By John Stephen Katende

15^th Oct 2012:

BBC World News will, in the run-up to the Kenyan general elections in March 2013, turn the spotlight on the East African country to explore the surprising and yet the inspiring stories of what’s really happening for Kenya’s people, economy and culture.

For example, in a program that the BBC has called Kenya Direct, the BBC will meet Kenyans from all walks of life who are trying to overcome the challenges of life in a country troubled by recent violence and corruption scandals.

Kenya Direct broadcasts globally on the BBC’s 24 hours news channel BBC World News from October 12 – 14.  Special multimedia content will also be available on bbc.com/kenyadirect.  Full details of how, when and where the BBC will cover Kenya during this period are set out in the program list below:

One Square Mile: Mombasa

Saturday 13^th October: 12.30 GMT

Sunday 14^th October:  00.30; 07.30; 19.30 GMT

In One Square Mile, reporter Kevin Mwachiro, who spent his childhood years in the coastal city, returns to make a journey which delves into Mombasa’s soul.

He meets the Muslim leaders whose forefathers helped to give Mombasa its unique architecture, literature and art; he speaks to close relatives whose links with the church shine a spotlight on the legacy of the slave trade, and meets the sun-baked dhow craftsmen who are working to keep Mombasa’s maritime tradition alive.

“Mombasa is a place that’s hard to leave,” is the enduring theme of Kevin’s very personal journey, which looks at the efforts being made to make Mombasa a city which draws in a new generation of explorers.

Working Lives: Nairobi

Saturday 13^th October: 04.30; 17.30; 22.30 GMT

Sunday 14^th October: 10.30 GMT

In Working Lives presenter Karen Allen follows the Chief Executive of one of Kenya’s top investment companies who has made it his mission to revive the entire country’s decaying railways.

She spends time with a fashion designer cum rapper who dresses everyone from pop stars to politicians, seeking inspiration from Nairobi’s vibrant second hand clothing markets. We meet a lion needing a vasectomy and his vet, who started his career expecting to treat livestock on farms, but who now works with big cats from the bush.

Karen discovers the inspiring mum-turned-businesswoman who braves Nairobi’s traffic to make a vibrant new business out of the daily “school run” into a vibrant family business; the industrial chemist using high technology to turn dust into wealth amid a lunar landscape; and the mother in Nairobi’s slums who keeps her family fed by running three different businesses of her own.

Fast: Track

Saturday 13^th October: 03.30; 13.30; 18.30 GMT

Sunday 14^th October: 06.30 GMT

Kenya, a country blessed with breath-taking landscapes, unparalleled wildlife, and a stunning coastline, attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors annually.  But in recent years, election violence, kidnappings and terrorism have given the tourism industry a tough challenge.

Fiona Foster is in Lamu where the 2011 kidnappings took place, asking how the island is recovering and what Kenya can do  to encourage travellers back.

Fast: track will also be in Nairobi – once a stopover – now a destination in itself with its first Michelin starred restaurant, tented safari camp, boutique hotels, and now the Hay Festival. The team discover the joy of travel by Matatu – a mini bus service, said to be to Kenya what the subway is to New York.

They also travel to Laikipa to see the rare animals found only in this region, and meet the man who looks after Kenya’s last surviving chimpanzees. And as part of World Rhino Week, Fiona joins a special safari with locals who have never seen wildlife before.

Weekend World

Saturday 13^th October: 00.10; 07.10; 12.10 GMT

In this special edition of Weekend World, Fiona Foster presents a lively look at the weekend’s highlights on BBC World News, from the Kenyan Capital, Nairobi, and speaks to Kevin Mwachiro, Presenter of One Square Mile in Mobasa, and Wanjeri Gakuru, Associate editor of UP magazine.

Click

Saturday 13^th October:  06.30; 19.30 GMT

Sunday 14^th October: 03.30; 13.30 GMT

In Kenya the Click team discover how technology is revolutionising health care for all. Faster drug delivery and expert video diagnosis have made hi-tech virtual surgery essential for saving lives.

Click also discovers how Kenyans in rural areas protect themselves from the wildlife. Every year dozens of homes and communities are destroyed when elephants move from one place to another in search of food.

The team witnesses a new scheme for tracking and warning locals that the beasts are on their way, giving them the chance to move and take their belongings before the elephants move in!  END.  Login to www.ugandacorrespondent.com every Monday to read our top stories mid-week for our updates

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