Syracuse University Whitman School of Management Logo Syracuse University Whitman School of Management Logo
    • About
    • Apply Now
    • Awards and Rankings
    • Directions for Getting to Whitman
    • Events
    • Leadership
    • Life in Syracuse
    • Newsroom
    • Visiting Syracuse, NY
    • Whitman Publications
    • Undergraduate
    • Class Profile
    • Dual Programs
    • Goodman IMPRESS Program
    • Undergraduate Admissions
    • Undergraduate Advising Resources
    • Undergraduate Majors
    • Undergraduate Placement
    • Whitman Graduation
    • Whitman Student Clubs
    • Why Whitman
    • Graduate
    • Certificates for Graduate Study
    • Full-time Masters Program
    • Full-time MBA Program
    • Full-time M.S. Admissions
    • Grad Lead Form
    • Graduate Employment Outcomes
    • Graduate Program Advising
    • Master's Degree Financing Options
    • Master's Degree Partnerships
    • Online Masters Programs
    • Ph.D. Programs
    • Faculty and Research
    • Academic Areas
    • Centers and Institutes
    • Faculty & Staff Directory
    • Faculty Resources

Information for

  • Alumni Engagement and Advancement
  • Career Center
  • Current Student Resources
  • Defense Programs
  • Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility
  • Executive Education
  • Experiential Programs
  • Global Programs
  • Industry Partners
  • Programs for Veterans
  • Recruiting at Whitman
  • Student Technology Center
Syracuse University Whitman School of Management Logo
When autocomplete results are available use up and down arrows to review and enter to select.
Apply Visit Contact
  • Homepage
  • About
  • Whitman Publications
  • Whitman Across the Globe
  • Study Abroad Programs 
  • Kenya Immersion Blog
  • Experiencing Mai Mahiu and Naivasha

  • Whitman Immersion Programs
  • Whitman Across the Globe
  • Florence Blog
  • Madrid Blog
  • London Blog

Experiencing Mai Mahiu and Naivasha

 

By Isabelle Kelly, Stella Raichle and Soaryn Rutherford

 

The team left early this morning and headed northeast for Naivasha, a town roughly 40 miles outside Nairobi. On the road we were able to make a few stops along the way, which featured Kenya’s natural and architectural beauty. We began the day with the breathtaking views of the Great Rift Valley, which spans 4,000 miles. This geological phenomenon is a series of valleys that stretches all the way from Mozambique to Jordan. We were able to take in the early morning sunlight which reflected over the luscious trees.

 

The journey to Naivasha continued by paying a visit to the Mai Mahiu Church. This church was built by Italian prisoners of war who were captured by the British during World War II. While captured, the prisoners were tasked with building the Mai Mahiu Road, which is the highway connecting Mai Mahiu to Nairobi. Because they did not have any place to worship, the Italians would take shifts building the church. The inside of the building is only 15 feet by eight feet, making it the smallest church in Africa! Today, the church is preserved by the Kenyan government, because Christianity is the predominant religion, and the Italian Embassy of Kenya. The Mai Mahiu Church is just one example of many cultural convergences in Kenya and highlights the role of religion within a nation’s history.

 

Upon arriving in Mai Mahiu, we met Mary and Rocky, who are both employees at Ubuntu and walked with us through the town. Ubuntu was founded by Zane Wilemon and Jeremiah Kuria who forged a friendship in Kenya in 2000. Ubuntu Life is a retailer that sells sustainable, handmade products, with the goal of creating meaningful employment for the community and aiding children in Kenya with special needs. Portions of revenue at Ubuntu are invested into the organization’s therapy, medical and educational initiatives for these children. While walking, Mary pointed out the original Ubuntu location before the organization moved into a larger campus a few miles outside the central part of town, where we headed immediately after.

 

At the site, we received a tour from Charles, the director of production, and Mary who showed us the beautiful foundation that includes the factory where they produce their retail products, the hospital, and the school where the kids stay and receive help from an incredible staff of teachers. Ubuntu is an African philosophy that means "I am because we are." This phrase encapsulates our interconnectedness, representing how we all depend on each other in both big and small ways. This was apparent during our visit on site, enjoying time getting to know the staff and the kids receiving help.

 

Next, we visited Lake Naivasha where we got the exciting opportunity to take a boat safari on the lake, which contained many diverse species of animals in its ecosystem, such as birds and hippopotamuses! We ventured to Crescent Island, located in the middle of the lake and is home to a multitude of protected and conserved species. Animals were originally brought to this island to film the movie “Out of Africa” — the producers ended up leaving the animals there that now call it their home. As we explored the island on foot, we saw native Kenyan animals up close such as ostriches, zebras, antelopes, and giraffes. Today allowed us to delve deeper into the ways in which societal and environmental aspects affect business and we look forward to understanding how these factors will relate to our upcoming partner visits.

 

Syracuse University Whitman School of Management Logo
  • 721 University Avenue,
    Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY 13244
  • (315) 443-3751
  • Give Back to Whitman
  • Academic Areas
  • Newsroom
  • Directory
  • MyWhitman
  • facebook icon
  • twitter/X icon
  • instagram
  • linkedin logo
Syracuse University Block LogoSyracuse University Home
© 2025 Martin J. Whitman School of Management Privacy Policy Accessibility