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Communications

Railroads: short line going to a jetty

Airports: 1 with nonpermanent-surface runway less than 1,220 m

Ports: none; offshore anchorage only

Note: one weather station

Defense Forces

Note: defense is the responsibility of France  Kenya



Geography

Total area: 582,650 km²; land area: 569,250 km²

Comparative area: slightly more than twice the size of Nevada

Land boundaries: 3,477 km total; Ethiopia 861 km, Somalia 682 km, Sudan 232 km, Tanzania 769 km, Uganda 933 km

Coastline: 536 km

Maritime claims:
 * Extended economic zone: 200 nm
 * Territorial sea: 12 nm

Disputes: international boundary and Administrative Boundary with Sudan; possible claim by Somalia based on unification of ethnic Somalis

Climate: varies from tropical along coast to arid in interior

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

Natural resources: gold, limestone, diotomite, salt barytes, magnesite, feldspar, sapphires, fluorspar, garnets, wildlife

Land use: 3% arable land; 1% permanent crops; 7% meadows and pastures; 4% forest and woodland; 85% other; includes NEGL% irrigated

Environment: unique physiography supports abundant and varied wildlife of scientific and economic value; deforestation; soil erosion; desertification; glaciers on Mt. Kenya

Note: Kenyan Highlands one of the most successful agricultural production regions in Africa

People

Population: 24,639,261 (July 1990), growth rate 3.8% (1990)

Birth rate: 45 births/1,000 population (1990)

Death rate: 7 deaths/1,000 population (1990)

Net migration rate: 0 migrants/1,000 population (1990)

Infant mortality rate: 60 deaths/1,000 live births (1990)

Life expectancy at birth: 62 years male, 67 years female (1990)

Total fertility rate: 6.5 children born/woman (1990)

Nationality: noun—Kenyan(s); adjective—Kenyan

Ethnic divisions: 21% Kikuyu, 14% Luhya, 13% Luo, 11% Kalenjin, 11% Kamba, 6% Kisii, 6% Meru, 1% Asian, European, and Arab

Religion: 38% Protestant, 28% Roman Catholic, 26% indigenous beliefs, 6% Muslim

Language: English and Swahili (official); numerous indigenous languages

Literacy: 59.2%

Labor force: 9,003,000; 78% agriculture, 22% nonagriculture (1987 est.)

Organized labor: 390,000 (est.)

Government

Long-form name: Republic of Kenya

Type: republic

Capital: Nairobi

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

Independence: 12 December 1963 (from UK; formerly British East Africa)

Constitution: 12 December 1963, amended as a republic 1964; reissued with amendments 1979, 1983, 1986, and 1988

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 in 1982 made Kenya a de jure one-party state

National holiday: Independence Day, 12 December (1963)

Executive branch: president, vice president, Cabinet

Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly

Judicial branch: Court of Appeal, High Court

Leaders: Chief of State and Head of Government—President Daniel Teroitich arap MOI (since 14 October 1978); Vice President George SAITOTI (since 10 May 1989)

Political parties and leaders: only party Kenya African National Union (KANU), Daniel T. arap Moi, president

Suffrage: universal at age 18

Elections: President—last held on 21 March 1988 (next to be held February 1993); results—President Daniel T. arap Moi was reelected;  167