1998 Edition

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

Climate

varies from tropical along coast to arid in interior

Coastline

536 km

Elevation extremes

lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: Mount Kenya 5,199 m

Environment-current issues

water pollution from urban and industrial wastes; degradation of water quality from increased use of pesticides and fertilizers; deforestation; soil erosion; desertification; poaching

Environment-international agreements

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geographic coordinates

1 00 N, 38 00 E

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

Irrigated land

660 sq km (1993 est.)

Land boundaries

total: 3,446 km border countries: Ethiopia 830 km, Somalia 682 km, Sudan 232 km, Tanzania 769 km, Uganda 933 km

Land use

arable land: 7% permanent crops: 1% permanent pastures: 37% forests and woodland: 30% other: 25% (1993 est.)

Location

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

Map references

Africa

Maritime claims

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

Natural hazards

recurring drought in northern and eastern regions

Natural resources

gold, limestone, soda ash, salt barytes, rubies, fluorspar, garnets, wildlife

Terrain

low plains rise to central highlands bisected by Great Rift Valley; fertile plateau in west

Age structure

0-14 years: 44% (male 6,248,260; female 6,109,443) 15-64 years: 54% (male 7,609,631; female 7,607,810) 65 years and over: 2% (male 333,881; female 428,046) (July 1998 est.)

Birth rate

31.68 births/1,000 population (1998 est.)

Death rate

14.19 deaths/1,000 population (1998 est.)

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%

Infant mortality rate

59.38 deaths/1,000 live births (1998 est.)

Languages

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

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 47.57 years male: 47.02 years female: 48.13 years (1998 est.)

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 78.1% male: 86.3% female: 70% (1995 est.)

Nationality

noun: Kenyan(s) adjective: Kenyan

Net migration rate

-0.35 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1998 est.)

Population

28,337,071 (July 1998 est.)

Population growth rate

1.71% (1998 est.)

Religions

Protestant (including Anglican) 38%, Roman Catholic 28%, indigenous beliefs 26%, Muslim 6%, other 2%

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.78 male(s)/female (1998 est.)

Total fertility rate

4.07 children born/woman (1998 est.)

Administrative divisions

7 provinces and 1 area*; Central, Coast, Eastern, Nairobi Area*, North Eastern, Nyanza, Rift Valley, Western

Constitution

12 December 1963, amended as a republic 1964; reissued with amendments 1979, 1983, 1986, 1988, 1991, 1992, and 1997

Country name

conventional long form: Republic of Kenya conventional short form: Kenya former: British East Africa

Data code

KE

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; election last held 29 December 1997 (next to be held by early 2003); vice president appointed by the president election results: President Daniel T. arap MOI reelected; percent of vote-Daniel T. arap MOI (KANU) 40.12%, Mwai KIBAKI (DP) 31.09%, Raila ODINGA (NDP) 10.2%, Michael WAMALWA (FORD-Kenya) 8.29%, Charity NGILU (SDP) 7.71%

FAX

[1] (202) 462-3829 consulate(s) general: Los Angeles and New York Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Prudence B. BUSHNELL (17 July 1996) embassy: corner of Moi Avenue and Haile Selassie Avenue, Nairobi mailing address: P. O. Box 30137, Unit 64100, APO AE 09831 telephone: [254] (2) 334141

[254] (2) 340838

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

Government type

republic

Independence

12 December 1963 (from UK)

International organization participation

ACP, C, CCC, EADB, ECA, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGAD, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MINURSO, NAM, OAU, UN, UN Security Council (temporary), UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNMOP, UNOMIL, UNPREDEP, UNU, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Samson K. CHEMAI chancery: 2249 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 387-6101

Judicial branch

Court of Appeal, chief justice is appointed by the president; High Court Political parties and leaders: ruling party: Kenya African National Union or KANU [President Daniel Toroitich arap MOI] opposition party: Democratic Party of Kenya or DP [Mwai KIBAKI]; Forum for the Restoration of Democracy-Asili or FORD-Asili [Martin SHIKUKU, chairman]; Forum for the Restoration of Democracy-Kenya or FORD-Kenya [Michael Kijana WAMALWA]; Forum for the Restoration of Democracy-People or FORD-People [Kimani wa NYOIKE]; Forum for the Restoration of Democracy-Saba Saba or Asili Saba Saba [Kenneth MATIBA, chairman]; National Development Party or NDP [Raila ODINGA, president and Dr. Charles MARANGA, secretary-general]; Social Democratic Party or SDP [Charity NGILU]; SAFINA [Mutari KIGANO, chairman and Dr. Richard LEAKEY, secretary-general] Political pressure groups and leaders: National Convention Executive Council or NCEC, a proreform coalition of political parties and non-government organizations [Kivutha KIBWANA, leader]; Roman Catholic and other Christian churches; human rights groups; labor unions; Muslim organizations

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

Legislative branch

unicameral National Assembly or Bunge (222 seats, 12 appointed by the president, 210 members popularly elected to serve 5-year terms) elections: last held 29 December 1997 (next to be held between 1 December 2002 and 30 April 2003) election results: percent of vote by party-NA; seats by party-KANU 107, FORD-Asili 1, FORD-Kenya 17, FORD-People 3, DP 39, NDP 21, SDP 15, SAFINA 5, smaller parties 2; seats appointed by the president-KANU 6, FORD-Kenya 1, DP 2, SDP 1, NDP 1, SAFINA 1

National capital

Nairobi

National holiday

Independence Day, 12 December (1963)

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agriculture-products

coffee, tea, corn, wheat, sugarcane, fruit, vegetables; dairy products, beef, pork, poultry, eggs

Budget

revenues: $3 billion expenditures: $3 billion, including capital expenditures of $638 million (FY96/97 est.)

