People, Places, and Cultures Across the Globe

Kenya
 EDITOR Marguerite Troyal
SENIOR ART DIRECTOR Suzanne Beck
People, Places, and Cultures Across the Globe
DESIGNER Shavan Spears
ASSISTANT EDITOR Hayley Kim
MARCH/APRIL 2025 SVP EDUCATION PRODUCTS Laura Woodside
DIRECTOR OF CIRCULATION Barb Clendenen
PERMISSIONS SPECIALIST Christine Voboril

MYSTERY PHOTO BOARD OF ADVISORS

ASSISTANT PROFESSOR OF GEOGRAPHY,

CO-COORDINATOR TEXAS ALLIANCE FOR
GEOGRAPHIC EDUCATION, TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY
Sarah Witham Bednarz
DIRECTOR (RETIRED), CURRICULUM FRAMEWORKS
AND INSTRUCTIONAL RESOURCES OFFICE,
CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Diane L. Brooks Ed.D.
FLORENTINE FILMS
Ken Burns
PROFESSOR, SCHOOL OF EDUCATION,
UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA
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DIRECTOR, INDIANA UNIVERSITY INTERNATIONAL
RESOURCE CENTER
Shawn Reynolds
OUTREACH COORDINATOR (RETIRED),
HARVARD’S CENTER FOR MIDDLE EASTERN STUDIES
Carol Johnson Shedd
PROFESSOR OF EDUCATION REFORM,
21ST CENTURY CHAIR IN TEACHER QUALITY,
UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS
Sandra Stotsky
DIRECTOR, AFRICAN STUDIES CENTER OUTREACH
PROGRAM AT BOSTON UNIVERSITY
Barbara Brown
CO-COORDINATOR, ARIZONA GEOGRAPHIC ALLIANCE,
ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY
Gale Ekiss

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Indexed and/or Abstracted in:
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Kenya’s coastline offers beaches with plenty of Printed in the United States of America.

room to run and play—with or without bathing 1st printing Quad Sussex, Wisconsin March 2025

suits, as these boys discovered.

FEATURES

8 Welcome to Kenya
by Kelly A. Tinkham

12 A Kaleidoscope of Food
by Colette Weil Parrinello

16 Land of Runners
by Christine Graf

20 Meet Kenya’s Majestic

Animals
by Erin McKeough

24 Nairobi:
the Sun
Green City in Pg 8
by Marcia Amidon Lusted

27 The Changing Role of

Women
by Colette Weil Parrinello

30 A Legacy of Trees
by Christine Graf
Pg 12

32 Come Touch the Sky

by Marcia Amidon Lusted

36 The Great Bird Spectacle

by Erin McKeough

43 Why the Kikuyu Love Pg 20

Mount Kenya
retold by Barbara Swett

DEPARTMENTS
2 High Five
4 At a Glance
6 Critter Corner
29 Where in the World?
40 A Closer Look
48 Say What?
49 Last Face Pg 27

ACTIVITIES
35 The Gallery
Pg 32
39 Crossword
46 Your Turn

Check out our

online teacher’s guides at
CRICKETMEDIA.COM/
Pg 43 TEACHER-RESOURCES
HIGH FIVE

W
hen most people think of Kenya, they
picture magnificent elephants and
fierce lions roaming the savannas
(grasslands). Kenya’s wildlife is certainly
amazing, but this East African nation consists
of so much more. It is a land as complex and
diverse as its people, who are represented by
70 different ethnic groups. Here are five facts
about this beautiful African country.

2
1
Remains of fossilized hominids (members
of the primate family) have been found in
present-day Kenya, Ethiopia, and Tanzania.
Their discovery has led many archaeologists and
paleontologists to believe that East Africa is
where humankind originated.

2
Many of the world’s top runners come from
Kenya. Sports scientists have studied those
runners to find out what makes them the
best in the world. Some of those findings point to
the runners’ unique homeland.

3
In 2004, Kenyan environmentalist Wangari
Maathai became the first African woman
to win the Nobel Peace Prize. She was
recognized for her work with the Green Belt
Movement, a nonprofit dedicated to reducing
poverty and conserving the environment through
planting trees.

4
Nairobi National Park is the only national
park in the world that borders a capital city.
Man-made skyscrapers and a busy airport
make an interesting background to the diverse
wildlife roaming in the park.

5
Kenya’s highest mountain peak, Mount
Kenya, is an extinct volcano. The mountain’s
peaks and surrounding valleys were created
three million years ago. That is when Mount Kenya
last erupted.

3
AT A GLANCE

SOUTH
SUDAN ETHIOPIA

UGANDA
KENYA

TANZANIA

4
 OFFICIAL NAME: Republic of Kenya

LOCATION: Kenya is located on the east coast of

Africa. It has a coastline on the Indian Ocean, and
the equator cuts through the middle of the country.
Kenya shares a border with the countries of Ethiopia
and South Sudan to the north, Somalia to the east,
Tanzania to the south, and Uganda to the west.

CAPITAL AND LARGEST CITY: Nairobi

AREA: 224,081 square miles (580,367 square

kilometers)
SOMALIA POPULATION: 52 million (2024 estimate)

CLIMATE: Tropical along the coast and arid (dry) inland

HIGHEST POINT: Mount Kenya, 17, 058 feet (5,199

meters)

PEOPLE: More than 70 different ethnic groups

are represented in Kenya. Each group has its own
language and culture. The four largest ethnic
groups (representing more than 55 percent of the
population) are the Kikuyu (Gikuyu), the Luhya, the
Kalenjin, and the Luo.

LANGUAGES: Swahili is the national language.

Swahili and English are the official languages of the
Kenyan government. Most Kenyans speak their ethnic
language at home and learn Swahili and English at
school. There are more than 60 languages spoken in
the country.

CURRENCY: Shilling

5
CRITTER CORNER We really do
have great
views!

So, what characteristics and

Giraffes
behaviors make giraffes stand head and
shoulders above the rest of the animal
kingdom? Their 5- to 6-foot-long (1.5-
HEAD AND SHOULDERS ABOVE THE REST to 1.8-meter-long) necks allow them to
by Pat Betteley
eat leaves high on trees and out of reach
of other animals. Their long necks also
ell known for its long neck and help them keep a sharp lookout for
predators across the savannas.
legs, the giraffe is the tallest land
Surprisingly, a giraffe neck contains
animal in the world. Its coat also the same number of cervical vertebrae
has a distinctive spotted-like (bones) as a human neck—seven.
pattern. In fact, the first people to see giraffes Giraffe vertebrae, however, are each
about 10 inches (25 centimeters) long!
believed that they were a cross between a leopard
Giraffe legs alone reach a height
and a camel. Thus, the animal’s scientific name is that often is taller than most humans.
Giraffa camelopardalis. Giraffe mothers give birth from a
6
 Let the necking
competition begin!
standing position, so their calves (baby
giraffes) drop to the ground from a
height of about 6 feet (1.8 meters) when
they are born. The calves are not hurt,
though, and can stand within a half
hour. Calves also can run with their
mothers within 10 hours of being born.
The spots on a giraffe coat offer good
camouflage. They help the animals to
blend into shadows and sunlight. Just
like human fingerprints, no two giraffes
have exactly the same pattern of spots,
although giraffes from the same area
have a similar appearance.
Distinctive skin-covered bony
knobs called ossicones grow on the
top of giraffe heads. The ossicones
help scientists distinguish male from
female giraffes. Mature female giraffes
have small ossicones that are topped That awkward position prevents them
with a tuft of fur. Mature male giraffes from keeping a lookout for predators.
have thick ossicones that are bald on But they only need to drink once every
top. Ossicones protect male giraffes’ several days because they get most of
heads during fights—called neckings. their water from the plants they eat.
Necking refers to the way two male With so much food to find and so many Red-billed oxpeckers
provide some pest control.
giraffes will compete for a female predators to watch for, giraffes sleep
giraffe by swinging their necks at each less than two hours per day. They often Giraffes also have a symbiotic
other in a show of strength. The male sleep standing up! (mutually beneficial) relationship with
giraffes deliver powerful head-butts the red-billed oxpecker. These birds
that occasionally result in one of the FAST FACTS feast on ticks and horseflies from the
animals being knocked unconscious necks of giraffes, and the giraffes get
» Scientific Name: Giraffa
to the ground! camelopardalis free pest control.
Other giraffe adaptations include » Location: Sub-Saharan Africa Researchers initially considered
an 18-inch-long (46-centimeter-long) » Habitat: Savannas, open there to be one species of giraffe, which
woodlands
bluish-purple tongue that is tough and they divided into nine subspecies.
covered in bristly hair. This special » Diet: Herbivore. Their Modern DNA studies, however, have
favorite food is the leaves
tongue allows giraffes to swallow thorny of the acacia tree, a spiny, led scientists to identify three or four
umbrella-shaped tree
acacia tree leaves. Giraffes eat hundreds common in Africa. species of giraffe. Conservationists
of pounds of the leaves in a week and » Average height: Males, have assessed giraffes as vulnerable.
will travel miles to find them. Drinking 17 feet (5.2 meters); The two main threats the creatures
females, 16 feet (4.9 meters)
puts giraffes in a dangerous position face are loss of habitat due to logging
» Average weight: Males,
because they must spread their legs and 1,984 pounds (900 kilo- for firewood and being hunted by
grams); females, 1,874
bend down to reach a pool of water. pounds (850 kilograms) people for their meat, hides, and tails.
7
 The Maasai people of Kenya participate in Adumu,
a traditional jumping dance as part of a cultural
ceremony in Maasai Mara National Reserve.

