Kenya

KENYA About the size of Texas Capital: Nairobi Crossed by the equator High inland plateau up to 10,000 feet Independence from Britain in 1963 Gold, Limestone, Timber, Coffee, Cotton…

Stereotype Images… Savanna lands Coffee plantations Masai people Wildlife Parks

Vocab Harambee Pyrethrum Malnutrition Cash crop

Physical Characteristics Right on the equator Low lands have hot steamy climate Highlands (great rift valley) cooler climate. Most people live in the fertile highlands in the southwest Uncertain rainfall in the north – often drought Lake Victoria in the westernmost corner.

Lake Victoria – largest in Africa

The Past…. Masai & Kikuyu vs. the British Before the British arrived in the 1890’s, the Masai (herders) and the Kikuyu (farmers) occupied the most fertile land in the highlands of the Rift Valley. They lost their land to the British Stay tuned for Reading: The Kikuyu meet Europeans

Railroad British decided to build a railroad from the coast to Lake Victoria in order to encourage economic development and gain access to the rich farmland in the central highlands. It costs millions of dollars…..and thousands of lives……

“Waterless deserts, man-eating lions who preyed on and terrorized the workers….fevers and sickness, the scaling of mountains, the spanning of valleys, the bridging of rivers that turned into swollen torrents in the rain – all these and many more obstacles had to be overcome”

Railroad completed in 1903 British government encouraged its citizens and other Europeans to settle in Kenya and develop it New town built on the rail line - Nairobi

The Kikuyu Fight Back White settlers took over much of the land the Kikuyu had tradionaly controlled. Many Kikuyu were forced to work on farms run by white settlers 1950’s Kikuyu went to war against the British in Kenya. Mau Mau Rebellion was unsuccessful, but……..

Jomo Kenyatta – one of the leaders of the rebellion – became president one year after Kenya became independent in Kenyatta restored some of the Kikuyu farms.

Economic Activities Harambee – “pulling together” (Swahili) Kenyatta encouraged all parts of the economy (government, individuals, private companies) to work together to strengthen Kenya's Economy. As harambee grew, foreign investors liked Kenya’s attitude and pulled together with Kenya Result was solid economic growth

Cash Crops Kenya has little mineral wealth, so Kenyatta encouraged farmers to raise cash crops like coffee and tea in the fertile highlands

Cash Crops vs. Food Rather than growing food, the government has concentrated on growing cash crops – especially : –flowers that are used to produce Pyrethrum – a pesticide –Coffee, tea As more land is used for cash crops, there is less land for subsistence agriculture. Malnutrition

Even with all the fertile farmland, 30% of the country’s wheat has to be imported! At the same time, fresh flowers, fruits and vegetables are being flown out of the country to Europe. As a result, many Kenyans suffer from malnutrition.

Government and Citizenship Since independence, Kenya has been one of the most admired and stable countries in Africa In 1980’s Kenya began to face hard times –Population growth approaching 4% –Not enough food or jobs led to social and political unrest –Ethnic groups that had been peaceful with each other began to fight.

Many blamed the president – Daniel arap Moi They thought he was corrupt and had mismanaged the economy People began to demonstrate and demand democratic reforms.

At first Moi refused to allow multi-party elections and punished independent judges, threw critics in jail and closed down newspapers. Finally agreed to elections in 1992 and 1997 after Western countries withheld loans to Kenya

Moi was reelected each time by a small margin, but violence accompanied the elections. Proponents of democracy complained that Moi supporters attacked opponents

Problems Continue Violence has forced 1000’s of farmers in the Rift Valley off their land (further hurting food production). Even with violence over, people worry that a corrupt government will bring more bloodshed at election time.

Peace? Kenyans are hopeful of regaining unity and prosperity Symbols of their nation: –Flag colors: black for the people, red for their struggle and green for the country’s agriculture –The Seal show two lions leaning on a shield with the word Harambee

Make it Work!

The End