KENYA Facts at a glanceFull name: The Republic of Kenya
Population: 34.3 million (UN, 2005)
Capital: Nairobi
Major languages: Swahili, English
Major religion: Christianity
Life expectancy: 48 years (men), 46 years (women) (UN)
Monetary unit: 1 Kenya shilling = 100 cents
GNI per capita: US $540 (World Bank, 2005) [Source: BBC News]
Kenya has been described as ‘the cradle of humanity’. It's ethnic diversity has produced a vibrant culture but this is also a source of conflict.
As one of Africa's more politically-stable countries it has been a leading light in the Somali and Sudanese peace processes. With its scenic beauty and abundant wildlife, Kenya is one of Africa's major safari destinations. In 2006 tourism was the country's best hard currency earner, ahead of horticulture and tea. Street vendors are found on almost any street corner in Kenya and they offer a variety of snacks. Sambusas are deep-fried pastry triangles stuffed with spiced minced meat and are considered the most common snack. Corn on the cob is roasted on a wire grill over a bed of hot coals and sold cheaply for a few Kenyan shillings. Another snack is called mkate mayai ("bread eggs"); dough spread into a thin pancake, filled with minced meat and raw egg, and then folded. Sweets such as ice cream, yogurt, and deep fried yams (eaten with a squeeze of lemon juice and a sprinkling of chilli powder) are sold as well. In rural areas, children can be seen snacking on roasted maize (corn) and sugar cane. There are two national dishes: ugali and nyama choma. Maize (corn) is a Kenyan staple and the main ingredient of ugali, which is thick and similar to porridge. Ugali is usually eaten with meat, stews, or sukuma wiki. Sukuma wiki is a combination of chopped spinach or kale (a leafy green vegetable) that is fried with onions, tomatoes, maybe a green pepper, and any leftover meat, if available. It is seasoned with salt and some pepper. The traditional way of eating ugali is to pinch off a piece of the dough with the right hand, and shape it into a scoop by pressing and indentation into the dough with the thumb. The ugali is used to scoop sauces or stew. | 
