Kenya

Kenya

Introduction

Background

Founding president and liberation struggle icon Jomo KENYATTA led Kenya from independence in 1963 until his death in 1978, when 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 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 and assumed the presidency following a campaign centered on an anticorruption platform. KIBAKI’s NARC coalition splintered in 2005 over a constitutional review process. Government defectors joined with KANU to form a new opposition coalition, the Orange Democratic Movement, which defeated the government’s draft constitution in a popular referendum in November 2005. KIBAKI’s reelection in December 2007 brought charges of vote rigging from ODM candidate Raila ODINGA and unleashed two months of violence in which as many as 1,500 people died. UN-sponsored talks in late February produced a powersharing accord bringing ODINGA into the government in the restored position of prime minister. Kenya in August 2010 adopted a new constitution that eliminates the role of prime minister after the next presidential election.

Geography

Location

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

Geographic coordinates

1 00 N, 38 00 E

Map references

Africa

Area

total: 580,367 sq km
country comparison to the world: 49 land:569,140 sq km
water:11,227 sq km

Area – comparative

slightly more than twice the size of Nevada

Land boundaries

total: 3,477 km
border countries:Ethiopia 861 km, Somalia 682 km, South Sudan 232 km, Tanzania 769 km, Uganda 933 km

Coastline

536 km

Maritime claims

territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone:200 nm
continental shelf:200 m depth or to the depth of exploitation

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

limestone, soda ash, salt, gemstones, fluorspar, zinc, diatomite, gypsum, wildlife, hydropower

Land use

arable land: 8.01%
permanent crops:0.97%
other:91.02% (2005)

Irrigated land

1,030 sq km (2008)

Total renewable water resources

30.2 cu km (1990)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

total: 1.58cu km/yr (30%/6%/64%)
per capita:46cu m/yr (2000)

Natural hazards

recurring drought

flooding during rainy seasons
volcanism:Kenya experiences limited volcanic activity

the Barrier (elev. 1,032 m) last erupted in 1921

South Island is the only other historically active volcano

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, 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

Geography – note

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

People and Society

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%

Languages

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

Religions

Protestant 45%, Roman Catholic 33%, Muslim 10%, indigenous beliefs 10%, other 2%
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

Population

41,070,934 (July 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 33 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, higher death rates, lower population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected

Age structure

0-14 years: 42.2% (male 8,730,845/female 8,603,270)
15-64 years:55.1% (male 11,373,997/female 11,260,402)
65 years and over:2.7% (male 497,389/female 605,031) (2011 est.)

Median age

total: 18.9 years
male:18.8 years
female:19 years (2011 est.)

Population growth rate

2.462% (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 29

Birth rate

33.54 births/1,000 population (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 34

Death rate

8.93 deaths/1,000 population (July 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 72

Net migration rate

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 91

Urbanization

urban population: 22% of total population (2010)
rate of urbanization:4.2% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

Major cities – population

NAIROBI (capital) 3.375 million

Mombassa 966,000 (2009)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.02 male(s)/female
under 15 years:1.01 male(s)/female
15-64 years:1.01 male(s)/female
65 years and over:0.83 male(s)/female
total population:1.01 male(s)/female (2011 est.)

Maternal mortality rate

530 deaths/100,000 live births (2008)
country comparison to the world: 26

Infant mortality rate

total: 52.29 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 44 male:55.03 deaths/1,000 live births
female:49.49 deaths/1,000 live births (2011 est.)

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 59.48 years
country comparison to the world: 188 male:58.91 years
female:60.07 years (2011 est.)

