Corruption and crime are the norm. During our trip, the UN upgraded Nairobi to one of the most dangerous cities in the world. AIDS is at an epidemic level - nearly one in seven Kenyans has the disease. Young children addicted to sniffing glue can frequently be spotted begging on the side of the street. Homes for the average Kenyan are best described as small shacks with tin roofs.
Transportation is difficult, with partially paved roads and train routes filled with crime.
Yet with all this gloom and doom, what stands out is the beauty of the people and the land. Virtually every native I met was well spoken and had at least some basic education. Lunch with several local college students revealed that their concerns and interests closely match those of their peers in America. We were given a tour of the premier national media corporation, where we saw radio and television production facilities. The following day our Columbia Business School trip was mentioned on the national radio, television and newspaper news.