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Tuesday, 10 February 2026

Naomi Wambui Kamau – Administrative & Research Virtual Assistant

📍 Mombasa, Kenya | ✉️ omikamau@gmail.com | 📞 +254 721 258 664


About Me

I am a bilingual (Swahili-English) administrator with strong experience in research, scheduling, and supporting creative professionals remotely. Highly organized, detail-oriented, and proactive, I excel at managing multiple tasks, tracking opportunities, and keeping operations running smoothly. I am passionate about supporting creative businesses behind the scenes so they can focus on what they do best.

Key Skills

  • Online Research & Event Tracking
  • Scheduling & Calendar Management (Google Calendar, Calendly)
  • Data Organization & Spreadsheets (Google Sheets / Excel)
  • Invoicing & Basic Bookkeeping
  • Website Updates (Wix) & Content Coordination
  • Bilingual Communication (Swahili ↔ English)
  • Process Improvement & Multi-tasking

Professional Highlights

Administrator & Bookkeeper – Isapet Veterinary Clinic | 2014 – Present

  • Managed daily operations, scheduling, correspondence, and record-keeping.
  • Handled invoicing, payments, and financial tracking.
  • Organized workflows and ensured deadlines were met.

Founder & Principal – Kiswahili Learning Platforms | 2020 – Present

  • Managed online courses, lesson planning, and structured educational content.
  • Coordinated student schedules and assessments.
  • Check out my teaching video on Kiswahili School.
  • Visit my blog for lessons and cultural content: Swahili with Wambui.

Online Swahili Tutor & Curriculum Designer | 2017 – Present

  • Verbling Profile – 5-star ratings and testimonials from international students.
  • Delivered personalized lessons and maintained detailed student records.

Interpreter & Translator (English ↔ Swahili) – Freelance | 2014 – Present

  • Provided accurate oral and written translations with cultural sensitivity.

Sample Work & Tools

  • Event & Opportunity Trackers – spreadsheets with dates, submission deadlines, fees, and audience details. 
  • Scheduling – coordinated lessons and meetings using Google Calendar & Calendly.
  • Website & Content Updates – basic edits, blog uploads, and content organization on WordPress.
  • Research Reports – structured findings for creative events and opportunities.

Testimonials

"Naomi is highly organized, patient, and professional. Her lessons are always clear, and she keeps everything running smoothly behind the scenes." – Student, Verbling

"She has a real talent for managing schedules and content. I always know deadlines are met thanks to her attention to detail." – Client, Kiswahili School

Availability

  • Part-time or full-time remote support
  • Flexible hours aligned with US & European time zones

Portfolio Links

Tuesday, 27 January 2026

Travel Swahili: Must-Know Phrases for Beginners

 

