Kenya and UK Scouts strengthen Scouting ties

Kenya and UK Scouts strengthen Scouting ties

KENYA – Kenya Scouts Association hosted a contingent of 74 Explorer Scouts from Essex and Hampshire in the UK for a two-week long camp dubbed, ‘UKenya Camp 2013’. The Camp also incorporated Kenyan Rover Scouts who were mainly offering essential services in the camp and sharing experiences with the visiting Scouts. The camp was held at Rowallan Camp, the headquarters of Kenya Scouts Association, from 27th July to 9th August. With the theme, ‘Making a difference, Kenya 2013’, the camp provided an ideal opportunity for the Kenyan and UK Scouts to re-ignite their historic connections and renew the Scouting spirit.

Together with the Kenyan Scouts, the UK explorer Scouts engaged in an array of activities that included community outreach activities in Kibera Slums which happens to be the largest urban slum in Africa, tree planting in Ngong hills and adventure hikes in different places in the country. They paid a courtesy call to the World Scout Bureau, Africa Regional Office where they got introduced to the staff and their diverse portfolios as well as getting to know how they are improving Scouting in the region. They also visited the grave of the Founder of the Movement in Nyeri and laid a wreath while also touring the Paxtu museum, which is close by.

“The visit has helped us form a new partnership with Kenya and renew the promise of Scouts. There is every need for us to be together enhancing the ties between the two countries. The partnership will help us promote international peace and cooperation in our endeavor to create a better world”, Dr. Steve Foster, who’s the Kenya Scouts Association National Treasurer and a UK National said.

 

 

The Scouting relations between Kenya and Britain date back to early 1900’s when the founder of the movement, Lord Baden Powell, first visited Kenya in 1906. In 1935 he came for the second time on Safari and in 1938 he made up his mind to live in Nyeri, Kenya until his death on January 8, 1941. He was buried in Nyeri, in the compound of St. Peter’s church.

 

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