Kenya is located on the East Coast of Africa, with the equator running almost straight through the middle of the country. Kenya is a sovereign state having achieved independence from British rule on 12th December 1963.
One year later on 12th December 1964 Kenya became a full - fledged Republic. Kenya is a member of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern African States (COMESA) Free Trade Area, East African Community (EAC), Commonwealth of Nations and the United Nations.
She has an area of 582,644 sq. km. of which 45,240 sq. km. (7.8%) is under wildlife conservation sanctuaries (National Parks and Reserves) The country shares common borders with Somalia (East),Ethiopia (North),Sudan (North-West),Uganda (West) and Tanzania (south). To the south- east lies the Indian Ocean making the country the maritime gateway to East and Central Africa.
General Information
Geography
Location : Eastern Africa, Total: 3,477 km border land.
Bordering Countries : Ethiopia 861 km, Somalia 682 km, Sudan 232 km, Tanzania 769 km, and Uganda 933 km.
Geographic Coordinates : 1 00 N, 38 00 E
Area
Total : 582,650 sq km
Land : 569,250 sq km
Water : 13,400 sq km
Climate : varies from tropical along coast to arid in interior. Elevation extremes: lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m, highest point: Mount Kenya 5,199 m.
Natural Resources : gold, limestone, soda ash, salt, rubies, fluorspar, garnets, wildlife, hydropower.
Land Use : arable land: 8.08%, permanent crops: 0.98%, other: 90.94% (2001).
Environment - International Agreements
Party to : Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, and Whaling.
Population : 33 Million (2004 est.)
Religions : Protestant 45%, Roman Catholic 33%, indigenous beliefs 10%, Muslim 10%, other 2%.
Languages : English (Official), Kiswahili (National), numerous indigenous languages spoken among the 43 Ethnic Groups.
Government : the type of government is Republic.
The President is the Head of State and the Head of the Government. The President appoints the Vice of President and the Cabinet. The president is 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).
Capital City : Nairobi
Administrative Divisions: 7 provinces and 1 area*; Central, Coast, Eastern, Nairobi Area*, North Eastern, Nyanza, Rift Valley, Western
Economy - Overview
Kenya is the regional hub for trade and finance in East and Central Africa. The country has experience economic growth since 2003. In 2003, progress was made in rooting out corruption, and encouraging donor support, with GDP growth edging up to 1.7%.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $33.03 billion (2003 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: 5.8% (2005.)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $1,000 (2003 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 19.7%, industry: 18.6%, services: 61.8% (2003 est.)
Investment (gross fixed): 14.3% of GDP (2003)