Welcome to
by Kelly A. Tinkham

n Kenya, lions and giraffes live only minutes lives. The highlands include the capital city of Nairobi,
from the nation’s largest and bustling capital snowcapped Mount Kenya, and part of the Rift Valley.
city of Nairobi. The Swahili word harambee People also farm and fish in the Lake Victoria region.
(hah-RABM-bay) fittingly describes this diverse Kenya experiences two rainy seasons—a long one usually
East African nation. Harambee refers to a “spirit occurs from March to May and a short one happens from
of cooperation” or “pulling together.” About 70 November to December. Although the equator runs
distinct African ethnic groups live in Kenya. Europeans, through the middle of the country, the altitude of the land
Asians, and Arabs also call it home. determines temperature. For example, in Mount Kenya
In simple terms, Kenya can be divided into four land National Park, people can stand on the equator and have a
regions: the Lake Victoria basin in the southwest, the Rift snowball fight! Average temperatures range from 57 to 70
Valley running north-to-south along the western part of degrees Fahrenheit (14 to 21 degrees Celsius) in the central
the country, the eastern plateau, and the semiarid and highlands to 80°F (27°C) along the coast.
arid areas found in the north and the south and on the
coastline. These diverse geographic regions fit together Lake Victoria is Africa's largest lake.
like puzzle pieces to create one unique landscape.
The coastline in the southeast stretches for 373 miles (600
kilometers) along the Indian Ocean. Kenya’s coastline has
tropical white sandy beaches and the ancient port city of
Mombasa. It provides Kenya with access to trade and fishing.
Northern savannas cover almost three fourths of the country.
Nearly all farming occurs in the fertile highlands of central
Kenya, which also is where the majority of Kenya’s population

8
 The coastal city of Mombasa includes the
historic military Fort Jesus (lower left),
which was built by Portuguese colonizers
in the late 1500s.

Kenya has a fascinating history. Fossilized hominid

remains have been found on the African continent in what
is now Kenya, Ethiopia, and Tanzania. Their discovery has
led many paleontologists to believe that East Africa is the
birthplace of humankind. Two thousand years ago, hunters,
herders, and farmers populated the countryside.
By the 900s C.E., trading centers were established along
the coast. Africans, Arabs, and Indians traded gold, ivory, and
other products from the Kenyan coastal ports of Mombasa
and Lamu. Arabs settled in the area and assimilated (mixed
Ostriches roam in
with the local culture). In 1498, the Portuguese arrived and Nairobi National
Park.
began to dominate parts of the coast. But Kenya’s native
Swahili culture and language continued to thrive.
Tea plantations fill Kenya’s
Rich raw materials found on the African continent and highlands on both sides of
the Rift Valley.
the potential benefits of trade led other European nations
to eye locations as valuable colonies. In the late 1800s,
Europeans began exploring the interior of Kenya. In 1884,
12 European nations and the United States met at the
Conference of Berlin in Germany. The primary purpose of the
conference was to reach an agreement about how Europe
would colonize the continent of Africa. One of the results of
the meeting was that Great Britain claimed present-day
Kenya and Uganda as British East Africa.
One part of Great Britain’s colonial endeavors in Kenya
was to build a railroad. It stretched from Mombasa on the British into the fertile valley, and they set up huge
east coast to Lake Victoria in the west. Building the railroad plantations to grow coffee and tea. The government
across the Rift Valley was difficult, and it became known created mandatory labor laws, which forced Africans
as the “Lunatic Express.” The massive project brought the to work on the plantations for low wages.

9
 Kenyan self-rule. People called him “Mzee” (em-ZAY,
or “Wise one”). His motto was “Harambee!”
At that time, each group in Kenya had its own
territory, language, and traditions. Kenyatta knew that
for Kenya to be strong, all ethnic groups had to pull
together. Swahili became the national language because
traders and travelers in many parts of the country already
spoke it. In classrooms, children of every ethnic group
gathered as Kenyans to learn.
The most urgent problems facing Kenya today are
poverty and unemployment. Kenyans traditionally
have large families, and the population has more than
doubled since independence. Although most Kenyans
make their living as farmers, less than 20 percent of the

Traditional Kenyan crafts include (clockwise from top left) FAST FACTS
beadwork, carved soapstone, woven textiles, and carved wood.
» Kenya’s biggest celebration occurs on
In the 1920s, many Kenyans began calling for Jamhuri Day (December 12), which is
the country’s national independence day.
independence from Great Britain. During the 1950s,
a secret guerrilla (an independent, irregular military » Coffee is Kenya’s biggest export. It adds
4.5 billion shillings ($40.2 million U.S.)
group) movement called the Mau Mau reclaimed some to the nation’s economy. Tea is another
major export.
land. The British colonial government tried to defeat
the Mau Mau, but the freedom struggle continued. On » Kenya’s Lamu Old Town is the oldest
Swahili settlement in East Africa.
December 12, 1963, cries of “Uhuru! ” (oo-HOO-roo, meaning Africans have lived there continuously
for more than 700 years.
“Freedom!”) were heard around the country as Kenya
became a free nation. Kenya formed a republican » Football (soccer) at all levels is the most
popular sport in Kenya.
government. The people elected Jomo Kenyatta as their
first president in 1964. Kenyatta had long argued for

Kenyan schoolchildren get in

10 a game of football (soccer).
land is arable (useful for farming). The land is unable to meaning “Greetings!”) or “Habari gani? ” (hah-BAH-ree
produce enough crops to feed the population. Poverty gah-nee, meaning “What’s the news?”). Young Kenyans
has driven some Kenyans to poach (take something that learn cultural traditions along with modern technology.
is not owned) wildlife for sale on illegal markets or to Folktales are retold to new generations. Wood and stone
move to urban areas in search of jobs. carving, singing, and dancing are all respected arts.
Still, Kenya has a lively cultural tradition. People Kenyans take pride in their family, their culture, and
graciously greet visitors with “Jambo! ” (JAH-mbo, their land.

Remote Lake Turkana contains a

treasure trove of early human fossils.

Fascinating Finds
by Erin McKeogh

A
rchaeologists have made fascinating discoveries about human evolution
in Kenya. Located in the northern part of the country, Lake Turkana is
the largest permanent desert lake in the world. A desert lake is
a shallow body of water that forms in a desert after it rains. In ancient
times, rivers flowed into the lake’s basin carrying sediment. The fossils and
bones that washed in were well preserved. Among them, archaeologists have
found some of the oldest-known hominid and archaeological fossils.
Research at Lake Turkana has been ongoing since the early 1900s, and
today digging sites extend 30 miles (48 kilometers) inland from the lake’s
shores. One of the most exciting discoveries came in 1995. A team led by The Kenyanthropus platyops
skull
famed British paleoanthropologist Meave Leakey found a fossil named
Australopithecus anamensis. It provided evidence of a hominid walking upright on two feet. The fossils were dated
to about 4.2 million years ago. Prior to its discovery, hominids were believed to have evolved from moving on four
limbs to walking on two feet 3.7 million years ago.
Several other distinct hominids have been identified in the basin, all by Leakey-led scientific teams.
A Homo habilis fossil (dating to 1.9 million years ago) was found in 1972, and a nearly complete skeleton of
Homo erectus (dating to about 1.5 million years ago and named Turkana Boy) was pieced together in 1984.
In 1999, pieces of a 3.5-million-year-old crushed skull were discovered. The skull was identified as a new
hominid—Kenyanthropus platyops.
Some of the richest fossil areas lie within the boundaries of Kenya’s remote Sibiloi National Park on the
northeastern shore of Lake Turkana. Much of the work done there in the past 35 years has been conducted by
the Koobi Fora Research Project. Each discovery adds to our understanding of the evolution of humankind.

11
 Mombasa’s famous food market sells
everything from fruits to spices and
live poultry.

A Kaleidoscope of Food by Colette Weil Parrinello

Kenya produces staple crops such as wheat, corn,

potatoes, green vegetables, sweet potatoes, and many
varieties of fruit. About 80 percent of Kenyans work at
least part-time in agriculture or pastoralism, which is
related to the agricultural practices of crop production
and raising livestock.
Seventy-five percent of Kenya’s population lives in
rural areas and is poor. The vast majority are farmers
who rely on a small plot of land and access to local
markets for their limited income and food. More than
40 percent of Kenya’s population is classified as under-
A colorful variety of spices are used in Kenyan cooking. nourished (lacking the food to maintain good health).
enya’s cuisine—in colors and variety—is Maize, bananas, chilies, peppers, sweet potatoes, and
like a kaleidoscope. It reflects the cultural cassavas were first brought to the Kenyan coast by the
diversity, foreign influences, and different Portuguese in 1498. The Portuguese also brought oranges,
lifestyles of the country’s many ethnic groups. lemons, limes, and pigs from China and India. In the 1800s,
Each of the geographic regions has food Europeans introduced potatoes, cucumbers, and tomatoes.
specialties based on locally grown produce, Indian laborers, used by the British to build railroads, shared
herds of livestock, and lake or coastal fishing. chutney, different curries, and chapati (chuh-PAA-tee),
Some of the most fertile land in Africa is in Kenya. a simple round flatbread made from wheat flour.

