It typically takes me about two weeks to fully adapt to a new location.  I started out pretty strong but by the time we reach Nyahururu I am diagnosable: homesick.  When we arrive at the hotel, Gertzel, our sales team lead, warns me not to show or talk about any money.  Specifically to hide it all.  This really doesn’t help matters.  

At 6:00a.m. On Friday, get out of bed, exhausted after a sleepless night.  I pack up all my belongings and take them with me.  There’s no accountability in leaving them in the hotel room.  We pack up the van and drive to the fair.  We are instructed that we must park outside the gate, and that there will be security.  Chris and I lock our bags in the van and leave to set up.

After an excellent high energy day of sales, even winning an award for most popular innovation, we find that my bag has been stolen.  Laptop, receipts, $200 in cash, about one third of my clothes-mostly the warm stuff, shoes, medicines, and other personal items.  In total about $2,000 worth of stuff.  I am in shock, and initially brush it off, “it’s just stuff”.  This comes one week after having my wallet stolen.  Then it starts to hit me, and paired with my longing for something familiar, I break down.

In the meantime the Burn team is angry and aggressive.  They notify the fair security, and scold them for doing a poor job.  I immediately lock down the computer and try to track it.  We report the bag and items to the police with the computer’s serial number and then drive and walk around looking for  anyone with a bright green 40-liter pack.  Knowing their efforts are futile I still appreciate their persistence.  We return to the hotel empty handed and a bit disheartened.  

Saturday, we insist on parking right next to the tent.  Our assumption is the van was broken into.  The locks on the van are extremely easy to pick, and the crowds are large.  After a couple hours of activations, Chris returns to the van to stow some equipment.  He notices the sliding door is slightly ajar and the lock has been manipulated.  This confirms our suspicions.  We follow up with the police only to learn that they’ve done nothing.  We request a detailed abstract and bid Nyahururu farewell.  

It is very dangerous to be a thief in Kenya.  Most thieves who are caught (not by the police) are beaten to, or within an inch of, death- with no punishment to the attackers.  Those found by the police may be shot inmediatley, often over a phone or even as little as 200ksh.  Although I am pissed about my stolen goods, for his/her/their sake, I hope they never get caught. 

Africa has very little left to steal from me.  But one thing is for sure, it hasn’t stolen my sense of adventure, and definitely can’t take away the reason for which I came.  However, practically,  I am taking more precautions for the next time around.  The van now has tinted windows, new locks, and a very sensitive alarm system.  I’m down to a passport, phone, and one debit card.  If there’s a third time, expect to see a gofundme campaign 🙂