Page 74 - Msingi Afrika Magazine Issue 1

Mount Ololokwe, Samburu.
ISSUE ONE | JULY/AUG

ROAD TRIP

THE DRIVE FROM NAIROBI TO MARSABIT

Driving about 530 kms or eight hours from Nairobi to Marsabit was nothing short of fun, even
though hectic. It’s such a beauty to behold the African landscape as you make your way through
the miles, on a mission to bring to fulfilment the mind of God.
By: Chioma Phillips

FROM THE START just to write a message from carefully through the dark winding
Road trips are exciting! You toss God on the dusty desert ground. roads of Makuyu, Karatina - as
your things in the car and head Quite unusual! This bore witness all the regular road users were
off for hundreds of kilometers in with me though, so we were on! I busy flying past us of course,
one direction or the other seeking was born in Kenya, he wasn’t, but unhampered by my inexperience,
adventure and the thrill of new this was a virgin mission for both nerves and discomfort. Anyway,
experiences and acquaintances. of us and I was to drive! Long by sun up we were whispering our
Excited and curious about what distance was never my thing but way past Nyeri and heading up
you will find around the next God was determined to shatter towards Lisoi and Laikipia.
corner... mountains and valleys those limitations for me using my

and beaches, spectacular views longest drive yet, a 1060km round HERE COMES THE SUN
and interesting people with stories trip filled with many unknowns. So The sunrise was breathtaking. It
that thrill. we did our research. Which fuel was as if a glass cloche was being
The thrill is even greater when God stations to use and which ones gently lifted up off the earth all
is in the story and when HE has to avoid. God sent us a mechanic around us and light, once again,
commanded the journey. who lent us a 20lt jerry can to fill embraced our weary souls. Off we
Now you’re not just travelling to in Nairobi, just in case we ran out sped as police checkpoints began
get to the end of the rainbow, no! of ‘good’ fuel along the way. We to be set up at various points,
Now you’re a secret agent on a learnt that the road had recently like luminous yellow punctuation
mission to save the world! been transformed from being a marks along a very long winding
Some moons ago, when my 122km car killer where drivers tale written in black tar.
husband Samuel and I just got would spend hours travelling, in We used the Timau route, which
married, the Lord impressed fear of bandits, to a highway of was a surprise for both of us, not
it upon my husband’s heart to pure driving heaven. (Just keep an just because of the evil and wicked
travel to Marsabit, which is in eye out for the wildlife... and the mountainous speed bumps that
the north of Kenya, to carry out cattle). someone who appeared (to my
a rather unusual assignment. It We found a hotel online and made eyes at the time) to want to do to
was unusual in the sense that, he our bookings. Packed our bags, me harm had erected. They were
had shared with me several of his fueled the Chariot of God and made mostly of large jagged rock
God-given assignments and none set off one morning at four am and glued together with soil with
was as weird as this. Imagine towards Marsabit. the sharp edges of the granite rock
travelling for more than 8 hours pointing upwards at the bottom of
per leg (to Marsabit and back) RIDE BEFORE DAWN the car like giant sharks’ teeth. I
We navigated our way very nearly wept as we crossed the six
74 HEALING - RESTORING - REBIRTHING - AFRICA