Kenya's People Heritage And Famous

by taylor.a

Kenya's People, Heritage And Famous Landmarks And Historical Monuments.

Kenya is divided into eight provinces for governance purposes. Nairobi the capital city of Kenya is also a province by itself. �Other province are Central province with headquarters in Nyeri town, Eastern province with headquarters in Embu town, North Easter province having its headquarters in Garrisa town, The Rift Valley province with headquarters in Nakuru town, Nyanza Province with headquarters in Kisumu town, The Western province with headquarters in Kakamega town and the Coastal province having headquarters in Mombasa. Different parts of the country have interesting Historical monuments and landscapes as well as rich cultures.

1) Central Province: The Kikuyu tribe, the biggest tribe in Kenya (about 22%) is predominantly found in central province. The main activity carried on in the Central province is agricultural farming. Cash crop like Cofee and Tea are grown in central province. Some major towns in central province are Nyeri, Karatina, Thika, Kiambu, Nyahururu and Muranga.

�Landmarks:

Mt Kenya: Mt Kenya is located in Nyeri town. This is one of the few places under the equator worldwide where there?s eternal ice and snow. When the first European to see Mount Kenya ? J.L. Krapf from Germany in 1849, reported seeing snow on this equatorial mountain, he was ridiculed by the scientific community. The Kikuyu believed that God (Ngai) lived or could be accessed through the top of Mount Kenya.�They prayed traditionally facing Mt Kenya and their homes were built facing the sacred peak which they called Kirinyanga or a place of light. Mt. Kenya National Park is home to the�three peaks of Mt.Kenya�namely Batian, Nelion and Lenana.

��Mt Kenya

�Mt Kenya campsite

Thompson falls: These are found in Nyahururu town. The falls are proportioned at 7,800 feet above sea level at the base of Aberdare ranges. The falls are named after Joseph Thompson, a Scotsman commissioned to Africa by the Royal Geographic Society in 1880. His expedition crossed a mountain range that he named the Aberdare Mountains after the president of the Royal Geographical Society. He apparently was the first European to see the waterfalls hence the name.

���Thompson falls�

14 falls: 14 Falls are found in Thika town which is about 45 kms N. East of Nairobi. The 14 falls are so named because there are apparently 14 distinct water falls on the broad section of the river.

�14 Falls�

2)� Eastern Province: The Kamba, Embu and the Meru tribes are predominantly found in Eastern province. These are tribes are related to the Kikuyus and may have certain similar cultures. A few pastoralists tribes can also be found in this region mainly in Isiolo. The main towns in this region are Machakos, Kitui, Isiolo, Meru and Embu.�

Landmarks:

Meru National Park: The main attraction in this region is the Meru National Park. It Covers an area of 87,044 hectares and is one of the lesser known parks of Kenya. It has abundant rainfall, 635-762 mm in the west of the park and 305-356 mm in the east.� Meru National Park achieved worldwide fame with its association to Joy Adamson's�Born Free film. The film chronicled the rehabilitation of Elsa the lioness as she was re-introduced to the Kenyan wilderness. There is a wide range of wildlife including elephant, hippopotamus, lion, leopard, cheetah, reticulated giraffe, and zebra. There are also about 280 recorded species of bird.�Clouds in Meru National park

���Meru National park�

�����Buffalos at the park

���Zebras in Meru National park

3) North Eastern province: The eastern province is home of the indigent Kenyan Somalis.��Majority of Somali tribe is found in Somalia but Kenya has about half a million Somalis residing in the North Eastern part.� There are also alot of Migrant Somalis from Somalia in this region making it difficult� for the Government to tell who is a legal Kenyan citizen. The UNHCR refugee camp at Dadab is in this region.��

��Somali Girls

The Samburus and Pokots�can also be found in parts of this area. Most of the people in this region are nomadic pastoralists who own large herds of camels, sheep, cattle and goats.� The region is arid and is semi arid in land texture. The main towns are Garissa, Wajir and Mandera.

���Samburu Men and Women

4) Nyanza Province: This is predominantly home of the Luos whose origin is Southern Sudan. There is also a small population of Kisiis, Kurias and Luyas in Nyanza province. President Obama?s Father is from the Luo tribe. The people�of this area are mainly fishermen and small scale farmers. They grow sorgum, millete, maize and a variety of greens. The main towns are Kisumu, Homa Bay, Kisii, Siaya , Bondo and Migori.

