Kenya action-oriented and participatory health education in primary schools

Kenya lies across the equator in East Africa, on the coast of the Indian Ocean. It borders Somalia to the east, Ethiopia to the north, Tanzania to the south, Uganda to the west, and Sudan to the northwest. While the last census conducted in 1999 estimated the population to be about 29 million inhabitants, 2006 estimates put the population at about 34 million. The population growth rate is about 2.6%, while the life expectancy is about 55 years and in some areas as low as 40 years. The literacy level was estimated to be about 85% in 2003; however, this varies across regions, with some regions having very low literacy levels. The GDP is about $41.36 billion (2006) with a per capita income of $1,200, while the unemployment rate is high. Although only 8% of total land is arable, Kenya is mainly an agricultural country, relying on cash crops such as coffee, tea, wheat, and a variety of subsistence crops.