Statistical information Kenya 1998Kenya

Map of Kenya | Geography | People | Government | Economy | Energy | Communication
Military | Transportation | Transnational Issues | Year:  | More stats

Kenya in the World
Kenya in the World



Kenya - Introduction 1998
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Background: 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 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 elections that have to be held by early 2003.


Kenya - Geography 1998
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Location: Eastern Africa, bordering the Indian Ocean, between Somalia and Tanzania

Geographic coordinates: 1 00 N, 38 00 E

Map referenceAfrica

Area
Total: 582,650 km²
Land: 569,250 km²
Water: 13,400 km²
Comparative: slightly more than twice the size of Nevada

Land boundaries
Total: 3,446 km
Border countries: (5) Ethiopia 830 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
Extremes highest point: Mount Kenya 5,199 m

Natural resources: gold, limestone, soda ash, salt barytes, rubies, fluorspar, garnets, wildlife
Land use

Land use
Arable land: 7%
Permanent crops: 1%
Permanent pastures: 37%
Forests and woodland: 30%
Other: 25% (1993 est.)

Irrigated land: 660 km² (1993 est.)

Major rivers

Major watersheds area km²

Total water withdrawal

Total renewable water resources

Natural hazards: recurring drought in northern and eastern regions

Geography
Note: 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


Kenya - People 1998
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Population: 28,337,071 (July 1998 est.)
Growth rate: 1.71% (1998 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%

Languages: English (official), Swahili (official), numerous indigenous languages

Religions: Protestant (including Anglican) 38%, Roman Catholic 28%, indigenous beliefs 26%, Muslim 6%, other 2%

Demographic profile
Age structure

Age structure
0-14 years: 44% (male 6,248,260; female 6,109,443)
15-64 years: 54% (male 7,609,631; female 7,607,810)
65 years and over: 2% (male 333,881; female 428,046) (July 1998 est.)

Dependency ratios

Median age

Population growth rate: 1.71% (1998 est.)

Birth rate: 31.68 births/1000 population (1998 est.)

Death rate: 14.19 deaths/1000 population (1998 est.)

Net migration rate: -0.35 migrant(s)/1000 population (1998 est.)

Population distribution

Urbanization

Major urban areas

Environment
Current issues: water pollution from urban and industrial wastes; degradation of water quality from increased use of pesticides and fertilizers; deforestation; soil erosion; desertification; poaching
International agreements party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
International agreements signed but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Air pollutants

Sex ratio
At birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
Under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.78 male(s)/female (1998 est.)

Mothers mean age at first birth

Maternal mortality ratio

Infant mortality rate: 59.38 deaths/1000 live births (1998 est.)

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 47.57 years
Male: 47.02 years
Female: 48.13 years (1998 est.)

Total fertility rate: 4.07 children born/woman (1998 est.)

Contraceptive prevalence rate

Drinking water source

Current health expenditure

Physicians density

Hospital bed density

Sanitation facility access

Hiv/Aids

Major infectious diseases

Obesity adult prevalence rate

Alcohol consumption

Tobacco use

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

Education expenditures

Literacy
Definition: age 15 and over can read and write
Total population: 78.1%
Male: 86.3%
Female: 70% (1995 est.)

School life expectancy primary to tertiary education

Youth unemployment


Kenya - Government 1998
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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

Dependent areas

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, and 1997

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 participation

Citizenship

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: ead 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; election last held 29 December 1997 (next to be held by early 2003); vice president appointed by the president
Election results: President Daniel T. arap MOI reelected; percent of vote_Daniel T. arap MOI (KANU) 40.12%, Mwai KIBAKI (DP) 31.09%, Raila ODINGA (NDP) 10.2%, Michael WAMALWA (FORD-Kenya) 8.29%, Charity NGILU (SDP) 7.71%

Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly or Bunge (222 seats, 12 appointed by the president, 210 members popularly elected to serve 5-year terms)
Elections: last held 29 December 1997 (next to be held between 1 December 2002 and 30 April 2003)
Election results: percent of vote by party_NA; seats by party_KANU 107, FORD-Asili 1, FORD-Kenya 17, FORD-People 3, DP 39, NDP 21, SDP 15, SAFINA 5, smaller parties 2; seats appointed by the president_KANU 6, FORD-Kenya 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

International organization participation: ACP, C, CCC, EADB, ECA, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGAD, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MINURSO, NAM, OAU, UN, UN Security Council (temporary), UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNMOP, UNOMIL, UNPREDEP, UNU, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation
In the us chief of mission: Ambassador Samson K. CHEMAI
In the us chancery: 2,249 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20,008
In the us telephone: [1] (202) 387-6,101
In the us fax: [1] (202) 462-3,829
In the us consulates general: Los Angeles and New York
From the us chief of mission: Ambassador Prudence B. BUSHNELL (17 July 1996)
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, APO AE 9,831
From the us telephone: [254] (2) 334,141
From the us fax: [254] (2) 340,838

Flag descriptionflag of Kenya: 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 symbols

