Waiting

We are waiting, on what I’m not exactly sure. The Kenya Wildlife Service office is clean and sparsely decorated. There is a green door with a piece of computer paper taped to it inside the office. ‘THIS IS A CORRUPTION FREE ZONE’

The man’s name is Richard and he is the forest manager for Eburru. We need to pay him. Taylor and I are both unclear about why this isn’t happening. Richard makes a call and speaks Swahili into the smartphone for some time. After hanging up, he immediately begins asking us questions about our time in Kenya and offers no resolution or explanation about the phone call.

The conversation continues. Richard speaks fluently and makes direct eye contact.

Eburru Forest Reserve, Kenya - January 28, 2024