| Background: |
Revered president
and liberation struggle icon Jomo KENYATTA led Kenya from
independence until his death in 1978, when current President
Daniel Toroitich arap MOI took power in a constitutional
succession. The country was a de facto one-party state from
1969 until 1982 when the ruling Kenya African National Union
(KANU) made itself the sole legal party in Kenya. MOI
acceded to internal and external pressure for political
liberalization in late 1991. The ethnically fractured
opposition failed to dislodge KANU from power in elections
in 1992 and 1997, which were marred by violence and fraud,
but are viewed as having generally reflected the will of the
Kenyan people. The country faces a period of political
uncertainty because MOI is constitutionally required to step
down at the next elections that have to be held by early
2003. |
| Location: |
Eastern Africa,
bordering the Indian Ocean, between Somalia and Tanzania |
| Geographic
coordinates: |
1 00 N, 38 00 E |
| Area: |
total:
582,650 sq km
land: 569,250 sq km
water: 13,400 sq km |
| Area
- comparative: |
slightly more
than twice the size of Nevada |
| Land
boundaries: |
total:
3,446 km
border countries: Ethiopia 830 km, Somalia 682
km, Sudan 232 km, Tanzania 769 km, Uganda 933 km |
| Maritime
claims: |
continental
shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
territorial sea: 12 NM |
| 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 |
| Elevation
extremes: |
lowest point:
Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mount Kenya 5,199 m |
| Natural
resources: |
gold, limestone,
soda ash, salt barites, rubies, fluorspar, garnets,
wildlife, hydropower |
| Land
use: |
arable land:
7%
permanent crops: 1%
permanent pastures: 37%
forests and woodland: 30%
other: 25% (1993 est.) |
| Irrigated
land: |
660 sq km (1993
est.) |
| Natural
hazards: |
recurring drought
in northern and eastern regions; flooding during rainy
seasons |
| Environment
- current issues: |
water pollution
from urban and industrial wastes; degradation of water
quality from increased use of pesticides and fertilizers;
water hyacinth infestation in Lake Victoria; deforestation;
soil erosion; desertification; poaching |
| Environment
- international agreements: |
party to:
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered
Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping,
Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer
Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected
agreements |
| 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: |
30,765,916
note: estimates for this country explicitly
take into account the effects of excess mortality due to
AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher
infant mortality and death rates, lower population and
growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population
by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2001
est.) |
| Age
structure: |
0-14 years:
41.95% (male 6,524,776; female 6,381,192)
15-64 years: 55.26% (male 8,529,842; female
8,471,609)
65 years and over: 2.79% (male 376,151; female
482,346) (2001 est.) |
| Population
growth rate: |
1.27% (2001 est.) |
| Birth
rate: |
28.5 births/1,000
population (2001 est.) |
| Death
rate: |
14.35
deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.) |
| Net
migration rate: |
-1.5 migrant(s)/1,000
population (2001 est.)
note: according to UNHCR, by the end of 1999
Kenya was host to 223,700 refugees from neighboring
countries, including: Somalia 141,000 and Sudan 64,250 |
| Sex
ratio: |
at birth:
1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.78 male(s)/female
total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2001
est.) |
| Infant
mortality rate: |
67.99
deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.) |
| Life
expectancy at birth: |
total
population: 47.49 years
male: 46.57 years
female: 48.44 years (2001 est.) |
| Total
fertility rate: |
3.5 children
born/woman (2001 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS
- adult prevalence rate: |
13.95% (1999
est.) |
| HIV/AIDS
- people living with HIV/AIDS: |
2.1 million (1999
est.) |
| HIV/AIDS
- deaths: |
180,000 (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%
note: a large majority of Kenyans are
Christian, but estimates for the percentage of the
population that adheres to Islam or indigenous beliefs vary
widely |
| Languages: |
English
(official), Kiswahili (official), numerous indigenous
languages |
| Literacy: |
definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 78.1%
male: 86.3%
female: 70% (1995 est.) |
| Country
name: |
conventional
long form: Republic of Kenya
conventional short form: Kenya
former: British East Africa |
| Government
type: |
republic |
| Administrative
divisions: |
7 provinces and 1
area*; Central, Coast, Eastern, Nairobi Area*, North
Eastern, Nyanza, Rift Valley, Western |
| Independence: |
12 December 1963
(from UK) |
| 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 |
| Executive
branch: |
chief of
state: President Daniel Toroitich arap MOI (since
14 October 1978); note - the president is both the chief of
