Did you know?
Your very own District 6250 is known for having the most robust Rotary Friendship Exchange programs in North America? Take advantage of these once -in-a-lifetime opportunities!
Please read fully and contact Edwin Bos edwin@bosdesignbuilders.com if interested in a Kenya Friendship Exchange. If you don’t receive a confirmation, please resend.
Background: In January of 2025 District Governor Mike Kloss was standing in a banquet line at International Assembly in Orlando; the annual gathering of Rotary District Governors from the entire world. While waiting, he and District Governor Wairimu Njage struck up a conversation. After an exchange of business cards and a large-scale Zoom call; this Friendship Exchange was born.
What: Rotary Friendship Exchange with Rotary Clubs and Rotarians in Kenya.
When: District 6250 travel to District 9212 in East Africa will be from May 15 to May 25, 2026. District 9212 Rotarians will travel to our District in the fall of 2026 with exact dates TBD.
Where: Kenya. Fly into Nairobi. Transport between cities by car, mini-bus, bus or train.
How: RFE (10 days or so), must be willing to let others organize your life and to go with the flow during the RFE.
Why: This is the best way to experience international friendships and experience, firsthand, the power of Rotary.
What: Rotary Friendship Exchange with Rotary Clubs and Rotarians in Kenya. Stay with local Rotarians, city and business tours, Maasai Wildlife Parks, local food and drink, Rotary meetings and plenty of time for fellowship and discussion. Prepare to be surprised by the activities and tours organized for you. This RFE will include District 9212’s final District Conference before it splits into two districts. Meet and party with over 1,000 local Rotarians! District Conference 9212 YouTube Video Link (the Last Dance)
Return leg will bring Rotarians from Kenya to Wisconsin in the fall of 2026. See also: Rotary International Website RFE Information and District 6250 Friendship Exchange Page
When: District 6250 travel to District 9212 in East Africa will be from May 15 to May 25, 2026. District 9212 Rotarians will travel to our District in the fall of 2026 with exact dates TBD. Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) can be applied for on-line and is required to travel to Kenya. Immunizations check with CDC here but don’t be overwhelmed: https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/traveler/none/kenya
05/14/26 Fly out of Chicago. Chicago -???- Nairobi, Kenya.
05/15-18/26 Nairobi and its environs
05/19-20/26 Masai Mara National Reserve
05/21-24/26 District 9212 Conference in Naivasha.
05/25/26 Depart Nairobi and arrive in Chicago or elsewhere.
Where: Kenya. Fly into Nairobi. Transport between cities by car, mini-bus, bus or train (TBD). See map below. Full itinerary has not be developed.
Who: Maximum of 8-10 interested Rotarians, spouses and/or family members. If oversubscribed / too much interest, we will use District 6250 RFE policy parameters to put the final group together. Note that the policy favors RFE novices, especially younger Rotarians. If you travel to Kenya you are expected to host and to enlist your club members to host when the Kenyan Rotarians visit Wisconsin … don’t let this scare you, you’ll get plenty of support and it will be a lot of fun!
How: RFE (10 days or so), must be willing to let others organize your life and to go with the flow during the RFE. Private travel within Africa or Europe both before and after the complete RFE are your choice. Final group will meet in Wisconsin at least once prior to the trip to work out details.
Costs: Round-trip cost to Nairobi is around $1,000 right now (may go up or down in the months ahead). There may be train and bus travel expenses. Typically, you are hosted by local Rotarians, and that is what is being planned in Kenya, however, every RFE is different, and we will need to be flexible. The Trip Leaders will be working out details during the remainder of 2025 and into 2026.
Pre-trip Timing: We hope to have the final RFE group identified by the end of January 2026. At that time we will ask for participant bios so that our Kenyan hosts can begin matching us with local host Rotarians and begin planning an itinerary. We will also ask for a $500 deposit (see the last paragraph below in red).
Trip Leader 6250: Edwin Bos, Fort Atkinson.
Trip Leader 9212: Margaret Munene, Nairobi.
To get a feel, you can review this 2022 Poland RFE Trip Report but remember that every RFE is Different!
Please let Edwin know if interested at the e-mail given above. Questions are welcome but please realize that itinerary details of the trip are being worked out. Firm interest appreciated given the trip is only 6 months away. At the end of February participants will be asked for a $500 deposit which will be fully refunded upon return. Sorry to have to do this but we need to be certain that we only have seriously interested people signed up and, to be fair to our hosts, we need to be certain that everyone participates in the full RFE.