Kenya

• 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

• recurring drought;
• flooding during rainy seasons volcanism: limited volcanic activity;
• the Barrier (1,032 m) last erupted in 1921;
• South Island is the only other historically active volcano

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

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

• 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 fresh water lake, is shared among three countries:
  • Kenya,
  • Tanzania,
  • and Uganda

noun:

Kenyan(s)

adjective:

Kenyan

• 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

15-24 years:

1 male(s)/female

25-54 years:

1 male(s)/female

55-64 years:

0.96 male(s)/female

65 years and over:

0.84 male(s)/female

total population:

1 male(s)/female (2020 est.)

degree of risk:

very high (2020)

food or waterborne diseases:

bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever

vectorborne diseases:

malaria, dengue fever, and Rift Valley fever

water contact diseases:

schistosomiasis

animal contact diseases:

rabies

conventional long form:

Republic of Kenya

conventional short form:

Kenya

local long form:

Republic of Kenya/Jamhuri ya Kenya

local short form:

Kenya

former:

British East Africa

etymology:

named for Mount Kenya; the meaning of the name is unclear but may derive from the Kikuyu, Embu, and Kamba words "kirinyaga," "kirenyaa," and "kiinyaa" - all of which mean "God's resting place"

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" and refers to a cold water stream that flowed through the area in the late 19th century

history:

previous 1963, 1969; latest drafted 6 May 2010, passed by referendum 4 August 2010, promulgated 27 August 2010

amendments:

• 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 Uhuru KENYATTA (since 9 April 2013);
• Deputy President William RUTO (since 9 April 2013);
• note - the president is both chief of state and head of government

head of government:

• President Uhuru KENYATTA (since 9 April 2013);
• Deputy President William RUTO (since 9 April 2013);
• note - position of the prime minister was abolished after the March 2013 elections

cabinet:

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

elections/appointments:

• president and deputy president directly elected on the same ballot by qualified majority popular vote for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term);
• in addition to receiving an absolute majority popular vote, the presidential candidate must also win at least 25% of the votes cast in at least 24 of the 47 counties to avoid a runoff;
• election last held on 26 October 2017 (next to be held in 2022)

election results:

• Uhuru KENYATTA reelected president;
• percent of vote - Uhuru KENYATTA (Jubilee Party) 98.3%, Raila ODINGA (ODM) 1%, other 0.7%;
• note - Kenya held a previous presidential election on 8 August 2017, but Kenya's Supreme Court on 1 September 2017 nullified the results, citing irregularities;
• the political opposition boycotted the October vote

highest courts:

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

• Alliance Party of Kenya or APK [Kiraitu MURUNGI]
• Amani National Congress or ANC [Musalia MUDAVADI]
• Federal Party of Kenya or FPK [Cyrus JIRONGA]
• Forum for the Restoration of Democracy-Kenya or FORD-K [Moses WETANGULA]
• Forum for the Restoration of Democracy-People or FORD-P [Henry OBWOCHA]
• Jubilee Party [Uhuru KENYATTA]
• Kenya African National Union or KANU [Gideon MOI]
• National Rainbow Coalition or NARC [Charity NGILU]
• Orange Democratic Movement Party of Kenya or ODM [Raila ODINGA]
• Wiper Democratic Movement-K or WDM-K (formerly Orange Democratic Movement-Kenya or ODM-K) [Kalonzo MUSYOKA]

chief of mission:

Ambassador Lazarus Ombai AMAYO (since 17 July 2020)

chancery:

2249 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008

telephone:

[1] (202) 387-6101

FAX:

[1] (202) 462-3829

consulate(s) general:

Los Angeles

consulate(s):

New York

chief of mission:

Ambassador Kyle MCCARTER (since 12 March 2019)

telephone:

[254] (20) 363-6000

embassy:

United Nations Avenue, Nairobi; P.O. Box 606 Village Market, Nairobi 00621

mailing address:

American Embassy Nairobi, U.S. Department of State, Washington, DC 20521-8900

FAX:

[254] (20) 363-6157

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

name:

"Ee Mungu Nguvu Yetu" (Oh 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

note: adopted 1963; based on a traditional Kenyan folk song

Fitch rating:

B+ (2007)

Moody's rating:

