Statistical information Kenya 1994

Kenya in the World
Kenya - Introduction 1994
top of pageBackground: Revered 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 which were marred by violence and fraud but are viewed as having generally reflected the will of the Kenyan people.
top of pageLocation: Eastern Africa, bordering the northwestern India Ocean between Tanzania and Somalia
Geographic coordinatesMap reference:
Africa, Standard Time Zones of the WorldAreaTotal area total: 582,650 km²
Land: 569,250 km²
Land boundaries: total 3,446 km, Ethiopia 830 km, Somalia 682 km, Sudan 232 km, Tanzania 769 km, Uganda 933 km
Coastline: 536 km
Maritime claimsExclusive 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
ElevationNatural resources: gold, limestone, soda ash, salt barytes, rubies, fluorspar, garnets, wildlife
Land useArable land: 3%
Permanent crops: 1%
Meadows and pastures: 7%
Forest and woodland: 4%
Other: 85%
Irrigated land: 520 km² (1989)
Major riversMajor watersheds area km²Total water withdrawalTotal renewable water resourcesNatural hazards: NA
GeographyNote: the Kenyan Highlands comprise one of the most successful agricultural production regions in Africa; glaciers on Mt. Kenya; unique physiography supports abundant and varied wildlife of scientific and economic value
top of pagePopulation: 28,240,658 (July 1994 est.)
Growth rate: 3.07% (1994 est.)
Nationality: noun:Kenyan(s)
Ethnic groups: Kikuyu 22%, Luhya 14%, Luo 13%, Kalenjin 12%, Kamba 11%, Kisii 6%, Meru 6%, Asian, European, and Arab 1%, other 15%
Languages: English (official), Swahili (official), numerous indigenous languages
Religions: Roman Catholic 28%, Protestant (including Anglican) 26%, indigenous beliefs 18%, Muslim 6%
Demographic profileAge structureDependency ratiosMedian agePopulation growth rate: 3.07% (1994 est.)
Birth rate: 42.44 births/1000 population (1994 est.)
Death rate: 11.74 deaths/1000 population (1994 est.)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1000 population (1994 est.)
Population distributionUrbanizationMajor urban areasEnvironmentCurrent issues: water pollution from urban and industrial wastes; degradation of water quality from increased use of pesticides and fertilizers; deforestation; soil erosion; desertification; poaching
Air pollutantsSex ratioMothers mean age at first birthMaternal mortality ratioInfant mortality rate: 74.1 deaths/1000 live births (1994 est.)
Life expectancy at birthTotal population: 53.23 years
Male: 51.48 years
Female: 55.03 years (1994 est.)
Total fertility rate: 5.91 children born/woman (1994 est.)
Contraceptive prevalence rateDrinking water sourceCurrent health expenditurePhysicians densityHospital bed densitySanitation facility accessHiv/AidsMajor infectious diseasesObesity adult prevalence rateAlcohol consumptionTobacco useChildren under the age of 5 years underweightEducation expendituresLiteracy: age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)
Total population: 69%
Male: 80%
Female: 58%
School life expectancy primary to tertiary educationYouth unemploymenttop of pageCountry nameConventional long form: Republic of Kenya
Conventional short form: former:British East Africa
Government type: republic
Capital: Nairobi
Administrative divisions: 8 provinces; Central, Coast, Eastern, Nairobi, North Eastern, Nyanza, Rift Valley, Western
Dependent areasIndependence: 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, and 1992
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 of 1982 making Kenya a de jure one-party state repealed in 1991
International law organization participationCitizenshipSuffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch: chief of state and head of government:President Daniel Teroitich arap MOI (since 14 October 1978; Vice President George SAITOTI (since 10 May 1989; election last held on 29 December 1992 (next to be held NA 1997; results - President Daniel T. arap MOI was reelected with 37% of the vote; Kenneth Matiba (FORD-ASILI) 26%; Mwai Kibaki (SP) 19%, Oginga Odinga (FORD-Kenya) 17%
Legislative branch: Army, Navy, Air Force, paramilitary General Service Unit of the Police
National Assembly Bunge: elections last held on 29 December 1992; results - (188 total) KANU 100, FORD-Kenya 31, FORD-Asili 31, DP 23, smaller parties 3; president nominates 12 additional members
Note: first multiparty election since repeal of one-party state law in 1991
Judicial branch: Court of Appeal, High Court
Political parties and leadersInternational organization participation: ACP, AfDB, C, CCC, EADB, ECA, FAO, G-77, GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IGADD, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LORCS, MINURSO, NAM, OAU, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNPROFOR, UNTAC, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representationFrom the us chief of mission: Ambassador Aurelia BRAZEAL
From the us chancery: 2,249 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20,008
From the us telephone: [254] (2) 334,141
From the us consulates general: Los Angeles and New York
From the us embassy: corner of Moi Avenue and Haile Selassie Avenue, Nairobi
From the us mailing address: P. O. Box 30,137, Unit 64,100, Nairobi or APO AE 9,831
From the us FAX: [254] (2) 340,838
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
National symbolsNational anthemNational heritagetop of pageEconomy overview: Kenya's 3.1% annual population growth rate - one of the highest in the world - has led to a decline in per capita output in each of the last three years, 1991-93. Undependable weather conditions and a shortage of arable land: hamper long-term growth in agriculture, the leading economic sector. In industry and services, Nairobi's reluctance to embrace IMF-supported reforms has held back investment. Ethnic clashes and continued suspension of quick disbursing aid by the international donors kept growth at only 0.5% in 1993.
