For decades, Sudan was known as a country wrecked by wars, famine and abject poverty.

It is still the image of Sudan to most Kenyans, courtesy of the media. And for sure, it still the image of Sudan particularly in the South, Darfur, the Nuba Mountains, Eastern Blue Nile and the East.

To many Kenyans, Sudan is a country that the gods forgot and is a veritable refugee-producing machine.

That there are more than 60,000 Sudanese refugees in Kenya, most of them in Kakuma refugee camp in Turkana District, does not help Sudan's image. Other refugees are scattered in towns, include Nairobi, Eldoret, Nakuru, Kitale, Thika, Garrisa and Ruiru.

They are mostly of the Nilotic stock - tall, lanky and of a dark-blue hue. They stand out, if for nothing else but their distinctive facial marks of different patterns - from lines to polka dots and incisions.

To many Kenyans, Sudanese are a spectacle that is difficult to come to terms with. They are different, desperate and always at the mercy of Good Samaritans. They are objects of pity, bordering dangerously on ridicule.

Most Kenyans will grudgingly concede, though, that the Sudanese are a deeply proud people who bear their burden with dignity and are rarely emotional. They have a large reservoir of spiritual and physical strength that few in their positions would have.

Indeed, the reality on the ground is an entirely different matter. The Sudanese, given different circumstances, are well-endowed, wealthy and occupying one of the richest lands in Africa.

At 2.5 million square kilometres, Sudan is the largest country in Africa, bordering nine countries and the Red Sea. With a population more than 36 million it has one of the lowest population densities in Africa. And with the Nile flowing across the country from south to north, it has one of the largest swamp lands in Africa (the Sud). With the Nile and its tributaries, Sudan has immense fish potential.

Sudan has some the most fertile agricultural lands anywhere in the world, especially in the South and if well developed has the potential to be the breadbasket of Africa. Indeed, Sudan is the largest producer of Gum Arabic in the world, an ingredient that is a must in beverage making. It also has one of the largest cotton and sugar industries in Africa.

Its unexploited mineral wealth includes gold, iron ore, aluminium and copper not to mention exotic timber. Sudan, despite the war, has Africa's second largest grazing animal herd.

But perhaps, the most significant natural resource that Sudan has is oil. It is currently producing more than 350,000 barrels of crude oil per day, and is expected to hit 500,000 barrels in 2006 and the one million barrels mark by 2008.

With peace now thrown in, Sudan has an immense trade, business and investment potential that could have countries in the region green with envy.

During the recent donor conference in Oslo, Norway, the international community pledged more than 4.5 billion dollars in aid for Sudan between 2005 and 2007. The figure does not include funds to be generated by foreign investments in oil or bilateral or multilateral funds from donor countries.

Kenya can benefit from the crumbs, for the potential is enormous in terms of port and haulage and transport costs. Indeed, the port of Mombasa will almost certainly record a sudden increase in cargo handling.

In terms of infrastructure, the projected railway line and crude oil pipeline through Kenya would jump start the economy and provide jobs during the construction phase.

Kenya can also export providing basic consumer goods, services and expertise to Sudan. For it will need professionals like teachers, nurses, technicians, artisans, craftsmen, bankers, insurance computer technology.

Indeed, even at the height of the war and famine, the humanitarian relief operations were largely conducted and serviced from Kenya. There are many Kenyans working for these NGOs and the need will grow as the peace dividend matures.

In terms of manufacturing and industrial capacity, manpower and services industry, Kenya has an edge over the neighbouring Uganda, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Chad, Central African Republic or the Democratic Republic of Congo.

On this score Kenya is a step ahead but must guard against South Africa, India, Pakistan and other countries in Asia.