairobi through the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries. The Mission’s success in maintaining a high profile in Korea can also be attributed to the support of associate agencies notably the: International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), Korea-Africa Foundation, Korea Trade and Investment Authority (KOTRA), Importers Association (KOIMA), Chamber of Commerce (KCCI), Korea Trade Association (KITA) and Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency (APQA) whose continued cooperation remains invaluable.
Amb. Gello launching the Korea corner at Bomun Library, Daegu- S.Korea
So what does he have to say about his experience as the Kenya’s envoy?
“Serving in the Republic of Korea has been an eye opening experience given the unique history and unique diplomatic situation presented by the geo-politics particularly in the Korean Peninsula. The tour of duty in the Republic of Korea accorded the pleasure of imbibing the rich Korean culture as well as the multiplicity of its culinary delicacies.
The most important responsibility remains steering the Mission to improve the balance of trade which to date remains in favour of Korea. Our exports are primarily agricultural and horticultural produce. Consultations are ongoing to procure Korea’s support in strengthening Kenya’s industrial capacity particularly in the field of manufacturing and value addition.
The biggest inspiration is the solemn call of duty to serve our beloved country and raise her profile in the Republic of Korea. The welfare of Kenyans living in Korea remains at the heart of the Mission’s service delivery agenda. The desire to optimize the resources to deliver fully on the mandate of the Kenyan Mission in Korea is a major motivating factor as well as steering the team at the Kenyan Embassy to invest their best effort in ensuring our flag continues to fly high in the Republic of Korea.”
In the effort to elevate the level of engagement with partners, Kenya has prioritized economic and commercial diplomacy as a key pillar of its outreach to regional and international players. The mainstay of this effort has been to showcase Kenya’s comparative advantages particularly in the agricultural and tourism sectors.
The Embassy of the Republic of Kenya in Seoul has taken up this clarion call and invested effort in advocating for a robust engagement with the Government of the Republic of Korea. The emphasis has been on information dissemination to create awareness on Kenyan products with the ultimate aim of increasing market share for Kenyan flagship products namely coffee, tea, flowers and premium tourism destinations.
In this regard the Mission, under the guidance of H.E. Ambassador Mohamed Gello and Ambassador Gathoga W. Chege who is in charge of the Economic Affairs docket, has participated in various shows and exhibitions in the spirit of amplifying Kenya’s presence in Korea and broadening the variety of products available to the Korean consumer. In the last quarter of 2018, the Mission was represented at the following key events:
1) Gangneung Coffee Festival
The Coffee Festival was held on 5th – 9th October, 2018 at the Green City Experience Center in Ezen, Gangneung. It is worth noting that the Kenya Embassy was the first foreign Mission to participate in this land mark event thus paving way for increased participation from other foreign Missions in Korea since 2015.
Through surveys conducted at the Gangneung festival, it is evident that Kenyan coffee is steadily gaining popularity among consumers in Korea owing to its distinct aroma and rich flavour. The Festival has been particularly instrumental in the promotion of Kenya’s coffee as well as Kenyan culture.
2) Itaewon Global Festival
The Festival was held on 13th -14th October, 2018 in the Itaewon Special Tourist Zone in Seoul. It is the biggest international festival in Korea and consists of over 200 booths with displays from different countries. The Festival attracts the participation of more than 1,400,000 international visitors who come to sample the diverse aspects of global culture and the array of food on display.
The Embassy of Kenya jointly participated in the festival with Kenyan handicraft dealers as a means of promoting Kenyan heritage and disseminating information on the various tourism destinations in Kenya. To date the Kenyan booth has attracted a lot of interest and recorded a large number of visitors drawn to the colourful cultural displays, the possibility of sampling a cup of delicious Kenyan coffee, the potential of a tantalizing visit to the land of the original safari as well as the warm welcome by Embassy staff who readily respond to visitor inquiries.
3) Cafe Show Seoul
The Café Show Seoul, the biggest annual coffee exhibition in Korea, was held on 8th -11th November, 2018 in COEX, Seoul. The Embassy jointly participated at the event with representatives from the Kenya Cooperative Coffee Exporters (KCCE). KCCE has consistently sent representation with merchandise for display during this important promotional event since 2012. As a result of this dedicated participation, KCCE started to export Kenyan coffee directly to major Korean wholesalers including E-mart and Lotte.
This exhibition has been fundamental in increasing the market share for Kenyan coffee in Korea and enhancing consumer awareness of premium Kenyan coffee products. It has further provided a great opportunity to develop networks with potential Korean buyers while maintaining good relations with existing contacts.
I am crazy about Korean food and when that crave came knocking, Sushi Soo Japanese Restaurant in Kileleshwa, along Oloitoktok Road became my pick for lunch on a Saturday afternoon. I have to say it was a pleasant experience. From the CBD it took about twenty minutes to get there. The restaurant is located in a serene environment, perfect for one to relax and take a breather. On arrival we were greeted by a kind waiter who then directed us to our table. It was around 1:00pm and most tables were fairly empty. Nonetheless the setup and décor, from the lamp shades to souvenirs lying on shelves, gave a welcoming Asian-feel. The soft music playing in the background allowed for light conversation as we went about our meal later.
