The Climate, Natural Resources, and Economic Developments of the Republic of Kenya - Essay Example

Here Your School Here Your Here Here Research Report: KENYA The Republic of Kenya is geographically located in Eastern Africa, bordering Ethiopia, Somalia, Uganda and Tanzania. It is the 47th largest nation across the globe and maintains no significant problems both environmentally and in the form of social/political influences. Though a large majority of Kenya is desert land, making it difficult for utilization with farming and agriculture, the nation’s citizens are quite adept at making positive usage of the land and the country’s natural resources. Fortunately for Kenya and its residents, the country maintains a very diverse landscape, including a large desert and flatlands region as well as fertile, mountainous plateau regions in which the majority of farming and other agricultural activities occur (Davison, 2001). Two main rivers, the Tana and Galana, run actively through the fertile region of Kenya and empty into the Indian Ocean to the East (Kenyaology.com, 2007). This is the likely reason why this particular region of the country, known as the Kenyan Highlands, is so fertile as it is continuously irrigated by the two rivers. Additionally, of significant assistance to Kenyan residents is the close proximity to the Indian Ocean by which a great deal of foreign trade can be delivered or exported, providing a more direct ocean-going trade route to the East rather than ground travel across a harsh African landscape (Kenyaology.com). Many people may think of Kenya and automatically envision harsh desert environments, however Figure 1 illustrates the lush fertile region known as the Kenyan Highlands where Mount Kenya towers into the sky. Figure 1: Mount Kenya (Source: Kenyaology.com, 2006). Climate patterns in Kenya are quite diverse, however in most respects, they range in magnitude from harsh, dry desert-like conditions to that of regions which receive continuous rainfall. In the dryer, Northern plains region, the average temperatures are maximum 34.8 degrees and minimum 23.7 degrees, both in Celsius (Kenyaology.com). These are significantly warmer temperatures in comparison to the United States, indicating that this particular region of Kenya maintains virtually no temperate climate. In the city of Eldoret, which is one of the larger-populated cities at an elevation of 3,085 feet above sea level, the climate is much more temperate, subject to changes in seasons much like that of the Midwest region of the United States. In this area, average temperatures are a maximum of 23.6 C and 9.5 C, making this region rich for agricultural and other farming activities (Klein, 1999). In yet another region of the country, Nairobi, the country’s capital city, sits at an elevation of 1,661 feet with average temperatures ranging between 25.2 and 13.6 C, yet another somewhat temperate region. However, most citizens in Nairobi continue to wear summer-oriented clothing throughout the duration of the entire year. Climate is only one factor amongst many which impact how the land is utilized for agriculture, consumer manufacturing and other product-oriented activities. Of considerable interest is the speed by which Kenya appears to be developing as a nation that is ready to become an active (and respected) participant in the global trade marketplaces. Mangieri (2006) suggests that due to more progressive governmental policies regarding trade and tariff generation, the textile and consumer clothing industries have been booming in the higher-populated regions in Kenya. In 2000, the African Growth and Opportunity Act was passed by Congress which allowed Kenya to establish a stronger trade presence with the United States (as well as with the European Union). In 2005, Kenyan textile exports had tripled from approximately $45 million to $150 million (Mangieri). This suggests that Kenya maintains both the necessary labor force and the natural resources necessary to make the country experience considerable economic growth in the next several decades if the country and its leadership maintains the same forward, progressive mentality in regards to global trade and manufacturing. Farming is widely scattered across the country’s landscape, due simply to the vast differences in climate and geography based on elevation and wildlife. The country produces primarily coffee, corn, sugarcane, tea, rice, pineapples, meat and animal hides as the country’s highest volumes of products available to its own people or for global trade efforts (Klein). Coffee is grown in the more mountainous regions of the country and is harvested for internal and external consumption in terms of domestic production and exportation volumes. Sugarcane, rice, tea and pineapples, of course, are also grown in the fertile, higher elevations of the country except for a few areas in which sugarcane can thrive in harsher conditions. Figure 2 illustrates the geographic differences of Kenya to illustrate the various elevations where farming occurs. As shown on the map, the Western and regions of Kenya are by far