Njonjo’s daughter ‘ducks’ law for sharks

By Philip MwakioShe honed her professional skills as a criminal lawyer, representing some of Britain’s hardcore lawbreakers. But she has since shed the barrister’s gown and now dons the bodysuit of a sea diver as she represents the survival rights of one of the most endangered fish species.It might have seemed natural for Nimu Njonjo, first-born child of former Attorney General Charles Njonjo, to take up a law career like her father. But, as it turned out just five years after graduating with a Masters in Law, she was not a chip off the old block.Hands that flipped law journals now hold the controls of speed boats off the shores of Diani, south coast, where she pursues the passion of her life.And the entry into the wide open seas and giant waves where she works was in dramatic impact as can never be found in the suave corridors of a law firm.Nimu returned to Kenya from UK in 2004 after practicing for five years and then, through a near-fatal boat accident in July of the same year, met the man who would introduce her to the activities of the deep blue sea and become her husband.Volker Bassen and his wife Nimu at Diani beach . [PHOTO: OMONDI ONYANGO/STANDARD]She met and fell in love with German marine conservationist, Volker Bassen, who saved her life when she got involved in the boat accident while on a diving expedition. "A freak wave hit our boat hard, overturning it during a diving excursion in the south coast. I lay trapped under the boat with a fractured eye socket after a metal frame hit my sun glasses," Nimu says.She says had it not been for Bassen, the story might have been different."I was in a lot of pain, a big piece of glass stuck out of my eye. Volker managed to retrieve me from under the boat and swam with me to the shore," she says.Bassen assisted Nimu to safety after taking her out of water and managed to get her to the Diani Beach hospital where she got medical attention.She says Bassen saved her life and she has not left his side since. The couple wed last year in a colourful private ceremony in Nairobi where Prime Minister Raila Odinga was one of few invited guests.Back to south coast, they had founded the East African Whale Shark Trust (EAWST) to help conserve the endangered whale shark, known in Kiswahili as papa shilingi due shilling-sized patterns that cover its body.The couple’s daily lives revolve between the air, water and dry land as they engage in the adventurous conservation work.Frequent flightsOn frequent excursions, they take off from Ukunda airstrip in a micro-light aircraft, Bassen on the controls, that flies just above the water and spend several hours scouring the sea surface along the south and north coasts for whale sharks.The couple look like they are riding a flying motorbike as they soar on the small drone with a high pitched sound and wings spreading out like a parachute.Their work involves tagging the large, spotted fish with satellite tags for future monitoring of their movement and safety.When they spot any whale shark, they use satellite monitoring to verify if it is tagged. If it is not, the co-pilot, Nimu, communicates with the skipper of a back-up boat transports divers and videographers to the fish’s location. "The divers plunge into the water when they spot the fish, a docile species despite its size, and using a sling-type spear gun, attach the satellite tags onto the shark’s skin.The tags come with chips that are programmed to transmit data via satellite and in future the location of the fish can be located.The couple have helped tag almost 40 of the rare species. They have helped raise local people’s awareness on the need to papa shilingi, hunted for its meat and treasured fins that are sold as decorations.Nimu attended the prestigious Bristol University in UK then the Kings College for her masters."I was a crime lawyer, most of my clients were hardcore criminals but after a five year stint I wanted to come home," she said.For Bassen, a former commercial fisherman, the sea has always been his field."The sea is my passion . It has always provided for me all the delights and satisfaction that I want in life, right now I am putting everything into marine life conservation," Bassen, 41, told The Standard.Bassen who was Born in Germany grew up in Sweden and came to Kenya about 20 years ago and decided to settle. "Our aim in starting this work was to pressurise the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) which has jurisdiction over marine creatures to ban hunting of whale sharks along the Kenyan coastline," he says.Nimu says from their Diani beach home, "I am always busy although I operate from home most of the time. I answer emails and take bookings for all those keen on whale shark expeditions as well as carry out administrative work for EAWST." Professional diverBassen, a professional diver, has lived up to his calling, and is recognised nationally for his ability. He was called up in 2008 to assist in a salvage and rescue operation during a helicopter accident atop Mt Kenya.The chopper had crashed into a lake on top of the mountain and in freezing temperatures of minus 4 degrees, Bassen was among the team that managed to locate the body and bring it down," he says.He says while there has been concerted efforts to conserve wildlife on dryland, very little seems to be done on water.During the couple’s honeymoon, they celebrated their achievements by flying out to Malaysia and Thailand where they made 36 dives in 10 days.

Njonjo’s daughter ‘ducks’ law for sharks

Get Full Access for Ksh299/Week.

Stand With Bold Journalism.
Stand With The Standard.

Related Topics

Popular this week

Latest Stories

The Standard Insider

Digger Classified

GET OUR NEWSLETTER

CONNECT WITH US

FOR THE LATEST JOB ADVERTS

DIGGER JOBS

Digger Motors

Digger Real Estate

Njonjo’s daughter ‘ducks’ law for sharks

Get Full Access for Ksh299/Week.

Stand With Bold Journalism. Stand With The Standard.

Related Topics

Trending Now

Popular this week

Latest Stories

The Standard Insider

Digger Classified

GET OUR NEWSLETTER

CONNECT WITH US

FOR THE LATEST JOB ADVERTS

Stand With Bold Journalism.
Stand With The Standard.