Why Sankara Would Want to Live in Kenya

A Toronto teenager reflects on a certain east African country.The following essay was part of a recent junior high school presentation....

Completed on May 17, 2005

WHY I WOULD WANT TO LIVE IN KENYA

By Sankara Kebaara





Kenya is a wonderful, tropical, spectacular place to live. There are gorgeous


mountains,

beaches and




lakes

that seem to mesmerize just about anyone. Kenya is a tropical paradise full of wonder.

There’s always something to do.

It is one of the favorite destinations for many people living outside the country. If not busy snacking on an exotic treat, than one can enjoy dancing at the many Kenyan music festivals in the sun. There are beautiful safari excursions where one can see some of world’s most amazing animals such as

lions,

elephants,

hippopotamus,

giraffes and




an
incredible array of birds.



Aside from the gorgeous weather, Kenyan people are renowned for their friendliness and welcoming attitudes.

In Kenya, anyone feels at home. Everyone knows and loves their neighbors. People are generous. Very few people are pretentious or fake.

Kenyans are extremely hospitable. When a Kenyan visits someone, it is customary to bring a gift to the person’s home. Kenyan people have had less and less for themselves and less to share with others because of the poverty and suffering that started with the British colonialism. Kenyans fought for and won their right for independence and finally sovereignty arrived in 1963. The citizens were content, and joyfully began to await change. Unfortunately, what has happened since independence is that a few Kenyans, have taken over where the colonialist left off in exploiting the human and natural resources of the country. These individuals have also forced Kenyan governments to cut back and even do away with essential services to the population such as health care, housing and education.

Yes there is free education, but children are not attending because they have not got transportation, food, uniforms or school supplies. The teacher student ratio is at a ridiculous 1-50. In Kenya, children have to buy their own textbooks as students do here in Canada at the college and university levels. Only wealthy students can attend private school. High schools along with colleges and universities are expensive.

I would like to live in Kenya. Even though there is so much poverty I could help make the changes necessary for it to become an equitable country where no one would have to be hungry. I plan on getting a good education and working as a human rights lawyer to help the people. Hopefully, with the help of many we will create a world that is fair and just and where no one has to live in poverty or ignorance. Even right here in this rich country called Canada where people spend winters sleeping on the streets. I wouldn’t be moving to Kenya sorely because there are lots of material opportunities, but rather to reunite with my family and help build a society where nobody will live without access to basic services such as education and health care.