National anthem

National heritage


Kenya - Economy 1998
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Economy overview: Since 1993, the government of Kenya has implemented a program of economic liberalization and reform. Steps have included the removal of import licensing and price controls, removal of foreign exchange controls, fiscal and monetary restraint, and reduction of the public sector through privatizing publicly owned companies and downsizing the civil service. With the support of the World Bank, IMF, and other donors, these reforms have led to a turnaround in economic performance following a period of negative growth in the early 1990s. Kenya's real GDP grew at 5% in 1995 and 4% in 1996, and inflation remained under control. Growth slowed in 1997. Political violence damaged the tourist industry, and the IMF allowed Kenya's Enhanced Structural Adjustment Program to lapse due to the government's failure to enact reform conditions and to adequately address public sector corruption. Moreover, El Nino rains destroyed crops and damaged an already crumbling infrastructure in 1997 and on into 1998. Long-term barriers to development include electricity shortages, the government's continued and inefficient dominance of key sectors, endemic corruption, and the country's high population growth rate.

Real gdp purchasing power parity

Real gdp growth rate: 2.9% (1997 est.)

Real gdp per capita: purchasing power parity: $1,600 (1997 est.)

Gross national saving
Gdp composition by sector of origin

Gdp composition by end use

Gdp composition by sector of origin
Agriculture: 27%
Industry: 20%
Services: 53% (1995)

Agriculture products: coffee, tea, corn, wheat, sugarcane, fruit, vegetables; dairy products, beef, pork, poultry, eggs

Industries: small-scale consumer goods (plastic, furniture, batteries, textiles, soap, cigarettes, flour), processing agricultural products; oil refining, cement; tourism

Industrial production growth rate: 3.8% (1995)

Labor force
Total: 8.78 million (1993 est.)
By occupation agriculture: 75%-80%
By occupation non-agriculture: 20%-25%
Labor force

Unemployment rate: 35% urban (1994 est.)

Youth unemployment

Population below poverty line

Gini index

Household income or consumption by percentage share

Distribution of family income gini index

Budget
Revenues: $3 billion
Expenditures: $3 billion, including capital expenditures of $638 million (FY96/97 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

Public debt

Revenue

Fiscal year: 1 July_30 June

Inflation rate consumer prices

Central bank discount rate

Commercial bank prime lending rate

Stock of narrow money

Stock of broad money

Stock of domestic credit

Market value of publicly traded shares

Current account balance

Exports: total value:$2.1 billion (f.o.b., 1996)
Commodoties: tea 18%, coffee 15%, petroleum products (1995)
Partners: Uganda 22.8%, UK 20.1%, Tanzania 19.1%, Germany 14.0%, Netherlands 7.6%, US 6.1%

Imports: total value:$2.9 billion (f.o.b., 1996)
Commodoties: machinery and transportation equipment 31%, consumer goods 13%, petroleum products 12% (1995)
Partners: UK 21.3%, UAE 18%, Japan 14%, Germany, US

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

Debt external: $7 billion (1994 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment at home

Stock of direct foreign investment abroad

Exchange rates: Kenyan shillings (KSh) per US$1_61.164 (January 1998), 58.732 (1997), 57.115 (1996), 51.430 (1995), 56.051 (1994), 58.001 (1993)


Kenya - Energy 1998
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Electricity
Capacity: 808,000 kW (1995)
Production: 3.59 billion kWh (1995)
Consumption per capita: 134 kWh (1995)

Coal

Petroleum

Crude oil

Refined petroleum

Natural gas

Carbon dioxide emissions

Energy consumption per capita


Kenya - Communication 1998
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Telephones: 357,251 (1989 est.)

Telephone system: in top group of African systems
Domestic: primarily microwave radio relay
International: satellite earth stations_2 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean)

Broadcast media

Internet

Broadband fixed subscriptions


Kenya - Military 1998
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Military expenditures
Dollar figure: $134 million (FY94/95)
Percent of gdp: 3.9% (FY94/95)

Military and security forces

Military service age and obligation

Space program

Terrorist groups


Kenya - Transportation 1998
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National air transport system

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

Airports: 240 (1997 est.)
With paved runways total: 29
With paved runways over 3047 m: 3
With paved runways 2438 to 3047 m: 1
With paved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 2
With paved runways 914 to 1523 m: 22
With paved runways under 914 m: 1 (1997 est.)
With unpaved runways total: 211
With unpaved runways 2438 to 3047 m: 1
With unpaved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 13
With unpaved runways 914 to 1523 m: 114
With unpaved runways under 914 m: 83 (1997 est.)

Heliports

Pipelines: petroleum products 483 km

Railways
Total: 2,652 km
Narrow gauge: 2,652 km 1.000-m gauge

Roadways

Waterways: part of Lake Victoria system is within boundaries of Kenya

Merchant marine
Total: 2 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 4,883 GRT/6,255 DWT
Ships by type: oil tanker 1, roll on/roll off 1 (1997 est.)

Ports and terminals


Kenya - Transnational issues 1998
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Disputes international: administrative boundary with Sudan does not coincide with international boundary

Refugees and internally displaced persons

Illicit drugs: widespread harvesting of small, wild plots of marijuana and qat (chat; transit country for South Asian heroin destined for Europe and, sometimes, North America; Indian methaqualone also transits on way to South Africa


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