Fences

When I first learned that there would be barbed wire fences and security guards in Kenya, I was a little nervous. Once I got here, I realized it is very normal and now it hardly phases me. Security is a big thing around here. I'm pretty sure the extra security measures are remnants of British Colonial Rule. Here's a link to a great article that gives a brief history on that. Basically, British Colonialists seized control of Kenya and ruled over Kenyans until 1963. During this time, they were oppressed by those in power and their crops were exploited to benefit the commonwealth. Many Kenyans were incarcerated and forced to perform hard labor in work camps because they were seen as threats to the British rulers. Once Kenyans were allowed to self-rule and all the mzungus left Kenya, folks became very protective of their property. As a result, everyone had their property fenced in and it remains the same to this day. Even if a person buys a plot of land to build on, the fence is built before the house begins to go up. Apparently these types of security measures were not around before British Colonial rule (not even around the chambas) and remain a way for Kenyans to protect what they rightfully own. These days, wealthier families pay a watchman (aka security guard) to man the gate and prevent intruders. Common families simply keep their fences locked at all times. Thieves are not so common anymore, but if you don't take security measures, your property is an automatic target. In addition to fences, everyone has multiple locks on their gates and on the doors to their home. At the manse, we have a watchman (who doesn't have keys to the house) every night and three locks you have to get through to be able to get into the house. So in case you were worried about my safety, there's no need to be. Fences come from many shapes and sizes as you will see below. They have varying levels of security. Some are sheet metal with a padlock. Others have barbed wire, electric wire, key codes, and can be opened automatically. Fences and doors remain locked at all times and you frequently have to wait outside someone’s gate for several minutes before being let into their compound. As you can see, gates have become a decorative feature and they often match the exterior of the homes they protect. The first fence is the one one that protects the Manse (aka where I live) and the others are random fences from the neighborhood. Enjoy! ~ Nell in Nairobi