Although Kenya has been an independent country since December 1963, one can still clearly see the influence of the British Colonial times on the culture and the society. The British ruled Kenya for 70 years, which significantly shaped the economic, social and political policies of the country. Perhaps at least partially due to the strong British rule, Kenya has played a key role in stabilizing the turbulent East Africa and in keeping the east coast of Africa somewhat peaceful.
The people in Kenya reflect on the colonial times tenderly. They seem to think of those times as the Golden Era of Kenya. My colleague Chrystel told me that the British were somehow regarded as having saved Kenya from becoming totally corrupted.
‘The British taught us how to govern a country’, she explained to me. “They showed us how to do this without corruptions and how to maintain peace. If the British had not ruled Kenya, there is a chance that we would not be as well off at the moment. Maybe we would be in a situation like the Congo or Somalia where they are struggling with rebels and military power. At least people can live a normal life in Kenya. We also have problems, but we all think that the problems would be much worse if the British had not been here.’
As a result of the colonial times, everyone who has been educated in a private or governmental school is fluent in English. In fact, English and Swahili are the national languages of Kenya. Normally people know at least three languages: both of the national languages plus their regional language. It is common for people to mix at least two of the language when they speak. For an outsider, a conversation can sound funny since one only understand the parts spoken in English.
I am told that there are 42 tribes living in Kenya and they all have their own languages. These tribes at times have disagreements and still favour individuals from their own tribes. It is common for politicians to favor those from their tribes by allocating more money to the region that they are from. As you can imagine, such bribing has caused many disputes and riots to manifest. Even people living in cities are very aware of the tribes that they belong to.
The education system reflects that in the UK. The examination system and everything is exactly the same. According to the education professionals that I met in Nairobi, this is the reason for why it is the best education system found in the whole of Africa. A high percentage of the younger generation continue studies at university level and many families place high value on education.
‘They believe that pursuing higher education will pay off in the end, as the youngsters will get better paid jobs’, Chrystel said as we drove past the university campus that had recently suffered as a result of riots. ‘But then they often face unemployment soon after graduation. Getting a job has so much to do with who you know and who is a family friend.’
‘It’s the same in many countries’, I said. ‘Getting a job is getting harder and harder everywhere. In Europe, we have so many highly skilled and qualified people that there is great competition for any jobs. Many people who had a degree need to work in a job that they do particularly enjoy in order get work experience before they are even considered for any other job.’
‘Yes, life is getting harder everywhere,’ Chrystel said and shook her head sadly. ‘We have to pray to our Lord that He will make it better for us soon. We all have to stay strong and learn from these difficulties.’
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Kenya in brief:
http://www.statehousekenya.go.ke/kenya.html
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