Landmarks:

Lake Victoria: Lake Victoria is 68,800�square kilometers (26,600�sq�mi) in size, making it Africa?s largest lake, the largest tropical lake in the world, and the second widest fresh water lake in the world in terms of surface area. It ranks as the seventh largest freshwater lake by volume, containing 2,750 cubic kilometers (2.2 billion acre-feet) of water due its shallowness (maximum depth of 84cm (276 ft) and a mean depth of 40m (131 Ft)).� It is subject to territorial administration the three East African countries of Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda. It is a source of River Nile and the White Nile.

���Lake Victoria

�������Rusinga Island of Lake Victoria

�����Fishing in Lake Victoria

5) Rift Valley province:� Rift Valley province is the home of the Kalenjins, the Masaais, Turkanas, Pokomos,�some Kissis and�Kikuyus that immigrated from Central province. Kenyans long distances runners come from the Rift valley mainly from the Kalenjin tribe. �The Maasais are known for retaining their traditional culture and values including their dress and are mainly pastoralists.

���Masaai Men

���Maasai Woman

The Turkana region which is more to the North West is famous for the prehistoric studies of the origin of man. Over 200 fossils of the ?hominin specimens? have been recovered in the Turkana basin. The Pokots and the Turkanas like the Maasais are among the tribes who have stayed true to their culture and lifestyle and not embraced modernity. They still dress in their traditional way; follow the old marriage customs and other rituals.

���Turkana Young men

��Pokot women�

The Kissis like the Kikuyus emanate from the Bantu grouping and are mainly large scale farmers growing wheat, pyrethrum, tea and horticultral products as well as staple foods like maize, bean and potatoes.

�In this region we also have Lodwar which is the Capital of Turkana District. Lodwar was used as a detention center by the British colonial government against political�activist against colonisation. Among those detained was the founding father of independent Kenya Mzee Jomo kenyatta. Mt Lodwar is the first sight one sees when approaching Lodwar.

��Mt Lodwar

This mountain was once called Mt Solomon because years ago a man named Solomon, a self proclaimed prophet built his residence�on the top of the mountain. �People from all over the world have travelled to climb the mountain to be blessed and with a belief that their problems on climbing the mountain can be wished away.���The main towns in the Rift valley are Eldoret, Nakuru, Naivasha, Kericho, Molo and Njoro and Lodwar.�

Landmarks:

The Rift Valley: The Rift Valley, caused by a rift between parallel faults from the Jordan to Mozambique slices through Kenya from north to south. Kenya?s Rift valley has several lakes which are mostly alkaline save for two fresh water ones. The lakes include Lake Baringo, Lake Bogoria, Lake Nakuru, Lake Elementaita, Lake Naivasha, and Lake Magadi in the south. The high evaporation of the surface lake water results in sodium carbonate which, in turn, creates an ideal breeding ground for algae. There are several species of fish thriving in this environment, most common of which is the Tilapia, a fresh water fish.��The soda composition lakes attract different species of bird due to the abundance of food supply in the form of algae and fish. �The rift valley also has many game reserves one of kenya's rich heritage. The province is the largest, most populated, and most economically vibrant in Kenya. The high rainfall in the highlands maintains healthy soil for tea and coffee growing. Wheat is also grown in certain parts.��

��Kenya's Rift Valley��

Masaai Mara: Masai Mara game reserve is uniquely named after the Maasai people who are the traditional inhabitants of the area, and the Mara River, which dissects the reserve.���

���The big Water animals in the Mara River

The Maasai Mara is one of the best known and most popular reserves in Africa. �It is famous for its exceptional population of game in particular the big five, lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo and the Rhino, and the annual great migration of zebra, Thomson's gazelle and the wildebeest from the Serengeti every year from July to October. Maasai Mara was named the seventh wonder of the world in 2008 in an ABC program, Good Morning America. The criterion for its selection was mainly based on the great migration which is of such magnitude proportion and a sight to behold.��

����The great migration

The Maasai Mara is considered fourth preferred tourist destination world wide. There have been discovery of arrowheads and pottery supposedly discarded 2000 years ago at the Mara Reserve, (info. wiki travel). Maasai Mara is a game reserve as opposed to being a national park. This means the local county in conjunction with the Kenya wildlife society operates the reserve for the benefit of the community.��

���Lolling Hills of the Masaai Mara��

���A tree climbing Lion

��Giraffes and babbons at the Mara

���Elephants at the Mara

Amboseli National Park: Amboseli Park lies immediate North West of Mt Kilimanjaro on the border with Tanzania. It was established as a game reserve in 1968 and gazetted as a national park in 1974 (info: Kenya wildlife society). It was declared a UNESCO Man and the Biosphere Reserve in 1991 (Wikipedia).

