Kenya Factfile

Map of KenyaKenya lies astride the equator on the eastern coast of Africa and covers an area of 583,000 sq. km (225,000 sq. miles), which is about half as big again as the British Isles. Kenya is bordered in the north by Sudan and Ethiopia, in the east by Somalia, on the southeast by the Indian Ocean, on the southwest by Tanzania and to the west by Lake Victoria and Uganda.

Nairobi is the capital city of Kenya and is situated in the highlands in the Southern part of Kenya. It has an elevation of 1661 metres (5450ft) above sea level. It is the most populous city in East Africa with an estimated population of between 3 and 4 million people, approximately half of whom live in slum areas such as Kibera. Nairobi's name comes from the Maasai Ewaso Nyirobi, meaning "cool waters".

Kibera is the largest slum in East Africa.  Its population of over one million (half of whom are under age 15) are crammed together in appalling conditions, living in an area of about 1sq. mile.  Basic government services, such as water provision, education, health care, and sewage disposal, do not exist. Ethnic tensions arise from identity politics and patron-client relations between the major ethnic groups (Nubians, Luo, Luhya, and Kamba).

English and Swahili are the official languages of Kenya and are taught in schools throughout Kenya. Many vernacular languages are also spoken in various parts of the country. 

Here are some statistics for Kenya:

  • 70% of the population live in 2% of the physical space.
  • 2.2 million people in Kenya are HIV positive - one person in every thirteen.
  • Every day 700 Kenyans die of HIV/AIDS related diseases.
  • Over 50% of the population live below the poverty line.
  • There could be as many as 930,000 orphans under age 17 in Kenya due to AIDS.

In Kenya, many people lack education regarding Aids, and superstition has also hindered prevention efforts.   In Kibera, children are sexually exploited and youths turn to sex as their only pleasure because books are too expensive and there are no playgrounds for sports.  Aids has been declared a national disaster in Kenya

Many hundreds of thousands of children have been orphaned by the Aids epidemic, which has exposed them to widespread abuse. Many Kenyan youngsters are forced out of school to become breadwinners, or to fend for themselves, when family members fall ill or die as a result of contracting Aids - forcing many of them into dangerous jobs, including prostitution, which for some girls is the only way to make a living.

Vision Africa - Give a Child a Future is working to try to secure a better future for some of these children.  The task is almost overwhelming and your support is greatly appreciated.

"It's like being born in a prison - only there is no end to your sentence"
Vera Packard, Vision Africa Field Director.

Updated: October 2008