Location: East coast of Africa

Population: 50,900,000+

Land Area: 219,746 sq mi (a little smaller than Texas)

Languages: Swahili, English, and numerous tribal languages; there are a total of 69 languages spoken in Kenya.

Cuisine: Ugali and sukuma wiki, staples of Kenyan cuisine Kenyans generally have three meals in a day—breakfast (kiamsha kinywa), lunch (chakula cha mchana), and supper (chakula cha jioni or simply chajio). In between, they have the 10-o'clock tea (chai ya saa nne) and 4 p.m. tea (chai ya saa kumi). Breakfast is usually tea or porridge with bread, chapati, mahamri, boiled sweet potatoes, or yams. Githeri is a common lunchtime dish in many households, while Ugali with vegetables, sour milk (mursik), meat, fish, or any other stew is generally eaten by much of the population for lunch or supper. Regional variations and dishes also exist.

In western Kenya, among the Luo, fish is a common dish; among the Kalenjin, who dominate much of the Rift Valley Region, mursik—sour milk—is a common drink.

In cities such as Nairobi, there are fast-food restaurants, including Steers, KFC, and Subway. There are also many fish-and-chips shops.

We have lived and worked in the town of Kisii, Kenya (which is located in the southwestern corner of Kenya) for the past 20 years. Kisii town is 50 miles north of the border of Tanzania and 50 miles east of Lake Victoria.  Kisii town is south of the equator and is at the elevation of approximately 6,500 feet above sea level.

The Kisii tribe has a population of 2.2 million people.  Kisii is the second most densely populated area in the country, next to the Capital city of Nairobi; and it is the third economic center in the country. 

Climate:
The Kisii area is located in a highland equatorial climate, and as such it receives rain almost throughout the year, although there are two rainy seasons (March-May and October-November). The average rainfall is over 1500mm and is quite reliable, helping to support cash crops (such as coffee, tea and pyrethrum) and subsistence crops (maize, beans, millet and potatoes). Temperatures can range from 10ºC to 30ºC.

Health:
Health facilities are inadequate, unevenly distributed and lacking in essential medicines. There are a number of hospitals - including the government-run facility in Kisii town and the Mission Hospital in Tabaka - but the bed occupancy rate is 160.3%. The major diseases in Kisii are malaria, anaemia, pneumonia, meningitis, tuberculosis, measles and gastroenteritis. The first AIDS cases in Kenya were recognized in 1984 (1987 in Kisii district), but it is now believed that 1 in every 18 adults is infected with the HIV virus in all areas. Over 70% of AIDS cases are aged 20–49 years, the most economically active age group and also the best educated and skilled. Infant mortality has been declining for several years and the acceptance of immunization programs is increasing, but a large proportion of children are believed stunted due to poor nutrition. Water is easily available from rivers, wells, springs, roof catchments and boreholes, although the only treated water supply is found in Kisii Municipality. In recent years Kisii highland has had new water treatment stations among others one at Birongo serving parts of Nyaribari central and chache and also Kitutu Masaba.

Economy:
Due to the high population density, almost all land in Kisii district is put to maximum agricultural use. Land is subdivided within families, meaning that plots are becoming ever-smaller and the average farm is only 15,000 m² in area. Intensive farming in hilly regions has increased the rate of soil degradation and erosion, while the application of farm chemicals has polluted surface and groundwater sources. More than 90% of rural household energy needs come from wood, but the district is no longer self-reliant and other sources such as biogas are being encouraged. Tea and coffee processing and soda bottling constitute Kisii district's manufacturing industry, but retail and wholesale businesses exist in market centers despite the lack of cooling facilities for preserving perishables. The annual growth rate in paid employment is 3.5%, but this is barely keeping up with the current population growth rate. There are many societies such as Savings and Credit Cooperatives (SACCOs) concentrated in Kisii Town according to members' occupations or primary cash crop as well. The informal sector is involved in repair, metal fabrication, furniture making and the sale of secondhand clothes, while the soapstone which is found in the area of Tabaka provides a reasonable resource for the carving industry.

Income is unevenly distributed, with an average income per capita of Kenya Shillings (Ksh) 2000 (approx. US$20 in 2006), although most appear to earn Ksh. 1000-1500. Many live below the poverty line, but actual figures are available for urban areas only.

In March of 2020, we made a move 2 hours northwest of Kisii town to the city of Kisumu. We made this move for Tonya's health, and we are so thankful that the Lord lead us to a city within driving distance to all of our churches and ministries in the Nyanza region of Kenya.

Kisumu is the third largest city in Kenya after Nairobi and Mombasa, and the second largest city, after Kampala, Uganda, in the Lake Victoria Basin.

Kisumu serves as the capital city of Kisumu County, Kenya and has a population of 721,082 (Kenya National Census, 2019).

It sits at an elevation of 1,131 m (3,711 ft). Kisumu is about 320 kilometers (200 miles) north west of Nairobi and its located at the shores of Lake Victoria. It lies at the northeastern edge of the Winam Gulf, a long, shallow arm that protrudes from the main body of Lake Victoria.[8] Kisumu is set 24 kilometers (15 miles) south of the Equator and has moderate temperatures because of its elevation of 1130 meters above sea level. Just four hours away by car is the massive Kenya National Game Preserve, the Masai Mara, a world-renowned safari attraction. Kisumu is a few kilometers South of the equator, so the days are always around 12 hours long and sunset is always between 1840h and 1900h.

Before the arrival of missionaries in Eastern Africa, Kenya was plagued by the darkness of savage debauchery, tribal warfare, and the satanic traditions of animism and witchcraft. God opened the door for Christian missionaries to enter the country of Kenya when it became a British colony in the early 1900’s. Today 87% of Kenyans claim to be Christian, but this high percentage gives false hope.

Although a large number of Kenyans claim to be Christian, many have never truly been born again and are confused by the teachings of false churches. The Roman Catholic church abounds and all kinds of protestant and charismatic churches can be found throughout the country. There are also many Kenyans who take elements of Christianity and mix them with their traditional tribal religions.

There are also many false religions in Kenya. Each of the forty tribes maintains its own traditional religion (a few tribes are more steeped in their traditional religious practices than others). Islam is the second largest religion in Kenya, and there is a mosque in almost every town. There is also a presence of the eastern religions of Hinduism, Sikhism, and Buddhism.

Confusion can only be taken away from the heart and mind by the truth, and so many people in Kenya are ready to hear the Truth of the Gospel, but they need someone to tell them. Poor health care, terrorism, and ethnic violence strike fear into the hearts of many Kenyans; they desperately need the hope that is found in trusting Jesus Christ as their personal Saviour!

Our heart's desire is "To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace." ~ Luke 1:79