Kenya is located on the east coast of Africa, with the Equator running almost straight through the middle of the country. Its northern border touches 5° of latitude north and the southern border touches 40° south. The western border is marked 33°E longitude. It is a sovereign state, having achieved political independence from British rule on 12th December 1963 and a year later on 12th December 1964 became a fully fledged Republic. It is a member of the Organization of African Unity, the Commonwealth of Nations and the United Nations Organisation. It has an area of 582,644 Sq. Kms (224,900 Sq. miles) of which 45,240 Sq. Kms (7.8%) is under Wildlife Conservation sanctuaries (National Parks and National Reserves). The country shares common borders with Somalia (east), Ethiopia (north), Sudan (north-west), Uganda (west) and Tanzania (south). To the south east lies the Indian Ocean, making the country the greatest marine gateway to East Africa.

Kenya has a great diversity of physical features which can be distinctively divided into five main zones. The low lying arid and semi-arid lands of the north and northern-eastern province, which cover nearly two-thirds of the country. This is a hot dry country with scant water supplies. It is inhabited by the nomadic Somali, Boran, Galla, Turkana, Rendille and Gabra. The coastal belt running along the Indian Ocean from the Kenya-Tanzania border to the Somali border. It is a well watered area receiving rain twice a year from the north-easterly and south-easterly monsoons. The land is lush with scattered plantations of coconut, sugarcane, sisal, cashewnut and bananas. The Nyika Plateau (dry wilderness) occupies the country between the coastal belt and the central highlands. It is a dry area of low rainfall. The vegetation consists of short grass with scattered acacia trees. It is best described as a dry savannaland and supports most of Kenya’s wildlife. The fourth and most productive zone is the central highlands - a raised volcanic block split from north to south by the Great Rift Valley, a 8,700 kilometre ditch on the surface of the earth (sometimes 80 Km wide) which stretches from the Dead Sea in Jordan to Beira in Mozambique. The eastern wall of the Valley is dominated by Mt. Kenya a giant extinct volcano rising to 5,199 metres (17,058 ft.a.s.l.). It is the second highest snow-capped mountain in Africa and the only spot in the world where snow is found on the Equator. Close to Mt. Kenya is the Aberdares or the Nyandarua Range whose highest peaks, Ol Donyo le Satima 3,998 metres (13,120 ft.) and Kinangop over 3,600 metres (12,000 ft.) make up an impressive scenery in the region. A combination of good rainfall, soils, suitable climate makes the region one of the richest agricultural lands in the world. The western flank of Central Highlands is dominated by the peaks of Mau Range, Nandi and the Cherangani Hills. Mt. Elgon rising to 4,320 metres (14,178 ft.) is another extinct volcano on the Kenya-Uganda border. The western slopes including Mt. Elgon region are fertile and well-watered. They receive most of their rains from the inland sea of Lake Victoria (the second largest fresh water lake in the world. From the western flanks of the central highlands, the land slopes down to the lake basin.

The lake basin is hot and moist and receives heavy rainfall from the lake. Its vegetation is mainly savanna woodland. The vast mass of the lake water creates its own local weather systems.

Climate

The country enjoys a varied climate ranging from the tropical to the temperate. It is endowed with a rich heritage of natural resources, which allows for a wide range of economic activities. The range of climatic conditions is wide due to the variation in altitude. The highlands above 1,500 metres (5,000 feet) have a temperate climate, but temperatures drop so low as to limit cultivation above 2,750 metres (5,500 feet). Average temperatures at sea level are 26 degrees Celsius, and decline by an average of 1.7 degrees for each 300 metre (600 feet) rise above sea level. Forests are restricted to the upper levels of the highlands which receive the most rainfall and plantations of conifers and wattle are limited to that area. Crop cultivation is carried out in the highlands and livestock raising is primarily located in the dry plains. The most critical climatic factor affecting the country is rainfall, or the lack of it. The rains come to the western part of the country in one long rainy season, while in the east there are two periods of rain, the long rains in March-May, and the short rains in September-October. Up-to-date weather forecasts can be obtained by visiting:  Kenya Meteorological Department

English and Kiswahili are the official languages and are taught in schools throughout Kenya. Many vernacular languages are also spoken in various parts of the country.

Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Kenya
conventional short form: Kenya
former: British East Africa

Government type: republic

Capital: Nairobi

Administrative divisions:
7 provinces and 1 area*; Central, Coast, Eastern, Nairobi Area*, North Eastern, Nyanza, Rift Valley, Western

Independence:
12 December 1963 (from UK)

National holiday:
Independence Day, 12 December (1963)

Constitution:
12 December 1963; amended as a republic 1964; reissued with amendments 1979, 1982, 1986, 1988, 1991, 1992, 1997, and 2001

Location:
Eastern Africa, bordering the Indian Ocean, between Somalia and Tanzania

Geographic coordinates:
1 00 N, 38 00 E

Area:
total: 582,650 sq km
land: 569,250 sq km
water: 13,400 sq km

Land boundaries:
total: 3,477 km
border countries: Ethiopia 861 km, Somalia 682 km, Sudan 232 km,
Tanzania 769 km, Uganda 933 km

Coastline:
536 km

Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation

Terrain:
low plains rise to central highlands bisected by Great Rift Valley; fertile plateau in west

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mount Kenya 5,199 m

Natural resources:
limestone, soda ash, salt, gemstones, fluorspar, zinc, diatomite,
gypsum, wildlife, hydropower

Land use:
arable land: 8.08%
permanent crops: 0.98%
other: 90.94% (2001)
Irrigated land:
670 sq km (1998 est.)

Environment - current issues:
water pollution from urban and industrial wastes; degradation of water quality from increased use of pesticides and fertilizers; water hyacinth infestation in Lake Victoria; deforestation; soil erosion; desertification; poaching

Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling; signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements.

Geography - note:
the Kenyan Highlands comprise one of the most successful agricultural production regions in Africa; glaciers are found on Mount Kenya, Africa's second highest peak; unique physiography supports abundant and varied wildlife of scientific and economic value.

Population:
33,829,590

Age structure:
0-14 years: 42.5% (male 7,252,075/female 7,124,034)
15-64 years: 55.2% (male 9,378,428/female 9,295,471)
65 years and over: 2.3% (male 356,116/female 423,466) (2005 est.)
Median age:
total: 18.19 years
male: 18.08 years
female: 18.3 years (2005 est.)

Population growth rate:
2.56% (2005 est.)
Birth rate:
40.13 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Death rate:
14.65 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Net migration rate:
0.08 migrant(s)/1,000 population
note: according to UNHCR, by the end of 2001 Kenya was host to 220,000 refugees from neighboring countries, including: Somalia 145,000 and Sudan 68,000 (2005 est.).

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.02 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.84 male(s)/female
total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2005 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 61.47 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 64.26 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 58.62 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 47.99 years
male: 48.87 years
female: 47.09 years (2005 est.)
Total fertility rate:
4.96 children born/woman (2005 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
6.7% (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
1.2 million (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
150,000 (2003 est.)
Major infectious diseases:
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A,
and typhoid fever, vectorborne disease: malaria is a high risk in some locations
water contact disease: schistosomiasis (2004)

Nationality:
noun: Kenyan(s)
adjective: Kenyan

Ethnic groups:
Kikuyu 22%, Luhya 14%, Luo 13%, Kalenjin 12%, Kamba 11%, Kisii 6%, Meru 6%, other African 15%, non-African (Asian, European, and Arab) 1%

Religions:
Protestant 45%, Roman Catholic 33%, indigenous beliefs 10%, Muslim 10%,
other 2%. Note: a large majority of Kenyans are Christian, but estimates for the percentage of the population that adheres to Islam or indigenous beliefs vary widely.

Languages:
Kiswahili (official), English (official), numerous indigenous languages

Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 85.1%
male: 90.6%
female: 79.7% (2003 est.)