12
 Many Kenyans tend to their own A woman cooks ugali in
farms and care for herds of livestock. her outdoor kitchen.

Livestock herding, introduced in 1000 C.E., has a long Irio or

Mukimo
tradition in inland arid regions. The Maasai, Rendille, and
Samburu people rely on the by-products of milk and blood
from cattle. Beef may be eaten on special occasions, but goat
and sheep meat are eaten more frequently. Kenyans also raise
poultry, quails, and rabbits. People living on the coast have a
more varied diet that includes rice, fish, and curries flavored
with exotic spices from Asian and Middle Eastern influences.
Nyama Choma Mishkaki
National Dishes
Kenya has a few national dishes. Ugali (oo-GAL-ee) is the
traditional main part of a meal. Many Kenyans eat it every
day. It is filling, inexpensive, and relatively healthy. Ugali is
a simple mixture of ground corn and water that is cooked
until nearly all the water has evaporated, creating a stiff,
thick porridge. The traditional way to eat ugali is by
pinching off a piece of the porridge, shaping it into a
scoop by pressing in the middle with a thumb, and using is not like barbecue meat in the United States. When
the scoop to dip into meat stews or gravy or to wrap someone has nyama choma at a restaurant or roadside
vegetables. stand, they pick the piece of meat they want and pay by
An alternative to ugali is irio (ay-ree-OH) or mukimo the kilogram. The meat is grilled without any seasoning
(moo-KEE-mo). The Kikuyu ethnic groups in the highlands except salt and pepper and served in chunks to be eaten
grow corn, beans, potatoes, and greens. They cook and with the hands, perhaps along with ugali and vegetables.
mix these ingredients, then mash them together. Spices Another popular meat dish is mishkaki (MISH-ka-ki).
and spinach might be added. Irio is rolled into balls and It is a Swahili dish that consists of small pieces of meat.
also dipped in meat and vegetable stews. The meat is marinated, skewered, and then cooked over
Another national dish is nyama choma (NYE-ah-muh charcoal until tender. Marinades can include a variety of
cho-muh). Nyama choma is a Swahili term for “roasted spices, including salt, pepper, garlic, chili powder, lemon
meat.” The meat is usually goat but it can be beef. This juice, turmeric, and vinegar.

13
 Kenyan girls carry water
from the village well.

Thirst Quenchers Smalls farms and local markets may have papayas,
Half of Kenya’s population does not have access to clean pineapples, bananas, watermelons, mangos, oranges,
water. The government continues to add wells and water guavas, passion fruits, and coconuts. Sugar cane is always
systems, but water scarcity has been dire for decades. a treat for children. Kenyans eat few processed foods.
Women traditionally are responsible for collecting water Mandazis (men-DA-zees) are similar to doughnuts.
for their household’s and farm’s use from the closest river, They are made of batter that is shaped into triangles and
lake, well, or standpipe. They carry the water on their then fried in oil. A dash of spices, such as cardamom,
heads or in large plastic containers. The average roundtrip and some coconut adds to the unique flavor of these light
walk to get water in Kenya is 3.7 miles (6 kilometers). treats. And mkate wa mayai (IM-ka-tey wa MA-ee-ya-aa)
Locally grown tea or chai is the number one Kenyan is an oven-baked sweet sponge cake made with lots of
drink. Milk and sugar are added to make this sweet eggs, sugar, flour, baking powder, and cardamom.
brewed tea. The most popular juice is known in English
as “passion” (passion fruit) and is sold everywhere.

Snacks Chai Tea

Sambusas (sam-BOO-sas) are common snacks
in Kenya. They are deep-fried pastry triangles
stuffed with spiced minced meat and often can be
purchased from vendors on street corners. Other easy
snacks sold on the street include fried cassava chips,
roasted corncobs, and, at certain times of the year in
drier areas, roasted termites.
Mandazis
For something sweet, Kenyans reach for fresh fruits.

14
 A Taste of Kenya
F ollow these easy steps to try a couple of authentic
Kenyan dishes.

Ugali
You Need
4 cups water
3 to 4 cups white cornmeal or maize
medium saucepan, mixing spoon,
large plate, kitchen knife

Directions
1. Bring the water to a boil in the saucepan.
2. Add most of the cornmeal or maize and
stir to prevent lumps. If the mixture appears to have too much liquid, add
additional cornmeal or maize to create a thick porridge.
3. Keep stirring until the cornmeal or maize has absorbed all the water and
pulls away from the sides of the pot.
4. Allow the maize to cool for a few minutes. Set the plate face down on top
of the saucepan and turn the pot upside down so that the ugali drops out
onto the plate. It should be thick enough to cut with a knife. Ask an adult
to help cut the ugali into servings.

Irio
You Need
4 potatoes, peeled and quartered
2 cups corn kernels
2 cups canned red kidney beans, rinsed
and drained
2 cups fresh spinach
salt and pepper to taste
medium saucepan, large saucepan,
fork or wooden spoon

Directions
1. Place the potatoes in the medium saucepan and cover with water. Cover the
pot with a lid and bring to a boil. Allow the potatoes to boil until they are soft,
about 10 to 15 minutes. Drain the water from the pot and set the potatoes aside.
2. In the large saucepan, combine the corn, beans, and spinach. Cook over low
to medium heat until the vegetables are soft.
3. Add the potatoes to the cooked vegetables. Season with salt and pepper and
mash the mixture with the fork or wooden spoon. Enjoy! —C.W.P.

15
 Land of Runners
by Christine Graf

W
hen I grow up, I want to be a runner.”
Kenya’s long, quiet dirt roads are These words have been uttered by
excellent places for runners to train.
thousands of Kenyan children. To young
people, running offers a way out of a life
of poverty. World-class Kenyan runners are heroes to
the many children who dream of a better life. The prize
money won in a single race can change the trajectory
of a Kenyan’s life.
A large percentage of Kenya’s top runners are
members of the Kalenjin tribe, one of the country’s more
than 70 different ethnic groups. The Kalenjin people live
in high-elevation villages in the Rift Valley in western
Kenya. Within this group of approximately 6.4 million
people, there are 11 different ethnic groups. One of these
groups, the Nandi, has become synonymous with high-
performance long-distance running. Although the

16
 So, how does this small percentage of runners from
Kenya become the fastest runners in the world and win so
many of the races that they enter? This question has both
fascinated and perplexed sports scientists. They have
spent considerable time and effort trying to answer it.
But finding the answer has proven to be difficult and
controversial.

A Scientif ic Study
In the 1990s, a team of Danish sports scientists spent 18
months with the Kalenjin community in Eldoret, a town
on a plateau in the Rift Valley located 7,000 feet (2,133
Training high above the Rift Valley meters) above sea level. The researchers discovered that
in Nandi Hills seems to have a
positive impact on runners. the Kalenjins had remarkably slow heart rates even when
running long distances. People living at high elevations
produce more red blood cells, which aid in the transport
Kalenjin people make up less than one percent of the of oxygen throughout the body. Because the air is thinner
world’s population, and the Nandi people make up less and contains less oxygen at high elevations, the body
than two percent of Kenya’s population, the Nandis compensates by producing more red blood cells. Scientists
account for 50 percent of the country’s top runners. In believe there is a correlation (a relationship or connection)
addition to their speed and endurance, they are known between increased red blood cells and low heart rates and
for their traditions of individualism, competitiveness, that both those factors may enable high-altitude athletes
pride, and achievement. to outperform those athletes who train at low altitudes.

Elite marathon runners participate in

a cross-country race in Eldoret, Kenya.

17
After training with Kenyan runners, Mo Farah’s
running career took off. Here, he finishes first
in the 2018 London 10K run.
Two of the Kenyan boys easily beat Dolan.
As a result of the Danish study, some scientists made
the controversial conclusion that Kenyans—and
specifically the Kalenjin and Nandi people—possessed
what was called a “speed gene.” Many Kenyan runners
were offended by this conclusion. They considered it
racist. They credit their success to hard work and endless
hours of training.
Hugh Montgomery, a British cardiovascular geneticist,
disagrees that the conclusion is racist. “There is clearly an
influence of race on performance,” he says, “and that isn’t
to be racist; it’s just saying that different races have different
strengths.” Other contributing factors that need to be
considered but are difficult to measure are the benefits of
Kenyans’ simple, healthful diet—which does not include
many processed foods—and their motivation—winning
offers an escape from poverty.
The Danish scientists also studied the bodies of the
Kalenjins and compared them to Danish bodies. They Mo Farah
found that the Kalenjin runners have “birdlike legs, very Somalian-born British runner Mohamed “Mo” Farah’s
long levers that are very, very thin.” The Kalenjin runners’ experience offers an interesting perspective on the
long, lean legs allowed them to “bounce and skip” over
the ground and to gracefully flow through the running
motion. In comparison, the Danish people “landed heavily
and sunk into the ground and almost had to pull themselves
forward.” The Danish scientists also noted that the Kalenjin
runners had lower body mass indexes (a measure of body fat
based on weight and height) and shorter torsos than their
Danish counterparts. So, the Danish study seemed to point
to body type having an impact for runners.

