Page updated on 31/01/2009

Kenya is a country characterised by abject poverty on the one hand and conspicuous wealth on the other. The root cause of poverty in Kenya stem, in large part, from the colonial heritage that bestowed upon the nation highly unequal patterns of land tenure. A small segment of the population - now African instead of European - continues to own large areas of land at the expense of the largely small-holding and landless peasantry.

In contrast to the tremendous wealth of the politically-and agriculturally-based economic elite, the vast majority of the Kenyan population lives in poverty. The Kenyan government spends relatively little on health, though it does spend a considerable, albeit declining, amount on education.

Agriculture is Kenyas most valuable asset providing employment for roughly 80% of the population and accounting for 23% of total GDP.

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