Tennis sensation Serena in Kenya
US Open champion Serena Williams (left), accompanied by her mum, Oracene Williams, after landing at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport on Thursday. Serena is in the country to open a secondary school named after her in Makueni on Friday. The tennis super star will also join tennis playing children at the Sadili Oval Club, Nairobi on Saturday for a coaching clinic. Photo/MOHAMMED AMIN
US tennis sensation Serena Williams is in town.
The US and Australian Open tennis champion landed at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport shortly after 4pm on Thursday for a three-day charity tour in Kenya.
East and Central Africa’s biggest airport was extremely busy as a battery of journalists jostled for space to catch a glimpse of the star.
Serena, who was accompanied by her mother, Oracene Williams, is expected to take an early flight today to Makueni, where she will open a secondary school named after her.
Expected at the function are the Minister for Education, Prof Sam Ongeri, Permanent Secretary Prof Karega Mutahi and area MP Peter Kiilu.
The school is sponsored by the Build Africa Schools foundation together with computer firm Hewlett Packard and the Serena Williams Foundation, which deals with education projects.
She will then return to the city, where she will pay a courtesy call on the Prime Minister Raila Odinga.
Serena, the younger of the two Williams sisters famous for their tennis prowess, is on an African tour as the global ambassador for technology firm Hewlett Packard HP, who have teamed up with Build African Schools Foundation to put up learning institutions and fully equip them with computer facilities.
Appreciate each day
For the better part of this week, Serena has been on a similar trip in Johannesburg, South Africa, working with the Starfishgreatheart Charity for orphans infected with HIV. HP donated funds to the children, who brought tears to Williams’ eyes.
“I hope to see these kids again, and I hope today that we affected their lives by bringing life into their eyes and into their souls,” Serena said in South Africa on Thursday.
“I’m going to be in Africa for a little over a week. On Thursday (yesterday), we are going to Kenya to do the same thing. Let us all appreciate each day we have, and love each day,” said Serena on her website.
Her foundation, which concentrates mainly on education projects for the poor, has set up another school in Senegal.