Total fertility rate

4.19 children born/woman (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 38

Health expenditures

12.2% of GDP (2009)
country comparison to the world: 9

Physicians density

0.14 physicians/1,000 population (2002)
country comparison to the world: 159

Hospital bed density

1.4 beds/1,000 population (2006)
country comparison to the world: 125

Drinking water source

improved:
urban: 83% of population
rural: 52% of population
total: 59% of population
unimproved:
urban: 17% of population
rural: 48% of population
total: 41% of population (2008)

Sanitation facility access

improved:
urban: 27% of population
rural: 32% of population
total: 31% of population
unimproved:
urban: 73% of population
rural: 68% of population
total: 69% of population (2008)

HIV/AIDS – adult prevalence rate

6.3% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 11

HIV/AIDS – people living with HIV/AIDS

1.5 million (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 4

HIV/AIDS – deaths

80,000 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 6

Major infectious diseases

degree of risk: high
food or waterborne diseases:bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne disease:malaria and Rift Valley fever
water contact disease:schistosomiasis
animal contact disease:rabies (2009)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

16.5% (2003)
country comparison to the world: 50

Education expenditures

7% of GDP (2006)
country comparison to the world: 16

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population:85.1%
male:90.6%
female:79.7% (2003 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 11 years
male:11 years
female:11 years (2009)

Government

Country name

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

Government type

republic

Capital

name: Nairobi
geographic coordinates:1 17 S, 36 49 E
time difference:UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Administrative divisions

7 provinces and 1 area*

Central, Coast, Eastern, Nairobi Area*, North Eastern, Nyanza, Rift Valley, Western

note – the constitution promulgated in August 2010 designates 47 yet-to-be-defined counties as first-order administrative units

Independence

12 December 1963 (from the UK)

National holiday

Independence Day, 12 December (1963)

Madaraka Day, 1 June

Mashujaa Day, 20 October

Constitution

27 August 2010

the new constitution abolishes the position of prime minister and establishes a bicameral legislature

many details have yet to be finalized and will require significant legislative action

Legal system

mixed legal system of English common law, Islamic law, and customary law

judicial review in High Court

International law organization participation

accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations

accepts ICCt jurisdiction

Suffrage

18 years of age

universal

Executive branch

chief of state: President Mwai KIBAKI (since 30 December 2002)

Vice President Stephen Kalonzo MUSYOKA (since 10 January 2008);
head of government:President Mwai KIBAKI (since 30 December 2002)

Vice President Stephen Kalonzo MUSYOKA (since 10 January 2008)

Prime Minister Raila Amolo ODINGA (since 17 April 2008)

note – according to the 2008 powersharing agreement the role of the prime minister was not well defined

constitutionally, the president remains chief of state and head of government, but the prime minister is charged with coordinating government business
cabinet:Cabinet appointed by the president and chaired by the prime minister, who is the leader of the largest party in parliament
(For more information visit the World Leaders website ) elections:president elected by popular vote for a five-year term (eligible for a second 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 on 27 December 2007 (next to be held in December 2012)

vice president appointed by the president

note – the new constitution sets elections for August 2011 but this date is expected to slip
election results:President Mwai KIBAKI reelected

percent of vote – Mwai KIBAKI 46%, Raila ODINGA 44%, Kalonzo MUSYOKA 9%, other 3.4%

Legislative branch

unicameral National Assembly or Bunge usually referred to as Parliament (224 seats

210 members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms, 12 nominated members appointed by the president but selected by the parties in proportion to their parliamentary vote totals, 2 ex-officio members)

note – the constitution promulgated in August 2010 changes the legislature to a bicameral parliament consisting of a 290 member National Assembly and a 94 member Senate

parliament members will serve five year terms
elections:last held on 27 December 2007 (next to be held in December 2012)
election results:percent of vote by party – NA

seats by party – ODM 99, PNU 46, ODM-K 16, KANU 14 other 35

ex-officio 2

seats appointed by the president – ODM 6, PNU 3, ODM-K 2, KANU 1

Judicial branch

Court of Appeal (chief justice is appointed by the president)

High Court

note – the constitution promulgated in August 2010 specifies three superior courts consisting of a Supreme Court, Court of Appeals, and High Court, and three subordinate courts consisting of Magistrate courts, Kadhis courts (sentences according to Muslim law), and Courts Martial

Political parties and leaders

Forum for the Restoration of Democracy-Kenya or FORD-Kenya [Musikari KOMBO]

Forum for the Restoration of Democracy-People or FORD-People [Reuben OYONDI]

Kenya African National Union or KANU [Uhuru KENYATTA]

National Rainbow Coalition-Kenya or NARC-Kenya [Martha KARUA]

Orange Democratic Movement or ODM [Raila ODINGA]

