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Woodland Grange Primary School Life in Kenya
As
part of our ongoing geography work we have linked with friends
at Strathmore School, in class 3. Strathmore School is in
Nairobi. We contrasted life for Kenyan school children with
our own lives here in England. We learned all about their
country and their schools.
We shared Email letters with each other with questions and
information.
Here is a summary of the things we learned:
THE COUNTRY:
Kenya has an area of 583,000km2 and is divided into 8 provinces
i) Nairobi
ii) Western
iii) Coast
iv) Eastern
v) North-eastern
vi) Central
vii) Nyanza
viii) Rift-valley Nairobi, which is the capital, has an area
of 684km2 and this where our school is located.
THE PEOPLE OF KENYA:
Kenya's people fall under the following groupings:
i) Africans: Bantu, Nilotes and Cushites. Bantu sub groups
include Kikuyu, Luhya, Kisii, Kamba, Kuria, Embu, Meru, Pokomo,
Taita and the Mijikenda. They are basically cultivators. Nilotes
include: Luo , maasai , Turkana, Kalenjin and Teso most of
whom are pastoralists. The Cushites include Boran , Rendille
, Orma , Somali ,Burji also cattle keepers.
ii) Europeans: These come from different parts of the World
and some of them are born and married here.
iii) Asians: They come from different parts of Asia some of
them are also born and married in Kenya they are basically
businessmen.
POLITICAL LIFE:
Kenya is a republic with the president as the head of state
and government. He /She is assisted by a Vice-president and
Ministers. Being a democratic, Kenya is now a Multi party
State and we hold elections after every five years. KANU is
the ruling party (KANU stands for Kenya African National Union).
Other parties include Ford Kenya (Forum for Restoration of
Democracy), National Development Party (NDP) Social Democratic
Party (SDP).
EDUCATION:
i) We follow the 8-4-4 system of education i.e. 8 years in
primary school 4 years in secondary and 4 years in university.
SPORTS:
We have traditional as well as modern sports. Traditional
sports include Spear throwing Arrow shooting, dances, hunting
and bull fighting only to mention a few. Modern sports include
soccer basketball Golf etc.
MARRIAGE:
This is very important among Kenyan people. Dowery is paid
by the bridegroom's parents and ranges from goats to cattle
and or with money.
Other important ceremonies include death, naming and initiation.
ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES:
Kenyans are generally engaged in farm related activities.
i) Pastoralists: the Maasai, Turkana, Pokot, and Kalenjin,
Samburu do this.
ii) Cultivators : This is done by the Bantus. They grow maize
, millet Sorghum , Potatoes , Sweet potatoes ,sugar-cane ,
Coffee , Tea etc.
iii) Tourism : There are many wild animals in our national
parks that are visited by many people from all over the world.
The animals include Lions , Cheetahs , Leopards , Elephants
, Giraffes , Buffaloes etc. including a wide range of birds.
iv) Mining : This is done in very few places. We mine Fluorspar
, Salt , Soda ash , graphite any many etc.
v) Poultry and bee keeping is also practiced.
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