Real gdp purchasing power parityReal gdp growth rate: 0.5% (1993 est.)
Real gdp per capita: $1,200 (1993 est.)
Gross national savingGdp composition by sector of origin
Gdp composition by end useGdp composition by sector of originAgriculture products: most important sector, accounting for 25% of GDP and 65% of exports; cash crops - coffee, tea, sisal, pineapple; food products - corn, wheat, sugarcane, fruit, vegetables, dairy products, beef, pork, poultry, eggs; food output not keeping pace with population growth, and crop production has been extended into marginal land
Industries: small-scale consumer goods (plastic, furniture, batteries, textiles, soap, cigarettes, flour), agricultural processing, oil refining, cement, tourism
Industrial production growth rate: 5.4% (1989 est.), accounts for 13% of GDP
Labor force: 9.2 million (includes unemployed; the total employed is 1,370,000 (14.8% of the labor force)
By occupation agriculture: 75-80% (1993est.)
By occupation non-agriculture: 20-25% (1993est.)
Unemployment rate: 23.8% urban (1993 est.)
Youth unemploymentPopulation below poverty lineGini indexHousehold income or consumption by percentage shareDistribution of family income gini indexBudget: revenues:$2.4 billion
Taxes and other revenuesPublic debtRevenueFiscal year: 1 July - 30 June
Inflation rate consumer pricesCentral bank discount rateCommercial bank prime lending rateStock of narrow moneyStock of broad moneyStock of domestic creditMarket value of publicly traded sharesCurrent account balanceExports: $1 billion (f.o.b., 1992 est.)
Commodities: tea 25%, coffee 18%, petroleum products 11% (1990)
Partners: EC 47%, Africa 23%, Asia 11%, US 4%, Middle East 3% (1991)
Imports: $1.6 billion (f.o.b., 1992 est.)
Commodities: machinery and transportation equipment 29%, petroleum and petroleum products 15%, iron and steel 7%, raw materials, food and consumer goods (1989)
Partners: EC 46%, Asia 23%, Middle East 20%, US 5% (1991)
Reserves of foreign exchange and goldDebt external: $7 billion (1992 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment at homeStock of direct foreign investment abroadExchange rates: Kenyan shillings (KSh) per US$1 - 68.413 (December 1993), 32.217 (1992), 27.508 (1991), 22.915 (1990), 20.572 (1989)
top of pageElectricityCapacity: 730,000 kW
Production: 2.54 billion kWh
Consumption per capita: 100 kWh (1990)
CoalPetroleumCrude oilRefined petroleumNatural gasCarbon dioxide emissionsEnergy consumption per capitaKenya - Communication 1994
top of pageTelephonesTelephone systemBroadcast mediaInternetBroadband fixed subscriptionstop of pageMilitary expendituresDollar figure: exchange rate conversion - $294 million, 4.9% of GDP (FY88/89 est.)
Military and security forcesMilitary service age and obligationSpace programTerrorist groupsKenya - Transportation 1994
top of pageNational air transport systemCivil aircraft registration country code prefixAirports: 248
Usable: 213
With permanentsurface runways: 28
With runways over 3659 m: 2
With runways 2440-3659 m: 3
With runways 1220-2439 m: 44
HeliportsPipelines: petroleum products 483 km
RailwaysRoadwaysWaterways: part of Lake Victoria system is within boundaries of Kenya
Merchant marine: 2 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 4,883 GRT/6,255 DWT, barge carrier 1, oil tanker ship 1
Ports and terminalsKenya - Transnational issues 1994
top of pageDisputes international: administrative boundary with Sudan does not coincide with international boundary; possible claim by Somalia based on unification of ethnic Somalis
Refugees and internally displaced personsIllicit drugs: widespread wild, small-plot cultivation of marijuana and gat; most locally consumed; transit country for Southwest Asian heroin moving to West Africa and onward to Europe and North America; Indian methaqualone also transits on way to South Africa