Kenyan Life
Money and Economy
Kenya is a poor country, and most Kenyans live simply. Seventy-five percent of the population relies on farming to make a living. Many farmers produce just enough food to provide for their families. Larger farms grow coffee beans and tea leaves and ship them for sale to other countries. The Kenyan economy also gets a boost from tourists, who come to visit the nation's beaches and see its wildlife. The currency is the Kenyan shilling.
Government
The leader of Kenya's government is the president. The 224 members of the National assembly, or Bunge, make Kenya's laws. For many years, only the president's political party was allowed to exit. This made it difficult for people to voice their opinions. Today, there are several political parties, and Kenyans are working to make their country more democratic.
Games and Sports
Kenyans play soccer more than any other sport. Kenyan are also among the best long-distance runners in the world. Most top runners are from Kenya's highlands, where the air is thin (and good for training). Kenyans regularly win Olympic medals and the world's biggest marathons.
Schools
All kids between the ages of six and fourteen are required to go to school. Classes go from 8 a.m to 4 p.m., and students wear uniforms with their school colors. In the first through third grades, classes are taught in Swahili or the students' native language. Classes are taught in English beginning in the fourth grade. At age 14, students can advance to four years of secondary school if they pass the national exams (and if their families have enough money to pay the school fees).
Travel
Since most Kenyans don't own cars, one of the most popular ways to travel is by matatu. These are small vans or pickup trucks with seats in the back. Matatus run on regular routes, but they don't have schedules. They get very crowded bot can still be fun to ride. Many are decorated with bright colors, and often like to play loud music. For shorter distances, people just walk or ride bicycles.
