The official name is the Republic of Kenya.
Located in East Africa. The area is 582.6 thousand km2, the population is 33.08 million people. (2002). The official languages are English and Swahili. The capital is Nairobi (2.5 million people, 2002). Public holiday – Independence Day December 12 (since 1963). The monetary unit is the Kenyan shilling (equal to 100 cents).
Member of the UN (since 1963), AU (since 1963), etc. Member of the Commonwealth of Nations.
Geography of Kenya
It is located between 34° and 4D53′ East longitude and 4°40′ South latitude and 4°35′ North latitude. It borders Sudan to the northwest, Ethiopia to the north, Somalia to the east, Tanzania to the south, and Uganda to the west. In the southeast it is washed by the waters of the Indian Ocean, in the southwest by Lake Victoria. The coast is steep, slightly dissected. There are few natural harbors. Kenya occupies the northeastern part of the East African Plateau with a height of 500 m in the east and up to 1500 m in the west (the highest point is Mount Kenya, 5199 m). There are large reserves of soda and table salt (Lake Magadi), kyanite, diatomite (10 million tons), fluorite ores (11 million tons), niobium ores (350 thousand tons), ores of the cerium group (700 thousand tons). Deposits of iron ore, nickel, gold, lead-silver ores have been discovered. In the east and northeast – brown-red lateritized soils, stony, infertile; in the northwest and southeast – red-brown soils. The climate is subequatorial. The average temperatures in January are +14–27°С, in July +12–25°С. Precipitation falls from 250 to 2000 mm per year. The river network is poorly developed, the rivers are shallow and mostly non-navigable. The largest rivers are Tana and Galana. Lakes – Rudolf, Baringo, Nakuru, Naivasha, Magadi. Savannas, savanna forests and semi-deserts predominate. Wildlife in its original form is preserved in national parks (25) and reserves (23): elephants, rhinos, buffaloes, antelopes, giraffes, zebras, lions, leopards, many birds and reptiles live here. Precipitation falls from 250 to 2000 mm per year. The river network is poorly developed, the rivers are shallow and mostly non-navigable. The largest rivers are Tana and Galana. Lakes – Rudolf, Baringo, Nakuru, Naivasha, Magadi. Savannas, savanna forests and semi-deserts predominate. Wildlife in its original form is preserved in national parks (25) and reserves (23): elephants, rhinos, buffaloes, antelopes, giraffes, zebras, lions, leopards, many birds and reptiles live here. Precipitation falls from 250 to 2000 mm per year. The river network is poorly developed, the rivers are shallow and mostly non-navigable. The largest rivers are Tana and Galana. Lakes – Rudolf, Baringo, Nakuru, Naivasha, Magadi. Savannas, savanna forests and semi-deserts predominate. Wildlife in its original form is preserved in national parks (25) and reserves (23): elephants, rhinos, buffaloes, antelopes, giraffes, zebras, lions, leopards, many birds and reptiles live here.
Population of Kenya
According to Countryaah, the average annual growth rate in 2000–02 was 1.78%. Population density 57 people. per 1 km2. Birth rate 28%, mortality 15%, infant mortality 67 people. per 1000 newborns. Life expectancy is 47 years (men – 46; women – 48). Sex and age structure: 0-14 years – 41% (ratio of men and women 1.02); 15-64 years – 56% (1.01); 65 years and older – 3% (0.77). The ratio of men and women in the entire population is 0.94. Among the adult population, 22% are illiterate (men – 14%, women – 30%).
There are more than 40 nations. The main ethnic groups are Kikui (22%), Luya (14%), Luo (13%), Kalen-Jin (12%), Kamba (11%), Kisii (6%), Meru (6%). In addition to Swahili, the Kikuyu and Luo languages are widely spoken.
45% of the population are Protestants, 33% are Catholics, 10% adhere to traditional beliefs, 10% are Muslims.
History of Kenya
In the 11th-15th centuries. city-states appeared on the territory of modern Kenya. From con. 15th to 18th century there was a rivalry between the Portuguese and Arabs for dominance on the coast. From con. 19th century a stubborn struggle was waged between the British and German colonialists, which ended in 1890 with the establishment of British control over the territory. In 1895 Kenya became part of the East African Protectorate, and in 1920 it was declared a British colony. After World War II, the Kenyan African Union, founded in 1944, led the national liberation movement in Kenya. In March 1960, a mass political organization was formed—the National Union of Africans in Kenya, known as KANU. It united in its ranks more than 30 political parties, groups and associations. The main emphasis was placed on African traditions, the development of a mixed economy, and private entrepreneurship. In December 1963, KANU won the elections to the National Assembly and formed the first African government in Kenya, headed by D. Kenyatta. In 1961, a split occurred in the ranks of KANU, as a result of which the Union of the People of Kenya arose, its activity was banned in 1969. On June 1, 1963, Kenya received internal self-government, and on December 12, 1963, it became an independent state. On December 12, 1964, Kenya was proclaimed a republic.
After the death of Kenyatta in August 1978, power passed to Vice President D. Moi. In June 1982, the country’s Constitution was amended to formalize the existing one-party system: KANU became the only political party in Kenya, and in 1986 control over the parliament was established. In the 1980s the opposition movement became more active, in the 1990s. it took on a massive anti-government character. Under these conditions, the state was forced to go for the legalization of political parties in the country, making in 1991 the appropriate amendments to the current Constitution. In December 1992, for the first time in a 30-year period, elections were held on a multi-party basis. Moi was elected President. In December 1997, Moi was re-elected for a new term, and in December 2002 he was replaced by M. Kibaki, chairman of the Democratic Party.