state and head of government
head of government: President Daniel Toroitich
arap MOI (since 14 October 1978); note - the president is
both the chief of state and head of government
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president
elections: president elected by popular vote
from among the members of the National Assembly for a
five-year term; in addition to receiving the largest number
of votes in absolute terms, the presidential candidate must
also win 25% or more of the vote in at least five of Kenya's
seven provinces and one area to avoid a runoff; election
last held 29 December 1997 (next to be held by early 2003);
vice president appointed by the president
election results: President Daniel Toroitich
arap MOI reelected; percent of vote - Daniel T. arap MOI (KANU)
40.6%, Mwai KIBAKI (DP) 31.5%, Raila ODINGA (NDP) 11.1%,
Michael WAMALWA (FORD-K) 8.4%, Charity NGILU (SDP) 7.8% |
| Legislative
branch: |
unicameral
National Assembly or Bunge (222 seats; 210 members elected
by popular vote to serve five-year terms, 12 so-called
"nominated" members who are appointed by the
president, but selected by the parties in proportion to
their parliamentary vote totals)
elections: last held 29 December 1997 (next to
be held by early 2003)
election results: percent of vote by party -
NA%; seats by party - KANU 107, FORD-A 1, FORD-K 17,
FORD-People 3, DP 39, NDP 21, SDP 15, SAFINA 5, smaller
parties 2; seats appointed by the president - KANU 6, FORD-K
1, DP 2, SDP 1, NDP 1, SAFINA 1 |
| Judicial
branch: |
Court of Appeal
(chief justice is appointed by the president); High Court |
| Political
parties and leaders: |
Democratic Party
of Kenya or DP [Mwai KIBAKI]; Forum for the Restoration of
Democracy-Asili or FORD-A [Martin SHIKUKU, secretary
general]; Forum for the Restoration of Democracy-Kenya or
FORD-K [Michael Kijana WAMALWA]; Forum for the Restoration
of Democracy-People or FORD-People [Kimaniwa NYOIKE,
chairman]; Kenya African National Union or KANU [President
Daniel Toroitich arap MOI] - the governing party; National
Development Party or NDP [Raila ODINGA, president]; SAFINA [Farah
MAALIM, chairman]; Social Democratic Party or SDP [Dr.
Apollo NJONJO, secretary general and Justus NYANG'AYA,
chairman] |
| Political
pressure groups and leaders: |
human rights
groups; labor unions; Muslim organizations; National
Convention Executive Council or NCEC, a proreform coalition
of political parties and nongovernment organizations [Kivutha
KIBWANA]; Protestant National Council of Churches of Kenya
or NCCK [Mutava MUSYIMI]; Roman Catholic and other Christian
churches; Supreme Council of Kenya Muslims or SUPKEM [Shaykh
Abdul Gafur al-BUSAIDY, chairman] |
| International
organization participation: |
ACP, AfDB, C, CCC,
EADB, ECA, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA,
IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGAD, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat,
Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MINURSO, MONUC, NAM, OAU, OPCW,
UN, UNAMSIL, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNMEE, UNMIBH,
UNMIK, UNMOP, UNTAET, UNU, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO |
| Diplomatic
representation in the US: |
chief of
mission: Ambassador Yusuf Abdulraham NZIBO
chancery: 2249 R Street NW, Washington, DC
20008
telephone: [1] (202) 387-6101
FAX: [1] (202) 462-3829
consulate(s) general: offices in Los Angeles
and New York are closed; mission to the UN remains open |
| Diplomatic
representation from the US: |
chief of
mission: Ambassador Johnnie CARSON
embassy: US Embassy, Mombasa Road, Nairobi
mailing address: P. O. Box 30137, Box 21A, Unit
64100, APO AE 09831
telephone: [254] (2) 537-800
FAX: [254] (2) 537-810 |
| 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: |
Kenya is well
placed to serve as an engine of growth in East Africa, but
its economy has been stagnating because of poor management
and uneven commitment to reform. In 1993, the government of
Kenya implemented a program of economic liberalization and
reform that included the removal of import licensing, price
controls, and foreign exchange controls. With the support of
the World Bank, IMF, and other donors, the reforms led to a
brief turnaround in economic performance following a period
of negative growth in the early 1990s. Kenya's real GDP grew
5% in 1995 and 4% in 1996, and inflation remained under
control. Growth slowed after 1997, averaging only 1.5% in
1997-2000. In 1997, political violence damaged the tourist
industry, and Kenya's Enhanced Structural Adjustment Program
lapsed due to the government's failure to maintain reform or
address public sector corruption. Severe drought in 1999 and
2000 caused water and energy rationing and reduced
agricultural sector productivity. A new economic team was
put in place in 1999 to revitalize the reform effort,
strengthen the civil service, and curb corruption. The IMF
and World Bank renewed their support to Kenya in mid-2000,
but a number of setbacks to the economic reform program in
late 2000 have renewed donor and private sector concern
about the government's commitment to sound governance.
