Statistical information Kenya 1998

Kenya in the World
Kenya - Introduction 1998
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 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.
top of pageLocation: Eastern Africa, bordering the Indian Ocean, between Somalia and Tanzania
Geographic coordinates: 1 00 N, 38 00 E
Map reference:
AfricaAreaTotal: 582,650 km²
Land: 569,250 km²
Water: 13,400 km²
Comparative: slightly more than twice the size of Nevada
Land boundariesTotal: 3,446 km
Border countries: (5) Ethiopia 830 km;
, Somalia 682 km;
, Sudan 232 km;
, Tanzania 769 km;
, Uganda 933 kmCoastline: 536 km
Maritime claimsContinental 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
ElevationExtremes 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 useArable land: 7%
Permanent crops: 1%
Permanent pastures: 37%
Forests and woodland: 30%
Other: 25% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 660 km² (1993 est.)
Major riversMajor watersheds area km²Total water withdrawalTotal renewable water resourcesNatural hazards: recurring drought in northern and eastern regions
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: 28,337,071 (July 1998 est.)
Growth rate: 1.71% (1998 est.)
NationalityNoun: 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 profileAge structure0-14 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 ratiosMedian agePopulation 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 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
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 pollutantsSex ratioAt 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 birthMaternal mortality ratioInfant mortality rate: 59.38 deaths/1000 live births (1998 est.)
Life expectancy at birthTotal 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 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 expendituresLiteracyDefinition: 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 educationYouth unemploymenttop of pageCountry nameConventional 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 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, 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 participationCitizenshipSuffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branchChief 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 leadersInternational 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 representationIn 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 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: 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 parityReal gdp growth rate: 2.9% (1997 est.)
Real gdp per capita: purchasing power parity: $1,600 (1997 est.)
Gross national savingGdp composition by sector of origin
Gdp composition by end useGdp composition by sector of originAgriculture: 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 forceTotal: 8.78 million (1993 est.)
By occupation agriculture: 75%-80%
By occupation non-agriculture: 20%-25%
Unemployment rate: 35% urban (1994 est.)
Youth unemploymentPopulation below poverty lineGini indexHousehold income or consumption by percentage shareDistribution of family income gini indexBudgetRevenues: $3 billion
Expenditures: $3 billion, including capital expenditures of $638 million (FY96/97 est.)
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: 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 goldDebt external: $7 billion (1994 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment at homeStock of direct foreign investment abroadExchange 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)
top of pageElectricityCapacity: 808,000 kW (1995)
Production: 3.59 billion kWh (1995)
Consumption per capita: 134 kWh (1995)
CoalPetroleumCrude oilRefined petroleumNatural gasCarbon dioxide emissionsEnergy consumption per capitaKenya - Communication 1998
top of pageTelephones: 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 mediaInternetBroadband fixed subscriptionstop of pageMilitary expendituresDollar figure: $134 million (FY94/95)
Percent of gdp: 3.9% (FY94/95)
Military and security forcesMilitary service age and obligationSpace programTerrorist groupsKenya - Transportation 1998
top of pageNational air transport systemCivil aircraft registration country code prefixAirports: 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.)
HeliportsPipelines: petroleum products 483 km
RailwaysTotal: 2,652 km
Narrow gauge: 2,652 km 1.000-m gauge
RoadwaysWaterways: part of Lake Victoria system is within boundaries of Kenya
Merchant marineTotal: 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 terminalsKenya - Transnational issues 1998
top of pageDisputes international: administrative boundary with Sudan does not coincide with international boundary
Refugees and internally displaced personsIllicit 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