Country information

 

 

 

Kenya is an East African country and a presidential republic. It has been independent since 1963.

 

With an area of 580,370 km², it borders Ethiopia, Somalia, South Sudan, Tanzania, and Uganda. The capital, Nairobi, is located 6,380 km from Berlin. Kenya's average altitude is 762 m above sea level, and its highest point is Mount Kenya at 5,199 m.

 

​

 

More than 40 ethnic groups make up a population of approximately 55 million. Around 50 different languages are spoken, with English and Swahili as the official languages. Although there is tension between the population groups, there have been no major conflicts to date. Income and resources are distributed unevenly across regions and social classes.

 

​

 

​

 

​

 

Ildepen region, Amboseli

 

 

 

Ildepen is a village in Amboseli National Park, where around 800 to 1,100 Maasai live together as a community. Their ages range from 15 to 90, with more children than adults. There are large families with up to 50 people and small families with 12 to 18 people. They live together with 4 to 10 people in small round Maasai houses, known as bomas. Each boma is surrounded by fences made of tree branches to protect the cattle from wild animals.

 

​

 

Cultural activities such as fencing the bomas with branches and building Maasai houses from trees have led to a lack of trees in the countryside, which has caused additional climate change. There has been no rain in the last two years (2022/2023) and many farm animals have died. Due to climate change and drought, livestock numbers have fallen to almost zero. Some families no longer have cows and goats, while others have 20 or fewer cows. The animals are the only bank the Maasai know. Many families are left with small goats and cows that cannot provide the family with enough food as before.

 

 

 

The population is growing rapidly due to the high birth rate, and education is also becoming a major challenge as children cannot complete school due to fees. In the past, the Maasai sold cows and goats to provide higher education for their children.

 

 

 

The Maasai asked us for help:

 

access to water, toilets, fencing, water tanks, guidance, and support in growing trees and food.

 

​

 

​

 

Current situation:

 

 

 

As a result of Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine, there have been sharp price increases for food and fertilizers.

 

In addition, the extreme drought caused by five consecutive failed rainy seasons has resulted in massive crop losses and declines in milk production.

 

​

 

Herding communities have to travel long distances in search of water and food, increasingly coming into conflict with the local population. Currently, around 5 million people in Kenya are at acute risk of starvation (as of March 2023). Population growth (2021: 1.9 percent) is further exacerbating the situation.

 

 

 

The population is expected to double by 2050. Currently, just under 40 percent of the Kenyan population is younger than 15, and youth unemployment is high.

 

 

 

Source: https://www.bmz.de/de/laender/kenia

 

Translated with DeepL.com (free version)