Comments on: The great Nairobi guesthouse swimming pool dilemma – cast your vote now……

By: vanvip.net

vanvip.net — Mon, 20 May 2013 08:02:16 +0000

Open the pool

Because of they already have a pool while they did not try to open it.

By: Rommel

Rommel — Wed, 03 Apr 2013 11:11:00 +0000

If management is afraid of image nightmare – why rent the house (w/ swimming pool) in the first place?

By: Mbali

Mbali — Tue, 22 May 2012 19:09:08 +0000

Don’t remember there being that many swimming pools in Nairobi last time I was working there – apart from in the house belonging to local and expat elite. Certainly one of the biggest government boarding schools didn’t have access to one, let alone have one on their grounds. I’m sure the YMCA allows public access to their pool which, was perfectly clean last time I did a few lengths there. I sure tough development/aid workers could manage the journey there.

By: Hassan Noor

Hassan Noor — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 09:56:29 +0000

please- stop the media-mania mentality:

As a one of the past serious aid workers who also used to frequent in the Oxfam Guest house, It was nice to see the big guest house and always a delight to see the bluse water and yes the natural spring water that is in the house- yes, there is a natural spring water next to the pool.

I remember onething that often used to come to my mind but never had time to tell anybody, that was, find a way of using the facility better.

Yes, and please do not come with this excuse that you have to look poor to help the poor. I recall, the debate about the office building and the issue we had had with the former offcie tiolate- of which some never flashed properly. And, the next oppertunity came, I was the first to say, please find a suitable and desent office.

And, yes, if oxfam find an appropriate solution to use this facility, I will sponsor the 200 to the 300 dollars per month.

By: Ives

Ives — Tue, 06 Mar 2012 17:31:05 +0000

I agree Mimi. Use the swimming pool and enjoy it

By: Mimi

Mimi — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 09:25:05 +0000

And besides, if you don’t use the pool then it’s just going to be a breeding ground for mosquitoes, frogs and algae…..either way you will need someone to clean it from time to time….so why not have someone clean it as you also enjoy the benefits of having a swimming pool around??

By: Mimi

Mimi — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 09:22:58 +0000

By all means, please open the pool! It’s not like you are constructing a new pool from scratch…. I’m a Kenyan native, not Oxfam staff but really, I don’t think anyone would think of it as a luxury (at least in Kenya, maybe so in the UK). One of the best swimming pools in Nairobi (that is not in a hotel) and famous with the locals is the Methodist Guest house run by the Methodist church. I believe church and aid work somehow go hand in hand. YMCA also has a pool. Simply open it up and let locals use it at a small fee (cheaper than the big hotels) yet offering cleaner services than the Nyayo National Stadium pool. Nairobi has a shortage of swimming pools….I love swimming but lack options in terms of affordable pools. I bumped into this post looking for the new premises of Oxfam…they moved from Shelter Afrique…can someone update the website?

PS: Currently you accommodate your staff in big overpriced hotels, don’t these hotels have swimming pools?? If the issue is luxury then you probaby should be accommodating them in one star hotels with no swimming pools. You are just transferring the same ‘luxury’ from a costly hotel to a more affordable (and cost saving) option, being the guest house

By: Bangkok Guesthouse

Bangkok Guesthouse — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 14:32:22 +0000

You should open it up right now!

By: Concerned African...

Concerned African... — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 19:35:29 +0000

Open the pool if it pays for itself.

Then beat the tabloids to the story and announce it loud and clear.

As an African, a more important question is why are there so many aid workers?

By: Lucy

Lucy — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 11:46:38 +0000

Open the Pool. Create some local sustainable employment for a pool attendant. In the UK we all have access to swimming pools,albeit public ones, so this should not be seen as a luxury. If you are concerned about it being a private facility, let a local school or orfanage have access a couple of times a week. Make it a communal facility that helps the poor.

Not using an already existing facility is a waste and an organisation as large as Oxfam will always have its knockers but should be able to take this on the chin.