2003 Edition

Administrative divisions

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

Age structure

0-14 years: 41.3% (male 6,609,904; female 6,461,945) 15-64 years: 55.8% (male 8,900,615; female 8,766,698) 65 years and over: 2.9% (male 389,918; female 510,011) (2003 est.)

Agriculture - products

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

Airports

230 (2002)

Airports - with paved runways

over 3,047 m

4 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 10

total

19

under 914 m

1 (2002)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total

211 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 14 914 to 1,523 m: 113

under 914 m

83 (2002) Military Kenya

Area

land

569,250 sq km

total

582,650 sq km

water

13,400 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly more than twice the size of Nevada

Background

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. Geography Kenya

Birth rate

28.81 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Budget

expenditures

$2.97 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (2000 est.)

revenues

$2.91 billion

Capital

Nairobi

Climate

varies from tropical along coast to arid in interior

Coastline

536 km

Constitution

12 December 1963, amended as a republic 1964; reissued with amendments 1979, 1983, 1986, 1988, 1991, 1992, 1997, and 2001

Country name

conventional long form

Republic of Kenya

conventional short form

Kenya

former

British East Africa

Currency

Kenyan shilling (KES)

Currency code

KES

Death rate

16.01 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Debt - external

$5.7 billion (2002 est.)

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador Johnnie CARSON

embassy

US Embassy, United Nations Ave., Gigiti; P. O. Box 606 Village Market Nairobi

mailing address

Box 21A, Unit 64100, APO AE 09831

telephone

[254] (2) 537-800

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission

Ambassador Yusuf Abdulraham NZIBO

consulate(s) general

offices in Los Angeles and New York are closed; mission to the UN remains open

Disputes - international

Kenya's administrative boundary still extends into the Sudan, creating the "Ilemi triangle"

Distribution of family income - Gini index

44.9 (1997)

Economic aid - recipient

$457 million (1997)

Economy - overview

Kenya, the regional hub for trade and finance in East Africa, is hampered by corruption and reliance upon several primary goods whose prices remain low. Following strong economic growth in 1995 and 1996, Kenya's economy has stagnated, with GDP growth failing to keep up with the rate of population growth. In 1997, the IMF suspended Kenya's Enhanced Structural Adjustment Program due to the government's failure to maintain reforms and curb corruption. A severe drought from 1999 to 2000 compounded Kenya's problems, causing water and energy rationing and reducing agricultural output. As a result, GDP contracted by 0.3% in 2000. The IMF, which had resumed loans in 2000 to help Kenya through the drought, again halted lending in 2001 when the government failed to institute several anticorruption measures. Despite the return of strong rains in 2001, weak commodity prices, endemic corruption, and low investment limited Kenya's economic growth to 1%. Growth fell below 1% in 2002 because of erratic rains, low investor confidence, meager donor support, and political infighting up to the elections. In the key December 27, 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. Substantial donor support and rooting out corruption are essential to making Kenya realize its substantial economic potential.

Electricity - consumption

3.981 billion kWh (2001)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2001)

Electricity - imports

230 million kWh (2001)

Electricity - production

4.033 billion kWh (2001)

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel

71%

hydro

17.7%

nuclear

0%

other

11.3% (2001)

Elevation extremes

highest point

Mount Kenya 5,199 m

lowest point

Indian Ocean 0 m

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, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling

signed, but not ratified

none of the selected agreements

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%

Exchange rates

Kenyan shillings per US dollar - 78.75 (2002), 78.56 (2001), 76.18 (2000), 70.33 (1999), 60.37 (1998)

Executive branch

cabinet

Cabinet appointed by the president

chief of state

President Mwai KIBAKI (since 30 December 2002) and Vice President Moody AWORI (since 25 September 2003); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government

election results

President Mwai KIBAKI elected; percent of vote - Mwai KIBAKI 63%, Uhuru KENYATTA 30%

elections

president elected by popular vote for a five-year 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 27 December 2002 (next to be held NA December 2007); vice president appointed by the president

head of government

President Mwai KIBAKI (since 30 December 2002) and Vice President Moody AWORI (since 25 September 2003); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government

Exports

$2.1 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)

Exports - commodities

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

Exports - partners

Uganda 18.3%, UK 12.9%, US 8%, Netherlands 7.6%, Pakistan 4.9%, Tanzania 4.4%, Egypt 4.1% (2002)

FAX

[1] (202) 462-3829

[254] (2) 537-810

chancery

2249 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008

telephone

[1] (202) 387-6101

Fiscal year

1 July - 30 June Communications Kenya

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 Economy Kenya

GDP

purchasing power parity - $32.89 billion (2002 est.)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture

24%

industry

13%

services

63% (2001 est.)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $1,100 (2002 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

1.1% (2002 est.)