On Your Mark . . .
The Danish scientists took their study further by randomly
selecting three groups of schoolboys who had no previous
athletic training. The groups were from Denmark, Eldoret,
and Nandi Hills, which is home to the Nandi people. The
boys were asked to run 10,000 meters (about 6 miles) after
receiving three months of training. When their times were
compared, the Nandi Hills boys were the decisive winners.
The scientists also pitted Thomas Dolan, one of Denmark’s Iten has become known as the “Home of
Champions” for the number of elite runners
top distance runners, against the Nandi Hills schoolboys. who have trained in the Kenyan town.

18
 Kenyan Betty Chepkwony won the 2023
Rome marathon with a time of 2 hours,
23 minutes, 2 seconds.

subject. Today, Farah is a world-famous long-distance

runner. But early in his running career, he felt that he
wasn’t meeting his potential.
In 2005, when Farah was 22 years old, he moved
in with a group of elite Kenyan runners who were
training in England. After observing the Kenyans’
strict training routines and dedication to their sport,
Farah said it was like a switch had been turned on in
his head. He wrote in his autobiography, “From that
day on my attitude changed completely.” He began eating
healthful foods and going to bed early. He worked harder
than he had ever worked in his life. After training with
the Kenyans, Farah’s running career exploded. He won
four Olympic gold medals and six World titles. He
regularly beat Kenya’s top runners until he retired
from running in 2023.
Farah’s story illustrates what Kenyans have known
all along. That is, success would not be possible
without hard work, dedication, sacrifice, and mental
toughness. Their “secret” is simple: Train hard, run
fast, and never give up. FAST FACTS
» Kenya’s international success in running began
at the 1968 Munich Olympics. At those games,
Kipchoge Keino won the gold medal in the
1,500-meter race. He also won the silver medal
in the 5,000-meter race.
» In the 1988 Seoul Olympics in South Korea,
Kenyan men won the 800-meter, the 1,500-
meter, the 3,000-meter steeplechase, and
the 5,000-meter races. The likelihood of that
happening was calculated to be 1 in 1.6 billion.

» In 1999, Kenyan-born long-distance runner

Lorna Kiplagat opened the High Altitude Training
Centre (HATC) in Iten. It is the first modern
facility in Kenya designed to train runners.

» With the conclusion of the 2024 Paris Olympics,

Kenya has won a total of 124 Olympic medals.
Kenyan runners have earned 117 of those medals:
38 gold, 43 silver, and 36 bronze.

» In October 2024, Kenyan runner Ruth

Chepngetich set a new women’s world record
of 2 hours, 9 minutes, 56 seconds at the
Chicago Marathon. She is the first woman
ever to run a marathon in under 2 hours and
10 minutes.

19
 M eet K enya’s

by Erin McKeough

enya is known internationally for its wildlife. But that wildlife faces
shrinking habitats and population loss from decades of hunting and
poaching. Kenya’s national parks and preserves provide vast spaces for
its animals to roam freely. Here are some of the common large animals
that can be seen on safari in Kenya.

Lion
The East African lion is Kenya’s national animal. The
largest of all the big cats, lions mostly live in savannas
and grasslands. They generally form a pride of about 20
animals. A pride may include several male lions and
several adult female lions (lionesses), with one lead
lioness. The rest of the pride includes either cubs or
not-yet-fully grown lions. Lionesses generally do the
bulk of the hunting. Lions are carnivorous and nocturnal
(active at night). They use a variety of noises from purrs
to roars to communicate with one another. The life span
of a lion is between 14 and 20 years.

Leopard
Compared to the other big cats (lions, tigers, and
jaguars), leopards are the best climbers. In fact, the
best chance of catching sight of a leopard and its
beautiful spotted coat is to look up: Leopards spend
a lot of time in trees. Like lions, leopards tend to be
active at night, which is when they hunt. Unlike lions,
they are nomadic and solitary. When a female leopard
gives birth, she stays in one place for several months
until her cubs can keep up with her and can be taught
how to hunt. She uses hidden lairs to protect her cubs
from being eaten by lions or hyenas while she hunts.
The life span of a leopard is between 12 and 17 years.

20
 Rhinoceros
Today, the two surviving species of rhinos can be found in
only four African nations. Kenya is home to the third-largest
population of these critically endangered herbivores: about
1,000 eastern black rhinos (which look brownish gray) and
970 southern white rhinos (which look light gray). Their diet
is mostly grass and leaves, yet they can weigh almost 7,716
pounds (3,500 kilograms). A herd of rhinos—as many as 14
animals—is called a crash. These animals have a good sense
of smell but bad eyesight. They roll in mud to keep cool and
to protect their hides from biting insects. The life span of a
rhinoceros is about 32 years.

Elephant
Elephants are the largest land animals. Male elephants
can weigh up to 15,000 pounds (6,800 kilograms). Female
elephants can weigh 8,000 pounds (3,600 kilograms).
Elephants are intelligent and have shown a capacity for
learning and remembering. They form herds of about
10 individuals across several generations led by female
elephants. Sometimes several family groups form a single
large herd. These giant herbivores eat up to 300 pounds
(136 kilograms) of grasses, roots, and scrub every day.
Their muscle-filled trunk functions as a nose, an arm, a
hand, and a weapon. Elephants once were hunted for their
ivory tusks, but that activity was banned in Kenya in 1973.
The life span of an elephant is between 50 and 60 years.

Cape Buffalo
The Cape buffalo’s most unique feature is its curling horns,
which create one long bony shield on its head known as a
boss. The horns are used as weapons against predators. And
other animals should beware: Cape buffalo are unpredictable
and dangerous. Although they have few predators, calves,
pregnant buffalo, and older buffalo can be easy prey. If one
member of a herd is attacked, the whole group responds
by forming a protective circle around the animal in danger.
Cape buffalo herds usually consist of related female animals
and their offspring. The life span of a Cape buffalo is about
11 years.

21
 Blue Wildebeest
Also known as a gnu, the blue wildebeest is a horned antelope
with a long distinctive black tail. Blue wildebeests live in
large herds primarily on the savannas, which provide these
herbivores with their diet of short grasses. They are famous
for making long-distance migrations of more than 500 to
1,000 miles (805 to 1,609 kilometers) in search of grass and
water. They are capable of going long distances without water.
Male blue wildebeests can weigh between 370 and 900 pounds
(170 and 410 kilograms), while female blue wildebeests can
weigh between 310 and 570 pounds (140 and 260 kilograms).
The life span of a blue wildebeest is 20 years.

Nile Crocodile
Sometimes reaching lengths of 10 to 11 feet (3 to 3.4 meters)
for adult males and about 9.5 feet (2.9 meters) for adult
females, the Nile crocodile is the largest freshwater predator
in Africa. Lying motionless in the water—often with only its
eyes, ears, and nose located on the top of its head sticking
above the water—it ambushes unsuspecting prey. Once the
crocodile’s powerful jaws lock onto an animal, they usually
remain locked until the animal drowns. Crocodiles lay eggs,
and both male and female crocodiles help guard them. These
large reptiles enjoy basking for hours in the sun. The life span of
a Nile crocodile is estimated to be greater than 70 years.

Hippopotamus
Hippopotamuses are the third-largest living land mammal
after elephants and rhinoceroses. Male hippos can weigh
up to 7,055 pounds (3,200 kilograms), and female hippos
weigh in at about 3,000 pounds (1,400 kilograms). Water and
hippopotamuses go together. In fact, the closest relatives to
hippos are whales, dolphins, and porpoises. Hippopotamuses
spend their days submerged in water to keep cool. They
move in rivers or lakes by walking along the bottom. They can
hold their breath underwater for five minutes! When night
falls, these herbivores leave the water to graze on land. The
life span of a rhinoceros is about 40 years.

22
 Spotted Hyena
These social animals live in large groups called clans, which
are led by female hyenas. With an average weight of 120
pounds (54 kilograms), female hyenas are slightly larger than
male hyenas. A clan will work together to identify prey and
then separate it from its herd and chase it across great
distances. These carnivores will scavenge other animals’ kills,
too. They can eat and digest skin and bones. Spotted hyenas
tend to be competitive with one another and will not help raise
other clan members’ offspring. They are noted for the variety
of noises they can make, including what sounds like wild
laughter. The life span of a spotted hyena is 25 years.

Plains Zebra
Plains zebras are social animals that stick close to other
family members to form a harem. A harem usually consists
of a single stallion (a male zebra), several mares (female
zebras), and their offspring. Several harems might join
together to form a large herd. Plains zebras generally live
on the savannas and grasslands. Herds of these herbivores
need large expanses of grass for grazing. The average weight
of a zebra is between 386 and 849 pounds (between 175 and
385 kilograms). Zebras can sleep standing up, and they are
relatively fast animals, which allows them to outrun predators.
Zebra calves can walk immediately after birth. The life span of
a plains zebra is between 20 and 30 years.

