Country List | World Factbook Home
The World Factbook 2002
| Kenya |

Introduction | Kenya

Background:

Founding president and liberation struggle icon Jomo KENYATTA led Kenya from independence until his death in 1978, when current 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. The country faces a period of political uncertainty because MOI is constitutionally required to step down at the next election that has to be held by early 2003.

Geography | Kenya

Location: | Eastern Africa, bordering the Indian Ocean, between Somalia and Tanzania
Geographic coordinates: | 1 00 N, 38 00 E
Map references: | Africa
Area: | total: 582,650 sq km water: 13,400 sq km land: 569,250 sq km
Area - comparative: | slightly more than twice the size of Nevada
Land boundaries: | total: 3,477 km border countries: Ethiopia 861 km, Somalia 682 km, Sudan 232 km, Tanzania 769 km, Uganda 933 km
Coastline: | 536 km
Maritime claims: | continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation exclusive economic zone: 200 NM territorial sea: 12 NM
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
Elevation extremes: | lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: Mount Kenya 5,199 m
Natural resources: | gold, limestone, soda ash, salt barites, rubies, fluorspar, garnets, wildlife, hydropower
Land use: | arable land: 7% permanent crops: 1% other: 92% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land: | 670 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards: | recurring drought; flooding during rainy seasons
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
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

Population: | 31,138,735 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 2002 est.)
Age structure: | 0-14 years: 41.1% (male 6,462,430; female 6,327,457) 15-64 years: 56.1% (male 8,769,546; female 8,694,329) 65 years and over: 2.8% (male 385,361; female 499,612) (2002 est.)
Population growth rate: | 1.15% (2002 est.)
Birth rate: | 27.61 births/1,000 population (2002 est.)
Death rate: | 14.68 deaths/1,000 population (2002 est.)
Net migration rate: | -1.48 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 (2002 est.)
Sex ratio: | at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.77 male(s)/female total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2002 est.)
Infant mortality rate: | 67.24 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: | total population: 47.02 years female: 47.85 years (2002 est.) male: 46.2 years
Total fertility rate: | 3.34 children born/woman (2002 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: | 13.5% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: | 2.2 million (2000 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths: | 180,000 (1999 est.)
Nationality: | noun: Kenyan(s) adjective: Kenyan
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%
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
Languages: | English (official), Kiswahili (official), numerous indigenous languages
Literacy: | definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 78.1% male: 86.3% female: 70% (1995 est.)

Government | Kenya

Country name: | conventional long form: Republic of Kenya conventional short form: Kenya former: British East Africa
Government 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)
National holiday: | Independence Day, 12 December (1963)
Constitution: | 12 December 1963, amended as a republic 1964; reissued with amendments 1979, 1983, 1986, 1988, 1991, 1992, 1997, and 2001
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
Suffrage: | 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Daniel Toroitich arap MOI (since 14 October 1978); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Daniel Toroitich arap MOI (since 14 October 1978); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president
elections: president elected by popular vote from among the members of the National Assembly 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 29 December 1997 (next to be held by early 2003); vice president appointed by the president
election results: President Daniel Toroitich arap MOI reelected; percent of vote - Daniel T. arap MOI (KANU) 40.6%, Mwai KIBAKI (DP) 31.5%, Raila ODINGA (NDP) 11.1%, Michael WAMALWA (FORD-K) 8.4%, Charity NGILU (SDP) 7.8%

Legislative branch:

unicameral National Assembly or Bunge (222 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)
elections: last held 29 December 1997 (next to be held by early 2003)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - KANU 107, FORD-A 1, FORD-K 17, FORD-People 3, DP 39, NDP 21, SDP 15, SAFINA 5, smaller parties 2; seats appointed by the president - KANU 6, FORD-K 1, DP 2, SDP 1, NDP 1, SAFINA 1

Judicial branch: | Court of Appeal (chief justice is appointed by the president); High Court

Political parties and leaders:

Democratic Party of Kenya or DP [Mwai KIBAKI]; Forum for the Restoration of Democracy-Asili or FORD-A [Kenneth MATIBA, chairman]; Forum for the Restoration of Democracy-Kenya or FORD-K [Michael Kijana WAMALWA]; Forum for the Restoration of Democracy-People or FORD-People [Kimaniwa NYOIKE, chairman]; Kenya African National Union or KANU [President Daniel Toroitich arap MOI] - the governing party; National Development Party or NDP [Raila ODINGA]; SAFINA [Farah MAALIM, chairman]; Social Democratic Party or SDP [James ORENGO, chairman]

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, chairman]

International organization participation: | ACP, AfDB, C, CCC, EADB, ECA, FAO, G-15, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, 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, UNMOP, UNU, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
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 FAX: [1] (202) 462-3829 telephone: [1] (202) 387-6101 chancery: 2249 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation from the US: | chief of mission: Ambassador Johnnie CARSON embassy: US Embassy, Mombasa Road, Nairobi mailing address: Box 21A, Unit 64100, APO AE 09831 telephone: [254] (2) 537-800 FAX: [254] (2) 537-810
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

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 continue to decline. 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%, and Kenya is unlikely to see growth above 2% in 2002. Substantial IMF and other foreign support is essential to prevent a further decline in real per capita output.