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 are found on Mount Kenya, Africa's second highest peak; unique physiography supports abundant and varied wildlife of scientific and economic value People Kenya

Government type

republic

Highways

paved

7,737 km

total

63,942 km

unpaved

56,205 km (2000)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

15% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

190,000 (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

2.5 million (2001 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

37.2% (2000)

lowest 10%

2%

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 This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003

Imports

$3 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)

Imports - commodities

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

Imports - partners

UAE 12%, Saudi Arabia 8.7%, US 8.1%, UK 7.1%, South Africa 7.1%, France 5.8%, China 5.5%, Japan 5%, India 4.8% (2002)

Independence

12 December 1963 (from UK)

Industrial production growth rate

0.9% (2002 est.)

Industries

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

Infant mortality rate

female

60.25 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)

male

66.37 deaths/1,000 live births

total

63.36 deaths/1,000 live births

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

1.9% (2002 est.)

International organization participation

ACP, AfDB, C, EADB, ECA, FAO, G-15, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt (signatory), ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGAD, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MINURSO, MONUC, NAM, OAU, OPCW, UN, UNAMSIL, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNMEE, UNMIBH, UNMIK, UNMISET, UNMOP, UNU, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Internet country code

.ke

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

65 (2001)

Internet users

500,000 (2002) Transportation Kenya

Irrigated land

670 sq km (1998 est.)

Judicial branch

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

Labor force

10 million (2001 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture 75% 75%-80%

Land boundaries

border countries

Ethiopia 861 km, Somalia 682 km, Sudan 232 km, Tanzania 769 km, Uganda 933 km

total

3,477 km

Land use

arable land

7.03%

other

92.06% (1998 est.)

permanent crops

0.91%

Languages

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

Legal system

based on Kenyan statutory law, Kenyan and 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 (224 seats; 210 members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms, 12 so-called "nominated" members who are appointed by the president but selected by the parties in proportion to their parliamentary vote totals, 2 ex-officio members)

election results

percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - NARC 125, KANU 64, FORD-P 14, other 7; ex-officio 2; seats appointed by the president - NARC 7, KANU 4, FORD-P 1

elections

last held 27 December 2002 (next to be held by early 2007)

Life expectancy at birth

female

45.43 years (2003 est.)

male

45.02 years

total population

45.22 years

Literacy

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

79.7% (2003 est.) Government Kenya

male

90.6%

total population

85.1%

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

Median age

female

18.5 years (2002)

male

18.2 years

total

18.4 years

Merchant marine

ships by type

petroleum tanker 1, roll on/roll off 1 (2002 est.)

total

2 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 4,893 GRT/6,320 DWT

Military branches

Army, Navy, Air Force

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$185.2 million (FY02)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

1.8% (FY02) Transnational Issues Kenya

Military manpower - availability

males age 15-49

8,096,142 (2003 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service

males age 15-49

5,017,501 (2003 est.)

National holiday

Independence Day, 12 December (1963)

Nationality

adjective

Kenyan

noun

Kenyan(s)

Natural hazards

recurring drought; flooding during rainy seasons

Natural resources

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

Net migration rate

-0.15 migrant(s)/1,000 population

note

according to UNHCR, by the end of 2001 Kenya was host to 220,000 refugees from neighboring countries, including: Somalia 145,000 and Sudan 68,000 (2003 est.)

Oil - consumption

57,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports

NA (2001)

Oil - imports

NA (2001)

Oil - production

0 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Pipelines

refined products 752 km (2003)

Political parties and leaders

Forum for the Restoration of Democracy-People or FORD-People [Kimaniwa NYOIKE, chairman]; Kenya African National Union or KANU [Uhuru KENYATTA]; National Rainbow Coalition or NARC [Mwai KIBAKI] - the governing party

Political pressure groups and leaders

human rights groups; labor unions; Muslim organizations; National Convention Executive Council or NCEC, a proreform coalition of political parties and nongovernment organizations [Kivutha KIBWANA]; Protestant National Council of Churches of Kenya or NCCK [Mutava MUSYIMI]; Roman Catholic and other Christian churches; Supreme Council of Kenya Muslims or SUPKEM [Shaykh Abdul Gafur al-BUSAIDY]

Population

31,639,091

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 and death rates, lower population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2003 est.)

Population below poverty line

50% (2000 est.)

Population growth rate

1.27% (2003 est.)

Ports and harbors

Kisumu, Lamu, Mombasa

Radio broadcast stations

AM 24, FM 18, shortwave 6 (2001)

Radios

3.07 million (1997)

Railways

narrow gauge

2,778 km 1.000-m gauge (2002)

total

2,778 km

Religions

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

Sex ratio

at birth

1.03 male(s)/female

total population

1.01 male(s)/female (2003 est.)

under 15 years

1.02 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.76 male(s)/female

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Telephone system

domestic

trunks are primarily microwave radio relay; business data commonly transferred by a very small aperture terminal (VSAT) system

general assessment

unreliable; little attempt to modernize except for service to business

international

satellite earth stations - 4 Intelsat

Telephones - main lines in use

310,000 (2001)

Telephones - mobile cellular

540,000 (2001)

Television broadcast stations

8 (2002)

Televisions

730,000 (1997)

Terrain

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

Total fertility rate

3.47 children born/woman (2003 est.)

Unemployment rate

40% (2001 est.)

Waterways

NA

note

part of the Lake Victoria system is within the boundaries of Kenya