Kenyan American
Encyclopedia
Kenyan Americans are Americans
of Kenyan descent. There are an estimated 200,000 to 300,000 Kenyan Americans and least 50% of all Kenyan American citizens are based in Washington, D.C.
, with other population concentrations in Texas
, California
, Illinois
, Michigan
, Georgia
, New York
and North Carolina
.
the twentieth century. Thus, between the decades of the 80's and 90's, emigration kenitata in the United States had a huge increase, representing more than double the Kenyan immigrants usually arrived.
The increase in migration in the United States Kenyan produced by several factors: Many Kenyans were influenced by various facets of American culture Because of the large existing Relationship between Kenya and the United States. So, the American cuisine and entertainment had become usual in Kenya. Knowledge about the American culture caused many Kenyans decide to Take Advantage of Economic and Educational Opportunities of the United States. The downturn in the economy in Kenya and the high rate of unemployment in this country (over 35 Percent), couple with the Importance That gives the country places on education, resulting in more qualified and educated Than workers skilled positions available. Toward the end of the Twentieth Century, particularly Kenyan immigrants were attracted to technology-oriented careers in the United States, This It is an occupation where almost nonexistent in Kenya over 75 Percent of the jobs are agricultural-based.
, city where 50 percent of Kenyan Americans can be found, Texas
, California
, and parts of the Midwest. There are also many Kenyans established in Georgia
and North Carolina
, two states with important technological centers. Most Kenyans have adapted easily to life in America. Many Kenyan immigrants are well educated and possess specialized job skills. But they have little trouble finding did employment in health care the technological and professions, where they are most numerous. In addition, English is the majority language in Kenya, so they enjoy a linguistic Advantage over other immigrants. For all that, before long, many Kenyan Americans get a relative degree of financial security.
despite all this, Kenyan Americans are subject to the same sometimes That prejudice often other African Americans face. Discrimination that Is frequently directed toward those of African heritage. Perhaps the vast majority of because Kenyans become naturalized citizens do, Less than two percent return to Kenya. Some Kenyans get citizenship marrying Americans. Many Kenyan Americans would eventually like to return to Kenya after they have completed their education or economic achievements goals. However, the instability of Kenya's economy deters them. They do maintain contact with their Kenyan relatives and also make frequent trips to Kenya.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
of Kenyan descent. There are an estimated 200,000 to 300,000 Kenyan Americans and least 50% of all Kenyan American citizens are based in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
, with other population concentrations in Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
, Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
, Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
and North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
.
History
The first Kenyan who emigrated to America, they did so forced. These were slaves who were exported to that country until the early nineteenth century, when slavery was banned. Partly a result of slavery, Kenyan immigration was low until the 80the twentieth century. Thus, between the decades of the 80's and 90's, emigration kenitata in the United States had a huge increase, representing more than double the Kenyan immigrants usually arrived.
The increase in migration in the United States Kenyan produced by several factors: Many Kenyans were influenced by various facets of American culture Because of the large existing Relationship between Kenya and the United States. So, the American cuisine and entertainment had become usual in Kenya. Knowledge about the American culture caused many Kenyans decide to Take Advantage of Economic and Educational Opportunities of the United States. The downturn in the economy in Kenya and the high rate of unemployment in this country (over 35 Percent), couple with the Importance That gives the country places on education, resulting in more qualified and educated Than workers skilled positions available. Toward the end of the Twentieth Century, particularly Kenyan immigrants were attracted to technology-oriented careers in the United States, This It is an occupation where almost nonexistent in Kenya over 75 Percent of the jobs are agricultural-based.
Demography
The largest populations of Kenyans in America include Washington, D.C.Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
, city where 50 percent of Kenyan Americans can be found, Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, and parts of the Midwest. There are also many Kenyans established in Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
and North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
, two states with important technological centers. Most Kenyans have adapted easily to life in America. Many Kenyan immigrants are well educated and possess specialized job skills. But they have little trouble finding did employment in health care the technological and professions, where they are most numerous. In addition, English is the majority language in Kenya, so they enjoy a linguistic Advantage over other immigrants. For all that, before long, many Kenyan Americans get a relative degree of financial security.
despite all this, Kenyan Americans are subject to the same sometimes That prejudice often other African Americans face. Discrimination that Is frequently directed toward those of African heritage. Perhaps the vast majority of because Kenyans become naturalized citizens do, Less than two percent return to Kenya. Some Kenyans get citizenship marrying Americans. Many Kenyan Americans would eventually like to return to Kenya after they have completed their education or economic achievements goals. However, the instability of Kenya's economy deters them. They do maintain contact with their Kenyan relatives and also make frequent trips to Kenya.
Famous Kenyan Americans
- Barack ObamaBarack ObamaBarack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
, PresidentPresidentA president is a leader of an organization, company, trade union, university, or country.Etymologically, a president is one who presides, who sits in leadership...
of the United States of America of half Kenyan (LuoLuo (Kenya and Tanzania)The Luo are an ethnic group in Kenya, eastern Uganda, and northern Tanzania. They are part of a larger group of ethnolinguistically related Luo peoples who inhabit an area including southern Sudan, northern and eastern Uganda, western Kenya, and northern Tanzania.The Luo are the third largest...
) descent. - Edi GathegiEdi GathegiEdi Mue Gathegi is a Kenyan-American film, stage and television actor. He is best known for his recurring character Dr. Jeffrey Cole in the television series House, as Cheese in the 2007 film Gone Baby Gone and as Laurent in the films Twilight, its sequel The Twilight Saga: New Moon and Darwin in...
, actor known for known for his recurring character Dr. Jeffrey Cole (aka "Big Love") in the television series HouseHouse (TV series)House is an American television medical drama that debuted on the Fox network on November 16, 2004. The show's central character is Dr. Gregory House , an unconventional and misanthropic medical genius who heads a team of diagnosticians at the fictional Princeton-Plainsboro Teaching Hospital in...
, and as Laurent in the films TwilightTwilightTwilight is the time between dawn and sunrise or between sunset and dusk, during which sunlight scattering in the upper atmosphere illuminates the lower atmosphere, and the surface of the earth is neither completely lit nor completely dark. The sun itself is not directly visible because it is below...
and its sequel The Twilight Saga: New Moon. - Bernard LagatBernard LagatBernard Kipchirchir Lagat is an American middle and long distance champion athlete.Lagat was born in Kapsabet, Kenya...
, athlete for Kenya now representing United States (of NandiNandi peopleThe Nandi people are a number of Kenyan tribes living in the highland areas of the Nandi Hills in Rift Valley Province who speak the Nandi languages. They are a sub-group of the Kalenjin people....
Kalenjin descent) - Tom MorelloTom MorelloThomas Baptiste "Tom" Morello is a Grammy Award-winning American guitarist best known for his tenure with the bands Rage Against the Machine, Audioslave, his acoustic solo act The Nightwatchman, and his newest group, Street Sweeper Social Club...
, Rock musician (of Kikuyu, IrishIrish peopleThe Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
, ItalianItalian peopleThe Italian people are an ethnic group that share a common Italian culture, ancestry and speak the Italian language as a mother tongue. Within Italy, Italians are defined by citizenship, regardless of ancestry or country of residence , and are distinguished from people...
descent) - Mwende Window Snyder, computer software engineer and a senior security project manager at Apple Inc.