B2 (2018)

Standard & Poors rating: B+ (2010)

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

agriculture:

61.1%

industry:

6.7%

services:

32.2% (2005 est.)

lowest 10%:

1.8%

highest 10%:

37.8% (2005)

• about a half-dozen large-scale 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 on a national level along 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;
• direct radio frequency modulation transmissions available for several foreign government-owned broadcasters (2019)

number of registered air carriers:

25 (2020); inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 188

annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers:

5,935,831 (2018)

annual freight traffic on registered air carriers:

294.97 million mt-km (2018)

total:

3,819 km (2018)

standard gauge:

485 km 1.435-m gauge (2018)

narrow gauge:

3,334 km 1.000-m gauge (2018)

total:

177,800 km (2018)

paved:

14,420 km (8,500 km highways, 1,872 urban roads, and 4,048 rural roads) (2017)

unpaved:

147,032 km (2017)

• none specifically;
• the only significant inland waterway is the part of Lake Victoria within the boundaries of Kenya;
• Kisumu is the main port and has ferry connections to Uganda and Tanzania (2011)

total:

24

by type:

oil tanker 2, other 22 (2019)

major seaport(s):

Kisumu, Mombasa

LNG terminal(s) (import):

Mombasa

• the KDF's inventory traditionally carried mostly older or second-hand Western weapons systems, particularly from France, the UK, and the US;
• however, since the 2000s it has sought to modernize and diversify its imports;
• top suppliers since 2010 include China, Italy, Jordan, Serbia, South Africa, Spain, Ukraine, and the US (2019 est.)

• 18-26 years of age for male and female voluntary service (under 18 with parental consent), with a 9-year obligation (7 years for Kenyan Navy) and subsequent 3-year reenlistments;
• applicants must be Kenyan citizens and provide a national identity card (obtained at age 18) and a school-leaving certificate, and undergo a series of mental and physical examinations;
• women serve under the same terms and conditions as men;
• mandatory retirement at age 55 but personnel leaving before this age remain in a reserve status until they reach age 55 unless they were removed for disciplinary reasons;
• there is no active military reserve, although the Ministry of Defence has stated its desire to create one as recently as 2017 (2019)

• The International Maritime Bureau reports that shipping in territorial and offshore waters in the Indian Ocean remain at risk for piracy and armed robbery against ships, especially as Somali-based pirates extend their activities south;
• numerous commercial vessels have been attacked and hijacked both at anchor and while underway;
• crews have been robbed and stores or cargoes stolen.

• Kenya served as an important mediator in brokering Sudan's north-south separation in February 2005;
• as of March 2019, Kenya provides shelter to nearly 475,000 refugees and asylum seekers, including Ugandans who flee across the border periodically to seek protection from Lord's Resistance Army rebels;
• Kenya works hard to prevent the clan and militia fighting in Somalia from spreading across the border, which has long been open to nomadic pastoralists;
• the boundary that separates Kenya's and Sudan's sovereignty is unclear in the "Ilemi Triangle," which Kenya has administered since colonial times;
• in 2018, Kenya signed an MoU with Uganda and South Sudan to help demarcate their borders

refugees (country of origin):

266,544 (Somalia) (refugees and asylum seekers), 123,339 (South Sudan) (refugees and asylum seekers), 44,836 (Democratic Republic of the Congo) (refugees and asylum seekers), 28,836 (Ethiopia) (refugees and asylum seekers), 16,010 (Burundi) (refugees and asylum seekers), 10,007 (Sudan) (refugees and asylum seekers) (2020)

IDPs:

162,000 (election-related violence, intercommunal violence, resource conflicts, al-Shabaab attacks in 2017 and 2018) (2019)

stateless persons:

• 18,500 (2019);
• note - the stateless population consists of Nubians, Kenyan Somalis, and coastal Arabs;
• the Nubians are descendants of Sudanese soldiers recruited by the British to fight for them in East Africa more than a century ago;
• Nubians did not receive Kenyan citizenship when the country became independent in 1963;
• only recently have Nubians become a formally recognized tribe and had less trouble obtaining national IDs;
• Galjeel and other Somalis who have lived in Kenya for decades are included with more recent Somali refugees and denied ID cards

• 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