Long-term barriers to development include electricity
shortages, inefficient government dominance of key sectors,
endemic corruption, and high population growth. |
| GDP: |
purchasing power
parity - $45.6 billion (2000 est.) |
| GDP
- real growth rate: |
0.4% (2000 est.) |
| GDP
- per capita: |
purchasing power
parity - $1,500 (2000 est.) |
| GDP
- composition by sector: |
agriculture:
25%
industry: 13%
services: 62% (1999 est.) |
| Population
below poverty line: |
42% (1992 est.) |
| Household
income or consumption by percentage share: |
lowest 10%:
1.8%
highest 10%: 34.9% (1994) |
| Inflation
rate (consumer prices): |
7% (2000 est.) |
| Labor
force: |
9.2 million (1998
est.) |
| Labor
force - by occupation: |
agriculture
75%-80% |
| Unemployment
rate: |
50% (1998 est.) |
| Budget: |
revenues:
$2.91 billion
expenditures: $2.97 billion, including capital
expenditures of $NA (2000 est.) |
| Industries: |
small-scale
consumer goods (plastic, furniture, batteries, textiles,
soap, cigarettes, flour), agricultural products processing;
oil refining, cement; tourism |
| Industrial
production growth rate: |
0.5% (2000 est.) |
| Electricity
- production: |
4.225 billion kWh
(1999) |
| Electricity
- production by source: |
fossil fuel:
31%
hydro: 67%
nuclear: 0%
other: 2% (1999 est.) |
| Electricity
- consumption: |
4.075 billion kWh
(1999) |
| Electricity
- exports: |
0 kWh (1999) |
| Electricity
- imports: |
146 million kWh
(1999) |
| Agriculture
- products: |
coffee, tea,
corn, wheat, sugarcane, fruit, vegetables; dairy products,
beef, pork, poultry, eggs |
| Exports: |
$1.7 billion
(f.o.b., 2000 est.) |
| Exports
- commodities: |
tea, coffee,
horticultural products, petroleum products, fish, cement |
| Exports
- partners: |
Uganda 18%, UK
15%, Tanzania 12%, Pakistan 8% (1999) |
| Imports: |
$3 billion
(f.o.b., 2000 est.) |
| Imports
- commodities: |
machinery and
transportation equipment, petroleum products, iron and steel |
| Imports
- partners: |
UK 12%, UAE 8%,
Japan 8%, US 7% (1999) |
| Debt
- external: |
$6.2 billion
(2000) |
| Economic
aid - recipient: |
$457 million
(1997) |
| Currency: |
Kenyan shilling (KES) |
| Exchange
rates: |
Kenyan shillings
per US dollar - 78.733 (December 2000), 76.176 (2000),
70.326 (1999), 60.367 (1998), 58.732 (1997), 57.115 (1996) |
| Fiscal
year: |
1 July - 30 June |
| Telephones
- main lines in use: |
290,000 (1998) |
| Telephones
- mobile cellular: |
5,345 (1997) |
| Telephone
system: |
general
assessment: unreliable; little attempt to
modernize except for service to business
domestic: trunks are primarily microwave radio
relay; business data commonly transferred by a very small
aperture terminal (VSAT) system
international: satellite earth stations - 4
Intelsat |
| Radio
broadcast stations: |
AM 24, FM 8,
shortwave 6 (1999) |
| Radios: |
3.07 million
(1997) |
| Television
broadcast stations: |
8 (1997) |
| Televisions: |
730,000 (1997) |
| Internet
country code: |
.ke |
| Internet
Service Providers (ISPs): |
5 (2000) |
| Internet
users: |
45,000 (1999) |
| Railways: |
total:
2,778 km
narrow gauge: 2,778 km 1.000-m gauge
note: the line connecting Nairobi with the port
of Mombasa is the most important in the country |
| Highways: |
total:
63,800 km
paved: 8,868 km
unpaved: 54,932 km (1996) |
| Waterways: |
NA
note: part of the Lake Victoria system is
within the boundaries of Kenya |
| Pipelines: |
petroleum
products 483 km |
| Ports
and harbors: |
Kisumu, Lamu,
Mombasa |
| Merchant
marine: |
total:
2 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 4,893 GRT/6,255 DWT
ships by type: petroleum tanker 1, roll on/roll
off 1 (2000 est.) |
| Airports: |
230 (2000 est.) |
| Airports
- with paved runways: |
total:
22
over 3,047 m: 4
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 13
under 914 m: 1 (2000 est.) |
| Airports
- with unpaved runways: |
total:
208
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 14
914 to 1,523 m: 109
under 914 m: 84 (2000 est.) |
| Military
branches: |
Army, Navy, Air
Force, paramilitary General Service Unit of the Police |
| Military
manpower - availability: |
males age
15-49: 7,712,402 (2001 est.) |
| Military
manpower - fit for military service: |
males age
15-49: 4,774,889 (2001 est.) |
| Military
expenditures - dollar figure: |
$197 million
(FY98/99) |
| Military
expenditures - percent of GDP: |
1.9% (FY98/99) |
| Disputes
- international: |
administrative
boundary with Sudan does not coincide with international
boundary |
| Illicit
drugs: |
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 |
|
