Kenya

Geography
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? longitude east.

It is a sovereign state, having achieved political independence from British rule on December 12th, 1963; a year later, on December 12th, 1964, it became a full-fledged Republic. Nairobi is the capital. Kenya is a member of the Organization of African Unity, the Commonwealth of Nations and the United Nations Organization. It has an area of 582,644 sq. km (224,900 sq. miles) of which 45,240 sq. km (7.8%) is Wildlife Conservation Sanctuaries (National Parks and National Reserves).

The country shares common borders with Somalia (east), Ethiopia (north), Sudan (northwest), Uganda (west) and Tanzania (south). To the southeast lies the Indian Ocean, making the country the greatest marine gateway to East Africa..

The country has a great diversity of physical features, which can be divided into five main zones. The low-lying arid and semi-arid lands of the north and northern-eastern province 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 runs 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 northeasterly and southeasterly 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 savanna and supports most of Kenya’s wildlife.

The fourth and most productive zone is the Central Highlands. This is a raised volcanic block, split from north to south by the Great Rift Valley, which forms an 8,700 kilometer ditch on the surface of the earth (sometimes 80 km wide) stretching 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 meters (17,058 ft. above sea level). 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 at 3,998 meters (13,120 ft.) and Kinangop, over 3,600 meters (12,000 ft.), make up impressive scenery in the region. A combination of good rainfall, soils, and suitable climate makes the region one of the richest agricultural lands in the world.

The western flank of the Central Highlands is dominated by the peaks of Mau Range, Nandi and the Cherangani Hills. Mt. Elgon rising to 4,320 meters (14,178 ft.) is another extinct volcano on the Kenya-Uganda border. The western slopes, including the 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.

Kenya is one of the most prosperous agricultural countries in Africa. It is the third largest tea producer in the world and the biggest producer of pyrethrum, in addition to a great variety of horticultural crops. Tourism is today the highest single foreign exchange earner. The industry has grown from a few thousand tourists a year, at independence, to over 826,000 visitors in 1993. The country’s great variety of attractions, ranging from its cultural values, wildlife splendor, sun-drenched beaches, breath-taking scenery, enjoyable climate, friendly people, and first class accommodation, coupled with its globally reputed political stability, makes it one of the best tourist destinations in the world. Every year tourists come, and return time and again to discover new attractions, and enjoy the enviable hospitality of its people.

National Parks and Reserves
Kenya has a total of twenty-six National Parks and twenty-nine National Reserves. They range from marine national parks, savanna-bush woodland national parks, mountain national parks, arid and semi-arid national parks, to lake-ecosystem national parks/reserves.

The marine parks are famous for their beautiful coral reefs, coral gardens, beaches and lagoons, and brightly patterned coral fishes. These include Angel fish, Parrot fish, Starfish, Sea urchins, lovely porcelain cowries, Green turtles, Octopus, Dudong and big game fish like Blue marlin, Sail fish, Giant fish, Giant grouper and Mako sharks.

The Savanna-bush-woodland National Parks contain some of the greatest plains game concentrations in the world. The big five: Elephant, Rhinoceros, Buffalo, Lion, and Leopard are plentiful in these parks. The mountain National Parks boast of some of the most superb mountain scenery in Africa, the snow capped peaks of Mt. Kenya with excellent climbing adventures, and beautiful moorlands for mountain walkers.

Giant groundsels and lobelia are some of the eye-catching flora on Mt. Kenya and Mt. Elgon. In addition to the mountain scenery and flora, the mountain parks are also homes for the big five (no lions in Mt. Elgon) and a host of other rare mountain species like Bongo, Giant Forest hog, melanistic cats and mountain bird species.

The lake ecosystem national parks contain the greatest concentration of flamingo in the world (Lake Nakuru National Park) and the greatest crocodile colony in the world (Sibiloi National park). There are myriad other bird species in and around the lakes, schools of hippopotamus and hundreds of land mammal species on the shores of the lakes.

Transport (Local)
The most popular method of tourist transport in Kenya is by road using "mini-buses," which are specifically built for tourist safaris in the country. They are operated by nearly all established tour operators in Nairobi and Mombasa. These chauffeur-driven mini-buses will pick you up from the airport on arrival and take you to the city hotel of your choice. When there is no tour operator organized transport, there is an organized taxi service run by Kenatco Transport Company. They run taxi services from the international airports to all the main urban hotels. They are also available to take you from your hotel to the railway station, the city center for shopping or to the parks and other recreational areas near the city or around Mombasa town.

