TOURISM IN KENYA

Great Rift Valley

Beautiful countryside

Hotels & Lodges

Kenya's Coast

Economy

Government

Kenya National Parks

Lake Victoria

The People of Kenya >

Wildlife

Having a picnic at a nature reserve outside Nairobi.

College graduate talking to relatives on phone.

With increasing traffic congestion, cycling is becoming an attractive option in Kenyan towns.

Women preparing the family meal. In Kenya, traditional gender roles are part of daily living.

The People of Kenya

Kenya is a multiracial, multi ethnic nation with citizens of diverse socio-economic, religious and cultural backgrounds co-existing with the collective will of making things better for future generations.

The Kenyan tendency of pursuing peaceful politics is responsible for the relative stability that the country has enjoyed in comparison to other neighboring African states. Dialogue and non-violence are virtues taught in schools from an early age and the consequences of violence, as narrated by refugees, are well known to all Kenyans. Since the early days of Independence, Kenyans have built their lives around such goals as acquiring an education, starting a business, getting a job, investing in property or contesting leadership positions through elections. Individuals attempting to incite violence have only excelled in alienating themselves from the public mood.

Kenyans have long realized the importance of globalization. The people actively pursue advanced education to the extent of relocating overseas. The spirit of entrepreneurship is well established and the informal sector absorbs approximately 65% of the labor force. Its possible to live and work anywhere in the country regardless of race or ethnicity.  These characteristics that have made the population very accommodative, and Kenya is a welcome place for investors from all over the world.

Highly skilled Kenyans can be found in the United Nations, the European Union, the World Bank and other international bodies. Kenyan academics serve as departmental heads in renowned academic institutions. Individual Kenyans have played a key role in peace talks across Africa, including the negotiations that ended Apartheid in South Africa. The country's military and police forces have participated in international peace keeping missions in Namibia, Sierra Leone, Eritrea, Bosnia, East Timor, Iraq/Iran, among other hot spots. The skills thus brought back home have developed the country’s social economic fabric to a level relatively higher than what can be found elsewhere in the region. Undoubtedly we still have a long way to go before everyone can enjoy a comfortable standard of life.

Kenyan athletes have continuously broken world records in track events. Occasionally Kenyans do happen to take all three medals in international athletic meetings. The prowess of our people in track and field has sparked off scientific research as to why Kenyans are so endowed on this particular area. Various theories have been tabled, including the effects of high altitude at the Kenya highlands and the hilly terrain which helps develop body muscles at an early age. Unfortunately, Kenya's performance in the 2004 Summer Olympics was disappointing to many. A thorough investigation in the country's sports management is necessary if Kenya is to reclaim its rightful place as a nation of world class athletes.

Traditional African beliefs play a significant role in the lives of Kenyans in spite of adapting to modern values and to Christianity. Kenyans practise traditional values of humility, concern for neighbors and maintenance of kinship ties. Beliefs in superstition are not common except deep in the rural areas. On the other hand, there has been explosive growth in the number of Christian churches and Islamic mosques. There is wide appreciation of the importance of a modern education and most people speak English though with varying accents depending on ethnic origin.

A typical visitor may be surprised at the contradiction in professing traditional and modern beliefs simultaneously. Several commentators have interpreted this characteristic of Kenyans as a lack of commitment to either beliefs. To Kenyans, however, the two beliefs contain elements that compliment each other. It’s not necessary for an individual to completely embrace modernity and abandon tradition, or vice-versa. What most people do (subconsciously) is to take the components from either set of beliefs that are relevant to their lives, and then combine them into a lifestyle. 

Some communities have retained more of the traditional African lifestyle than others. They live in huts, walk barefoot, dress in robes and decorate their hair with colored soils. The Maasai tribe is famous for maintaining a nomadic way of life revolving around cattle and the search for pasture. This fiercely proud tribe of warriors has resisted numerous attempts at modernization and consequently has gained great respect (and curiosity) internationally.

A visit to the bustling cities, towns and villages of Kenya will be an eye opener to the determination of the people. Right from casual workers in sprawling industrial complexes to executives at the stock market and further onwards to the roadsides where men and women of all ages are earning a living for their families. Each day has its fortunes: sometimes business is good, other times they walk home with nothing.

Entrepreneurship is the locomotive engine behind these attributes of hard work and perseverance as Kenyans remain united in the quest for success and fulfillment.

Back to top