Poland in Kenya

On February 15, 2021 in Nairobi, Ambassador Jacek Bazański and his family met with three Polish cyclists, Ms. Bogusława Skupin, Mr. Zbigniew Ciszek and Mr. Andrzej Strządała, who launched a charity initiative entitled "Cycling for water." On February 15-18, 2021, they will traverse 250 km from Nairobi to Meru on their bicycles, raising funds for the construction of a water borehole at the Furaha Centre in Meru.

Thirty years ago, on 15 February 1991, the presidents of Poland and Czechoslovakia, and the prime minister of Hungary signed the Declaration on Cooperation between the Czech and Slovak Federal Republic, the Republic of Poland and the Republic of Hungary in Striving for European Integration in the castle of Visegrád, Hungary.

The "Water for Furaha" project was initiated by Mr. Zbigniew Ciszek from Pruszków, Poland. In October 2020 he decided to launch a fundraising campaign in order to collect money needed for expansion of the Furaha Centre for children with special needs in Meru County in Kenya. The official closure of the initiative will take place in mid-February 2021 in Kenya during a 250 km long bicycle ride from Nairobi to Meru.

On January 27, 2021, Ambassador Jacek Bazański, at the invitation of the Kenya Office of the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), visited Mukuru kwa Njenga - an informal settlement located on the outskirts of Nairobi, inhabited by a community of around 120 000 people. It is one of several such places in the capital of Kenya, whose inhabitants received food support financed by Polish Aid in 2020.

Faced with the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Redemptoris Missio Humanitarian Aid Foundation adapted and expanded the Holy Family Children Centre and the adjacent health centre in Kithatu, Meru County, Kenya. The aim of the project implemented there in 2020 was to help protect the facilities’ patients and staff from infection.

In 2020, under its Small Grants programme, the Embassy of the Republic of Poland in Nairobi supported an initiative entitled "Sports facility for Kakooge. Facilitating sports activities for children and youth in Kakooge ", under which we allocated EUR 30,000 to construct and equip a modern sports facility in Kakooge in Uganda, in cooperation with Franciscan Conventual Friars serving there since 2001.

In 2020, under its Small Grants programme, the Embassy of the Republic of Poland in Nairobi supported an initiative entitled "Renovation of the existing outpatient department in Mpunge Health Centre III – Koja", under which we allocated EUR 7,500 to renovate the outpatient clinic adjacent to the above mentioned health center. Koja is a place with strong historical ties with Poland. Years ago, it was home to Polish refugees – Siberians, who were very warmly welcomed by the local community. We will be celebrating the 80th anniversary of their arrival to Uganda in 2022.

In 2020, under its Small Grants programme, the Embassy of the Republic of Poland in Nairobi supported an initiative entitled "Renovation of the Wanda Błeńska Tuberculosis and Leprosy Training and Rehabilitation Center in St Francis Hospital in Buluba", under which we allocated EUR 15,000 for renovation of the training centre for Ugandan and African doctors specialized in leprosy. Dr. Wanda Bleńska, a Polish doctor, missionary and world-renowned specialist in the treatment of leprosy, lived and worked there from 1951 to 1994.

The Embassy of the Republic of Poland in Nairobi recently organized a Christmas and New Year's meeting with Kenyans, graduates of Polish universities. It was an opportunity to discuss the prospects of strengthening cooperation and to further involve this active group of graduates in the promotion of the Polish scholarship offer, Polish culture and history.