Legal system:
based on Kenyan statutory law, Kenyan and English common law, tribal law, and Islamic law; judicial review in High Court; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations; constitutional amendment of 1982 making Kenya a de jure one-party state repealed in 1991

Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
Head of state: President Mwai KIBAKI (since 30 December 2002) and Vice President Moody AWORI (since 25 September 2003); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
H ead of government: President Mwai KIBAKI (since 30 December 2002) and Vice President Moody AWORI (since 25 September 2003); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
C abinet: Cabinet appointed by the president
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; in addition to receiving the largest number of votes in absolute terms, the presidential candidate must also win 25% or more of the vote in at least five of Kenya's seven provinces and one area to avoid a runoff; election last held 27 December 2002 (next to be held December 2007); vice president appointed by the president
election results: President Mwai KIBAKI elected; percent of vote - Mwai KIBAKI 63%, Uhuru KENYATTA 30%

Legislative branch:
unicameral National Assembly or Bunge (224 seats; 210 members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms, 12 so-called "nominated" members who are appointed by the president but selected by the parties in proportion to their parliamentary vote totals, 2 ex-officio members)
elections: last held 27 December 2002 (next to be held by early 2007)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - NARC 125, KANU 64, FORD-P 14, other 7; ex-officio 2; seats appointed by the president - NARC 7, KANU 4, FORD-P 1

Judicial branch:
Court of Appeal (chief justice is appointed by the president); High Court

Political parties and leaders:
Forum for the Restoration of Democracy-People or FORD-People [Kimaniwa NYOIKE, chairman]; Kenya African National Union or KANU [Uhuru KENYATTA]; National Rainbow Coalition or NARC [Mwai KIBAKI] - the governing party

Political pressure groups and leaders:
human rights groups; labor unions; Muslim organizations; National Convention Executive Council or NCEC, a proreform coalition of political parties and nongovernment organizations [Kivutha KIBWANA]; Protestant National Council of Churches of Kenya or NCCK [Mutava MUSYIMI]; Roman Catholic and other Christian churches; Supreme Council of Kenya Muslims or SUPKEM [Shaykh Abdul Gafur al-BUSAIDY]

International organization participation:
ACP, AfDB, AU, C, EADB, FAO, G-15, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt (signatory), ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGAD, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MIGA, MINURSO, MONUC, NAM, ONUB, OPCW, UN, UNAMSIL, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMEE, UNMIK, UNMIL, UNOCI, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: tba
chancery: 2249 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 387-6101
FAX: [1] (202) 462-3829
consulate(s) general: Los Angeles
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador William M. BELLAMY
embassy: US Embassy, United Nations Ave., Gigiri; P. O. Box 606 Village Market Nairobi
mailing address: Box 21A, Unit 64100, APO AE 09831
telephone: [254] (20) 537-800
FAX: [254] (20) 537-810

Flag description:
three equal horizontal bands of black (top), red, and green; the red band is edged in white; a large warrior's shield covering crossed spears is superimposed at the center

Economy - overview:
The regional hub for trade and finance in East Africa, Kenya has been hampered by corruption and by reliance upon several primary goods whose prices have remained low. In 1997, the IMF suspended Kenya's Enhanced Structural Adjustment Program due to the government's failure to maintain reforms and curb corruption. A severe drought from 1999 to 2000 compounded Kenya's problems, causing water and energy rationing and reducing agricultural output. As a result, GDP contracted by 0.2% in 2000. The IMF, which had resumed loans in 2000 to help Kenya through the drought, again halted lending in 2001 when the government failed to institute several anticorruption measures. Despite the return of strong rains in 2001, weak commodity prices, endemic corruption, and low investment limited Kenya's economic growth to 1.2%. Growth lagged at 1.1% in 2002 because of erratic rains, low investor confidence, meager donor support, and political infighting up to the elections. In the key 27 December 2002 elections, Daniel Arap MOI's 24-year-old reign ended, and a new opposition government took on the formidable economic problems facing the nation. In 2003, progress was made in rooting out corruption and encouraging donor support, with GDP growth edging up to 1.7%. GDP grew a moderate 2.2% in 2004.

GDP (purchasing power parity):
$34.68 billion (2004 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
2.2% (2004 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $1,100 (2004 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 19.3%
industry: 18.5%
services: 62.4% (2004 est.)

Labor force:
11.4 million (2004 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture 75% (2003 est.)
Unemployment rate:
40% (2001 est.)

Population below poverty line:
50% (2000 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 2%
highest 10%: 37.2% (2000)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):
9% (2004 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):
14.7% of GDP (2004 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $2.89 billion
expenditures: $3.443 billion, including capital expenditures of NA (2004 est.)

Public debt:
74.3% of GDP (2004 est.)

