Kenya is known as "the cradle of humanity" and now it

Situated on the equator on Africa’s east coast, Kenya has been described as " the cradle of humanity". (18) In the present day, Kenya’s ethnic diversity has produced a vibrant culture but is also a source of conflict. After independence from Britain in 1963, the ruling Kenya African National Union, KANU, was the only legal political party for much of the 1980s. Violent unrest—and international pressure—led to multi-party politics in the early 1990s. (19) But it was to be another decade before opposition candidate Mwai Kibaki ended nearly 40 years of KANU rule with his victory in 2002’s general election. Despite President Kibaki’s pledge to tackle corruption, some people estimated that up to $ 1 billion had been lost to corruption between 2002 and 2005. (20) Other pressing challenges include high unemployment, crime and poverty; most Kenyans live below the poverty level of $1 a day. Droughts frequently put millions of people at risk. With its scenic beauty and abundant wildlife, Kenya is one of Africa’s major safari destinations. The profitable tourist industry has bounced back following the decline that followed bomb attacks in Nairobi in 1998 and Mombasa in 2002. And in 2006 tourism was the country’s best hard currency earner, ahead of flowers and tea.