DID YOU KNOW…
Kenya is an African country with vast mountains and beautiful scenery. It is a
diverse collection of coastal waters, sandbanks, rivers, waterfalls, lakes, and
deserts. This land is home to a staggering diversity of plants and wild animals
such as hippopotamus, cheetahs, hyenas, snakes, rhinoceros, lions, and leopards.
There are more than 65 national parks and wildlife preserves Each zone has
distinct wildlife. Twenty hectares of rainforest contain more birds species than
the whole of Europe. Much of Kenya´s native flora is not found anywhere else in
the world. Furthermore, Kenyan culture reflects a mixture of African, Indian,
and British influences, similar in many respects to the traditions and
superstitions of Uganda and Tanzania.
DID YOU KNOW…
Kenya, formerly known as British East Africa, became independent in 1963 and a
republic in 1964.
DID YOU KNOW…
Nairobi, Kenya´s capital, is an international place with every kind of
accommodation. Nairobi has many restaurant that serve everything from monkey to
antelope.
DID YOU KNOW…
More than other Third World countries, Kenya is a multicultural country made up
of numerous ethnic groups.
DID YOU KNOW…
The flag was designed by the Kenya Africa National Union (KANU); the dominant
political party until 2002.
DID YOU KNOW…
Conservation is a global effort, and the African country is doing its part to
conserve ecology´s bounty. Different from Peru and Ethiopia, Kenya has
introduced wildlife conservation into the public school curriculum. The African
country has an established record of cooperation with international conservation
organizations.
DID YOU KNOW…
Kenya has become much more stable since the democratic elections of 2002.From
1963 to 2002, Kenya was a dictatorship.
DID YOU KNOW…
The Kenyan people have many idols: Henry Rono (runner), Richard Leakey
(paleontologist and conservationist), Mama Ngima (ex-first lady of Kenya),
Louise Leakey (paleontologist), Philip Leakey ( businessman),Wangari Maathai
(environmentalist), Grace Ogot (writer), Rebecca Njau (writer), and Kipchoge
Keino (runner).
DID YOU KNOW…
In 2004, Wangari Maathai received the Nobel Prize for Peace for her dedication
to women's rights, ecology, and democracy. Wangari became the second woman from
Africa to win the Nobel Prize. She is a really important model for the world.
DID YOU KNOW…
Since 1963, the economy has revolted around tourism. Kenya is one of the most
prosperous black African countries.
DID YOU KNOW…
Paul Evans, a British runner, once said, “Only two Europeans men have made the
stop three at the past four Olympics, one being the Italian Baldini, who won in
Athens”. It is a problem of numbers. There are not many Europeans. In Kenya, you
have tens and tens of new athletes every year…
Certainly, Kenya is famous for its athletes. Physical education is an
important subject in every primary school, secondary school and college. The
African country is the birthplace of Henry Rono, one of the best runners in the
20th century. In 1978, Henry broke four world´s records: the 3,000 meters
steeplechase (8:05.4), the 5,000 (13:o8,4), the 3,000 meters (7:32.1), and the
10,000 meters (7.32.1).In 1980, Henry qualified for the Kenyan Olympic team at
the 1980 Moscow Games. But Kenya boycotted that year´s Olympics in Moscow to
protest the USSR´s invasion of Afghanistan. This supreme athlete, the idol of
millions of Kenyans, is a symbol in Africa.
Today Kenyan Bernard Barmasai is the fastest man in the 3,000 meters
steeplechase with a time of 7 minutes, 55.72s.
DID YOU KNOW…
UNESCO has declared Lake Turkana National Park and Mount Kenya National Park
World Heritage Sites.
DID YOU KNOW…
In fact, Isak Dinesen, best known as Karen Dixen, loved Kenya so much. Her first
novel Out of Africa (1938) focuses on Kenya´s scenery. Furthermore, Out of
Africa was also the basis of a 1985 Hollywood film starring Meryl Streep, one of
the best American actresses.
DID YOU KNOW…
The most popular sports are cricket, track and field, box, soccer, volleyball,
rugby, tennis, and field hockey.
ALEJANDRO GUEVARA ONOFRE:I am a writer about Third World
issues (human rights, biographies, culture, history, Olympic
sport, democracy, women´s rights).My hobbies and interests are
writing essays, going to the gym, browsing the Internet, Foreign
Politics, learning about cultures, reading (my favorite writer
is Juan Gasparini from Argentina), cooking Peruvian food,
listening to American and British Music (my favorite singer is
Barry White). My personal motto is the future is for those
people who believe in the beauty of their dreams by Eleanor
Roosevelt...My heroes are Frida Kahlo (Mexican painter), Mpule
Kwelagobe (ex Miss Universe and currently Anti-AIDS activist),
Bono, Dian Fossey, Jimmy Carter, Oprah Winfrey, Hernando de
Soto, Javier Perez de Cuellar and Mario Vargas Llosa...
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