���Elephants at the�National park. In the background is Mt Kilimanjaro

The park has 5 main wildlife habitats and is famous for being the best place in Africa to get close to free-ranging elephants. Other attractions of the park include a spectacular view of Mount Kilimanjaro, in Tanzania, the highest free-standing mountain in the world.

��Sunrise at Amboseli

�����Monkeys at Amboseli park

����Lions at the Park

Lake Nakuru: �Lake Nakuru is a shallow alkaline lake 62km2 in extent. The surrounding landscape includes areas of marsh of grassland alternating with rocky cliffs and outcrops. The lake catchment is bounded by the Menengai crater to the North, the Balanti hills to the North East, the Lion hill ranges to the East Eburu carter to the South and the Mau escarpment to the West (info. Kenya Wildlife society).

���Lake Nakuru�

The lake is world famous as the location of the greatest bird spectacle on earth. It is estimated the number of fuchsia pink flamingos range between more a million to two million. They feed on the abundant algae, which thrives in the warm waters. Scientists reckon that the flamingo population at Nakuru consumes about 250,000 kilos of algae per hectare of surface area per year.

���Lake Nakuru National Park

������Cluster of birds in Lake Nakuru�

Lake Naivasha: This is an oddity because in area surrounded with salty lakes and soda ash this happens to be a fresh water lake. Due to lake?s freshness and the fertile soil, the area surrounding is known for production of fruits, vegetables and, more recently, vineyards. Over 400 birds have been recorded on the lake and it supports a large number of hippos.

���Lake Naivasha

�Hippos in Lake Naivasha

Hell's Gate National Park lies south of Lake Naivasha. Hell's Gate National Park is named after a narrow break in the cliffs, once a tributary of a prehistoric lake that fed early humans in the Rift Valley. It received the name "Hell's Gate" by explorers Fisher and Thomson in 1883. In the early 1900s, Mount Longonot erupted, and ash can still be felt around Hell's Gate.

��Hells Gate National park

The comprehensive Olkaria Geothermal Station, the first of its kind in Africa, was established in 1981 and generates geothermal power underneath Hell's Gate from the area's hot springs and geysers. The park was not officially established until 1984.

���Fishing in Lake Naivasha

��������Sunflower grown around Lake Naivasha

Lake Turkana: �Lake Turkana is the largest desert lake in the world and the northern-most of Kenya's Rift Valley lakes. Lake Turkana has no outlet and is fed by the Omo River in Ethiopia. As a result of this, its level fluctuates with the river and rainfall in Ethiopia. Also known as the Jade Sea because of its color, Lake Turkana is an extraordinary sight for one to behold. The shimmering colors of its surface contrast sharply with the surrounding lunar landscape, comprising of extinct volcanoes and lava beds.�

��The "Jade River" otherwise known as Lake Turkana

Lake Turkana was previously known as Lake Rudolf, named in honor of crown prince of Austria by an Austrian explorer count Telik on his expedition to Kenya. Count Telik also came across human skulls and bones in Turkana. The Kenyan government changed the name to Lake Turkana, in honor of the Turkana tribe inhabitants of the area�in 1975.��

�Turkana Vilage

Dr Richard Leakey excavated fossil remains that dated back three million years at Koobi in the Turkana. Homo-Ergaster, image of fossil discovered around the Turkana basin.

There are alot of Camels in this region since they can survive well in desert like condition. They are used as a means of transportation.

��Camels crossing the road

In 1997 the UNESO inscribed the Turkana region�as world heritage with an extension in 2001. The Turkana feeds the Nile crocodiles, hippopotamus, and the area is said to have a number of venomous snakes and a huge bird population.

��Lake Turkana Central Island

�����Sunset in Lake Turkana

Mt longonot: The name Mt longonot is derived from the Maasai word ?Oloonong?ot? which means mountains of many spurs or steep ridges. Mt Longonot is a young volcano which rises to 2,776 meters above sea level. It was created amongst the massive eruptions forming the great Rift valleys.

�. Mt Longonot

The sides of the mountain have a beautiful V-shaped valleys and ridges with a impenetrable forest around the area of the cater. Mt Longonot Park surrounds the volcano.

