Spotlight On Daniel Kiarii (Uhuru)

Before Uhuru tells you more about himself and his story with us, we just wanted to add that he is an irreplaceable member of our family. Without him, 4 x 4 and Royal African Safaris would not be where they are today. As you will read, he started his career doing menial tasks and worked his way up to become the managing director and a shareholder of 4 x 4 (Peter Silvester’s local mobile operating company which was the founding unit of today’s Royal African Safaris). He is a natural leader and is a father figure to the whole 4×4 crew. He is always trying to help those around him. He has six children, three of whom he adopted, and he is one of our foundation’s most dedicated volunteers. You would be hard-pressed to find a more kind and generous man than Uhuru and it has been an honour to be on the same team as him for almost 35 years. 

How did you come to work for Royal African Safaris? 

At the end of 1986, I was working in a bar and connected with some guys – the “camping boys” who worked for 4 x 4 Safaris. One of them was a supervisor and he asked me if I would like a job, to which I replied, “YES, I want to do any job.  I can’t find any job except for bar jobs which are easy.” So that’s when I quit the bar and went to work for Royal African Safaris. Anecdotally, during the interview with Peter Silvester,  an elderly man called Johnny Bax, who worked with Peter at the time,  came and asked my name. When I said my name was Daniel Kiarii, he mentioned that there was another man called Daniel that worked on the crew.  To distinguish us, he asked for when I was born. I quoted my mother who had told me she was planning to attend Independence Day celebrations but could not because I was born at midnight. That was on 12^th December 1963, which was the day Kenya was granted independence. He called me Uhuru, which in Swahili means “independence/freedom” and the name stuck.

 Tell us about your role? 

I have had so many different roles over the years.  I started as a general duty guy: shower building, cutting grass, toilet digging, heating water, fetching firewood, fetching water. Then I started putting up tents and from there I became a tent steward.  Next I was a tent supervisor and at the same time manned the radio communication between camp and Nairobi.  I then became a resupply driver and for a while I was based out of the Nairobi office taking care of supplies, managing the workshop and rebuilding and maintaining the camp vehicles.  Finally, I went back to the field and started guiding and then I just fell into managing the camp, which included driving the camp trucks across country.  Two years ago, I became the managing director of 4 x 4 Safaris. I continue to manage the camp in the field and all the duties that entails.

Tell us a little bit about yourself? 

I think of myself as a simple man.  I like doing everything and live by the motto that it’s best to solve problems, not to fight them.

What is your favorite safari area and why? 

Samburu and the Mara.  I like the Samburu people and in the Mara there is a lot of wildlife.  I guess it would have to be the Mara though where I have spent the most time.

Do you have any memorable safari moments? 

I have so many memories of safaris it’s hard to choose. But one I remember in particular, an early memory when I was tasked to put up a sleeping tent.  I couldn’t figure out how to connect the poles  – there were so many small ones that I ended up using sticks. Then, it started raining hard after lunch.  I could not take my eyes off the tent, worrying that it would fall down on the guest taking a siesta – the first guest I had been asked to look after as my new role at that time as a tent steward!. Thankfully the tent did not collapse and that guest has been on safari more than 10 times since and has become a good friend.

What do you like the most about your job? 

I like being outside camping, enjoying the weather. I am social and love meeting new people.

What’s your favorite animal and why? 

Lion.  I like their attitude of “no rush, no worries.”

Do you have any hobbies outside of safari? 

I pretty much grew up on safari in a mobile camp so I didn’t really develop many hobbies outside of safari life. But I did learn to play the guitar after a guest, and now a friend showed me how and gave me his guitar which he had brought on safari. I still have it, and we have had many good nights around the campfire with it. It fits in nicely with a camp lifestyle.

What do you like the most about safari life? 

Meeting new people and going to different places.