KENYA The study mission arrived in Nairobi, the capital of Kenya, and conferred with President Jomo Kenyatta. Kenyans have demonstrated to the world that people in a multiracial society can live and work together. For example, in the city of Nairobi, there are almost as many Indians as there are black Africans. Asians and Europeans occupy positions in the Parliament and Cabinet. In reference to the Mau Mau movement, black Kenyans resent the distorted stories of the killings of whites. They allege and document that of the 12,000 people killed during the Mau Mau period, only 87 were white and 57 of these were white policemen. The remaining fatalities were Africans who were killed by the police or by Africans. The members of the study mission 'visited AID projects in the vicinity of Nairobi. ECONOMY Agriculture dominates Kenya's economy, although there is a small but expanding industrial base. More than 80 percent of the population are engaged on the land, with agriculture and livestock providing over 85 percent of the country's export earnings. Coffee is the country's most important cash crop and export commodity. During the past year, Kenya has suffered from a serious drought which resulted in a shortage of foodstuffs. Large quantities of surplus food under Public Law 480, title II and title IV, have been sent by the U.S. Government to the people of Kenya. ECONOMIC ASSISTANCE U.S. economic assistance to Kenya has been in projects concentrated in agriculture, education, government, training and management, and community development. The largest amount of foreign assistance for last year came from the British in the sum of $53 million in loans and grants. Communist countries have made substantial commitments totaling $67 million. However, there is very little evidence that these commitments have been honored, and this has contributed to disenchantment with the Russians. EDUCATION As in most countries in Africa, education has high priority in Kenya's development programs. AID is assisting in vocational agriculture education programs and English language teacher training projects. To help Kenya train badly needed teachers, AID is providing teacher trainers. The United States is aiding the University College, Nairobi, and the Veterinary College of the University of East Africa to help meet the increased demand for higher level manpower throughout east Africa. 58-019 0-66 -3 AID is also assisting the National Youth Service, an organization established to provide work and training for unemployed young men. Assistance has been primarily in the form of construction equipment for the camps and food. AMERICAN BUSINESS With its modern industrial community and large supply of skilled labor, Nairobi has become an important center for most American businesses established in east Africa. U.S. firms and industries are developing contacts with the African consumer and supplier. The American Businessmen's Club of Nairobi has been established to exchange ideas and information. Trade between the United States and Kenya is increasing. There were 50 American companies represented in Kenya in 1965, many of which have training programs for their African employees. NAIROBI NATIONAL PARK The study mission visited Nairobi National Park, and met with representatives of the African Wildlife Leadership Foundation, Inc., nonprofit U.S. corporation engaged in educational work for the conservation of wildlife in Africa. The Foundation provides scholarships at U.S. universities for African students in wildlife management, produces educational films for African audiences, and operates an education center at Nairobi National Park. Kenya has invited other nations to participate in the work of conserving the wildlife which is regarded as an integral part of Africa's natural resources and an invaluable heritage. |