GEOGRAPHY
Kenya is located along the eastern coast of Africa, located in between Tanzania and Ethiopia. The coast has a tropical climate and inland it is arid. Only 9.8% of land is arable, so the country is not incredibly well equipped to have a large agricultural sector. The country has devoted quite a bit of land to wildlife preservation, and every year, hundreds of thousands of wildebeest and zebras migrate across the Mara River in search of food and water during times of drought.
THE PEOPLE
Kenya has 47.6 million people and ranks as the 30th most populated country in the world. There is a diverse ethnic population, with Kikuyu, Luhya, Luo, Kalenjin, and Kamba people making up the majority of the population. English and Swahili are the official languages, but there are a total of 69 languages spoken throughout the country. About 83% of the population is Christian, and 11.2% is Muslim. With an increasing birth rate and declining mortality rate, Kenya has seen a large increase in population size and with 40% of its population aged 14 or younger, this trend could continue upwards.
ECONOMY
Kenya has a Gross Domestic Product per capita of $3,500, ranking them 186th out of 228 reporting countries and territories. The country has made strides towards raising this GDP, as tourism, telecommunications, and higher education have all become increasingly prevalent. At the moment, there are not enough jobs for the Kenyan people, and unemployment rates are almost 40%, ranking as one of the highest in the world. Kenya also has a poverty issue, with 43.4% of Kenyans living below the poverty line.
EDUCATION
Kenya provides free primary education to its citizens. Once reaching secondary school, students can enroll in a government funded or a private school. Kenya has a literacy rate of 78%, which falls below the worldwide average of 86%. There is also a gap between public and private schools. Parents who can afford to send their children off to private schools get a better education in return than those who attend public school. There is a shortage of teachers at public schools, and schools in rural areas tend to be underfunded.
HEALTH CARE
Kenya has one of the best private healthcare systems in Sub-Saharan Africa. These private facilities serve all economic classes and can provide adequate healthcare to those in need. Although the country has a great healthcare system compared to neighboring countries, Kenya has still seen a drop in life expectancy since 1990, and their healthcare system still lags behind the premier systems in places like Europe and North America.
HEMOPHILIA IN KENYA
According to the World Federation of Hemophilia, 625 Kenyans have Hemophilia, but one doctor estimates that only 14% of Hemophiliacs have been properly diagnosed. Without knowledge of their condition, patients cannot receive treatment and will likely have uncontrollable joint bleeds. The Kenya Hemophilia association was founded in 1979 and it aims to improve the lives of Kenyans with Hemophilia through education and support.
