Kenya, about twice the size of Nevada with a population of about 33 million  and Tanzania, about twice the size of California and a population of about 40 million are two of  the poorest countries in the world .

Poverty, ignorance and disease and lack of development are huge problems. About 80% of the people depend on subsistence farming with little more than a hoe for cultivation. Struggling with droughts and pests they eke out an existence of less than a dollar a day. Tropical diseases are rife with aids accounting for 1.6 million deaths annually in Tanzania and 1.2 million in Kenya. Life expectancy is about 46 in Tanzania and 48 in Kenya.

In Tanzania the population is divided equally into Christians, Moslems and native religions but the grouping in Kenya is much different. There 45% are Protestants, 33% Catholics and about 10% each Muslim and native religions. Basic literacy has improved in the recent past but the standard of school buildings and equipment is poor. Missionaries have made a huge contribution to education in the area.