��Crater at Mt Longonot

�����Mt Longonot Park�

�6) The Western province:� This province is predominately home of the Baluhya (Luhya) tribe of Kenya. The main towns in the province are Bungoma, Butere , Kakamega, Busia and Webuye. Western province has many large factories, including 4 sugar processing plants.� The largest of these is Mumias Sugar factory, based in Mumias, to the west of Kakamega. This factory produces the dominant sugar brand in Kenya and is an economic success story. Also in Western Kenya is the largest paper factory in Africa (Pan Paper Mills in Webuye) and chemical processors.

Landmarks:

Mt Elgon: This is Kenya?s second highest mountain. It lies 140 km North East of Lake Victoria and is bisected by the Kenya- Uganda border. It is an eroded volcano with a huge Caldera and on its summit the spectacular flat topped basalt column known as Koitobos. A unique feature of the mountain is the lava tube caves, some over 60 m wide frequented by elephants and other animals digging for salts. It is an important catchment for the Nzoia River flowing into Lake Victoria and for the Turkwel flowing into Lake Turkana. (info: �Kenya Wildlife)

��Mt Elgon

��Kitum Cave, Mt Elgon

7) Coastal Province: This province is inhabited by Coastal tribes comprising the Taitas, Miji kenda, Digos, and Kenyan Arabs. However the province has many other tribes and people from other nationalities who have settled in different towns in particular Italians, Germans and Greeks. The main towns are Mombasa, Malindi, Lamu Island, Kilifi and Hola. The Coastal Province is one of kenya's highly sought tourist destinations due to the Historic sites and the beautiful beaches it is edowed with.

��A preserved Fort in Lamu Town of Coast province

�The Kenyan coast donned with paradise-like beaches, is a wonderful leisurely end to an active holiday.

����Diani Beach, in Mombasa�

���Dolphins at Watamu beach, Kenya

Landmarks:

Gedi ruins: �The Ruins of Gedi are the remains of a Swahili town located in Gede, a village near the coastal town of Malindi in Kenya. It is suggested that between the 13th and 14th to 17th centuries, Gedi was a thriving community along the�coast of East Africa. Although no written record exists of this town, excavations between 1948 and 1958 revealed that the inhabitants traded with people from all over the world. Some of the findings included beads from Venice, coins and a Ming vase from China, an iron lamp from India, and scissors from Spain. The Population was estimated to be around 2500 people

�. Gedi ruins

The ruins have a mosque, a palace, and large stone houses. The houses appear complex for their time, with bathrooms with drains and overhead basins to flush toilets. The city's streets were laid out at right angles and had drainage gutters. It is assumed that the village was abandoned in early 16th century. In 1948 the ruins were declared a Historical monument.

����This looks like a palace

�����The ruins of the mosque

Fort Jesus: Fort Jesus was built by the Portuguese in 1593 by order of King Philip II of Spain, who also ruled the kingdom of Portugal at that time. It was built to secure the safety of Portuguese living on the East Coast of Africa.

��Fort Jesus

It guards the old harbor of the city of Mombasa. It was built in the shape of a man (viewed from the air). Between 1631 and 1875 the fort was won and lost nine times by the nations contesting control of Mombasa. Between 1837 and 1895, the Fort was used as barracks for soldiers. When the British protectorate was proclaimed on Kenya in 1895, the Fort was converted into a prison. The huts were removed and cells were built. On the 24th October 1958, Fort Jesus was declared a National Park in the custody of the Trustees of the Kenya National Parks. Excavation was carried out and the Fort became a Museum in 1962.

���A Tunnel in Fort Jeus

����A watch tower in Fort Jesus

Tsavo West National Park: There is recorded Early Stone Age and Middle Stone Age archaeological from ground surface finds in Tsavo. There is also evidence to suggest a thriving Late Stone Age economy from 6,000 to 1,300 years ago. Research shows that Late Stone Age archaeological sites are found in high numbers close to the Galana River. Tsavo West was an important historic major battleground in World War I between the British and German troops. The park became famous through the notorious "Man Eaters of Tsavo" incident at the turn of the century, when man-eating lions were said to prey on the workers building the great Kenya-Uganda Railway.

��Tsavo National Park

This incident was also depicted in the popular movie "Ghost and the Darkness?. Amongst animals found here are leopards, cheetahs, buffalos, rhinos, elephants, giraffes, zebras, lions, crocodiles as well as other small mammals. Mzima Springs, also an attraction, is a pool of natural spring water with underwater viewing hides for observing hippos.

