The Galston-Fenzi Nostalgia.

by Oscar Katusya (Kenya)

Making a local connection Kenya

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The first motorcar in Kenya arrived on a steamship to the owner, an Australian road Engineer George Wilson. A French 1903 De Dion-Bouton model is the best-selling motor car worldwide at the time and is the first car in the country. The first journey took place 23 years after the arrival of the first car a petrol vehicle completed the Nairobi to Mombasa journey. In pre-independence Kenya, a military stone is built by the administration as a reference point to other parts in Kenya. Today the stone monument with an orb on the top lies in the Nairobi Central Business district. The over millennia-old monument stands in the capital hiding in plain sight of the ever on the move residents, the monument is referred to as the Galton-Fenzi Memorial. The monument is the origin of East Africa’s road network the location is a focal point which all distances to and from Nairobi are measured. On the monument is the distances to Mombasa and Mombasa to Dares-Salaam, infrastructure has changed over the decades millions of dollars spent on infrastructure making travel faster and easier. Galton-Fenzi became the first Kenyan motorist to drive the 500km from Nairobi to Mombasa in 1926. The car used for the maiden voyage is a Riley 12/50 a British car from the Riley Motor Car Co. Ltd. Today I set out to Mombasa on the same route used by Galton-Fenzi changes have taken place over the years. A standard-gauge railway line air and road travel are options to get to Mombasa. At an average speed of 70 miles per hour are 4 hours and 18 minutes. Air transport allowed international and low-cost carriers to rise. The route is tarmacked and thousands of motorists are on the road unlike the maiden voyage made by Galton-Fenzi. Towns and cities have risen along the route, the wildlife population is restricted to game reserves and national parks. The automobile industry is much advanced, big rigs, sedans, hatchbacks, SUV’s, trucks, luxury coaches, minivans and buses. All these designed for various road user needs. Driving 500kms by car gives freedom and flexibility to make stops and enjoy the breathtaking ridges and the numerous man and natural activities along the way. Stopovers offer breaks and a sample of diverse cuisines by communities living along the way or buy souvenirs such as beads and crafts. The maiden voyage offered a memorable experience with zero documented human contact and zero fueling stations along the way. To behold the big city, coastal food, tropical drinks and above all the beach. The smell of the Ocean alluring, ships sailing, a ferry full of people crossing the ocean. Structures unique to the City a port, boats and vast blue waters. From on top of the building under the moonlight, the Indian Ocean is a vast dark glistering carpet. Nightlife is relatively calm, at last, a taste of seafood and street food. Little is know what or how Galton-Fenzi would describe the experience, the journey or what food he ate during the stay. In this city, there is a lot to see, taste and experience. It is over since the first car arrived, and the first journey to Coast. Adventure, business are among the reasons for travel, millions of cars in the country with thousands of people travelling from Nairobi to Mombasa daily. The success of the first journey opened the way for travel between the two cities all caused by the determination of Galton-Fenzi and Captain Gethin. Legacy of the first journey exists preserved in a black and white photograph and the Automobile Association of Kenya. Digital cameras, memory cards, several modes of transport and towns characterize the journey to Mombasa signifying the changes in travel in Kenya and the World.