KenyaCradle
All About Kenya
by Andrew IC
The Kuria tribe are an ethnic and linguistic group resident in the west and east districts of Nyanza Province in southwest Kenya. In 2006 the Kuria population was estimated to number 609,000, with 435,000 living in Tanzania and 174,000 in Kenya. [Read more…] about Kuria Tribe
by Andrew IC
The Maasai tribe (or Masai) is a unique and popular tribe due to their long preserved culture. Despite education, civilization and western cultural influences, the Maasai people have clung to their traditional way of life, making them a symbol of Kenyan culture.
[Read more…] about Maasai Tribe, People, Language, Culture and Traditions (Masai)
by Andrew IC
Ogiek Tribe: The Ogiek are an indigenous people that live in and around the Mau Forest, an area of 900 square kilometers (550 square miles) about 200 kilometers (125 miles) northwest of Nairobi, the capital of Kenya and in the forests around Mt. Elgon at the border to Uganda. [Read more…] about Ogiek Tribe
by Andrew IC
Teso Tribe: The Teso people of Kenya are an extension of their Ugandan counterparts in that they were merely separated by the partition of East Africa during the historic scramble and partition of Africa just like the Maasai of Kenya and Tanzania and the Oromo of Kenya and Ethiopia. They are among the Plain Nilotic groups closely related to the Turkana, Karamojong, Toposa and the Maa groups of the Maasai and Samburu.
The Teso tribe is found in Western Kenya currently in Busia County, which is in South of Mt. Elgon. A large number of the Teso people inhabit parts of Bungoma and Trans Nzoia Counties which are dominated by the Bukusu of the Luhya tribe.
Teso people are the only Plains Nilotic people whose lifestyles underwent drastic changes. Having been pastoralists since time immemorial, these people are now the most successful farmers in both Western Kenya and Eastern Uganda. In recent years the people have changed much of their lifestyle. They used to exhume the dead after some time because of population pressure on their land and they no longer have bushes to dump the bones of people who died long time ago. Now they use cement graves — a sign that they have embraced new ways of dealing with the dead. They believe in one God (Akuju/amsabwa) and also in life after death.
Teso traditions relate that they originated somewhere in what is now Egypt in the area of Alexandra. They are believed to have descended from the Hebrew Joseph who had married a black Egyptian. Later when the Israeli slaves left Egypt for the promised land, the group followed the blue Nile river into Ethiopia. It is from here that they obtained the name Iteso, meaning we have seen. They saw a land, part of the promise to Jacob, the grand son of Abraham, it is a land divided by small rivers origanated from the White Nile, theirs was the Upper Nile area. From the Ethiopian mountains is where they saw the land. They later migrated south West over a period of centuries. They were part of a larger group of Nilo-Hamitic peoples who include; the Masai and Turkana of Kenya, the Nyangatom of present day Ethiopia, Karamojong, the Topotha of South Sudan, all are they Ateker. The Ateker further split into several groups, including Jie, Turkana, Karamojong and Teso.
The Teso Tribe
The Teso established themselves in present-day north-eastern Uganda, and in the mid-18th century some began to move farther south. During the course of this latter migration, conflicts ensued with other ethnic groups in the region, leading to the split of Teso territory into a northern and southern part. In 1902, part of eastern Uganda was transferred to western Kenya – leading to further separation of Teso.
Northern Teso occupy the area previously known as Teso District in Uganda (now the districts of Amuria, Soroti, Kumi, Katakwi, Pallisa, Bukedea and Kaberamaido). Southern Teso live mainly in the districts of Tororo and Busia in Uganda, and Busia county in Kenya’s Western region.
by Andrew IC
Kenya’s North Eastern Province is home to the Somali Culture of Kenya, a cushitic tribe found in larger numbers in the neighboring Somalia Republic and in Ethiopia.
[Read more…] about Somali Culture, Tribe, People, Language, Religion and Tradition
by Andrew IC
The time in Nairobi (Kenya) is 3 hours later than Greenwich Mean Time (GMT or UTC). The Nairobi time zone is called EAT (East Africa Time). Nairobi is in the same time zone as Tanzania, Ethiopia, and the Western part of Russia (including Moscow). This means that if it’s morning in the USA, it’s the late afternoon or early evening in the USA.
Kenya has no Daylight Saving Time (DST) scheduled, so the time doesn’t change in the summer like it does in many places in North America or Europe.
Nairobi Time Compared
If it’s 3 PM in Nairobi (afternoon tea time), then the corresponding time elsewhere is:
What’s the weather in Nairobi like? If you’re planning a holiday trip to Nairobi, it’s likely that you’re prepared for the hot climate. You may be surprised to find out that the weather in Nairobi is actually quite pleasant during most times of the year. Kenyans call it “Green City in the Sun”.
Though Nairobi is right in the middle of a very beutiful and warm country, it has one special feature that helps moderate its climate: altitude. Nairobi is approximately 5,500 feet (1,600 meters) above sea level, which keeps it much cooler than the surrounding countryside. Its this one factor that keeps the weather in Nairobi at such reasonable levels.
Current weather in Nairobi, Kenya
There are 2 distinct rainy seasons in Nairobi, usually during March to May, as well as later in November and December. You won’t be inundated with rain during those times, but you’ll find the skies more overcast and frequent rainy periods. This can have an impact on the types of activities you plan on doing while in Kenya. Don’t assume that the rainy periods are also the coolest. They’re not.
The seasonal changes in temperature are noticeable through the year, but are not as drastic as what you would see through most of North America, for example. The warmest months are from January to April, and it also tends to warm up again in October. The hottest time is around February and April when the temperatures will reach around 78 F (26 C) during the day, and drop to around 55 F (13 C) at night. The coolest times to visit Nairobi would be July and August, with highs around 70 F (21 C) and lows closer to 50 F (10 C).
Though the weather in Nairobi is a big factor to consider when planning your trip, you may want to time your vacation for other events as well.
I suggest coming during the months of August-September, not only because it is the coolest times of the year, but because it’s the season for the annual wildebeest migration in the Masai Mara area. Since I’m sure you’re planning to take at least one safari tour while visiting Kenya, why not do it when the most dramatic wildlife event of the year takes place? Millions of wildebeest and zebras move through the region during these months to follow the rain patterns.
However, the dry periods of July-August and December-January are also the most touristy months in Kenya. If you are one of those people who like to avoid that, you could think of travelling outside those periods.
All Year Round Overall speaking, the Nairobi weather is fairly consistent through the year and you won’t find huge temperature swings or any violent weather. It’s mainly pleasantly warm, sunny and clear. This makes Nairobi an all the year round destination.
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