Orange Democratic Movement-Kenya or ODM-K [Kalonzo MUSYOKA]

Party of National Unity or PNU [Mwai KIBAKI]

Shirikisho Party of Kenya or SPK [Chirau Ali MWAKWERE]

Political pressure groups and leaders

Council of Islamic Preachers of Kenya or CIPK [Sheikh Idris MOHAMMED]

Kenya Human Rights Commission [L. Muthoni WANYEKI]

Muslim Human Rights Forum [Ali-Amin KIMATHI]

National Muslim Leaders Forum or NAMLEF [Abdullahi ABDI]

Protestant National Council of Churches of Kenya or NCCK [Canon Peter Karanja MWANGI]

Roman Catholic and other Christian churches

Supreme Council of Kenya Muslims or SUPKEM [Shaykh Abdul Gafur al-BUSAIDY]
other:labor unions

International organization participation

ACP, AfDB, AU, C, COMESA, EAC, EADB, FAO, G-15, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGAD, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MONUSCO, NAM, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMISS, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Elkanah ODEMBO Absalom
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

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador J. Scott GRATION
embassy:US Embassy, United Nations Avenue, Nairobi

P. O. Box 606 Village Market, Nairobi 00621
mailing address:Box 21A, Unit 64100, APO AE 09831
telephone:[254] (20) 363-6000
FAX:[254] (20) 363-410

Flag description

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

National symbol(s)

lion

National anthem

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

the anthem is based on a traditional Kenyan folk song

Economy

Economy – overview

Although the regional hub for trade and finance in East Africa, Kenya has been hampered by corruption and by reliance upon several primary goods whose prices have remained low. In 1997, the IMF suspended Kenya’s Enhanced Structural Adjustment Program due to the government’s failure to maintain reforms and curb corruption. The IMF, which had resumed loans in 2000 to help Kenya through a drought, again halted lending in 2001 when the government failed to institute several anticorruption measures. In the key December 2002 elections, Daniel Arap MOI’s 24-year-old reign ended, and a new opposition government took on the formidable economic problems facing the nation. After some early progress in rooting out corruption and encouraging donor support, the KIBAKI government was rocked by high-level graft scandals in 2005 and 2006. In 2006, the World Bank and IMF delayed loans pending action by the government on corruption. The international financial institutions and donors have since resumed lending, despite little action on the government’s part to deal with corruption. Post-election violence in early 2008, coupled with the effects of the global financial crisis on remittance and exports, reduced GDP growth to 1.7 in 2008, but the economy rebounded in 2009-10.

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$66.03 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 83 $62.9 billion (2009 est.)
$61.31 billion (2008 est.)
note:data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP (official exchange rate)

$32.16 billion (2010 est.)

GDP – real growth rate

5% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 73 2.6% (2009 est.)
1.6% (2008 est.)

GDP – per capita (PPP)

$1,600 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 197 $1,600 (2009 est.)
$1,600 (2008 est.)
note:data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP – composition by sector

agriculture: 22%
industry:16%
services:62% (2010 est.)

Labor force

17.9 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 33

Labor force – by occupation

agriculture: 75%
industry and services:25% (2007 est.)

Unemployment rate

40% (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 184 40% (2001 est.)

Population below poverty line

50% (2000 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 1.8%
highest 10%:37.8% (2005)

Distribution of family income – Gini index

42.5 (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 49 44.9 (1997)

Investment (gross fixed)

19.8% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 118

Budget

revenues: $7.016 billion
expenditures:$9.043 billion (2010 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

21.8% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 142

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-6.3% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 167

Public debt

47.7% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 56 47.1% of GDP (2009 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

4% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 131 9.2% (2009 est.)

Central bank discount rate

7% (31 December 2010 est.)
NA% (31 December 2009 est.)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

14.37% (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 59 14.8% (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$7.148 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 79 $5.833 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of broad money

$15.82 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 90 $13.77 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$16.12 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 87 $13.44 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$14.46 billion (31 December 2010)
country comparison to the world: 68 $10.76 billion (31 December 2009)
$10.92 billion (31 December 2008)

Agriculture – products

tea, coffee, corn, wheat, sugarcane, fruit, vegetables

dairy products, beef, pork, poultry, eggs

Industries

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

Industrial production growth rate

4% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 104

Electricity – production

6.79 billion kWh (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 103

Electricity – consumption

5.738 billion kWh (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 110

Electricity – exports

41 million kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity – imports

16 million kWh (2008 est.)