Cheetah
With top speeds of 70 miles (113 kilometers) per hour,
cheetahs are the fastest land animal in the world. Their long
and flexible muscular tail works like a rudder, keeping them
balanced during chases. Compared to the members of the
big cat family, cheetahs are small. They range in weight
from 99 to 132 pounds (45 to 60 kilograms). Their size
prevents them from defending themselves against larger
animals such as lions or hyenas. Cheetahs also do not roar
like the big cats do. They need large areas in which to range,
as much as 116 square miles (300 square kilometers). They
usually live in small groups of related animals. The life span
of a cheetah is 10 to 12 years.

23
 Green City in the Sun
by Marcia Amidon Lusted

airobi is both Kenya’s capital city and

its largest city. Its name comes from
the Maasai words Enkare Nairobi, which
mean “stream of cold water.” Nairobi’s
nickname—Green City in the Sun—captures
how the city has plenty of green grasslands and hills plus
three rivers that run through it to go with its African warmth
and sunshine.
Nairobi started out as a stop on the railroad built by the
British in the late 1800s. The railroad connected interior
parts of present-day Uganda and Kenya with the port city of
Mombasa. Mombasa was the original capital of British East
There’s a little bit of everything in Nairobi! Africa. Nairobi was used as a storage depot and a place to
shift trains from one track to another. Because of Nairobi’s
high elevation, people there did not often get sick from
malaria (a disease transmitted by the bite of an infected
mosquito). By 1907, British colonizers decided to make
Nairobi their capital city. It became a thriving trading center.
After Kenya gained its independence from Great
Britain in 1963, Nairobi remained the country’s capital city.
The city is not only Kenya’s government center, but it also is
the East African Community’s economic center. Today,
Nairobi covers 269 square miles (697 square kilometers) and
has a population of 2.7 million people.
As a bustling cosmopolitan city, Nairobi has some
Uhuru Park, located near Nairobi’s Central Business District,
has become a popular public gathering place. unexpected and amazing places to visit. Many parks

24
are located in the city proper. Uhuru Park is a public
green space with an artificial lake. It was the site of
protests in the past and has become a skateboarding
mecca more recently. The August 7th Memorial Park
was built in memory of the more than 220 people who
died in the bombing of the U.S. Embassy in 1998.
Bordering the city is Nairobi National Park. There,
black rhinos, lions, warthogs, zebras, and cheetahs live
against the background of urban skyscrapers. It is the
only national park in the world that borders a capital
city. The park contains the Ivory Burning Site. In 1989, Nairobi National Park lies just outside the capital city.
Kenya’s President Daniel arap Moi burned 12 tons of
ivory to demonstrate against elephant poaching and
to encourage conservation.
Nairobi’s Sheldrick Wildlife Trust was founded in 1977.
It cares for and rehabilitates orphaned elephants and
black rhinos. Every day, visitors can watch a parade of
baby elephants on their way to their daily mud bath. If
visitors want even more animal experiences, the Giraffe
Centre is a short drive from Nairobi in Lang’ata. The
sanctuary is home to the endangered Rothschild’s giraffe.
It’s possible for visitors to feed, touch, and even kiss a
giraffe from one of the wooden viewing stands!
Nairobi is a modern city, too. The Kenya National An orphaned elephant gets good care at the Sheldrick Wildlife
Archives showcases historic photographs and traditional Trust.

arts and crafts. Visitors can also tour the buildings of the
Kenyan Parliament. The National Museums of Kenya
headquarters are in Nairobi, with the Nairobi National
Museum located on Museum Hill. In 2008, the museum
reopened after undergoing a renovation to improve its
exhibit space. On the grounds of the museum are the
Botanical Garden and the Snake Park and Aquarium.
From its earliest days, Nairobi was a place where
business was conducted. The Central Business District
is the home of the Thorn Tree Café. Before the modern
conveniences of email and text messages, travelers pinned
messages to the branches of the café’s large acacia tree.
The luxurious more-than-100-year-old Fairmont Norfolk
Hotel also still stands. It was the site from which East
African safaris traditionally began and ended. Many other
restaurants and hotels in the city strive to accommodate
all kinds of visitors. The Nairobi National Museum explores Kenya’s heritage.

25
 Today, the city is home to thousands of Kenyan
businesses and hundreds of international corporations
and organizations. Nearly 50 different universities and
colleges are in Nairobi. The Kenyatta International
Convention Centre soars 32 stories high in the business
district. Nairobi also is home to the Nairobi Securities
Exchange. The city has one of the fastest-growing
populations of millionaires in Africa.
Nairobi is experiencing some growing pains. Its
population has doubled in 10 years. Many unemployed
people from rural areas come to Nairobi looking for work.
But there aren’t enough jobs. Not enough housing in the
city also has resulted in slums forming. Slums are places
Since 1973, the Kenyatta International Convention Centre has where many people share space in one dwelling that often
served as an iconic African meeting venue.
lacks basic services such as electricity or running water.
The Kenyan government is passing laws to upgrade the
city’s housing, but the nation’s urban areas are not
prepared to deal with their growing populations.
The city’s environment also has suffered from rapid
growth and industrialization. Forests and soil have been
depleted, and all of the city’s rivers have been dredged for
sand, which is used for construction.
Still, many residents of Nairobi can’t imagine living
anywhere other than their Green City in the Sun. Nairobi
offers a mixture of rich and poor, traditional and modern,
natural and man-made. It is a place where people from all
Market stalls selling fresh fruits and vegetables line a Nairobi over the world live, work, and play together.
street.

FAST FACTS
» Nairobi is the only city in Kenya that
has a population of more than one
million people.
» Malaria continues to be a health issue
for many Kenyans. But Nairobi’s high
elevation offers residents some
protection from the disease.

» Nairobi’s large slum, Kibera, originally

was a forest area just outside the city.

Nairobi’s Kibera neighborhood is the largest slum in Africa.

26
 The Changing Role of

by Colette Weil Parrinello

ike most African nations, Kenya is male-

dominated. Men historically have run the
government and owned the land, livestock,
and businesses. But this is changing. In 2010,
the nation’s constitution was redrafted for
a second time. It specifically gave women
the same legal rights as men regarding land ownership,
freedom of movement, court access, inheritance, and
nationality. The government-backed Women Enterprise
Fund (WEF), set up in 2007, also helps women start or
grow their own business. It is part of the government’s
effort to support gender equality. Between 2009 and 2011,
Kenya made great improvements in working toward Women perform most of the agricultural work in Kenya.

expanding gender equality—making sure men and

women have the same opportunities.
But cultural change is slow. Many women and judicial serve the family. But women do more than care for their
officials are unaware of the new laws and policies. In large husband and children. Kenyan women perform most of
Kenyan cities such as Nairobi, women may enjoy more the agricultural work. They handle 80 percent of the food
economic and educational opportunities. But women in production, 90 percent of the weeding, 60 percent of the
Kenya generally have fewer job prospects than men, and crop harvesting and marketing, 80 percent of the food
women earn less than men in the same job. storage and transport from farm to home, and 50 percent
In Kenya, the traditional role of women has been to of the cash crop production.

27
 Kenyan children from a small village
attend an outdoor primary school.

Stalls of fresh vegetables and fruits

on a street in Mombasa are managed
by mostly women.

Kenya’s laws state that every child has the right to free and each wife takes care of a house, farm, livestock, and
compulsory basic education. For families living in rural areas, the sale of crops.
however, access to qualified schools, supplies, and teachers is In 2014, Kenyan president Uhuru Kenyatta signed
difficult. And nearly half of the girls in rural areas do not a new marriage law. The Marriage Act No. 4 legalized the
complete primary school because their families expect them right of a man to marry multiple women in a traditional or
to marry and run their own homes and farms. customary ceremony. However, the law also recognized
Kenya observes a long-standing cultural practice for customary wives. It gave wives rights if the husband died.
men to have more than one wife, known as customary It recognized the rights and legitimacy of any children
marriages. Although the arrangement requires that the in a customary marriage. It also stated that a wife was
husband provide a house for each wife, such marriage entitled to 50 percent of the property acquired during
arrangements are strong predictors of low education and the marriage.
low wealth for women. For wealthier men, having more The Marriage Act also established 18 as the minimum
than one wife is viewed as a good investment because age for marriage. In rural areas, it was customary for girls

28
 who were younger than 15 years old to be married. In the
past, families also traditionally gave a dowry—a bridal As a growing percentage
gift of livestock, goods, or cash—to a groom. The 2014 of Kenyan women attend
college, professional
law outlawed the dowry system. opportunities for them
are increasing.
Political representation is another issue that the 2010
constitution addressed by establishing gender quotas for
Parliament. Specifically, no gender can hold more than
two thirds of the 349 seats in the National Assembly,
and 47 seats are reserved for women. In 2022, there
were 82 female members. And of the Senate’s 68 seats,
21 were filled by women as of 2022. These growing
numbers of women in government directly impact
legislation related to women.
Kenya recognizes the important role women play in
its future. The nation is on its way to protecting girls and
women and helping them achieve higher educational
levels, legal equality to men, better jobs and health care,
and economic empowerment.

