Kenya

fresh water lake(s):

Lake Victoria (shared with Tanzania and Uganda) - 62,940 sq km

salt water lake(s):

Lake Turkana (shared with Ethiopia) - 6,400 sq km

• population heavily concentrated in the west along the shore of Lake Victoria;
• other areas of high density include the capital of Nairobi, and in the southeast along the Indian Ocean coast, as shown in this population distribution map

• 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;
• Lake Victoria, the world's largest tropical lake and the second-largest freshwater lake, is shared among three countries:
  • Kenya,
  • Tanzania,
  • and Uganda

noun:

Kenyan(s)

adjective:

Kenyan

total:

21.5 years (2025 est.)

male:

21.1 years

female:

21.4 years

• population heavily concentrated in the west along the shore of Lake Victoria;
• other areas of high density include the capital of Nairobi, and in the southeast along the Indian Ocean coast, as shown in this population distribution map

at birth:

1.02 male(s)/female

0-14 years:

1.01 male(s)/female

15-64 years:

1 male(s)/female

65 years and over:

0.84 male(s)/female

total population:

1 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

total:

26.8 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)

male:

29 deaths/1,000 live births

female:

23.1 deaths/1,000 live births

total population:

70.4 years (2024 est.)

male:

68.6 years

female:

72.2 years

total:

1.68 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

beer:

0.81 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

wine:

0.04 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

spirits:

0.81 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

other alcohols:

0.03 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

total:

8.6% (2025 est.)

male:

15.5% (2025 est.)

female:

1.9% (2025 est.)

women married by age 15:

2.2% (2022)

women married by age 18:

12.5% (2022)

men married by age 18:

1.8% (2022)

• water pollution from urban and industrial wastes and from use of pesticides and fertilizers;
• flooding;
• water-hyacinth infestation in Lake Victoria;
• deforestation;
• soil erosion;
• desertification;
• poaching

urban population:

29.5% of total population (2023)

rate of urbanization:

4.09% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

energy:

334.4 kt (2022-2024 est.)

agriculture:

1,241 kt (2019-2021 est.)

waste:

127.1 kt (2019-2021 est.)

other:

32.8 kt (2019-2021 est.)

municipal solid waste generated annually:

5.595 million tons (2024 est.)

percent of municipal solid waste recycled:

19.9% (2022 est.)

municipal:

495 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

industrial:

303 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

agricultural:

3.234 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

conventional long form:

Republic of Kenya

conventional short form:

Kenya

local long form:

Republic of Kenya (English)/ Jamhuri ya Kenya (Swahili)

local short form:

Kenya

former:

British East Africa

etymology:

named for Mount Kenya; the mountain's name may derive from the Kikuyu word kere nyaga , or "white mountain"

name:

Nairobi

geographic coordinates:

1 17 S, 36 49 E

time difference:

UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

etymology:

the name derives from the Maasai expression meaning "cool waters," which was used to refer to a local water hole, Enkare Nairobi

history:

current constitution passed by referendum on 4 August 2010

amendment process:

• amendments can be proposed by either house of Parliament or by petition of at least one million eligible voters;
• passage of amendments by Parliament requires approval by at least two-thirds majority vote of both houses in each of two readings, approval in a referendum by majority of votes cast by at least 20% of eligible voters in at least one half of Kenya’s counties, and approval by the president;
• passage of amendments introduced by petition requires approval by a majority of county assemblies, approval by majority vote of both houses, and approval by the president

citizenship by birth:

no

citizenship by descent only:

at least one parent must be a citizen of Kenya

dual citizenship recognized:

yes

residency requirement for naturalization:

4 out of the previous 7 years

chief of state:

President William RUTO (since 13 September 2022)

head of government:

President William RUTO (since 13 September 2022)

cabinet:

Cabinet appointed by the president, subject to confirmation by the National Assembly

election/appointment process:

• president and deputy president directly elected on the same ballot by majority vote nationwide and at least 25% of the votes cast in at least 24 of the 47 counties;
• failure to meet these thresholds requires a runoff between the top two candidates

most recent election date:

9 August 2022

election results:

2022 : William RUTO elected president in first round; percent of vote - William RUTO (UDA) 50.5%, Raila ODINGA (ODM) 48.9%, other 0.6%

expected date of next election:

10 August 2027

note: the president is both chief of state and head of government

legislature name:

Parliament of Kenya

legislative structure:

bicameral

chamber name:

National Assembly

number of seats:

350 (all directly elected)

electoral system:

plurality/majority

scope of elections:

full renewal

term in office:

5 years

most recent election date:

8/9/2022

parties elected and seats per party:

• United Democratic Alliance (UDA) (145);
• Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) (86);
• Jubilee Party (JP) (28);
• Wiper Democratic Movement-Kenya (WDM-K) (26);
• Others (19);
• Other (45)

percentage of women in chamber:

23.4%

expected date of next election:

August 2027

chamber name:

Senate

number of seats:

68 (all directly elected)

electoral system:

plurality/majority

scope of elections:

full renewal

term in office:

5 years

most recent election date:

8/9/2022

parties elected and seats per party:

• Kenya Kwanza Alliance (33);
• Azimio la Umoja - One Kenya Coalition Party (32);
• Other (1)

percentage of women in chamber:

31.3%

expected date of next election:

August 2027

highest court(s):

Supreme Court (consists of chief and deputy chief justices and 5 judges)

judge selection and term of office:

• chief and deputy chief justices nominated by Judicial Service Commission (JSC) and appointed by the president with approval of the National Assembly;
• other judges nominated by the JSC and appointed by president;
• chief justice serves a nonrenewable 10-year term or until age 70, whichever comes first;
• other judges serve until age 70

subordinate courts:

• High Court;
• Court of Appeal;
• military courts;
• magistrates' courts;
• religious courts

• Azimio La Umoja–One Kenya Coalition Party
• Amani National Congress or ANC
• Chama Cha Kazi or CCK
• Democratic Action Party or DAP-K
• Democratic Party or DP
• Forum for the Restoration of Democracy–Kenya or FORD-Kenya
• Grand Dream Development Party or GDDP
• Jubilee Party or JP
• Kenya African National Union or KANU
• Kenya Kwanza coalition
• Kenya Union Party or KUP
• Maendeleo Chap Chap Party or MCC
• Movement for Democracy and Growth or MDG
• National Agenda Party or NAP-K
• National Ordinary People Empowerment Union or NOPEU
• Orange Democratic Movement or ODM
• Pamoja African Alliance or PAA]
• The Service Party or TSP
• United Democratic Alliance or UDA
• United Democratic Movement or UDM
• United Democratic Party or UDP
• United Party of Independent Alliance or UPIA
• United Progressive Alliance or UPA
• Wiper Democratic Movement-Kenya or WDM-K

chief of mission:

Ambassador David Kipkorir Kiplagat KERICH (since 18 September 2024)

chancery:

2249 R St NW, Washington, DC 20008

telephone:

[1] (202) 387-6101

FAX:

[1] (202) 462-3829

email address and website:

[email protected]; https://kenyaembassydc.org/#

consulate(s):

New York

chief of mission:

Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d’Affaires Susan M. BURNS (since 25 August 2025)

embassy:

P.O. Box 606 Village Market, 00621 Nairobi

mailing address:

8900 Nairobi Place, Washington, DC 20521-8900

telephone:

[254] (20) 363-6000

FAX:

[254] (20) 363-6157

email address and website:

[email protected]; https://ke.usembassy.gov/

description:

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

meaning:

• black stands for the majority population, red for the blood shed in the struggle for freedom, green for natural wealth, and white for peace;
• the shield and crossed spears symbolize the defense of freedom

• the two lions symbolize protection as they hold a traditional East African shield and spears in defense of freedom and unity;
• the shield features the national colors: black for the people, green for agriculture and natural resources, red for the struggle for freedom, and white for unity and peace;
• on the shield, a rooster greets the new day, and the axe represents both authority and the Kenya Africa National Union (KANU) that led the country to independence;
• at the base of the shield is Mount Kenya, Africa’s second-highest peak;
• the scroll has the Swahili word Harambee , meaning “all for one” or “pulling together”

title:

"Ee Mungu Nguvu Yetu" (O God of All Creation)

lyrics/music:

Graham HYSLOP, Thomas KALUME, Peter KIBUKOSYA, Washington OMONDI, and George W. SENOGA-ZAKE/traditional, adapted by Graham HYSLOP, Thomas KALUME, Peter KIBUKOSYA, Washington OMONDI, and George W. SENOGA-ZAKE

history:

adopted 1963; based on a traditional Kenyan folk song

total World Heritage Sites:

8(5 cultural, 3 natural)

selected World Heritage Site locales:

• Lake Turkana National Parks (n);
• Mount Kenya National Park/Natural Forest (n);
• Lamu Old Town (c);
• Sacred Mijikenda Kaya Forests (c);
• Fort Jesus, Mombasa (c);
• Kenya Lake System in the Great Rift Valley (n);
• Thimlich Ohinga Archaeological Site (c);
• The Historic Town and Archaeological Site of Gedi (c)

• fast growing, third largest Sub-Saharan economy;
• strong agriculture sector with emerging services and tourism industries;
• IMF program to address current account and debt service challenges;
• business-friendly policies foster infrastructure investment, digital innovation and public-private partnerships;
• vulnerable to climate change-induced droughts

agriculture:

21.3% (2024 est.)

industry:

16.1% (2024 est.)

services:

55.9% (2024 est.)

note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

total:

11.9% (2024 est.)

male:

8.3% (2024 est.)

female:

16% (2024 est.)

note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment

on food:

42.1% of household expenditures (2023 est.)

on alcohol and tobacco:

3.5% of household expenditures (2023 est.)

lowest 10%:

2.9% (2021 est.)

highest 10%:

31.8% (2021 est.)

note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population

consumption:

1.453 million metric tons (2023 est.)

exports:

30 metric tons (2023 est.)

imports:

1.453 million metric tons (2023 est.)

total subscriptions:

68,000 (2023 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants:

(2023 est.) less than 1

• about a half-dozen large, privately owned media companies with TV and radio stations, as well as a state-owned TV broadcaster, provide service nationwide;
• satellite and cable TV subscription services available;
• state-owned radio broadcaster operates 2 national radio channels and provides regional and local radio services in multiple languages;
• many private radio stations broadcast nationally, with over 100 private and non-profit regional stations broadcasting in local languages;
• TV transmissions of all major international broadcasters available, mostly via paid subscriptions (2019)

total:

3,819 km (2018)

standard gauge:

485 km (2018) 1.435-m gauge

narrow gauge:

3,334 km (2018) 1.000-m gauge

total ports:

4 (2024)

large:

0

medium:

1

small:

2

very small:

1

ports with oil terminals:

1

key ports:

Kilifi, Lamu, Malindi, Mombasa

Kenya Defense Forces (KDF):

Kenya Army, Kenya Navy, Kenya Air Force

Ministry of Interior:

National Police Service, Kenya Coast Guard (2025)

note: the National Police Service maintains internal security and includes a paramilitary General Service Unit and Rapid Deployment Unit, as well as a Border Police Unit

• the KDF's inventory is a mix of older, donated/secondhand, and some modern weapon systems from a variety of sources;
• major suppliers have included China, France, South Africa, Türkiye, the UK, and the US;
• in 2023, the Kenyan Government unveiled a five-year defense spending plan with a focus on upgraded military equipment, including aerial surveillance drones, tactical vehicles, and air defense systems (2025)

• Luigi Broglio Space Center (aka Malindi Space Center, Malindi Station, San Marco Satellite Launching and Tracking Station; Kilifi County; over 20 sounding rockets and nine satellites launched from the site, 1967-1989);
• in 2020, Kenya concluded a new deal with Italy to conduct rocket launches from the site again in the future (2025)

• has a national space strategy focused on acquiring and applying space technologies for agriculture, communications, disaster and resource management, security, urban planning, and weather monitoring;
• jointly develops and builds nanosatellites with foreign partners;
• operates satellites;
• researching and developing satellite payloads and imagery data analysis capabilities;
• has cooperated on space issues with China, Japan, India, Italy, and the US, as well as a variety of African partners;
• member of the African Space Agency (2025)

• 1970 - first satellite (US-made Uhura) launched from Kenya
• 2008 - established country's first satellite ground station
• 2018 - first remote-sensing (RS)/technology-demonstrator cube nanosatellite (1KUNS-PF) produced jointly with Japan and Italy and deployed from the International Space Station
• 2023 - first domestically designed RS satellite (TAIFA-1) built by Bulgaria and launched by US