Currency

1 Kenyan shilling (KSh) = 100 cents

Debt-external

$7 billion (1994 est.)

Economic aid

NA

Economy-overview

Since 1993, the government of Kenya has implemented a program of economic liberalization and reform. Steps have included the removal of import licensing and price controls, removal of foreign exchange controls, fiscal and monetary restraint, and reduction of the public sector through privatizing publicly owned companies and downsizing the civil service. With the support of the World Bank, IMF, and other donors, these reforms have led to a turnaround in economic performance following a period of negative growth in the early 1990s. Kenya's real GDP grew at 5% in 1995 and 4% in 1996, and inflation remained under control. Growth slowed in 1997. Political violence damaged the tourist industry, and the IMF allowed Kenya's Enhanced Structural Adjustment Program to lapse due to the government's failure to enact reform conditions and to adequately address public sector corruption. Moreover, El Nino rains destroyed crops and damaged an already crumbling infrastructure in 1997 and on into 1998. 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.

Electricity-capacity

808,000 kW (1995)

Electricity-consumption per capita

134 kWh (1995)

Electricity-production

3.59 billion kWh (1995)

Exchange rates

Kenyan shillings (KSh) per US$1-61.164 (January 1998), 58.732 (1997), 57.115 (1996), 51.430 (1995), 56.051 (1994), 58.001 (1993)

Exports

total value: $2.1 billion (f.o.b., 1996) commodities: tea 18%, coffee 15%, petroleum products (1995) partners: Uganda 22.8%, UK 20.1%, Tanzania 19.1%, Germany 14.0%, Netherlands 7.6%, US 6.1%

Fiscal year

1 July-30 June Communications

GDP

purchasing power parity-$45.3 billion (1997 est.)

GDP-composition by sector

agriculture: 27% industry: 20% services: 53% (1995)

GDP-per capita

purchasing power parity-$1,600 (1997 est.)

GDP-real growth rate

2.9% (1997 est.)

Imports

total value: $2.9 billion (f.o.b., 1996) commodities: machinery and transportation equipment 31%, consumer goods 13%, petroleum products 12% (1995) partners: UK 21.3%, UAE 18%, Japan 14%, Germany, US

Industrial production growth rate

3.8% (1995)

Industries

small-scale consumer goods (plastic, furniture, batteries, textiles, soap, cigarettes, flour), processing agricultural products; oil refining, cement; tourism

Inflation rate-consumer price index

8.8% (1996)

Labor force

total: 8.78 million (1993 est.) by occupation: agriculture 75%-80%, non-agriculture 20%-25%

Radio broadcast stations

AM 16, FM 4, shortwave 0

Radios

NA

Telephone system

in top group of African systems domestic: primarily microwave radio relay international: satellite earth stations-2 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean)

Telephones

357,251 (1989 est.)

Television broadcast stations

6

Televisions

260,000 (1993 est.)

Unemployment rate

35% urban (1994 est.)

Airports

240 (1997 est.) Airports-with paved runways: total: 29 over 3,047 m: 3 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 22 under 914 m: 1 (1997 est.) Airports-with unpaved runways: total: 211 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 13 914 to 1,523 m: 114 under 914 m: 83 (1997 est.)

Highways

total: 63,800 km paved: 8,868 km unpaved: 54,932 km (1996 est.)

Merchant marine

total: 2 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 4,883 GRT/6,255 DWT ships by type: oil tanker 1, roll on/roll off 1 (1997 est.)

Pipelines

petroleum products 483 km Ports and harbors: Kisumu, Lamu, Mombasa

Railways

total: 2,652 km narrow gauge: 2,652 km 1.000-m gauge

Waterways

part of Lake Victoria system is within boundaries of Kenya

Military branches

Army, Navy, Air Force, paramilitary General Service Unit of the Police

Military expenditures-dollar figure

$134 million (FY94/95)

Military expenditures-percent of GDP

3.9% (FY94/95)

Military manpower-availability

males age 15-49: 6,870,889 (1998 est.) Military manpower-fit for military service: males: 4,257,985 (1998 est.)

Disputes-international

administrative boundary with Sudan does not coincide with international boundary

Illicit drugs

widespread harvesting of small, wild plots of marijuana and qat (chat); transit country for South Asian heroin destined for Europe and, sometimes, North America; Indian methaqualone also transits on way to South Africa (territory of the US)