2011 Edition

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.

Area

580,367 sq km 569,140 sq km 11,227 sq km

total

580,367 sq km

water

11,227 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

Indian Ocean 0 m Mount Kenya 5,199 m

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

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 none of the selected 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

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

1.58 cu km/yr (30%/6%/64%) 46 cu m/yr (2000)

per capita

46 cu m/yr (2000)

total

1.58 cu km/yr (30%/6%/64%)

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

Irrigated land

1,030 sq km (2008)

Land boundaries

3,477 km Ethiopia 861 km, Somalia 682 km, South Sudan 232 km, Tanzania 769 km, Uganda 933 km

border countries

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

total

3,477 km

Land use

8.01% 0.97% 91.02% (2005)

arable land

8.01%

other

91.02% (2005)

permanent crops

0.97%

Location

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

Map references

Africa

Maritime claims

12 nm 200 nm 200 m depth or to the depth of exploitation

continental shelf

200 m depth or to the depth of exploitation

exclusive economic zone

200 nm

territorial sea

12 nm

Natural hazards

recurring drought; flooding during rainy seasons Kenya experiences limited volcanic activity; the Barrier (elev. 1,032 m) last erupted in 1921; South Island is the only other historically active volcano

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

Natural resources

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

Terrain

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

Total renewable water resources

30.2 cu km (1990)

Age structure

42.2% (male 8,730,845/female 8,603,270) 55.1% (male 11,373,997/female 11,260,402) 2.7% (male 497,389/female 605,031) (2011 est.)

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.)

Birth rate

33.54 births/1,000 population (2011 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

16.5% (2003)

Death rate

8.93 deaths/1,000 population (July 2011 est.)

Drinking water source

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

rural

48% of population

total

41% of population (2008)

urban

17% of population

Education expenditures

7% of GDP (2006)

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%

Health expenditures

12.2% of GDP (2009)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

6.3% (2009 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

80,000 (2009 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

1.5 million (2009 est.)

Hospital bed density

1.4 beds/1,000 population (2006)

Infant mortality rate

52.29 deaths/1,000 live births 55.03 deaths/1,000 live births 49.49 deaths/1,000 live births (2011 est.)

female

49.49 deaths/1,000 live births (2011 est.)

total

52.29 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

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

Life expectancy at birth

59.48 years 58.91 years 60.07 years (2011 est.)

female

60.07 years (2011 est.)

total population

59.48 years

Literacy

age 15 and over can read and write 85.1% 90.6% 79.7% (2003 est.)

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

79.7% (2003 est.)

male

90.6%

total population

85.1%

Major cities - population

NAIROBI (capital) 3.375 million; Mombassa 966,000 (2009)

Major infectious diseases

high bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever malaria and Rift Valley fever schistosomiasis rabies (2009)

animal contact disease

rabies (2009)

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

Maternal mortality rate

530 deaths/100,000 live births (2008)

Median age

18.9 years 18.8 years 19 years (2011 est.)

female

19 years (2011 est.)

male

18.8 years

total

18.9 years

Nationality

Kenyan(s) Kenyan

adjective

Kenyan

noun

Kenyan(s)

Net migration rate

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2011 est.)

Physicians density

0.14 physicians/1,000 population (2002)

Population

41,070,934 (July 2011 est.) 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

Population growth rate

2.462% (2011 est.)

Religions

Protestant 45%, Roman Catholic 33%, Muslim 10%, indigenous beliefs 10%, other 2% a large majority of Kenyans are Christian, but estimates for the percentage of the population that adheres to Islam or indigenous beliefs vary widely

Sanitation facility access

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

rural

68% of population

total

69% of population (2008)

urban

73% of population

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

11 years 11 years 11 years (2009)

female

11 years (2009)

male

11 years

total

11 years

Sex ratio

1.02 male(s)/female 1.01 male(s)/female 1.01 male(s)/female 0.83 male(s)/female 1.01 male(s)/female (2011 est.)

15-64 years

1.01 male(s)/female

65 years and over

0.83 male(s)/female

at birth

1.02 male(s)/female

total population

1.01 male(s)/female (2011 est.)

under 15 years

1.01 male(s)/female

Total fertility rate

4.19 children born/woman (2011 est.)

