His Excellency February 2017 Macharia Kamau Permanent Representave to the WHO WE ARE United Naons from Kenya The Office of Internaonal Affairs & Diplomacy acvely supports UVU’s global engage- ment efforts by advancing Until his latest appointment, Mr. Kamau (UNDP) Resident Representative in UVU’s presence and presge in was Kenya’s Permanent Representative Kigali, Rwanda. the Internaonal community; to the United Nations Office at Nairobi, From May to August 2002, he was the helping UVU students become where he served concurrently as United Nations Representative and Permanent Representative to the United globally competent graduates; Technical Adviser to the Technical Nations Environment Programme promong cultural literacy and Support Secretariat in Brussels, Belgium, (UNEP), and the United Nations Human prior to which he held the post of diversity both on campus and in Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) Resident Coordinator and UNDP the community. from March 2009. Resident Representative in Gaborone, From August 2008 to March 2009, he Botswana from August 1998 until served as a consultant in multiple May 2002. concurrent roles, including Africa In addition to New York, Mr. Kamau’s Adviser with the Global Development extensive experience in the United Department of the Bill and Melinda Nations system earned him postings to Gates Foundation; Advocacy and Barbados, Namibia and Zambia, serving CONTACT US Leadership Adviser with the Joint United in various capacities with UNICEF and Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS Office of Internaonal Affairs the United Nations Transition Assistance (UNAIDS) for East and Southern Africa; Group. LA111f Independent Consultant with the Africa Child Policy Forum in Addis Ababa, He joined UNICEF in 1985 as Pro- 800 West University Parkway Ethiopia; Senior Associate at the Africa gramme Communication and Social Mo- MS 263 Policy Institute in Pretoria, South Africa; bilization Consultant for the East and and Senior Adviser for Community Southern Africa Regional Office in Orem, UT 84058 Innovations in Pretoria. Nairobi. Phone: 801-863-7191 Between June 2005 and July 2008, Mr. Kamau holds degrees in history, E-mail: [email protected] Mr. Kamau was the United Nations economics and education from Wooster Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Country College, Ohio, and Harvard University, www.uvu.edu/intlaffairs Representative in South Africa, prior to Massachusetts. which he served in the same country as Acting United Nations Resident Coordinator and Designated Official for Safety and Security. From Septem- ber 2002 to April 2005, he was United Nations Resident Coordinator and United Nations Development Programme INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT Kenya Kenya is located in East Africa. Its terrain THE FLAG OF rises from a low coastal plain on Kenya the Indian Ocean to mountains and plat- eaus (areas of level high ground) at its centre. Most Kenyans live in the high- lands, where Nairobi, the capital, sits at an altude of 1,700 metres. MEANING Three equal horizontal bands of Millions of people visit Kenya each year black (top), red, and green; the red to see its endless savannah and the animals that inhabit it: elephants, lions, band is edged in white; a large In Kenya, more than 60 languages are cheetahs, giraffes, zebras, hippos, rhinos Maasai warrior's shield covering spoken and there are more than 40 and more. The Kenyan government has crossed spears is superimposed at ethnic groups. Almost everyone there set up more than 50 reserves and parks the center; black symbolizes the speaks more than one African language. to protect these animals. majority populaon, red the blood Slavery is a big part of Kenya's history. shed in the struggle for freedom, The Maasai (Kenyan English: [maˈsaːɪ]) During the 1600s and 1700s, many green stands for natural wealth, are a Niloc ethnic group of semi- Kenyans were kidnapped and taken as and white for peace; the shield and nomadic people inhabing southern slaves by Arabs, Europeans, and Kenya and northern Tanzania. They are crossed spears symbolize the Americans. By the mid-19th century, among the best known local populaons slavery was outlawed by most countries, defense of freedom due to their residence near the many but by then, thousands of Kenyans and game parks of the African Great Lakes, other East Africans had been taken to and their disncve customs and dress. countries throughout the world. The foods that are universally eaten in Kenya are ugali, sukuma wiki, and nyama choma. Sukuma wiki, a Swahili phrase which literally means "to push the week," is a simple dish made with greens similar to kale or collards that can also be made with cassava leaves, sweet potato leaves, or pumpkin leaves. hps://www.cia.gov ; en.wikipedia.org/ hp://www.ngkids.co.uk/places/country- fact-file-kenya School is free in Kenya, but many chil- hp://www.interesngfunfacts.com/cool- dren are too busy to go to classes. They facts-about-kenya.html help their families by working the land, tending cale, cooking, or fetching water. .