We left Kisumu, the port town on Lake Victoria at 11.00 am, en route to Nairobi, unaware of the resistances we were about to face. After driving for approximately eighty kilometres on the paved highway, we heard a loud bang. Both our front tyres had burst simultaneously. How could we proceed further? A group of people quickly gathered around our vehicle to assist us. Two members of our entourage were given a ride by a passer-by to the town of Kericho, which was the nearest place where the two damaged tyres could be repaired. The rest of us waited on the roadside, in the company of our new-found Kenyan friends.

Four hours later, our companions returned with the repaired tyres and we continued with our journey. Then, disaster struck again! Just as we were entering the Rift Valley, we heard another loud bang. One more tyre had burst. A few moments later, another group of people appeared to help. This time, as we tried to install the spare wheel, we discovered that we needed special bolts to secure the spare wheel – we were driving in a unique, specially equipped, Mercedes Benz executive van, of which there were only a handful in Kenya. We searched throughout the vehicle but could not find the required bolts. How could we proceed from here? We were stuck again. Just then, a man appeared from the crowd and told us that only a week ago, he had found a set of five bolts lying along the roadside, which he picked up thinking that, “someone was going to need them someday”. He ran to his hut and came back with the bolts – they fitted perfectly! What are the statistical odds of something like this happening in such a remote place, with such a rare type of vehicle? I instinctively knew that we were safe, guided and protected. Each obstacle drew with it special people, who appeared before us to clear our path. We were going to discover this blessed place, I was sure. As I watched the sun set, I thought to myself, “The forces of resistance have prevailed in delaying us today, but the next round will be ours to win”! We continued on to Nairobi for the night.

On June 25, 2005, we set out again from Nairobi towards the Rift Valley. As I watched the sun rise, I knew with certainty that this was going to be our day. Two hours later, as we approached Lake Elementaita in the Rift Valley, I looked to my right and in the distance I could see the natural pyramid, tucked away subtly between the mountains.