Some Interesting Facts/Insights About Kenya
-Became free from British rule in 1963
-Population: approx 30,000,000
-Kenya’s currency is the shilling. 1 US dollar is equal to about 70 shillings. About 60% of all Kenyans live on less than 2 dollars a day.
-The school system desperately needs to be fixed. Primary school is 1-8. Secondary school is what we call high school, and only a minute percentage of primary school graduates are admitted to secondary school. And for some odd reason, secondary school costs a fortune, so many kids who are admitted can’t even afford to go. Of the ones who don’t get the chance to go to secondary school, those who are lucky enough to find jobs will work. The others either hang out and do nothing, or turn to the streets.
-Healthcare is pretty much nonexistent
-Kenya has a Parliament and a President. The President can only give his cabinet positions to an MP (Member of Parliament). Also, Kenya’s MPs are the highest paid MP’s in the world. This fact is ridiculous because the Kenyan government is so corrupt that not only do that get paid well legally, they are also making tons of money with bribes.
-Right before the millennium, the International Monetary Fund stopped lending money to Kenya, partly because corruption had been so blatant that it was holding back the nation’s economy
-My boss explained to me that the corruption in Government has much to do people’s loyalty to their tribes. So instead of choosing someone qualified for a position, someone in power would rather just give that position to a friend from their native tribe or family member, with less qualification and (more often than not) intentions to help themselves and not the people of Kenya
-2007 is actually an election year. I was informed to stay away from anything that deals with politics. It is not uncommon for political rallies to end some kind of violence, and sometimes full fledged riots. Kenyans take politics very seriously. I assume this is because they want to believe that there is someone who can help stop the corruption and violence, and set up decent health care and education systems, therefore giving the citizens of Kenya the chance to live with dignity.
-Small towns like Malava are not immune to the AIDS epidemic, and because of the struggling economy and job market, prostitution is a problem no matter where you are in Kenya. The current life expectancy rate of a Kenyan citizen is only 47 years of age. In the 1990’s, the life expectancy rate was 57 years of age. This is drastic drop is directly related to AIDS .
I REPEAT: THE LIFE EXPECTANCY RATE FOR EACH CITIZEN HAS DROPPED 10 YEARS IN THE PAST DECADE BECAUSE OF THE AIDS EPIDEMIC.
3 comments:
Hey Ry,
Truly mind boggling! I can't begin to even imagine what it must be like. But you are certainly do an amazing job of describing what it's like. Keep the blog entries coming. I enjoy hearing what you are up to. Be safe! Love, Kath
Hey Ryan! This is Alison, your cousin. My mom (that'd be your Aunt Kathy) gave me your blog address. Your trip sounds amazing so far and the pictures are great. I'm in Ukraine working as a teacher trainer with the Peace Corps. I was also forced to create a blog in order to keep people aware of what I was doing, as my friends hate mass emails. Somehow, though, a blog is acceptable. Anyway, it's alisoninukraine.blogspot.org. Ukraine is not quite like Kenya, but it's been interesting. Good luck with everything!
yo keller,
It's Kev Lake. Seems like all the abuse you were getting on Christmas Eve for going to Kenya is paying off. Seems like an awesome time down over there. I've been loving the blog too. Keep up the info and take keep taking pictures I'm bored s hell up here in freezing cold State College and I need more stuff to keep me occupied. Alright well i'll talk to ya soon ry.
Lake
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