WHERE in the World?

Do you know where
our friend Globey is
enjoying his copy of
FACES? wer is
Ans
e 48.
on pag

Here is a hint: This body of water is the largest lake (by area) in Africa.
A small portion of it lies in southwestern Kenya.

29
 A Legacy of

by Christine Graf

The Green Belt Movement helps Kenyan women develop independence by teaching them how to plant and care for trees.

Watering is an hen Wangari Maathai was born in

important part
of caring for 1940, few Kenyan girls received an
saplings. education. Her parents were poor
farmers living in a small rural village.
But they realized how intelligent their
daughter was, and they enrolled her in
school. Maathai excelled and was awarded a scholarship
to continue her studies in the United States. After earning
undergraduate and master’s degrees, she returned to
Kenya. She earned a PhD from the University of Nairobi,
becoming the first woman in Eastern and Central Africa
to earn a doctorate degree.
Maathai’s interest in the environment began after
she noticed that her homeland was no longer green
and fertile. Vegetation was disappearing. Streams were

30
drying up. Forests were being cleared to make way for
farms and plantations. Kenya’s once predictable seasons
were becoming unpredictable.
In 1976, Maathai proposed an idea to help women and the
environment simultaneously. Her concept was simple: Pay
women to plant trees. The program developed into the
nonprofit Green Belt Movement (GBM). The organization
is dedicated to reducing poverty and conserving the
environment through planting trees. Maathai knew that trees
replenish the soil and protect the water supply. She also knew
that trees provide wood for fuel and fruit for food. The GBM
fosters cooperation among women who live in poor, rural
villages. The women form small groups and open group bank
accounts. They attend seminars arranged by the GBM, and
they receive an education on how to plant and care for trees
and tree nurseries. Women receive the equivalent of 10 cents
for each tree that is transplanted. In Kenya, where women Maathai was awarded the 2004 Nobel Peace Prize for her work
on behalf of women and the environment.
have few economic opportunities, earning any money offers a
chance for independence. As the GBM grew, Maathai gave speeches around the
At first, few people in Kenya recognized the importance world about environmental degradation and poverty.
of Maathai’s work. The government had no interest in She demanded action from Kenya’s leaders. She led high-
helping her help rural, uneducated women. Despite the profile campaigns to save green spaces and forests. In
lack of support, the GBM became a powerful organization. 1991, her efforts successfully prevented a skyscraper
from being built in Nairobi’s only remaining park. Viewed
Wangari Maathai led a protest against the construction of a
skyscraper in Uhuru Park, a popular green space in Nairobi. as an enemy of the government, she was physically beaten,
harassed, and arrested on multiple occasions for peacefully
protesting. But she refused to be silenced.
In 2002, Maathai was nominated to Kenya’s Parliament,
where she served for five years. She fought for environmental
conservation, human rights, and democracy. In 2004, she was
awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for her work. Maathai died
in 2011 at the age of 71.
Thanks to the GBM, more than 50 million trees have
been planted in Kenya, and the lives of tens of thousands
of women have been impacted. The GBM has spread to
other African nations and the United States. Maathai’s
daughter Wanjira Maathai works with the GBM and speaks
of her mother’s belief that it is the little things that people
do that make a difference. She says her mother’s “little thing”
was planting trees. She encourages everyone to “find out
what [their] little thing is and get on with doing it.”

31
 Come Touch
the Sky
by Marcia Amidon Lusted

ount Kenya is the tallest mountain mineral springs, and dense forests can be found.
in Kenya and the second-highest Vegetation ranges from grasses to cedar and yellowwood
peak in all of Africa. It is an extinct trees. At higher elevations, bamboo and giant heather
volcano that last erupted three grow and tarns (small mountain lakes) have formed.
million years ago. In the past, the At the highest colder elevations, moss and lichen grow.
mountain was estimated to reach
a height of 23,000 feet (7,000 meters). Today, the mountain’s
highest peaks range from about 4,500 to 17,000 feet (1,370 to
5,199 meters). It was covered by an ice cap for thousands
of years, which has eroded and softened its sharp peaks
over time and led to the creation of its now familiar
peaks and valleys.
Located about 85 miles (137 kilometers) north of the
nation’s capital city, Nairobi, Mount Kenya is one of
the largest sources of water for much of the country. It
also is one of the country’s biggest attractions. It is home
to an amazing array of environments and experiences.
Mount Kenya is an area of biodiversity. That means it
is a place where there is a great and rich variety of plants
and animals that inhabit an ecosystem. Surrounding its
Mount Kenya’s beautiful natural landscape attracts hikers
base and on its lower slopes, everything from grasslands, and visitors.

32
 Of the mountain’s three main peaks, Batian (17,057 feet
or 5,199 meters) and Nelion (17,021 feet or 5,188 meters)
are rigorous treks for well-equipped and experienced
hikers—they involve some rock climbing. Point Lenana’s
16,355-foot (4,985-meter) third-highest peak, however,
while still challenging, can be reached by walking. Hikes
take several days to complete. Along the way, visitors can
see the mountain’s 10 glaciers. They are rapidly shrinking,
though, due to climate change. The largest glacier, Lewis
Glacier, is only 10 percent of the size it was nearly 100
years ago. Scientists predict that Mount Kenya’s glaciers
will disappear within a couple of decades. Cold mountain water flows at a hidden gem in the park:
Castle Forest Waterfall.

Mount Kenya is on the equator, but

temperatures at the top can feel
like winter!

Scenic Lake Michaelson is located

about 14,110 feet (4,300 meters)
above sea level.

33
 The Kikuyu people (RIGHT) still live around
Mount Kenya (ABOVE), which they refer to as
Kirinyaga (Mountain of Whiteness) due to its
snow-capped peak.

The native Kikuyu people call Mount Kenya Kirinyaga that the site should be preserved for its special cultural or
(“Mountain of Whiteness”). They believe that their all- physical significance.
knowing Creator, Ngai, lives on the mountain. Along Visitors come to Mount Kenya National Park to view
with the Embu and the Meru people, the Kikuyu people the mountain’s amazing plants and animals and enjoy the
have traditionally farmed along the fertile lower slopes. breathtaking scenery. They camp on its slopes, explore
In 1949, the government of Kenya designated the its caves, cross its glaciers, and challenge themselves by
mountain and the surrounding land as a national park. climbing its tall peaks. Standing there, high above the
It is home to many different types of animals. Elephants surrounding plain, it seems as though they can touch
follow a migration route through it. Other animals that the sky.
live there include tree hyraxes, white tailed mongooses,
sunis (a small species of antelope), black-fronted duikers
(another species of antelope), mole rats, bushbucks,
waterbucks, and elands (antelope with spiral-shaped horns).
FAST FACTS
Animals that have been seen but that aren’t common include » Archaeological evidence points to the
Kikuyu people establishing communities
leopards, bongos (reddish-brown antelopes with white around Mount Kenya by the 13th century.
Today, they represent the largest ethnic
stripes), giant forest hogs, black rhinoceroses, and group in Kenya at slightly greater than
endangered albino zebras. 17 percent of the population.
By establishing the area as a national park, the Kenyan » The first Europeans noted Mount Kenya
government hoped to preserve its biodiversity and protect it in 1849. Fifty years passed before a
European successfully climbed the peak.
as an important source of water. The government also hoped
» Located in Tanzania, Mount Kilimanjaro
to preserve the park’s scenic beauty, which attracts tourists is the only mountain in Africa that is
and helps the economy. Today, the park extends across 277 taller than Mount Kenya. It is 19,341
feet (5,898 meters) above sea level,
square miles (718 square kilometers). more than 2,300 feet (more than 7,500
meters) taller than Mount Kenya.
In 1978, the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and
Cultural Organization (UNESCO) designated the area as » Because of Mount Kenya’s location near
the equator, the length of the days
a Biosphere Reserve. This means that the location is never change because the sun both
viewed as an international “learning place for sustainable rises and sets at the same time.
development.” In 1997, the park became a UNESCO World
Heritage Site. That designation means that experts agree

34
THE GALLERY
We’d love to see your ideas for how colorful this giraffe could be!

Email your design to FACES Giraffe at faces@cricketmedia.com.

Please include your name, age, and address, and a note from
a parent or guardian that states the work is your original
effort and that Cricket Media has permission to publish it in
print and online. Your artwork could appear in an upcoming
issue of FACES.

