Kenya Information Guide & Facts

Area: 580,370 sq. km (224,081sq. ml)
Population: 29 million (approx)30,8 million
Capital city: Nairobi
People: Kikuyu 22%, Luhya 14%, Luo 13% Kalenjin 12%, Kamba 11%, Kisii 6%, Meru 6%, Other African 15%, Non African 1%
Language(s): English, Kiswahili, various indigenous languages
Religion(s): Protestant 38%, Roman Catholic 28%, indigenous beliefs26%, Muslim 7%, other 1%
Currency: Kenyan shilling (KSH)

GEOGRAPHY

Kenya lies on the Equator bordered by Somalia, Ethiopia, Sudan, Uganda & Tanzania and the Indian Ocean. It covers an area of some 580,370 sq. km (224,081 sq. mls) and has a population of approximately 29 million people.

HISTORY

Recent History

For the first time since independence in 1963, Kenya has chosen a new leader in December 2002 when Mwai Kibaki was elected President. Former President Moi had held office since Kenya's first leader Kenyatta died in 1978. Kenya became a one-party state dominated by KANU from 1978. In 1992 multi party democracy was restored but the Kenyan political environment has remained turbulent. KANU won the 1992 and 1997 general elections against a divided opposition.

The opposition manage to unite in the run-up to the 2002 general elections and won a convincing victory on 27 december. Mwai Kibaki won over 60% of the vote in the presidential race and his National Rainbow Coalition (NARC) secured a majority in the National Assembly. The elections, applauded as the cleanest and most peaceful in Kenya's history, were followed by a smooth and unprecedented transfer of power.

Longer Historical Perspective

Kenya, formerly known as British East Africa, was declared a British protectorate in 1895, primarily to secure a route to Uganda. White settlement met with significant African armed resistance and by the early 1920s African political organisations had begun to emerge. By the 1940s European settlers had achieved considerable prosperity while African population growth resulted in increasing pressure for land.

In 1944 the Kenya Africa Union (KAU), an African nationalist organisation, was formed under the leadership of Jomo Kenyatta, demanding African access to white-owned land. Between 1952-56 the Mau Mau rebellion erupted. Events led to a state of emergency being declared and in 1953 the KAU was banned and Kenyatta imprisoned. In 1957 African members were elected on a limited franchise to the legislative council.

The state of emergency was lifted in 1960. The same year a transitional constitution legalised political parties and resulted in a large African majority on the legislative council. In the following year a general election gave the Kenya Africa National Union (KANU) a majority of seats in the legislative council. KANU refused to form an administration until the release of Kenyatta, who became Prime Minister at independence in 1963. The following year Kenya became a republic and Kenyatta became the President.

ECONOMY

Basic Economic Facts

GDP: US$ 10.1bn (2000); 10.184 (2001)
Annual Growth: 0.8% (2001); 1.4% (2002 - forecast)
Inflation: 0.8% (Dec 01); 2.4% (2002 – forecast)
Major Industries: Small scale consumer goods, agricultural products, processing, and tourism
Import partners: UK8.25%, UAE 8%, US 7%, (2000)
Export partners: Germany 15%, UK 13%, Tanzania 12%, Uganda 4% (2000)
Exchange rate: KSHs 110.583:1 pound sterling

Kenya is a peaceful country in a conflict-ridden region where ethnic divisions constitute a recurrent problem. A British colony and protectorate from the end of the 19th century until independence in December 1963, the country inherited a relatively diversified economic structure in which agriculture and tourism remain predominant. Although the country is still, to a large extent, underdeveloped (A GDP per capita of 360 US$, life expectancy under 50, less than 1% of the population with a telephone) it could play an important role in East African regional development. Poor management, corruption, uneven commitment to reform and a complex political situation have, in recent times, stifled economic growth.

Founding president and liberation struggle icon Jomo KENYATTA led Kenya from independence 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 are viewed as having generally reflected the will of the Kenyan people. President MOI stepped down in December of 2002 following fair and peaceful elections. Mwai KIBAKI, running as the candidate of the multiethnic, united opposition group, the National Rainbow Coalition, defeated KANU candidate Uhuru KENYATTA and assumed the presidency following a campaign centered on an anticorruption platform.