The restaurant offers a wide variety of foods both Japanese and Korean, and at a fairly affordable price. The range starts from 700 Kenya shillings to around 6000 for family packages. We opted for the buffet since it offered a wide selection of Korean delicacies. One tray carried steamed rice with veggies accompanied by fried rice and eggs. Another held Kimbap (a rice roll with fried egg fillings, crab meat, radish, carrots and some greens, all wrapped in dried sea weed). This is a personal favorite given the many different textures offered in one bite, and its fluffy rice and crunchy vegetables. There was Tofu on a different tray, marinated in a sweet sauce, and then kimchi. Kimchi, a spicy pickled fermented cabbage is Korea’s national dish. Fun fact; a good number of Kenyans that dine at Sushi Soo tend to enjoy kimchi a lot, especially fried kimchi which is not that spicy. We tried out Bulgogi and it tested well. (Bulgogi is a dish of grilled and marinated thin beef slices) This one was made with vegetables and dipped in a sweet sauce; it might have been honey. We also tried some spicy potato pancakes and a variety of seafood. Japchae (Stir-fried noodles with vegetables) was on offer too.
Korean food is generally healthy by their way of incorporating vegetables into dishes. We dug into Korean styled chicken to boot, prepared in two forms: deep fried and battered, then in a sweet sticky sauce. It was so tender and juicy, but the sweet and sticky sauce was the winner. Generally, the meal was well put together but I would have appreciated if they had a wider selection of fruits. The dessert menu too was a bit slim; a slice of cake or some pastries would do well after such a great meal. One can also enjoy a gamut of fruit juices, smoothies, shakes, coffee drinks, teas and alcoholic beverages. Their lemonade is especially refreshing. It was a bit disappointing though that some of the waiters did not know much about the different foods on offer. This could be a bit discouraging for the new adventurous souls with the urge to find out more about the foods as opposed to just sitting pretty and minding their meals.
Having been in business for 7 years, the restaurant is gaining popularity among adventurous locals who are eager to try out different cuisines. As a result of this surge they have opened a new branch in Westlands. According to our waiter, Kenyan people lean towards Korean food because of its spicy nature. They especially relish the Korean barbeque and kimchi. Sushi Soo is a perfect fit for family get-togethers or group dinners owing to its wide space. With the mini playground in the yard, the kids will definitely have a great time. For reservations, one can call the hotline provided on their website. Smoking in the premises is prohibited and is punishable by a fine of fifty thousand Kenya shillings.
I was particularly impressed with their decision to have a mini store within the premises, stocked with Korean foods, snacks, beverages, cosmetics and souvenirs. At least in this way, diners can carry a little of their Korean experience home.
If you are looking for great Korean food in town, pass by Sushi Soo Japanese Restaurant any time between 11:30am and 10:00pm everyday.
Ever heard about the Hallyu wave? It literally translates to the ‘flow of Korea’; referring to the ever increasing global popularity of Korean culture. The wave encompasses everything from food, dressing, Korean drama and music. It has found its way in Kenya. Kenyans are listening to K-pop. Some are part of the fandoms of EXO, BTS, NCT, Twice, Red Velvet, just to mention but a few.
In June 2018, a K-drama and K-pop fan base meet up happened at ‘Food train’ by Sushi Soo restaurant in Nairobi, Kenya. It was the first of its kind. I attended and was blown away by the number of people that showed up. Soon after, a second meet-up was held in August. This took place because of one Ms. Siham Abdikadir, the founder of ‘koreanenthusiast.com,’ a blog that celebrates and promotes Korean culture in Kenya. We met and sat down for a chat.
Ms. Siham Abdikadir
Please introduce yourself
My name is Siham Abdikadir . I am the founder of the Korea Enthusiast blog. I am a Software Developer by Profession and blog about Korean Culture in Kenya on the side.
You started your blog on Korean culture and went ahead to start meet-ups for Korean enthusiasts in Kenya? Tell us about that.
First of all, creating a website for that blog was a big achievement. It took me 6 to 7 months of coding and creating it into what it is today. It is a platform that has allowed me to share my passion and interest in Korean Culture. Another one was creating and organizing the Korean enthusiasts’ meet-ups. My goal was to bring together all Korean enthusiasts in Kenya and offer a space to share and learn more about Korea. They had a ‘KCON feeling’ and we got to sell a lot of K-pop merchandise and played lots of games. We also had K-pop dance sessions. The events were successful and it made me realize there are actually many Kenyan people interested in Korean culture.
What has inspired you to continue with what you are doing?
Well… my motivation comes from people. You can learn something from anyone around you. Look, if Sam Okyere can be the youth cultural diplomat for Ghana in Korea, why can’t I represent Korea in Kenya?
Having founded your blog and organized these Korean cultural events, what are your goals and objectives going forward?
I would like to build on both my technology and my Korean culture blogging skills over the next several years. Focusing on materials that will benefit both Kenya and Korea like apps and books, to help those intending to venture into Korean culture research. I want to immerse myself in understanding Korean culture and help keep Korea and Kenya’s culture as close as possible.
Have you encountered any challenges?
Yes, I have.
First, convincing my parents (devout Muslims) on what I am doing and bringing my passion of two contrasting cultures together – my ethnic Somali and Korean.
Explaining to Kenyans about Korean culture, language, food and tradition. I received a cold reception at first.
Discouragements from friends and colleagues because they felt I am not benefiting from this. And teaching a foreign culture yet I am Somali.
It is very difficult to practice Korean language outside Korea. I did some self-studies to improve my proficiency and practiced a little at Mahanaim College Nairobi but still I cannot speak well.
What are your thoughts about the K-pop reception in Kenya and what it means for the Cultural Exchange between Korea and Kenya?
Kenyans interested in K-pop are on the rise. Some are even participating in activities that other International fans are in, such as holding birthday projects for their favorite k-pop band members and visiting children homes to help out with money collected from fan bases. We look forward to having our K-CON East Africa. With such events, there will be more cultural exchange between Korea and Kenya.
What is the future for the Korea Enthusiast?
Through continued blogging on Korean culture and holding cultural forums, I hope to contribute to the growth of Korea-Kenya cultural relations. This will help to promote Korean culture in Kenya and help Kenyans to efficiently cooperate with Koreans on different sectors.