Oil – production

136 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 117

Oil – consumption

78,000 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 86

Oil – exports

8,061 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 98

Oil – imports

80,160 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 73

Oil – proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 147

Natural gas – production

0 cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 199

Natural gas – consumption

0 cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 191

Natural gas – exports

0 cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 122

Natural gas – imports

0 cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 139

Natural gas – proved reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 151

Current account balance

-$2.024 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 159 -$1.661 billion (2009 est.)

Exports

$5.22 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 109 $4.502 billion (2009 est.)

Exports – commodities

tea, horticultural products, coffee, petroleum products, fish, cement

Exports – partners

Uganda 10.1%, Tanzania 9.8%, UK 8.8%, Netherlands 8.2%, US 5.8%, Egypt 4.7%, Democratic Republic of the Congo 4.3% (2010)

Imports

$11.2 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 86 $9.492 billion (2009 est.)

Imports – commodities

machinery and transportation equipment, petroleum products, motor vehicles, iron and steel, resins and plastics

Imports – partners

China 13.6%, India 13.4%, UAE 9.7%, South Africa 8.4%, Saudi Arabia 6.8%, Japan 4.7% (2010)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$4.321 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 91 $3.85 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Debt – external

$8.465 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 96 $8.005 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment – at home

$2.262 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 88 $2.129 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment – abroad

$306.4 million (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 77 $288.4 million (31 December 2009 est.)

Exchange rates

Kenyan shillings (KES) per US dollar -
79.217 (2010)
77.352 (2009)
68.358 (2008)
68.309 (2007)
72.101 (2006)

Transportation

Airports

191 (2010)
country comparison to the world:33

Airports – with paved runways

total: 17
over 3,047 m:4
2,438 to 3,047 m:2
1,524 to 2,437 m:4
914 to 1,523 m:6
under 914 m:1 (2010)

Airports – with unpaved runways

total: 174
1,524 to 2,437 m:12
914 to 1,523 m:107
under 914 m:55 (2010)

Pipelines

oil 4 km

refined products 928 km (2010)

Railways

total: 2,066 km
country comparison to the world: 71 narrow gauge:2,066 km 1.000-m gauge (2010)

Roadways

total: 160,886 km
country comparison to the world: 31 paved:11,197 km
unpaved:149,689 km (2008)

Waterways

(the only significant inland waterway in the country is the part of Lake Victoria within the boundaries of Kenya

Kisumu is the main port and has ferry connections to Uganda and Tanzania) (2010)

Merchant marine

total: 1
country comparison to the world: 156 by type:petroleum tanker 1
registered in other countries:5 (Comoros 1, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 2, Tuvalu 1, unknown 1) (2010)

Ports and terminals

Kisumu, Mombasa

Military

Military branches

Kenya Armed Services: Kenya Army, Kenya Navy, Kenya Air Force (2011)

Military service age and obligation

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)

applicants must be Kenyan citizens and provide a national identity card (obtained at age 18) and a school-leaving certificate

women serve under the same terms and conditions as men

mandatory retirement at age 55 (2011)

Manpower available for military service

males age 16-49: 9,768,140
females age 16-49:9,466,257 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 16-49: 6,361,268
females age 16-49:6,106,870 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

male: 422,104
female:416,927 (2010 est.)

Military expenditures

2.8% of GDP (2006)
country comparison to the world: 49

Transnational Issues

Disputes – international

Kenya served as an important mediator in brokering Sudan’s north-south separation in February 2005

Kenya provides shelter to almost a quarter of a million refugees, including Ugandans who flee across the border periodically to seek protection from Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) 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

Refugees and internally displaced persons

refugees (country of origin): 173,702 (Somalia)

73,004 (Sudan)

16,428 (Ethiopia)
IDPs:250,000-400,000 (2007 post-election violence

KANU attacks on opposition tribal groups in 1990s) (2007)

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

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