KENYA

In an article published by cnn on 26 of Africa’s most amazing places to visit, Kenya actually appears three times. Do I look surprised? Yes. A lot surprised. Because I expected better. There are lots of beautiful places to visit in Kenya: Maasai Mara, to watch the wild beasts cross the border from Tanzania, Fourteen falls, Mount Kenya, that is if you like mountain climbing, Lake Nakuru, there are lots of colourfull flamingos there and a lot more.

Kenya.

Where is Kenya? 

Kenya is a country in East Africa with coastline on the Indian Ocean. It encompasses savannah, lakelands, the dramatic Great Rift Valley and mountain highlands. It’s also home to wildlife like lions, elephants and rhinos. That doesn’t mean we live in the bushes or rather forests with them. No. They are found in the game parks and Reserves.  From Nairobi, the capital, safaris visit the Maasai Mara Reserve, known for its annual wildebeest migrations, and Amboseli National Park, offering views of Tanzania’s 5,895m Mt. Kilimanjaro.

A little more info about Kenya.

Our founding fathers brought us independence in the year 1963. A year later, Kenya became Republic with the first president as Mzee Jomo Kenyatta. Amazingly, Kenya has only had four presidents since independence. There are over 42 tribes speaking different languages but what binds us together is the fact that we can speak the same language, Kiswahili, which is the National Language. One thing I’m certain of is that no visitor has ever come to Kenya and left without learning one or two swahili words. Like Jambo, a swahili word for Hello.  Habari yako (how are you) Nyama choma  (roasted meat) . And by the way,  us Kenyans, we love Nyama choma.

Month of July will remain a historical month in the hearts of Kenyans for years to come. We were privileged to host the 2017 IAAF under 18 championships. We love sports.

Even though we’ve never had the chance to participate in the FIFA World Cup finals, we are always killing it in other sports. Like, when it comes to athletics, we are always at the top. Our Rugby 7s recently won the World cup. And one of our own is currently holding the record of most tries. We also have a representation in the English Premiere League.

Top 8 amazing facts about Kenya. 

1. The country is named after Mt. Kenya, which is the highest point in the country and is 17,057 feet high.

That’s amazing, right? I’ve always wondered myself, who named Mt. Kenya? And how did he/she get to name a feature first within a country before naming the country? Mmmh. Story for another day.

2. Tourism is a huge generator of income for Kenya. People come to the country to see the nature, and go on safaris.

We also sing and dance to the tourists. For money. And we have one whole Ministry of Tourism. A lot Kenya’s income comes from this sector.

3. Kenyan men can have more than one wife if they want.

If a Kenyan man tells you that you are the only one, my sister, it’s a lie. Polygamy runs in Kenyan Men’s DNA. One thing that is hard to defy. Women aren’t allowed to have more than one husband. Get that one right.

4. A new constitution was founded in 2010, which split the power of the country into 47 counties.

Taraaaa…We have two types of governments; National government and the County governments. The 47 counties are each headed by a Governor while the Head of state is the President. New constitution.

5. The country has two distinct seasons, a rainy and a dry season.

We don’t know about summer or spring or winter or the other one. It’s either a dry or a rainy season here in Kenya.

6. Dowries are still traditional in Kenya. The groom’s  parents must pay a dowry to the bride’s family otherwise their son will not be able to wed his bride. Dowries start at 2 cows.

This one is self explanatory, isn’t it.

7. Scientists believe that Kenya may have been the birthplace of human beings. Bones of early ancestors were found in the Turkana Basin.
This one is my favourite. You and I have the same origin, Kenya. Come back home buddy.

8.The song Jambo Bwana is always playing at the airports and tourists hotels, welcoming visitors to this beautiful country.

The translations can be found here.

Finally, I’d like to take this opportunity to extend a warm and brotherly welcome to those visiting/wishing to visit Nairobi and, indeed, Africa for the first time. I hope and trust that you will enjoy our unparalleled African hospitality and that you will take some time to experience Kenya’s exceptionally beautiful scenery and our globally-famous wild-life heritage. Karibu Kenya ( Welcome to Kenya)

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