Kenya

current issues:

• water pollution from urban and industrial wastes;
• degradation of water quality from increased use of pesticides and fertilizers;
• deforestation;
• soil erosion;
• desertification;
• poaching

natural hazards:

NA

international agreements:

• party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling;
• signed, but not ratified - Desertification

• 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

0-14 years:

48% (female 6,841,235; male 6,957,908)

15-64 years:

50% (female 7,277,061; male 7,085,925)

65 years and over:

2% (female 359,659; male 295,439) (July 1995 est.)

noun:

Kenyan(s)

adjective:

Kenyan

conventional long form:

Republic of Kenya

conventional short form:

Kenya

former:

British East Africa

• 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• constitutional amendment of 1982 making Kenya a de jure one-party state repealed in 1991

chief of state and head of government:

• President Daniel Toroitich arap MOI (since 14 October 1978);
• Vice President George SAITOTI (since 10 May 1989);
• election last held on 29 December 1992 (next to be held NA 1997);
• results - President Daniel T. arap MOI was reelected with 37% of the vote;
• Kenneth Matiba (FORD-ASILI) 26%;
• Mwai Kibaki (SP) 19%, Oginga Odinga (FORD-Kenya) 17%

cabinet:

Cabinet; appointed by the president

• elections last held on 29 December 1992 (next to be held NA);
• results - percent of vote by party NA;
• seats - (188 total) KANU 100, FORD-Kenya 31, FORD-Asili 31, DP 23, smaller parties 3;
• president nominates 12 additional members

note: first multiparty election since repeal of one-party state law in 1991

• ruling party is Kenya African National Union (KANU), President Daniel Toroitich arap MOI;
• opposition parties include Forum for the Restoration of Democracy (FORD-Kenya), Michael WAMALWA;
• Forum for the Restoration of Democracy (FORD-Asili), Kenneth MATIBA;
• Democratic Party of Kenya (DP), Mwai KIBAKI

chief of mission:

Benjamin Edgar KIPKORIR

chancery:

2249 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008

telephone:

[1] (202) 387-6101

chief of mission:

Ambassador Aurelia BRAZEAL

embassy:

corner of Moi Avenue and Haile Selassie Avenue, Nairobi

mailing address:

P. O. Box 30137, Unit 64100, Nairobi; APO AE 09831

telephone:

[254] (2) 334141

• 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

• most important sector, accounting for 27% of GDP and 65% of exports;
• cash crops - coffee, tea;
• food products - corn, wheat, sugarcane, fruit, vegetables, dairy products, beef, pork, poultry, eggs

• widespread harvesting of small, wild plots of marijuana and qat;
• most locally consumed;
• transit country for Southwest Asian heroin moving to West Africa and onward to Europe and North America;
• Indian methaqualone also transits on way to South Africa

recipient:

• US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $839 million;
• Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $7.49 billion;
• OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $74 million;
• Communist countries (1970-89), $83 million

total:

2,650 km

narrow gauge:

2,650 km 1.000-m gauge

total:

64,590 km

paved:

7,000 km

unpaved:

gravel 4,150 km; improved earth 53,440 km

total:

2 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 4,883 GRT/6,255 DWT

ships by type:

barge carrier 1, oil tanker 1

broadcast stations:

AM 16, FM 4, shortwave 0

radios:

NA

broadcast stations:

6

televisions:

NA