Life Expectancy in Kenya = 49
Life is difficult in the rural village of Ombeyi. Located about 30 km from Kisumu, Kenya’s 3rd largest city, and about 10 miles south of the equator, Ombeyi is home to about 10,000 Kenyans, most of them belonging to the Luo tribe. The elevation is approximately 1,800 meters.
Kenya is home to scores of tribes, and if you do any looking around on the web you can learn all about these many different tribes and their unique qualities. In the two weeks I’ve been here, I can remember 4 of them – the Luo, Kikuyu, Kalenjin, and Masai. The Kikuyus are the largest, the Kalenjin’s are known for their accomplished runners, and the Masai are known for holding strongly to their traditional ways of life. Besides that, the major differences between tribes are the differing languages.
Life is hard living in the village, but the people seem happy. Most of those I met had a sincere personal relationship with Jesus, and were happy to share the little they had with us.
Farming is the way of life, with “maize” (corn), potatoes, rice, onions, millet, and tomatoes as the primary crops. Most people grow their own food, and there are cows, chickens, and goats wandering around everywhere. I never got tired of chasing the baby goats or taking pictures of the cows. One goat even ate one of our survey boundary markers (the little rascal).
Most if not all work is done by hand, and long hours in the piercing sun lead to cataracts and arthritis much sooner than typical in the States. Contrary to popular belief, malaria (a preventable disease!) kills far more than HIV in Kenya and worldwide each year. Water-borne pathogens, and a host of other parasites, viruses, bacteria, among other pestilence help fill out the list of ways to die. Cancer, heart disease, and other common American afflictions often don’t have a chance to get to these villagers.
There are few ways to make money in the villages. Some villagers are able to attend universities and get jobs in the city, but for the villagers, the most profitable work seems to be growing and sugar cane or rice. I read yesterday in the Daily Nation (One Kenya’s very interesting newspapers) that Kenya is the 26th poorest country in the world.
I’m no economist, and I came here looking for inspiration to direct my career as a civil engineer… but after being here a couple weeks, It seems like the western idea of coming to save the day is not really what will help Kenya. The majority of Kenyans I’ve met are smart and well-educated. I don’t think the best thing we as Americans can do to help developing countries develop is to help build their economies. Maybe I should look into business/economics…
godspeed.
Josh
Kenya is home to scores of tribes, and if you do any looking around on the web you can learn all about these many different tribes and their unique qualities. In the two weeks I’ve been here, I can remember 4 of them – the Luo, Kikuyu, Kalenjin, and Masai. The Kikuyus are the largest, the Kalenjin’s are known for their accomplished runners, and the Masai are known for holding strongly to their traditional ways of life. Besides that, the major differences between tribes are the differing languages.
Life is hard living in the village, but the people seem happy. Most of those I met had a sincere personal relationship with Jesus, and were happy to share the little they had with us.
Farming is the way of life, with “maize” (corn), potatoes, rice, onions, millet, and tomatoes as the primary crops. Most people grow their own food, and there are cows, chickens, and goats wandering around everywhere. I never got tired of chasing the baby goats or taking pictures of the cows. One goat even ate one of our survey boundary markers (the little rascal).
Most if not all work is done by hand, and long hours in the piercing sun lead to cataracts and arthritis much sooner than typical in the States. Contrary to popular belief, malaria (a preventable disease!) kills far more than HIV in Kenya and worldwide each year. Water-borne pathogens, and a host of other parasites, viruses, bacteria, among other pestilence help fill out the list of ways to die. Cancer, heart disease, and other common American afflictions often don’t have a chance to get to these villagers.
There are few ways to make money in the villages. Some villagers are able to attend universities and get jobs in the city, but for the villagers, the most profitable work seems to be growing and sugar cane or rice. I read yesterday in the Daily Nation (One Kenya’s very interesting newspapers) that Kenya is the 26th poorest country in the world.
I’m no economist, and I came here looking for inspiration to direct my career as a civil engineer… but after being here a couple weeks, It seems like the western idea of coming to save the day is not really what will help Kenya. The majority of Kenyans I’ve met are smart and well-educated. I don’t think the best thing we as Americans can do to help developing countries develop is to help build their economies. Maybe I should look into business/economics…
godspeed.
Josh
posted by Josh at 12:53 AM
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