The Eleventh One.

So you’re going to Kenya, eh?

Located in the East of the African continent, Kenya borders the Indian Ocean, Somalia and Tanzania, Sudan, Uganda and Ethiopia. It is approximately the size of the state of Texas with its highest elevation point being Mt. Kenya standing at 5,199 meters. With a life expectancy of 45 years, Kenya is home to a population of 32,000,000 people. To put this in perspective, it contains roughly the same sized population as Canada. Of those 15 years of age and older, the literacy rate is 85%, however the population percentage infected with AIDS is pushing 7%.

Although Kenya has only recently gained their independence from Britain, the land of Kenya has been occupied for millions of years. Portuguese were the first Europeans to explore present-day Kenya.

Today, Kenya is classified as a developing, yet emerging nation with the highest GDP in East and Central Africa. Nairobi is the largest industrial centre, producing mainly processed food, beer, soaps, textiles and chemicals. Based on information read and pictures, I can only assume Nairobi will relate similarly to our capital of Toronto, here in Ontario.

http://kenyanview.com/nairobi.html
City of Nairobi

http://www.mnmkenyasafaris.com/excursions.html
City of Nairobi

Agriculture is exceptionally important as well, as it employs around 80% of the country’s population and is responsible for 50% of their GDP ("Nairobi", 2011). Kenya’s main exports include maize, coffee, tea, beans and fruit. In addition, tourism has recently replaced coffee as the country’s largest foreign exchange earner. Tourists travel the globe to witness Kenya’s well-known game parks, climb Mt. Kenya and visit the city of Mombasa along the coastline.

So if these are the facts we are hearing, why are we seeing this?

The rooftops of Korogocho, one of Africa’s many densely populated slums.

Photo courtesy of Eric Brown/Hewlett Foundation.

http://www.hewlett.org/newsroom/getting-down-the-facts-to-reduce-poverty-in-kenya

In 1948 the colonial government published a master plan for Nairobi, based largely on the British system. Unfortunately, the plan did not take into account the excessive population growth, creating a strain on the city’s infrastructure. The adjusted plan developed in 1973 quotes the governments determination for the country as stated “This desire is made all the more acute by colonial history during most of which Africans were second class citizens in their own country and were provided with fewer social services at standards far below those of expatriates (Keane, 2005).”

Although the government gave the National Housing Corporation a dominant role in providing affording housing, the escalating population was far too vast for this initiative. Kenya's average urban demand for new homes is around 150,000 units, whereas supply is nearer 25,000 (Keane, 2005). Due to poor planning for an ever-increasing population, around 60% of Kenya’s population currently reside in slums along the outskirts of the city. Experts suggest that with only 120 planners to deal with its problems, and without a nationwide commitment from all parties, the next 20 years.

Along with 2 million other people, these slums will be my new summer home.

Keane, J. "Kenya's slum problem stirs urgent effort." Planning. 1648 (2005): 16. 

"Nairobi." Kenya. Web. 21 Mar. 2011. <http://kenyanview.com/nairobi.html>.