There are other privately owned and run taxis, usually marked with yellow lines on the sides. They offer the same services as the Kenatco taxis with much cheaper negotiable charges but may not be as comfortable. Major five-star hotels run guest courtesy busses from the airport to the city center.

Kenya Bus Services (KBS) runs cheap public bus services within the city and its environs. Similar bus services are available in Mombasa, Kisumu and Nakuru. Their services are supplemented by the privately owned and run matatu mini-buses sometimes noisy and overloaded. There is also country bus service between Nairobi and all other towns, as well as the Matatu mini-buses and speedy Peugeot 404 or 504 communal taxis known for their break-neck speeds.

To move to the National Parks and Reserves in the rural areas, you can travel in tour operator mini-buses or in chauffer-driven saloon cars—Toyota Land Cruiser vans and Range Rovers—that are available for hire from many car-hire companies in Nairobi and Mombasa. Those who want to enjoy private self-drive safaris will find numerous local companies offering everything from Range Rovers and Troopers to small saloon cars for their convenience. It is perfectly possible for visitors to the country to hire and drive around the country without problems. Nearly all roads to the National Parks or Reserves or to major towns are sign-posted so strangers will find their way around the country with ease.

The second popular mode of transport is by Kenya Railways from Nairobi to Mombasa and vice versa or from Nairobi to Kisumu on the shores of Lake Victoria, with steamer connections to all the ports in the lake. The rail travel in the first or second class coaches offers visitors spectacular views of the countryside from the coach windows in addition to first class cabin services, bars and restaurants.

There are also dhows, steamers and motorboat services at the coast between Mombasa, Kilifi, Malindi and Lamu seaport, for ocean lovers.

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

Area-comparative: slightly more than twice the size of Nevada

Coastline: 536 km

Climate: varies from tropical along coast to arid in interior

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

Natural resources: gold, limestone, soda ash, salt barites, rubies, fluorspar, garnets, wildlife

Geography—note: the Kenyan Highlands comprise one of the most successful agricultural production regions in Africa; glaciers on Mt. Kenya; unique physiography supports abundant and varied wildlife of scientific and economic value

Population: 28,808,658 (July 1999 est.)

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 38%, Roman Catholic 28%, indigenous beliefs 26%, Muslim 7%, other 1%

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

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

Government type: republic

Capital: Nairobi

National Holiday: Independence Day, 12 December (1963)

Constitution: 12 December 1963, amended as a republic 1964; reissued with amendments 1979, 1983, 1986, 1988, 1991, 1992, and 1997

Legal system: based on 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

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: Since 1993, the government of Kenya has implemented a program of economic liberalization and reform. Steps have included the removal of import licensing and price controls, removal of foreign exchange controls, fiscal and monetary restraint, and reduction of the public sector through privatizing publicly owned companies and downsizing the civil service. With the support of the World Bank, IMF, and other donors, these reforms have led to a turnaround in economic performance following a period of negative growth in the early 1990s. Kenya's real GDP grew at 5% in 1995 and 4% in 1996, and inflation remained under control. Growth slowed in 1997-98 but is back on a steady path.

Labor force—by occupation: agriculture 75%-80%, nonagriculture 20%-25%

Unemployment rate: 50% (1998 est.)

Industries: small-scale consumer goods (plastic, furniture, batteries, textiles, soap, cigarettes, flour), agricultural products processing; oil refining, cement; tourism

Agriculture—products: coffee, tea, corn, wheat, sugarcane, fruit, vegetables; dairy products, beef, pork

Exports—commodities: tea 18%, coffee 15%, petroleum products (1995)

Imports—commodities: machinery and transportation equipment 31%, consumer goods 13%, petroleum products 12% (1995)

Currency: 1 Kenyan shilling (KSh) = 100 cents

Telephone system:
domestic: primarily microwave radio relay
international: satellite earth stations? Intelsat

Railways:
total: 2,652 km
narrow gauge: 2,652 km 1.000-m gauge

Highways:
total: 63,800 km
paved: 8,868 km
unpaved: 54,932 km (1996 est.)

Waterways: part of the Lake Victoria system is within the boundaries of Kenya

Ports and harbors: Kisumu, Lamu, Mombasa

Airports: 232 (1998 est.)

Military branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, paramilitary General Service Unit of the Police

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