Scenario & Situation Must-Use Words / Key Vocabulary Practice Questions / Tasks
✈️ AIRPORT (ARRIVAL / HELP DESK)
Just arrived in Tanzania and needs help
Words / Phrases: samahani, tafadhali, naomba, nisaidie / unaweza kunisaidia, iko wapi
Key Vocabulary: uwanja wa ndege, choo, mizigo, hoteli, teksi
• Ask where the toilet is
• Ask for help with luggage
• Ask where to get a taxi
• Ask how to find the hotel
🚖 TAXI / BODA / TRANSPORT
Needs to get to her hotel
Words / Phrases: samahani, naomba, tafadhali, unipeleke / nipeleke, hadi
Key Vocabulary: hoteli, bei, pesa, safari, karibu / sawa
• Ask the driver to take you to the hotel
• Ask how much the fare is
• Ask how long the trip will take
• Confirm if the price is OK
🏨 HOTEL CHECK-IN
Arrives at hotel reception
Words / Phrases: samahani, naomba, tafadhali, nina / sina, asante sana
Key Vocabulary: chumba, funguo, maji, choo, Wi-Fi
• Ask if a room is available
• Ask for the room key
• Ask if the room has water and a toilet
• Ask if there is Wi-Fi 
🍽️ RESTAURANT / FOOD
Ordering food politely
Words / Phrases: naomba, tafadhali, niletee, nina njaa, nina kiu
Key Vocabulary: chakula, maji, chai, ugali, wali, nyama
• Order a drink
• Order food
• Ask for a specific dish (e.g., ugali & sukuma wiki)
• Ask for the bill
🗺️ ASKING FOR DIRECTIONS
Lost and asks a stranger
Words / Phrases: samahani, tafadhali, unaweza, iko wapi, asante
Key Vocabulary: choo, hoteli, benki, duka, barabara
• Ask where the hotel is
• Ask where the bank is
• Ask where the toilet is
• Ask where a shop is
🛒 SHOP / MARKET
Buying something small
Words / Phrases: naomba, tafadhali, nipe, bei gani, asante
Key Vocabulary: maji, matunda, ndizi, pesa, chenji
• Ask for an item (e.g., ndizi)
• Ask the price
• Ask for water
• Ask for the change
⚠️ PROBLEM / CLARIFICATION
Didn’t understand / something goes wrong
Words / Phrases: samahani, sijaelewa, tafadhali rudia, polepole, nisaidie
Key Vocabulary: tena, kidogo, vizuri, sawa
• Ask someone to repeat
• Ask them to speak slowly
• Ask for help politely
• Indicate you don’t understand

Thursday, 15 January 2026

QUICK NOTES: “TO BE” (kuwa) and “TO HAVE” (kuwa na)


1. “TO BE” — kuwa

A. Present tense: NI (am / is / are)

In Kiswahili, ni is used to talk about:

  • who someone is
  • what something is
  • what something is like

Examples you may use while travelling:

  • Mimi ni mgeni.
    (I am a visitor.)
  • Mimi ni rafiki wa Asha.
    (I am Asha’s friend.)
  • Huyu ni rafiki yangu.
    (This is my friend.)
  • Huu ni mradi wa wanawake.
    (This is a women’s project.)
  • Chakula hiki ni kitamu.
    (This food is delicious.)
  • Wanawake ni wachapa kazi.
    (The women are hardworking.)

B. Past and Future (for understanding)

  • alikuwa = was
  • atakuwa = will be

Examples:

  • Mradi ulikuwa mzuri.
    (The project was good.)
  • Chakula kitakuwa tayari kesho.
    (The food will be ready tomorrow.)

C. Negative “to be” — SI

  • Mimi si mtalii.
    (I am not a tourist.)
  • Hii si hoteli.
    (This is not a hotel.)
  • Wao si wauzaji.
    (They are not sellers.)

2. “TO HAVE” — kuwa na

This verb is very useful for travel.

Structure:

Subject + na + thing

Examples you may use:

  • Nina pasipoti.
    (I have a passport.)
  • Nina rafiki Tanzania.
    (I have a friend in Tanzania.)
  • Tuna chakula.
    (We have food.)
  • Wanawake wana mradi.
    (The women have a project.)
  • Wanawake wana chakula endelevu.
    (The women have sustainable food.)

Negative:

  • Sina pesa nyingi.
    (I do not have much money.)
  • Hatuna muda.
    (We do not have time.)

3. COMMON PHRASES YOU CAN SAY

  • Mimi ni mgeni, lakini nina rafiki hapa.
    (I am a visitor, but I have a friend here.)
  • Tunatembelea mradi wa wanawake.
    (We are visiting a women’s project.)
  • Wanawake wana chakula cha watalii.
    (The women have food for tourists.)

4. PRACTICE EXERCISE

Use NI / SI / NINA / TUNA / WANA

  1. Mimi ___ mgeni.
  2. Mimi ___ rafiki Tanzania.
  3. Huu ___ mradi wa wanawake.
  4. Wanawake ___ chakula endelevu.
  5. Chakula hiki ___ kitamu.
  6. Mimi ___ mtalii.
  7. Sisi ___ chakula cha kuuza.
  8. Wao ___ pesa nyingi.

Make your own sentences

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