Urbanization

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

rate of urbanization

4.2% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

urban population

22% of total population (2010)

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

Capital

Nairobi 1 17 S, 36 49 E UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

geographic coordinates

1 17 S, 36 49 E

name

Nairobi

time difference

UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

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

Country name

Republic of Kenya Kenya Republic of Kenya/Jamhuri ya Kenya Kenya British East Africa

conventional long form

Republic of Kenya

conventional short form

Kenya

former

British East Africa

local long form

Republic of Kenya/Jamhuri ya Kenya

local short form

Kenya

Diplomatic representation from the US

Ambassador J. Scott GRATION US Embassy, United Nations Avenue, Nairobi; P. O. Box 606 Village Market, Nairobi 00621 Box 21A, Unit 64100, APO AE 09831 [254] (20) 363-6000 [254] (20) 363-410

chief of mission

Ambassador J. Scott GRATION

embassy

US Embassy, United Nations Avenue, Nairobi; P. O. Box 606 Village Market, Nairobi 00621

FAX

[254] (20) 363-410

mailing address

Box 21A, Unit 64100, APO AE 09831

telephone

[254] (20) 363-6000

Diplomatic representation in the US

Ambassador Elkanah ODEMBO Absalom 2249 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 [1] (202) 387-6101 [1] (202) 462-3829 Los Angeles New York

chancery

2249 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008

chief of mission

Ambassador Elkanah ODEMBO Absalom

consulate(s)

New York

consulate(s) general

Los Angeles

FAX

[1] (202) 462-3829

telephone

[1] (202) 387-6101

Executive branch

President Mwai KIBAKI (since 30 December 2002); Vice President Stephen Kalonzo MUSYOKA (since 10 January 2008); 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 appointed by the president and chaired by the prime minister, who is the leader of the largest party in parliament 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 President Mwai KIBAKI reelected; percent of vote - Mwai KIBAKI 46%, Raila ODINGA 44%, Kalonzo MUSYOKA 9%, other 3.4%

cabinet

Cabinet appointed by the president and chaired by the prime minister, who is the leader of the largest party in parliament

chief of state

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

election results

President Mwai KIBAKI reelected; percent of vote - Mwai KIBAKI 46%, Raila ODINGA 44%, Kalonzo MUSYOKA 9%, other 3.4%

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

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

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

Government type

republic

Independence

12 December 1963 (from the UK)

International law organization participation

accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

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

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

Legal system

mixed legal system of English common law, Islamic law, and customary law; judicial review in High Court

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 last held on 27 December 2007 (next to be held in December 2012) 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

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

elections

last held on 27 December 2007 (next to be held in December 2012)

National anthem

"Ee Mungu Nguvu Yetu" (Oh God of All Creation) 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 adopted 1963; the anthem is based on a traditional Kenyan folk song

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

name

"Ee Mungu Nguvu Yetu" (Oh God of All Creation)

National holiday

Independence Day, 12 December (1963); Madaraka Day, 1 June; Mashujaa Day, 20 October

National symbol(s)

lion

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] labor unions

other

labor unions

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agriculture - products

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

Budget

$7.016 billion $9.043 billion (2010 est.)

expenditures

$9.043 billion (2010 est.)

revenues

$7.016 billion

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-6.3% of GDP (2010 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.) 14.8% (31 December 2009 est.)

Current account balance

-$2.024 billion (2010 est.) -$1.661 billion (2009 est.)

Debt - external

$8.465 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $8.005 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Distribution of family income - Gini index

42.5 (2008 est.) 44.9 (1997)

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.

Electricity - consumption

5.738 billion kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity - exports

41 million kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity - imports

16 million kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity - production

6.79 billion kWh (2008 est.)

Exchange rates

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

Exports

$5.22 billion (2010 est.) $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)

GDP - composition by sector

22% 16% 62% (2010 est.)

agriculture

22%

industry

16%

services

62% (2010 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$1,600 (2010 est.) $1,600 (2009 est.) $1,600 (2008 est.) data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP - real growth rate

5% (2010 est.) 2.6% (2009 est.) 1.6% (2008 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$32.16 billion (2010 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$66.03 billion (2010 est.) $62.9 billion (2009 est.) $61.31 billion (2008 est.) data are in 2010 US dollars

Household income or consumption by percentage share

1.8% 37.8% (2005)

highest 10%

37.8% (2005)

lowest 10%

1.8%

Imports

$11.2 billion (2010 est.) $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)

Industrial production growth rate

4% (2010 est.)

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

4% (2010 est.) 9.2% (2009 est.)

Investment (gross fixed)

19.8% of GDP (2010 est.)

Labor force

17.9 million (2010 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

75% 25% (2007 est.)

agriculture

75%

industry and services

25% (2007 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$14.46 billion (31 December 2010) $10.76 billion (31 December 2009) $10.92 billion (31 December 2008)

Natural gas - consumption

0 cu m (2009 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2009 est.)

