to encourage the growth of new service industries, such as call centre operations.

Protecting resources for the future

The future success of the economy depends largely on a stable political situation and the curbing of corruption and patronage, which limits companies’ willingness to invest in the country.

Massive population growth over the last four decades has also put huge strain on Kenya’s land and the environmental impact of deforestation is already being felt.

But with better protection of the environment and a reduction in corruption and mismanagement, Kenya’s trading culture, many entrepreneurs and strong industry sectors should afford the economy a favourable future.

A quarter of the Mau forest in central Kenya has been cleared in the last 15 years, resulting in the drying up of rivers fed by the forest. This affectsthe livelihood of around ten million Kenyans and causes shortages of electricity from the hydroelectric plants on the Tana and Turkwel rivers.

Lake Naivasha

A double-edged sword

Lake Naivasha, one of Kenya's large freshwater lakes, is at risk from pollution and over-exploitation. Yet the flower industry responsible for this has brought jobs to the country.