Agriculture - products:
tea, coffee, corn, wheat, sugarcane, fruit, vegetables; dairy products, beef, pork, poultry, eggs

Industries:
small-scale consumer goods (plastic, furniture, batteries, textiles, soap, cigarettes, flour), agricultural products; oil refining, aluminum, steel, lead, cement; commercial ship repair, tourism

Industrial production growth rate:
2.6% (2004 est.)
Electricity - production:
4.475 billion kWh (2002)
Electricity - consumption:
4.337 billion kWh (2002)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2002)
Electricity - imports:
175 million kWh (2002)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2004 est.)
Oil - consumption:
57,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA
Oil - imports:
NA

Current account balance:
$-459.2 million (2004 est.)

Exports:
$2.589 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities:
tea, horticultural products, coffee, petroleum products, fish, cement

Exports - partners:
Uganda 13.3%, UK 11.4%, US 10.6%, Netherlands 8.2%, Egypt 4.9%,
Tanzania 4.5%, Pakistan 4.3% (2004)

Imports:
$4.19 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities:
machinery and transportation equipment, petroleum products, motor vehicles, iron and steel, resins and plastics

Imports - partners:
UAE 12.6%, Saudi Arabia 9.1%, South Africa 8.8%, US 7.7%, India 7.2%, UK 6.7%, China 6.4%, Japan 5% (2004)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$1.5 billion (2004 est.)

Debt - external:
$6.792 billion (2004 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:
$453 million (1997)

Currency (code):
Kenyan shilling (KES)

Exchange rates:
Kenyan shillings per US dollar - 79.174 (2004), 75.936 (2003), 78.749 (2002), 78.563 (2001), 76.176 (2000)

Fiscal year:
1 July - 30 June

Telephones - main lines in use:
328,400 (2003)

Telephones - mobile cellular:
1,590,800 (2003)

Telephone system:
general assessment: unreliable; little attempt to modernize except for service to business domestic: trunks are primarily microwave radio relay; business data commonly transferred by a very small aperture terminal (VSAT) system
international: country code - 254; satellite earth stations - 4 Intelsat

Radio broadcast stations:
AM 24, FM 18, shortwave 6 (2001)

Television broadcast stations:
8 (2002)

Internet country code:
.ke

Internet hosts:
8,325 (2003)

Internet users:
400,000 (2002)

Railways:
total: 2,778 km
narrow gauge: 2,778 km 1.000-m gauge (2004)

Highways:
total: 63,942 km
paved: 7,737 km
unpaved: 56,205 km (2000)

Waterways:
part of Lake Victoria system is within boundaries of Kenya (2004)

Pipelines:
refined products 752 km (2004)

Ports and harbors:
Mombasa, Kisumu

Merchant marine:
total: 3 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 6,049 GRT/7,082 DWT
by type: cargo 2, petroleum tanker 1
registered in other countries: 6 (2005)

Airports:
221 (2004 est.)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 15
over 3,047 m: 4
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 6
under 914 m: 1 (2004 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 206
1,524 to 2,437 m: 12
914 to 1,523 m: 110
under 914 m: 84 (2004 est.)

Military branches:
Army, Navy, Air Force
Military service age and obligation:
18 years of age (est.) (2004)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 18-49: 7,303,153 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 18-49: 3,963,532 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$177.1 million (2004)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
1.3% (2004)

Transnational Issues
Disputes - international:
Kenya served as an important mediator in brokering Sudan's north-south separation in February 2005; Kenya provides shelter to approximately a quarter of a million refugees including Ugandans who flee across the border periodically to seek protection from Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) rebels; Kenya's administrative limits extend beyond the treaty border into the Sudan, creating the Ilemi Triangle.

Refugees and internally displaced persons:
refugees (country of origin): 154,272 (Somalia) 11,139 (Ethiopia) 63,197 (Sudan) IDPs: 350,000 (KANU attacks on opposition tribal groups in 1990s) (2004) Illicit drugs: widespread harvesting of small plots of marijuana; transit country for South Asian heroin destined for Europe and North America; Indian methaqualone also transits on way to South Africa; significant potential for money-laundering activity given the country's status as a regional financial center; massive corruption, and relatively high levels of narcotics-associated activities. (Source: The World Fact Book)