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2009 est.)

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2009 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2011 est.)

Oil - consumption

78,000 bbl/day (2010 est.)

Oil - exports

8,061 bbl/day (2009 est.)

Oil - imports

80,160 bbl/day (2009 est.)

Oil - production

136 bbl/day (2010 est.)

Oil - proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2011 est.)

Population below poverty line

50% (2000 est.)

Public debt

47.7% of GDP (2010 est.) 47.1% of GDP (2009 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$4.321 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $3.85 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of broad money

$15.82 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $13.77 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad

$306.4 million (31 December 2010 est.) $288.4 million (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home

$2.262 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $2.129 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$16.12 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $13.44 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$7.148 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $5.833 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

21.8% of GDP (2010 est.)

Unemployment rate

40% (2008 est.) 40% (2001 est.)

Broadcast media

about a half-dozen privately-owned TV stations and a state-owned television broadcaster that operates 2 channels; satellite and cable TV subscription services are available; state-owned radio broadcaster operates 2 national radio channels and provides regional and local radio services in multiple languages; a large number of private radio broadcasters, including provincial stations broadcasting in local languages; transmissions of several international broadcasters are available (2007)

Internet country code

.ke

Internet hosts

47,676 (2010)

Internet users

3.996 million (2009)

Telephone system

inadequate; fixed-line telephone system is small and inefficient; trunks are primarily microwave radio relay; business data commonly transferred by a very small aperture terminal (VSAT) system sole fixed-line provider, Telkom Kenya, is slated for privatization; multiple providers in the mobile-cellular segment of the market fostering a boom in mobile-cellular telephone usage with teledensity reaching 50 per 100 persons in 2009 country code - 254; The East Africa Marine System (TEAMS) and the SEACOM undersea fiber-optic cable systems; satellite earth stations - 4 Intelsat

domestic

sole fixed-line provider, Telkom Kenya, is slated for privatization; multiple providers in the mobile-cellular segment of the market fostering a boom in mobile-cellular telephone usage with teledensity reaching 50 per 100 persons in 2009

general assessment

inadequate; fixed-line telephone system is small and inefficient; trunks are primarily microwave radio relay; business data commonly transferred by a very small aperture terminal (VSAT) system

international

country code - 254; The East Africa Marine System (TEAMS) and the SEACOM undersea fiber-optic cable systems; satellite earth stations - 4 Intelsat

Telephones - main lines in use

460,100 (2010)

Telephones - mobile cellular

24.969 million (2010)

Airports

191 (2010)

Airports - with paved runways

1 (2010)

1,524 to 2,437 m

4

2,438 to 3,047 m

2

914 to 1,523 m

6

over 3,047 m

4

total

17

under 914 m

1 (2010)

Airports - with unpaved runways

55 (2010)

1,524 to 2,437 m

12

914 to 1,523 m

107

total

174

under 914 m

55 (2010)

Merchant marine

petroleum tanker 1 5 (Comoros 1, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 2, Tuvalu 1, unknown 1) (2010)

registered in other countries

5 (Comoros 1, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 2, Tuvalu 1, unknown 1) (2010)

total

1

Pipelines

oil 4 km; refined products 928 km (2010)

Ports and terminals

Kisumu, Mombasa

Railways

2,066 km 2,066 km 1.000-m gauge (2010)

total

2,066 km

Roadways

160,886 km 11,197 km 149,689 km (2008)

total

160,886 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)

Manpower available for military service

9,768,140 9,466,257 (2010 est.)

females age 16-49

9,466,257 (2010 est.)

males age 16-49

9,768,140

Manpower fit for military service

6,361,268 6,106,870 (2010 est.)

females age 16-49

6,106,870 (2010 est.)

males age 16-49

6,361,268

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

422,104 416,927 (2010 est.)

female

416,927 (2010 est.)

male

422,104

Military branches

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

Kenya Armed Services

Kenya Army, Kenya Navy, Kenya Air Force (2011)

Military expenditures

2.8% of GDP (2006)

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)

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

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

Refugees and internally displaced persons

173,702 (Somalia); 73,004 (Sudan); 16,428 (Ethiopia) 250,000-400,000 (2007 post-election violence; KANU attacks on opposition tribal groups in 1990s) (2007)

IDPs

250,000-400,000 (2007 post-election violence; KANU attacks on opposition tribal groups in 1990s) (2007)

refugees (country of origin)

173,702 (Somalia); 73,004 (Sudan); 16,428 (Ethiopia)