35
 The Great Bird Spectacle by Erin McKeough

It’s flamingos for as far as the eye

can see on Lake Nakuru!

ake Nakuru National Park is sometimes Nakuru is a Maasai word meaning “dusty place.”
called a bird watcher’s paradise. It is famous Lake Nakuru was named a conservation area in 1957 to
for its flocks of millions of pink flamingos. help protect the beautiful flocks of larger and lesser pink
More than 400 other species of birds, such flamingos that congregated there. Several years later, the
as pelicans, kingfishers, eagles, and herons, conserved area and additional sections around the lake were
live there, too. Bird watchers thrill at the site designated a bird sanctuary. It officially became a national
of grey-crowned cranes, African spoonbills, Abyssinian park in 1968 in an effort to protect the area from settlements
thrushes, African hoopoes, African paradise flycatchers, and industrialization that were creeping closer. The park
and Marabou storks. The park is located in the Rift Valley, expanded to protect mammals as well as birds. Today, the
just a two-hour drive from the capital city of Nairobi, so it national park is 73 square miles (188 square kilometers).
has become a popular tourist attraction. It encompasses the lake, savannas, woodlands, and hills
Thousands of years ago, Nakuru was part of one large and ridges from which to observe the wildlife that live
freshwater lake. That body of water shrank and dried there. A naturalist once called the millions of pink
up over time, creating several smaller isolated lakes. flamingos that blanketed Lake Nakuru “the greatest
Today, Lake Nakuru is a shallow soda (salty rather bird spectacle on earth.”
than freshwater) lake on the floor of the Rift Valley. It But Lake Nakuru more recently has experienced drastic
is about 17 square miles (45 square kilometers) in size fluctuations in water levels. The levels fell in 1990 and then
with an average depth of about 1 foot (0.30 meters). rose in 2014. Those swings in the level of the water have had

Flocks of great white pelicans have been Malachite

known to settle on Lake Nakuru, too. Kingfisher

36
 African Paradise Flycatcher Abyssinian Thrush African Hoopoe

African Spoonbill
an impact on the wildlife habitat. Flooding changes the
chemical balance of the water, which in turn decreases
the ability to support large quantities of algae. Flamingos
rely on algae for food. The changes resulted in a shrinking
flamingo population on the lake: The birds left the park to
find food at other lakes.
Flocks of flamingos have returned when the water level is
lower. But the lake is threatened by the runoff of fertilizers and
chemicals from nearby farms. In the past few decades, some
flamingos have been poisoned by chemicals in the lake’s water.
And almost 350,000 tourists and visitors have had an impact on
the natural environment, too. The city of Nakuru, one of Kenya’s Grey-Crowned
Cranes
major urban areas, is located near the lake. Nakuru’s proximity
to the lake has increased the number of local visitors as well
as threats from urban waste and pollution.
A visit to Lake Nakuru National Park is a visit to a unique
wildlife refuge. The park was named a UNESCO World
Heritage Site in 2011. That designation may help to keep
it pristine and preserve it—and the birds and animals that
live there—for future generations.

Marabou Stork

FAST FACTS
» Lake Nakuru never freezes.
» In addition to birds and animals,
more than 300 plant species also
are represented at the park.

37
 NOT Just
Just for the B
Birds
irds
L
Rothschild’s giraffes (ABOVE) and white rhinoceroses
(BELOW) have found a sanctuary at Lake Nakuru National ake Nakuru National Park isn’t just for the birds.
Park. More than 50 mammals live there, too. In 1983,
the park became Kenya’s first sanctuary for
endangered black rhinoceroses. Other endangered
wildlife, such as white rhinoceroses and Rothschild’s
giraffes, eventually were added to the sanctuary. The park
was recently enlarged and fenced to better protect these
and other animals from poachers. Poachers try to capture
wild animals for their ivory, horns, skin, and meat. Rangers
monitor the health of all the animals living in the park.
Other animals that can be spotted in the park include
hippopotamuses, hyenas, baboons, zebras, and monkeys.
A small group of rare, tree-climbing lions live in a forested
area below the Flamingo Hill section of the park. The
lionesses enjoy sleeping in the trees. Caves under the hill
house pythons and other snakes. Pythons also love to
dangle high in tree branches. —E.M.

If visitors look up, they might catch a glimpse of olive

baboons playing (ABOVE) or lions napping (RIGHT) in
the trees.

38
CROSSWORD

KENYA
Answers to Kenya Crossword on page 48.

1 2 3

4 5

7 8

10

ACROSS DOWN
1 Colorful birds that flock to Lake Nakuru 2 Kenya’s official currency
5 One of Kenya’s official languages 3 Skin-covered bony knobs found on
6 Capital of Kenya a giraffe’s head
8 Ocean that borders Kenya on the east 4 Second-highest mountain in Africa
9 Simple mixture of ground corn and (two words)
water 7 Many of Kenya’s top runners are
10 Movement founded by Wangari members of this ethnic group
Maathai (two words)

39
 A CLOSER LOOK

Protected Places
In Amboseli National Park, created
Kenya has more than 50 parks, reserves, and in 1974 in southern Kenya, views of
sanctuaries. They make up about eight percent Mount Kilimanjaro are reflected in
Lake Amboseli.
of Kenya’s land that is set aside for wildlife
conservation. These protected places include
everything from wetlands, forests, savannas,
and deserts and are managed by the Kenya
Wildlife Service.

Created in 1950, Aberdare National Park

is home to the unique Karuru Falls.
These 897-foot-tall (273-meter-tall)
falls are the highest and tallest
waterfalls in Kenya.

Hell’s Gate National Park offers rocky

outcrops, caves, geysers, and gorges
carved by prehistoric water flow. It was
established in 1984.

40
Mombasa Marine National Park and Reserve was
created in 1987 to protect the coral reef and other
aquatic life along the coast in the city of Mombasa.

The rising sun skims along the treetops at Kakamega

Forest National Reserve. Designated a national park
in 1986, it is Kenya’s only tropical rainforest.

Created in 1967, Ol Donyo Sabuk National Park

includes one of Kenya’s amazing natural features—
the Fourteen Falls at the River Athi.

An estimated 600 kinds of fish, more than 100 kinds

of corals, sharks, rays, turtles, and big blue octopuses
(shown here) can be seen at Watamu Marine National
Park and Reserve, which was established in 1968.

Tsavo National Park is split into Tsavo East and

Tsavo West. Covering an area of 8,494 square miles
(22,000 square kilometers), it is Kenya’s largest
park and one its first parks (established in 1948).

41
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 Why the Kikuyu
Love Mount Kenya
retold by Barbara Swett
illustrated by Yong Chentoo

n the world’s beginning, the Creator Ngai made a great mountain.

While resting on the mountain’s top, the Creator watched over
the world and the people below.
The Creator had three sons. They were called Kamba, Maasai,
and Gikuyu. One day, the Creator called Gikuyu to the top of
the mountain and showed him the rich and beautiful land below.
Gikuyu saw rivers and valleys, forests and plains. He saw animals of
all kinds, large and small.
“Do you see that cluster of fig trees standing in the plain?” the Creator
asked Gikuyu. “That is the place where you should make your home.”
Gikuyu traveled to the place and found that it would indeed make
a fine home. The Creator sent him a beautiful wife named Mumbi.
Gikuyu and Mumbi were happy together. Soon they were blessed
with nine daughters. But Gikuyu wanted a son, too. He went to the
mountain to ask the Creator.

43
 “This is what you must do to get a son, Gikuyu,” the Creator told
him. “Sacrifice a young goat and a lamb by the old tree at the foot of
the mountain. Pour the blood of the animals over the tree trunk and
leave the meat there as an offering.”
Gikuyu followed the Creator’s advice. Then he returned home. As
he neared his home by the fig trees, he saw that not one but nine boys
had joined his wife and daughters. The family held a great feast to
celebrate their good fortune.
Time passed. The boys grew into young men, and the day came
for them to marry. Gikuyu said, “You nine young men may marry my
nine daughters. But if you do, you must promise never to move away
from the fig trees and our family lands, Mukurwe wa Nyagathanga.”
(Also known as Gathanga, this is a Kenyan version of the Garden of
Eden). The nine couples agreed, and they became the founders of the
nine Kikuyu clans.
From that day on, the Kikuyus lived together like one big, happy
family. Time passed, and a new generation of babies was born. When
the village by the fig trees became too small, some of the Kikuyu people
moved to the forests beyond the plains. But they never moved far
from the tall mountain, Mount Kenya, the home of their Creator.

The Kikuyus’ connection to Mount Kenya is deep and historic. Archaeological

findings indicate that the Kikuyu people had a presence around Mount Kenya
by the third century. By the 1200s, the Kikuyus claimed the region as their
homeland, and the mountain remains sacred to them. To honor it, they build
their homes with the doors facing the mountain. Today, the Kikuyu people are
Kenya’s largest ethnic group, making up more than 17 percent (more than eight
million people) of the population. Kikuyu is Swahili for Gikuyu.

44
45
YOUR TURN by Brenda Breuls

Handmade Beads,
Kenyan-Style
enyan jewelry is known for its
unique beauty. Its designs are
inspired by everything from animal
prints to sunset skies. In the past,
jewelry makers used locally found materials
such as shells, bones, clay, or wood. They made
so many beads that, for a time, they became
a way of trading and were called trade beads.
Today, Kenyan jewelers also use modern
materials such as glass and clay. Wouldn’t it be The beaded ornamentation
amazing to create your own beads with your created by Kenya’s Samburu
people is full of vibrant colors.
own designs, colors, and ideas?

