World Atlas: Kenya

Information about Kenya

Here you can find online selected information about the geography, inhabitants, government, economy and history of Kenya. Included are selected statistics, an overview map and the detailed map of Kenya. But let's start with the flag of Kenya here:

Kenya - Overview:

What you should know about Kenya? Let's start with this: Founding president and liberation struggle icon Jomo Kenyatta led Kenya from independence in 1963 until his death in 1978, when Vice President Daniel MOI took power in a constitutional succession. The country was a de facto one-party state from 1969 until 1982, after which time the ruling Kenya African National Union (KANU) changed the constitution to make 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 were viewed as having generally reflected the will of the Kenyan people. President MOI stepped down in December 2002 following fair and peaceful elections. Mwai Kibaki, running as the candidate of the multiethnic, united opposition group, the National Rainbow Coalition (NARC), defeated KANU candidate Uhuru Kenyatta, the son of founding president Jomo Kenyatta, and assumed the presidency following a campaign centered on an anticorruption platform. Kibaki's reelection in December 2007 brought charges of vote rigging from Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) candidate Raila Odinga and unleashed two months of violence in which approximately 1,100 people died. African Union-sponsored mediation led by former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan in late February 2008 resulted in a power-sharing accord bringing Odinga into the government in the restored position of prime minister. The power sharing accord included a broad reform agenda, the centerpiece of which was constitutional reform. In August 2010, Kenyans overwhelmingly adopted a new constitution in a national referendum. The new constitution introduced additional checks and balances to executive power and significant devolution of power and resources to 47 newly created counties. It also eliminated the position of prime minister following the first presidential election under the new constitution, which occurred in March 2013. Uhuru Kenyatta won the election and was sworn into office in April 2013; he began a second term in November 2017.

Geography of Kenya

Where on the globe is Kenya? The location of this country is Eastern Africa, bordering the Indian Ocean, between Somalia and Tanzania. Total area of Kenya is 580,367 sq km, of which 569,140 sq km is land. So this is quite a large country. How could we describe the terrain of the country? This way: low plains rise to central highlands bisected by Great Rift Valley; fertile plateau in west. The lowest point of Kenya is Indian Ocean 0 m, the highest point Mount Kenya 5,199 m. And the climate is varies from tropical along coast to arid in interio.

Inhabitants of Kenya

Let's take a look how many people live in Kenya. The number is: 47,615,739. So quite a lot people live here. Who lives here? Kikuyu 22%, Luhya 14%, Luo 13%, Kalenjin 12%, Kamba 11%, Kisii 6%, Meru 6%, other African 15%, non-African (Asian, European, and Arab) 1%. What are the languages in Kenya? English (official), Kiswahili (official), numerous indigenous languages. And the religions: Christian 83% (Protestant 47.7%, Catholic 23.4%, other Christian 11.9%), Muslim 11.2%, Traditionalists 1.7%, other 1.6%, none 2.4%, unspecified 0.2% (2009 est.). How old are the people in average? 19.7 years. We have to add that this number is the median - so one half of the people is older than this, one half is younger. And what is their life expectancy (at birth)? This: 64.3 years. Where the people live in Kenya? Here: 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. The major urban areas of Kenya are: Nairobi (capital) 3.915 million; Mombassa 1.104 million (2015).

Government and Economy of Kenya

The capital of Kenya is Nairobi and the government type presidential republic. Let's take a look at the administrative divisions - 47 counties; Baringo, Bomet, Bungoma, Busia, Elgeyo/Marakwet, Embu, Garissa, Homa Bay, Isiolo, Kajiado, Kakamega, Kericho, Kiambu, Kilifi, Kirinyaga, Kisii, Kisumu, Kitui, Kwale, Laikipia, Lamu, Machakos, Makueni, Mandera, Marsabit, Meru, Migori, Mombasa, Murang'a, Nairobi City, Nakuru, Nandi, Narok, Nyamira, Nyandarua, Nyeri, Samburu, Siaya, Taita/Taveta, Tana River, Tharaka-Nithi, Trans Nzoia, Turkana, Uasin Gishu, Vihiga, Wajir, West Pokot. Regarding the economy of Kenya, important industrial products are 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. Important agricultural products are tea, coffee, corn, wheat, sugarcane, fruit, vegetables; dairy products, beef, fish, pork, poultry, eggs. The most important export commodities are tea, horticultural products, coffee, petroleum products, fish, cement and the most important export partners are Uganda 10.1%, Tanzania 8.6%, US 7.7%, Netherlands 7.4%, UK 7.3%, UAE 4.6%, Pakistan 4.5% (2016). The most important import commodities are machinery and transportation equipment, petroleum products, motor vehicles, iron and steel, resins and plastics and the most important import partners are China 24.1%, India 11.2%, UAE 7.7%, Japan 5.4% (2016). How rich is Kenya and how rich are people in this country? The most important number here is GDP per capita (PPP): $3,500 (2017 est.). This is a very low number. Let's add that this means Gross Domestic Product per person, which is recalculated with respect to the relative cost of local goods and services. And one more important number - population below poverty line: 43.4% (2012 est.).

Map of Kenya