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Kenya
AFRICA
FACTFILE
OFFICIAL NAME: Republic of Kenya
DATE OF FORMATION: 1963
CAPITAL: Nairobi
POPULATION: 39.8 million
TOTAL AREA: 224,961 sq. miles
(582,650 sq. km)
DENSITY: 182 people per sq. mile
LANGUAGES: Kiswahili, English, other
RELIGIONS: Christian 60%, traditional
beliefs 25%, other 9%, Muslim 6%
ETHNIC MIX: Other 42%, Kikuyu 20%,
Luhya 14%, Luo 13%, Kalenjin 11%
GOVERNMENT: Mixed presidential–
parliamentary system
CURRENCY: Kenya shilling = 100 cents
Kenya straddles the equator on Africa’s east coast. After
nearly 40 years in power, the KANU party was soundly
defeated in elections in 2002. Corruption is a serious issue.
GEOGRAPHY
A central plateau is divided by the
Great Rift Valley. North of the equator is
mainly semidesert. To the east lies a
fertile coastal belt.
CLIMATE
The coast and the Great Rift Valley
are hot and humid. The plateau interior is
temperate. The northeastern desert is
hot and dry. Rain usually falls April–May
and October–November.
PEOPLE & SOCIETY
70 ethnic groups share about 40
languages. Strong clan and family links in
rural areas are being weakened by urban
migration. Poverty, severe drought, and
years of high population growth
exacerbate ethnic tensions.
THE ECONOMY
Tourism: image damaged by 2008
post-election violence. Flowers, tea, and
coffee are cash crops. Needs food aid.
Diversified manufacturing sector. Sizable
informal economy.
INSIGHT: Kenya has more than
50 game reserves, national parks,
and marine reservations
5000m/16405ft
4000m/13124ft
3000m/9843ft
2000m/6562ft
1000m/3281ft
500m/1640ft
200m/656ft
Sea Level100 km100 miles00SUDAN ETHIOPIASOMALIATANZANIAUGANDAUngama
BayINDIAN
OCEANChalbi
DesertG
re
a
t
R
if
t
V
a
ll
e
yEquatorLake
TurkanaLake
VictoriaElemi
TriangleNakuru
NyeriEldoret
MeruKericho
ThikaMalindiMombasaKisumuMachakosMarsabitNAIROBI