A sampling of Kenyan beads

You Need
Ceramic tile or index Aluminum foil
cards Baking tray
Polymer clay in desired Leather string, hemp,
colors (available at craft embroidery thread, or
stores) silk cords
Craft knife Polymer clay glaze in
Egg slicer matte or glossy finish
Toothpicks, tapestry Alcohol-based hand
needles, or knitting sanitizer for hands and
needles work surfaces

46
Directions
1. Condition the Clay 4. Bake the Beads
Begin by making sure you have a clean, You can use a preheated toaster oven or a
smooth work surface. (Polymer clay will pick kitchen oven to set the beads. Follow the
up any dirt.) A ceramic tile or an index card directions on the polymer clay instructions
is good for this purpose. To condition the for the correct heat. Ask an adult to help
polymer clay, break off a piece and stretch with this step. Carefully lay your beads
and roll it between your fingers. The clay will on the ceramic tile or index cards on an
begin to feel warm and easy to shape. Use the aluminum-foil-lined baking tray. Before
ceramic tile to continue to role the clay and placing the tray in the oven, form a tent
soften it. with aluminum foil to protect the beads
from getting scorched.
2. Form a Shape
Once the clay is ready, model it into a shape. 5. Glaze the Beads
You can make beads of various sizes, shapes, After the beads have been baked and
and colors. You also can combine colors by allowed to thoroughly cool, coat them
forming long strands of different colors and with the polymer clay glaze.
twisting them together. (Remember to wash
your hands with alcohol-based hand sanitizer 6. String the Beads
when changing clay colors.) Then, using the The final step is to thread the beads onto
egg slicer, cut the log into equal parts and a string. A variety of materials can be used
roll those pieces into balls. This will create for this purpose. Leather, hemp, embroidery
multicolored marbled-looking beads. thread, or silk cord are just a few options.

3. Add Holes 7. Enjoy Your Beads

To make a hole to string the bead, thread Wear your jewelry creation with an outfit
a toothpick, tapestry needle, or knitting that shows it off. Or give your handcrafted
needle (depending on the size of the hole necklace or bracelet as a gift to someone
you need) through the middle of your bead. special.

Email a high-resolution image of your creation to FACES Design Handmade Beads at

faces@cricketmedia.com. Please include your name, age, and address, and a note from a parent
or guardian that states the work is your original effort and that Cricket Media has permission to
publish it in print and online. Your artwork could appear in an upcoming issue of FACES!

47
 SAY WHAT?
“Peace out,
“I hope I don’t gnomies!”
get sand in —Arlo F.
my beard.”
—Emma V.

“Sun’s out,
“There’s no tum’s out!”
place like
—Alexis H.
gnome.”
—Zoe K.
of Peace
January 2025 People

Answer Page
ANSWER TO MYSTERY PHOTO ON INSIDE FRONT COVER:
A flamingo is born with white feathers. The feathers turn pink due to pigments in the algae
that the birds eat.

ANSWER TO WHERE IN THE WORLD ON PAGE 29:

Lake Victoria, which straddles three African nations—Uganda, Tanzania, and Kenya—is one
of the Great African Lakes in the Rift Valley.

ANSWERS TO KENYA CROSSWORD ON PAGE 39:

ACROSS: 1. flamingos; 5. Swahili; 6. Nairobi; 8. Indian; 9. ugali; 10. Green Belt.
DOWN: 2. shilling; 3. ossicones; 4. Mount Kenya; 7. Kalenjin.

ANSWER TO FINDING THE WAY

ON BACK COVER:

PICTURE CREDITS:
cover FranciscoMarques/Shutterstock.com; ii; 48 (C) jurra8/Shutterstock.com; 2-3 Andrzej Kubik/Shutterstock.com; 4-5 Rainer Lesniewski/Shutterstock.com; 5 (TR) Kumeko/Shutterstock.com; 5 (BR) Juilnzy/
Shutterstock.com; 6 karelnoppe/Shutterstock.com; 7 (T) Robby Holmwood/Shutterstock.com; 7 (C) Karel Bartik/Shutterstock.com; 8 (T) Vadim Petrakov/Shutterstock.com; 8 (B) Jojo’s Picturesque Studio/
Shutterstock.com; 9 (T) Melnikov Dmitriy/Shutterstock.com; 9 (C), 13 (BL) Jane Rix/Shutterstock.com; 9 (B), 16-17 (T) Jen Watson/Shutterstock.com; 10 (TL) OlegD/Shutterstock.com; 10 (TR) Nicole Kwiatkowski/
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(TR) SelimBT/Shutterstock.com; 13 (C) Nimoh Muturi/Shutterstock.com; 13 (BR), 14 (BC), 15 (T) Thao Lan/Shutterstock.com; 14 (T) Riccardo Mayer/Shutterstock.com; 14 (BR) AS Foodstudio/Shutterstock.com; 15 (C)
DariaKM/Shutterstock.com; 15 (B) SpicyTruffel/Shutterstock.com; 16 (TL) baldyrgan/Shutterstock.com; 16 (B), 17 (B), 18 (T) Keith Larby/Shutterstock.com; 18-19 (B) Kovop/Shutterstock.com; 19 (T) Raffaele Conti
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Shawn Levin/Shutterstock.com; 20 (B) Michael Wick/Shutterstock.com; 21 (C) MagicBloods/Shutterstock.com; 21 (B) Gunter Nuyts/Shutterstock.com; 22 (T) Smit/Shutterstock.com; 22 (C) diegooscar/Shutterstock.
com; 22 (B) Zaruba Ondrej/Shutterstock.com; 23 (T) Sam Whitton/Shutterstock.com; 23 (C) PereZooso/Shutterstock.com; 23 (B) WildLens Photograph/Shutterstock.com; 24 (title graphic) Dmytro Kolin/
Shutterstock.com; 24 (C) mbrand85/Shutterstock.com; 24 (B) IndustryAndTravel/Shutterstock.com; 25 (T) John Gateru/Shutterstock.com; 25 (C) melissamn/Shutterstock.com; 25 (B) posztos/Shutterstock.com; 26
(T) mehdi33300/Shutterstock.com; 26 (C) bumihills/Shutterstock.com; 26 (B) Aleksandar Todorovic/Shutterstock.com; 27-29 (BG) David M. Schrader/Shutterstock.com; 27-29 (line borders) TALVA/Shutterstock.com;
27 (T and B) hecke61/Shutterstock.com; 28 (T) Marius Dobilas/Shutterstock.com; 28 (B) Tomasz Czajkowski/Shutterstock.com; 29 (T) PeopleImages.com–Yuri A/Shutterstock.com; 29 (B) Stefan Haider/Shutterstock.
com; 30-31 (BG) rvika/Shutterstock.com; 30 (tree rings in title) mikesj11/Shutterstock.com; 30 (T) James Karuga/Shutterstock.com; 30 (B) Riccardo Mayer/Shutterstock.com; 31 (T), 32 (T) Joseph Sohm/Shutterstock.
com; 31 (B) Scott Woodham Photography/Shutterstock.com; 32 (B) R. Bociaga/Shutterstock.com; 33 (T) sunnywanders/Shutterstock.com; 33 (C) Matej Hudovernik/Shutterstock.com; 33 (B) Wairimu Njoki/
Shutterstock.com; 34 (TL) Salparadis/Shutterstock.com; 34 (TR) ANDRZEJ GRZEGORCZYK/Shutterstock.com; 35 SomjaiKing/Shutterstock.com; 36 (T) Anna Om/Shutterstock.com; 36 (BL) Meg_Mi_ph/Shutterstock.
com; 36 (BR) Braam Collins/Shutterstock.com; 37 (TL and B) Martin Pelanek/Shutterstock.com; 37 (TC) Artush/Shutterstock.com; 37 (TR) MZPHOTO.CZ/Shutterstock.com; 37 (CT) Sanne66/Shutterstock.com; 37 (CB)
Wang LiQiang/Shutterstock.com; 38 (T) Pierre-Yves Babelon/Shutterstock.com; 38 (C) javarman/Shutterstock.com; 38 (BL) JossK/Shutterstock.com; 38 (BR) Pieter Tel/Shutterstock.com; 39 Mongkolchon Akesin/
Shutterstock.com; 40 (T) CK-TravelPhotos/Shutterstock.com; 40 (C) Keituu/Shutterstock.com; 40 (B) Anita SKV/Shutterstock.com; 41 (TL) Fin Moorhouse/Shutterstock.com; 41 (TR) Lensed By Jessie/Shutterstock.
com; 41 (C) Vaclav Sebek/Shutterstock.com; 41 (BL) nshah86/Shutterstock.com; 41 (BR) Heinz-Peter Schwerin/Shutterstock.com; 46 (T) Juan Carlos Munoz/Shutterstock.com; 46 (loose beads) Rebbeca Turnbull/
48 Shutterstock.com; 46 (painting tools) Glinskaja Olga/Shutterstock.com; 46-47 (cork board BG) Artissara/Shutterstock.com; 48 (T) anela.k/Shutterstock.com; 49 Matthew Orselli/Shutterstock.com.
LAST FACE

Fill in the speech bubble for

this photograph. Have your
parent or legal guardian send
your idea, with your name,
to faces@cricketmedia.com.
Include a note that says: “My
caption is my original work,
and FACES has permission to
publish it in print and online.”
Please put the title of this
issue in the subject line. The
best entries will be published
in an upcoming issue!
Finding the WayYule-
Help these hikers make their
way up Mount Kenya.
illustrated by Chuck Whelon
Answers on page 48.

March/April 2025 Volume 41 Number 06 cricketmedia.com $6.95