Kenya

Republic of Kenya

republicIndependence 12 December 1963 (from UK)

Kenya as the 1996 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 77 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.

field in that editiontext changed from the edition beforenot in that editionthe open editionEach field below ends in its editions, 1990 to 2025. Point at a year above to follow it down.

CapitalNairobi

Position1 00 N, 38 00 E

Area582,650 sq km

LocationEastern Africa, bordering the Indian Ocean, between

Populationas each edition published it

28.18 million July 1996 est. · 24.64m in 1990

Population growth% a year

2.27% 1996 est. · 3.18% in 1993

Median ageyears

Not in this edition 18.4 yrs in 2003

Life expectancyyears at birth

55.61 years 1996 est. · 54.07 yrs in 1993

Fertility ratechildren per woman

4.45 children per woman 1996 est. · 6.5 in 1990

Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births

55.3 deaths per 1,000 live births 1996 est. · 60 in 1990

GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars

$1,300 1995 est. · $320 in 1993

GDP real growth% a year

5% 1995 est. · -1% in 1993

Geography

Eastern Africa, bordering the Indian Ocean, between | Somalia and Tanzania

15 fields

Land useshare of 582,650 sq km

arable land 3%permanent crops 1%meadows and pastures 7%forest and woodland 4%other 85%irrigated 520 sq km (1989)

Area

582,650sq km

land area: 569,250 sq kmcomparative area: slightly more than twice the size of Nevada

Coastline

536km

continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitationexclusive economic zone: 200 nmterritorial sea: 12 nm

Land boundaries

3,446km

border countries: Ethiopia 830 km, Somalia 682 km, Sudan 232 km, Tanzania 769 km, Uganda 933 km

Location

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

International disputes

administrative boundary with Sudan does not coincide with international boundary; possible claim by Somalia based on unification of ethnic Somalis

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

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

Natural resources

gold, limestone, soda ash, salt barytes, rubies, fluorspar, garnets, wildlife

Environment

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;
signed, but not ratified - Desertification

Geographic 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

People

15 fields

Population

28,176,686

(July 1996 est.)growth rate: 2.27% (1996 est.)

Per 1,000 population(1996 est.)

Birth

33.38Death

10.3Net migration

-0.35

Male · female(1996 est.)

TotalMale · femaleLife expectancy years55.61

55.53 · 55.69

TotalMale · femaleLiteracy78.1%

86.3% · 70%

MaleFemaleLiteracy age 15 and over can read and write (1995 est.)

Religions

Protestant (including Anglican) 38%Roman Catholic 28%indigenous beliefs 26%other 8%

Age structure

0-14 years:: 45% (male 6,362,160; female 6,226,333)
15-64 years:: 53% (male 7,413,876; female 7,448,733)
65 years and over:: 2% (male 328,649; female 396,935) (July 1996 est.)

Sex ratio

at birth:: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years:: 1.02 male(s)/female
15-64 years:: 1 male(s)/female
65 years and over:: 0.83 male(s)/female
all ages:: 1 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Infant mortality rate

55.3 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)

Nationality

noun:: Kenyan(s)
adjective:: Kenyan

Ethnic divisions

Kikuyu 22%, Luhya 14%, Luo 13%, Kalenjin 12%, Kamba 11%, Kisii 6%, Meru 6%, Asian, European, and Arab 1%, other 15%

Languages

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

Government

Republic

23 fields

Name of country

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

Administrative divisions

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

Constitution

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

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

Executive branch

chief of state and head of government:: President Daniel Toroitich arap MOI (since 14 October 1978) elected for a five-year term from the National Assembly by direct popular vote;
election last held 29 December 1992 (next to be held by early 1998);
results - President Daniel T. arap MOI was reelected with 37% of the vote;
Kenneth MATIBA (FORD-ASILI) 26%;
Mwai KIBAKI (DP) 19%, Oginga ODINGA (FORD-Kenya) 17%;
Vice President George SAITOTI (since 10 May 1989) was appointed by the president
cabinet:: Cabinet appointed by the president

National Assembly (Bunge)

election last held 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 - as of 9

April 1996 seat distribution was

KANU 106, FORD-Kenya 32, FORD-Asili 22, DP 22, smaller parties and vacancies 6 note: first multiparty election since repeal of one-party state law in 1991

Political parties and leaders

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

Other political or pressure groups

labor unions;
Roman Catholic Church;
unregistered SAFINA party with which prominent naturalist Richard Leakey is associated

International organization participation

ACP, C, CCC, EADB, ECA, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGADD, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MINURSO, NAM, OAU, UN, UNAVEM III, UNCRO, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNOMIL, UNPREDEP, UNPROFOR, UNU, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in US

chief of mission:: Ambassador Benjamin Edgar KIPKORIR
chancery:: 2249 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone:: [1] (202) 387-6101

FAX

[1] (202) 462-3829; consulate(s) general: Los Angeles and New York

US diplomatic representation

chief of mission:: Ambassador Aurelia E. BRAZEAL
embassy:: corner of Moi Avenue and Haile Selassie Avenue, Nairobi
mailing address:: P. O. Box 30137, Unit 64100, APO AE 09831
telephone:: [254] (2) 334141

FAX

[254] (2) 340838

Flag

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

21 fields

GDP per capita, PPP

$1,300

(1995 est.)

Real growth rate

(1995 est.)industrial production growth: NA%

Inflation, consumer prices

1.7%

(1995 est.)

Unemployment rate

35%urban

(1994 est.)

GDP composition by sector(1992 est.)

agriculture 27%industry 19%services 54% (1992 est.)

Budget

Revenues

$2.4 billionExpenditures

$2.8 billion (1990 est.)

expenditures including capital expenditures of $740 million

Installed generating capacity, 810,000 kW

Electricity production

3.3 billionElectricity consumption per capita

117 (1993)

Economic overview

Kenya in recent years has had one of the highest natural rates of growth in population, but the statistics have been complicated by the large-scale movement of nomadic groups and of Somalis back and forth across the border. Population growth has been accompanied by deforestation, deterioration in the road system, the water supply, and other parts of the infrastructure.

In industry and services, Nairobi's reluctance to embrace IMF-supported reforms had held back investment and growth in 1991-93. Nairobi's push on economic reform in 1994, however, helped support a 3.3% increase in output. The strong economy continued into 1995 with inflation cut sharply and GDP growth at 5%.

GDP

purchasing power parity - $36.8 billion (1995 est.)

Labor force

by occupation: agriculture 75%-80% (1993 est.), non-agriculture 20%-25% (1993 est.)

Industries

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

Agriculture

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

Illicit drugs

widespread harvesting of small, wild plots of marijuana and qat (chat);
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

Exports

$1.6 billion (f.o.b., 1994)

commodities:: tea 25%, coffee 18%, petroleum products 11% (1990)
partners:: EC 47%, Africa 23%, Asia 11%, US 4%, Middle East 3% (1991)

Imports

$2.2 billion (f.o.b., 1994)

commodities:: machinery and transportation equipment 29%, petroleum and petroleum products 15%, iron and steel 7%, raw materials, food and consumer goods (1989)
partners:: EC 46%, Asia 23%, Middle East 20%, US 5% (1991)