the most fertile for agricultural efforts. Kenya, as a national whole, receives a significant amount of sunshine yearly, as the lower elevations receive very little rainfall, thus making them ideal conditions for desert animals. Kenya maintains a very diverse wildlife, including giraffes and zebras (Klein). In fact, in more populated countries, such as Nairobi, it is a common sight to witness giraffes migrating through the city as they pass from the desert regions to the more fertile, mountainous areas in pursuit of better drinking water or even procreation. Thus, in many respects, it might be said that Kenyan residents maintain a very strong connection with wildlife and naturalism. In terms of natural resources, Kenya does not appear to maintain a wide variety of precious metals which are commonly found in the United States and many other countries across the world. However, the animal industry, in terms of meat and skins production, is quite large in Kenya and provides independent business owners a significant volume of income from these resource trade businesses. The somewhat unique aspects of the country’s wildlife makes their skins and meat a precious commodity, in which many buyers in Westernized nations will pay top dollar for, much like the elephant “tusking” activities which occurred in most of the 20th Century and made elephants endangered species (Klein). Figure 2 – Elevation Map of Kenya (Source, Wikipedia.org, 2006) Close proximity to the ocean also allows Kenyan residents to utilize the natural resources (food) provided by the ocean, thus sustaining the lives of coastal residents. Though there is no indication that fishing and exporting seafood is a viable trade industry, this might suggest that Kenya could utilize yet another of its natural resources as a means to improve the national economy and create stable jobs for its citizens. In terms of demographics, the majority of Kenya’s citizens live in urban regions. The capital city, Nairobi, maintains (by far) the largest population density, with over 2.5 million people living in this region. However, this is not particularly surprising as this is the most lush and fertile region of Kenya and the majority of higher education facilities, such as reputable universities, are located in Nairobi. The second highest populated city is Mombasa, which is a port city on the Eastern side of Kenya on the Indian Ocean with a population of 707,400 (Kenyaology.com). There are significantly different ethnic backgrounds in this nation, including Kikuyu, Luhya, Luo, Kisii, Meru and approximately twelve other nationalities (Kenyaology.com). Protestant beliefs, Quaker, Islam and Roman Catholic are the largest religious connections in Kenya. Different languages are spoken by many citizens, with approximately twelve different international languages in use within the nation. This widely scattered demographic may be one reason why Kenya appears to have had a difficult time in trying to create a singular national identity, however recent efforts toward democratization of the country have brought much-needed political stability to this area. In 2002, open and free elections were held in Kenya for the first time in the country’s long history, suggesting a more progressive belief in unity and the power of the national citizenry. Unlike many of its neighboring nations in Africa which maintain very strong political alliances and rather dictatorial leadership regimes (such as Sudan which actively practiced mass genocide to reduce population levels to prevent governmental expenditures toward the people), Kenya is growing more and more stable. Through educational objectives and a strong inclination toward democratic living, the social and political landscape is one of positive growth and progressive evolution. Fortunately for the Kenyan residents, issues of continuing conflict and gunfire, a common aspect of other African national lifestyle, is something that is missing in Kenya which provides for a more enjoyable lifestyle. Clearly, Kenya is a much more diverse nation that most people realize and their people enjoy significant rituals and customs which connect them with modernism and their historical ancestry. Utilizing a vastly different climate and landscape for their own personal needs, Kenyan residents are experiencing significant rewards for dedication toward modernism and global trade. Increased economic stability and improved education (as well as lifestyle afforded by products) have made Kenya a country in which all citizens can become active participants in the global community. Bibliography Davison, Marjorie L. “Kenya: Sustainable Economic Developments”. University of Illinois. Retrieved 5 Mar 2008 from Kenyaology.com. “Geography”. 2007. Retrieved 5 Mar 2008 Kenyaology.com. “Climate and Vegetation”. 2006. Retrieved 6 Mar 2008 Klein, Robert C. Kenya: The Evolving Nation. Hamish Hamilton Publishing. 1999. Mangieri, Tina. “African Cloth, Export Production, and Secondhand Clothing in Kenya”. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Department of Geography. Retrieved 5 Mar 2008 from Read More