����Rhino at the Tsavo�National Park

��Lava Plains in Tsavo West

����Hippos in Mzima Spring�

Chyulu Hills National Park is an extension of Tsavo West National Park. It was opened in January 1983 to protect its unique habitat and role as a vital water catchment area. The Chyulus are a volcanic mountain range with a mix of volcanic cones and barren lava flows, of which the most interesting is ?Shetani?, meaning Devil in Swahili. Game includes: buffalo, zebra, giraffe, oryx, lion, leopard and many species of bird and plant.

��Chyulu Hill

8) Nairobi Province: Nairobi the 8th province is also a cosmopolitan city attracting different ethnicities and nationalities.� Nairobi is popularly known as the "Green City in the Sun? due to the greenness of the city in terms of environment. Nairobi is the most populous city in East Africa, with a current estimated population of about 3 million and the 13th largest city in Africa. It is considered one of the most prominent cities in Africa politically and financially. It is home to many multi companies and organizations, including UNESCO, UNHCR and the UN Office in Africa.

����City of Nairobi

���Capturing�kenyatta conference Center and the Law courts .

Landmarks:

Karen Blixen Museum: Karen Blixen Museum was once the centre piece of a farm at the foot of the Ngong Hills owned by Danish Author Karen and her Swedish Husband, Baron Bror von Blixen Fincke. Located 10km from the city centre, the Museum belongs to a different time period in the history of Kenya. The farm house gained international fame with the release of the movie ?Out of Africa? an Oscar winning film based on Karen?s autobiography by the same title.(Source: National Museums of Kenya) .

���Entry to Karen Blixen Museum�

Flora at the Museum�

The National Museum of Kenya: The National Museum is located at the Museum Hill, approximately 10 minutes drive from the Nairobi city centre. It houses some of the most celebrated collections of history, culture and art from Kenya and East Africa. The Museum was initiated in 1910 by the then East Africa and Uganda Natural History Society (currently the East African Natural History Society (EANHS)). The museum was originally built by the colonial government in 1929 and named it Coryndon Museum in honor of Sir Robert Coryndon, one time Governor of Kenya. On Kenya attaining independec in 1963 the name was changed to National Museum of Kenya. (Source: National Museums of Kenya). The National Museum also houses the snake park which is a place where reptiles of all species are kept. It is also used as research place.

��Nairobi National Museum

���The progression�of humans at the Museum

Nairobi National Park and orphanage: The Park is unique as it is the only protected area in the world with a variety of animals and birds close to a capital city. Despite the proximity of the city, the Park harbors large predators such as lion, leopard and hyena. The park also has a rich diverse bird life with 400 species recorded. The rhino sanctuary is one of the most successful in Kenya and is one of the parks that one can be sure of sporting a black Rhino in its natural habitat.

���Nairobi National Park

���A� giraffe with a view of the city in the background���

����Lion at the park

��Leopard at the Park

Nairobi?s parks and Garden: Nairobi has lush green gardens that have been well maintained providing resting place for many city residents. The most famous is Uhuru Park (Freedom Park) which is used for national celebrations and many other meetings in particular religious meetings. One of the things that brought Professor Wangari Maathai to fame leading to a Nobel peace award was her fight to retain the park and protect the environment when the government attempted to construct office buildings at the park. The park has an artificial lake which provides an entertainment opportunity for boating for many families.

����Uhuru Park�

��Relaxation at�Uhuru Park

The Nairobi Arboretum is another beautiful park surrounded by colorful flowers and fauna in a lush of green. It is a beautiful place for taking wedding photos and for picnics.

���Nairobi Aboretum

�The other parks are Uhuru Garden (freedom)� which commemorates the country?s independence and has a statute with clasped hands with peace sign and with�with people raising the Kenyan flag at independence. The Garden Monument �was built on the spot where Uhuru (freedom) from the British rule was declared on the 12th of December 1963. �

��Uhuru Gardens, (freedom garden)

There are other parks�with Historic meaning like Jevanjee gardens, named after an Indian trader who donated the land. The Park has a statute of Queen Elizabeth.�� There are more lakes and rivers througout the country and other historical monuments�that cannot be exhausted in one article.�

Written by serowa
Advocate, freelance writer, mentor, counselor, Christian

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