Kenya

Republic of Kenya

(In Detail) (Full size)
National motto: Harambee (Swahili, "Let's work together")
Official languages	English, Kiswahili
Capital	Nairobi
President	Mwai Kibaki
Area  - Total  - % water	Ranked 46th 582,650 km² 2.3%
Population  - Total (2002)  - Density	Ranked 37th 31,138,735 53.4/km²
Independence  - Declared  - Recognised	(Event Xxxx) December 12, 1963 (Year)
Currency	Shilling
Time zone	UTC +3
National anthem	Ee Mungu Nguvu Yetu (Oh God of All Creation)
Internet TLD	.KE
Calling Code	254

History

Fossils found in East Africa suggest that protohumans roamed the area more than 20 million years ago. Recent finds near Kenya's Lake Turkana indicate that hominids like Homo habilis and Homo erectus lived in Kenya 2.6 million years ago.

The colonial history of Kenya dates from the establishment of a German protectorate over the Sultan of Zanzibar's coastal possessions in 1885, followed by the arrival of the British East Africa Company in 1888. Incipient imperial rivalry was forestalled when Germany handed its coastal holdings to Britain in 1890.

From October 1952 to December 1959, Kenya was under a state of emergency arising from a rebellion against British rule. The first direct elections for Africans to the Legislative Council took place in 1957. Despite British hopes of handing power to "moderate" African rivals, it was the Kenya African National Union of Jomo Kenyatta, which formed a government shortly before Kenya became independent on December 12, 1963. A year later, Kenyatta became Kenya's first president.

At Kenyatta's death in 1978, Daniel arap Moi became President, and in democratic multiparty elections in 1992 and 1997 won re-election. In 2002, Moi was constitutionally barred from running and Mwai Kibaki, was elected President.

Politics

Ethnic divisions account for many of Kenya's problems. During the early 1990s, tribal clashes killed thousands and left tens of thousands homeless. Ethnically split opposition groups allowed the regime of Daniel arap Moi, in power from 1978 until 2002, to be reelected for four terms, with the election in 1997 being marred by violence and fraud.

Kenya is well placed to serve as an engine of growth in East Africa, but its economy is 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 in 1997-99 however. 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. A new economic team was put in place in 1999 to revitalize the reform effort, strengthen the civil service, and curb corruption, but wary donors continue to question the government's commitment to sound economic policy. Long-term barriers to development include electricity shortages, the government's continued and inefficient dominance of key sectors, endemic corruption, and the country's high population growth rate.

Provinces

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

Geography

Economy

Kenya is well placed to serve as an engine of growth in East Africa, but its economy is 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 in 1997-1999 however. 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. A new economic team was put in place in 1999 to revitalize the reform effort, strengthen the civil service, and curb corruption, but wary donors continue to question the government's commitment to sound economic policy. Long-term barriers to development include electricity shortages, the government's continued and inefficient dominance of key sectors, endemic corruption, and the country's high population growth rate.

Demographics

Ethnic divisions account for many of Kenya's problems. During the early 1990s, tribal clashes killed thousands and left tens of thousands homeless. Ethnically split opposition groups allowed the regime of Daniel arap Moi, in power from 1978 until 2002, to be re-elected for four terms, with the election in 1997 being marred by violence and fraud.

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%

See also: List of cities in Kenya, Maasai.

Culture

• National parks (Kenya)
• List of Kenyans
• Music of Kenya

Holidays

Date	English Name	Local Name	Remarks

Miscellaneous topics

• Communications in Kenya
  • One of the major newspapers in Kenya is The Daily Nation. Daily Nation Online
• Transportation in Kenya
• Military of Kenya
• Foreign relations of Kenya

External links

• Kenya government
• World Factbook [1]

Referenced By