The average wage of a rural labourer would be about $4 per day (a loaf of bread is 50c). Many people are subsistence farmers - in some years there is no excess to sell for cash in order to buy a few 'luxuries' like clothes and . Most houses have no electricity and therefore no refrigeration.
So, when in Kenya it is difficult (and embarrassing) to be wealthy. The disparity between our living standard and that of those around us is very stark.
Nowhere has this been more obvious than on our recent holiday to the coast.
Around Mombasa we drove past run-down houses, areas with dirt roads and few amenities, rubbish piled up in the streets, young children begging and/or sniffing glue, and makeshift street stalls.
We then drove to Diani Beach (40 km South of Mombasa) and booked in to a 5-star resort that could have been transplanted from Miami Beach or Queensland's Gold Coast. The resort has beautifully manicured grounds, two pools, a seaside view, pool-side bars, lounges, tennis courts ... the list goes on.
The obvious dilemma is whether we should be enjoying this level of luxury when all around us is poverty. I don't know if my reasoning is rational or just justification, but here goes:
* It is very difficult to go from a Western country to a developing one. We have certainly not had to give up many aspects of Western life, but the instant change has been quite difficult. Your mind keeps saying "it shouldn't be like this", and so a break from routine is very refreshing. It is like a link to the world we have temporarily given up.
* This may be the quasi-economist in me, but the coast's resorts are assisting the local economy. In other words, there is some trickle-down effect. Taxi drivers, fruit and vegetable suppliers, tour operators, supermarket workers, trinket sellers - all benefit from the wealthy muzungu's. The economy of the coast would be poorer without the revenue produced by these resorts.
* The waiters, cleaners and attendants at the resort are quite poorly paid. However, many that we spoke to were very thankful to have permanent employment. Our waiter was training to become an electrician and he was able to study part-time due to his night shift. He said that the rest of the family was looking after the shamba (farm) while he was working away from home.
* The way forward for Kenya is not to ignore global economic change. The reality is that they must embrace modernisation and benefit from their natural and human resources. Tourism is an obvious area for further development, but tourists won't come if the facilities are not up to world standard.
So, how did we feel about our time in the resort?
We were comfortable about our time there, but it also made us more aware of the vast disparity in living standards, not only between countries, but within Kenyan society as well.
Our belief is that education is one of the best strategies to improve the prosperity of the average Kenyan - bring on Term 2!
HOW THE LOCALS LIVE:
HOW THE TOURISTS LIVE:
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