Most government employees also work in Nairobi. The Kenyan economy is supported by one of the best transportation systems in Africa. The railway links the main towns and paved roads reach all but the most inaccessible towns. The main roads to Tanzania and Uganda are paved and the one to Ethiopia is almost completely paved. Nairobi's modernized airport is one of Africa's busiest.
Flights connect the city to other African cities, and to Europe, the United States, and Asia.
Education has been strongly supported by the government and nearly all children go to primary school, which is free. The adult literacy rate increased from 20 percent in 1960 to 69 percent in 1990. After primary school the educational system becomes highly competitive and few of those who go on to secondary school gain admittance to the University of Nairobi or any of the country's smaller colleges.