GDP: | purchasing power parity - $31 billion (2001 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: | 1% (2001 est.)
GDP - per capita: | purchasing power parity - $1,000 (2001 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: | agriculture: 24% industry: 13% services: 63% (2000 est.)
Population below poverty line: | 50% (2000 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: | lowest 10%: 2% highest 10%: 37.2% (2000)
Distribution of family income - Gini index: | 44.5 (1994)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): | 3.3% (2001 est.)
Labor force: | 10 million (2001 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: | agriculture 75%-80%
Unemployment rate: | 40% (2001 est.)
Budget: | revenues: $2.91 billion expenditures: $2.97 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (2000 est.)
Industries: | small-scale consumer goods (plastic, furniture, batteries, textiles, soap, cigarettes, flour), agricultural products processing; oil refining, cement; tourism
Industrial production growth rate: | -0.7% (2001 est.)
Electricity - production: | 4.616 billion kWh (2000)
Electricity - production by source: | fossil fuel: 21.66% hydro: 70.4% other: 7.94% (2000) nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption: | 4.433 billion kWh (2000)
Electricity - exports: | 0 kWh (2000)
Electricity - imports: | 140 million kWh (2000)
Agriculture - products: | coffee, tea, corn, wheat, sugarcane, fruit, vegetables; dairy products, beef, pork, poultry, eggs
Exports: | $1.8 billion (f.o.b., 2001 est.)
Exports - commodities: | tea, horticultural products, coffee, petroleum products, fish, cement
Exports - partners: | UK 13.5%, Tanzania 12.5%, Uganda 12.0%, Germany 5.5% (2000)
Imports: | $3.1 billion (f.o.b., 2001 est.)
Imports - commodities: | machinery and transportation equipment, petroleum products, motor vehicles, iron and steel, resins and plastics
Imports - partners: | UK 12%, UAE 9.8%, Japan 6.5%, India 4.4% (2000)
Debt - external: | $8 billion (2001 est.)
Economic aid - recipient: | $457 million (1997)
Currency: | Kenyan shilling (KES)
Currency code: | KES
Exchange rates: | Kenyan shillings per US dollar - 78.597 (January 2002), 78.563 (2001), 76.176 (2000), 70.326 (1999), 60.367 (1998), 58.732 (1997)
Fiscal year: | 1 July - 30 June

Communications | Kenya

Telephones - main lines in use: | 310,000 (2001)
Telephones - mobile cellular: | 540,000 (2001)
Telephone system: | general assessment: unreliable; little attempt to modernize except for service to business domestic: trunks are primarily microwave radio relay; business data commonly transferred by a very small aperture terminal (VSAT) system international: satellite earth stations - 4 Intelsat
Radio broadcast stations: | AM 24, FM 18, shortwave 6 (2001)
Radios: | 3.07 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations: | 8 (2002)
Televisions: | 730,000 (1997)
Internet country code: | .ke
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): | 65 (2001)
Internet users: | 250,000 (2001)

Transportation | Kenya

Railways: | total: 2,778 km narrow gauge: 2,778 km 1.000-m gauge note: the line connecting Nairobi with the port of Mombasa is the most important in the country
Highways: | total: 63,800 km paved: 8,932 km unpaved: 54,868 km (2001)
Waterways: | NA note: part of the Lake Victoria system is within the boundaries of Kenya
Pipelines: | petroleum products 483 km
Ports and harbors: | Kisumu, Lamu, Mombasa
Merchant marine: | total: 2 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 4,893 GRT/6,320 DWT ships by type: petroleum tanker 1, roll on/roll off 1 (2002 est.)
Airports: | 231 (2001)
Airports - with paved runways: | total: 20 over 3,047 m: 4 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 11 under 914 m: 1 (2001)
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: 111 under 914 m: 85 (2001)

Military | Kenya

Military branches: | Army, Navy, Air Force
Military manpower - availability: | males age 15-49: 7,938,865 (2002 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service: | males age 15-49: 4,915,090 (2002 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure: | $179.2 million (FY01)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP: | 1.8% (FY01)

Transnational Issues | Kenya

Disputes - international: | since colonial times, Kenya's administrative boundary has extended beyond its treaty boundary into Sudan creating the "Ilemi Triangle"; arms smuggling and Oromo rebel activities prompt strict border regime with Somalia
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

This page was last updated on 1 January 2002