Map of Kenya | Geography | People | Government | Economy | Energy | Communication
Military | Transportation | Transnational Issues | Year: Guide198919901991199219931994199519961997199819992000200120022003200420052006200720082009201020112012201320142015201620172018201920202021202220232024 | More stats

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Background:


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Location: Eastern Africa, bordering the Indian Ocean, between Somalia and Tanzania

Geographic coordinates: 1 00 N, 38 00 E

Map reference: Africa

Area
Total: 580,367 km²
Land: 569,140 km²
Water: 11,227 km²
Comparative: five times the size of Ohio; slightly more than twice the size of Nevada
Country comparison total: 3,457 km
Country comparison border countries: (5) Ethiopia 867 km; Somalia 684 km; South Sudan 317 km; Tanzania 775 km; Uganda 814 km

Land boundaries
Total: 3,457 km
Border countries: (5) Ethiopia 867 km; Somalia 684 km; South Sudan 317 km; Tanzania 775 km; Uganda 814 km

Coastline: 536 km

Maritime claims
Territorial sea: 12 nm
Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation

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
Highest point: Mount Kenya 5,199 m
Lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
Mean elevation: 762 m

Natural resources: limestone, soda ash, salt, gemstones, fluorspar, zinc, diatomite, gypsum, wildlife, hydropower

Land use
Agricultural land: 48.1% (2018 est.)
Agricultural land arable land: 9.8% (2018 est.)
Agricultural land permanent crops: 0.9% (2018 est.)
Agricultural land permanent pasture: 37.4% (2018 est.)
Agricultural land forest: 6.1% (2018 est.)
Agricultural land other: 45.8% (2018 est.)

Irrigated land: 1,030 km² (2012)

Major rivers

Major watersheds area km²: Atlantic Ocean drainage: (Mediterranean Sea) Nile (3,254,853 km²)

Total water withdrawal
Municipal: 500 million cubic meters (2020 est.)
Industrial: 300 million cubic meters (2020 est.)
Agricultural: 3.23 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)

Total renewable water resources: 30.7 billion m³ (2020 est.)

Natural hazards: recurring drought; flooding during rainy seasons
Volcanism: limited volcanic activity; the Barrier (1,032 m) last erupted in 1921; South Island is the only other historically active volcano

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; Lake Victoria, the world's largest tropical lake and the second largest fresh water lake, is shared among three countries: Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda


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Population
Distribution: population heavily concentrated in the west along the shore of Lake Victoria; other areas of high density include the capital of Nairobi, and in the southeast along the Indian Ocean coast as shown in this population distribution map
Total: 58,246,378
Male: 29,091,800
Female: 29,154,578 (2024 est.)
Growth rate: 2.06% (2024 est.)
Below poverty line: 36.1% (2015 est.)
Below poverty line note: % of population with income below national poverty line

Nationality
Noun: Kenyan(s)
Adjective: Kenyan

Ethnic groups: Kikuyu 17.1%, Luhya 14.3%, Kalenjin 13.4%, Luo 10.7%, Kamba 9.8%, Somali 5.8%, Kisii 5.7%, Mijikenda 5.2%, Meru 4.2%, Maasai 2.5%, Turkana 2.1%, non-Kenyan 1%, other 8.2% (2019 est.)

Languages: English (official), Kiswahili (official), numerous indigenous languages
Major-language samples: Gheos World Guide, the indispensable source for basic information. (English); Gheos World Guide Chanzo cha Lazima Kuhusu Habari ya Msingi. (Kiswahili)

Religions: Christian 85.5% (Protestant 33.4%, Catholic 20.6%, Evangelical 20.4%, African Instituted Churches 7%, other Christian 4.1%), Muslim 10.9%, other 1.8%, none 1.6%, don't know/no answer 0.2% (2019 est.)

Demographic profile

Age structure
0-14 years: 35.8% (male 10,464,384/female 10,366,997)
15-64 years: 60.9% (male 17,731,068/female 17,723,012)
65 years and over: 3.4% (2024 est.) (male 896,348/female 1,064,569)

Dependency ratios
Total dependency ratio: 70.2
Youth dependency ratio: 65.3
Elderly dependency ratio: 4.8
Potential support ratio: 20.7 (2021 est.)

Median age
Total: 21.2 years (2024 est.)
Male: 21.1 years
Female: 21.4 years

Population growth rate: 2.06% (2024 est.)

Birth rate: 25.6 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Death rate: 4.9 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Net migration rate: -0.2 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Population distribution: population heavily concentrated in the west along the shore of Lake Victoria; other areas of high density include the capital of Nairobi, and in the southeast along the Indian Ocean coast as shown in this population distribution map

Urbanization
Urban population: 29.5% of total population (2023)
Rate of urbanization: 4.09% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Major urban areas
Population: 5.325 million NAIROBI (capital), 1.440 million Mombassa (2023)

Environment
Current issues: water pollution from urban and industrial wastes; water shortage and degraded water quality from increased use of pesticides and fertilizers; flooding; water hyacinth infestation in Lake Victoria; deforestation; soil erosion; desertification; poaching
International agreements party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling
International agreements signed but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Air pollutants
Particulate matter emissions: 12.52 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions: 17.91 megatons (2016 est.)
Methane emissions: 37.65 megatons (2020 est.)

Sex ratio
At birth: 1.02 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.84 male(s)/female
Total population: 1 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Mothers mean age at first birth: 20.3 years (2014 est.)
Note: data represents median age at first birth among women 25-49

Maternal mortality ratio: 530 deaths/100,000 live births (2020 est.)

Infant mortality rate
Total: 26.1 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)
Male: 29 deaths/1,000 live births
Female: 23.1 deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 70.4 years (2024 est.)
Male: 68.6 years
Female: 72.2 years

Total fertility rate: 3.16 children born/woman (2024 est.)

Contraceptive prevalence rate: 64.6% (2020)

Drinking water source
Improved urban: 91.3% of population
Unimproved rural: 36.7% of population
Unimproved total: 28.8% of population (2020 est.)
Unimproved urban: 8.7% of population

Current health expenditure

Physicians density

Hospital bed density

Sanitation facility access
Improved urban: 84% of population
Improved rural: 48.1% of population
Improved total: 58.2% of population
Unimproved urban: 16% of population
Unimproved rural: 51.9% of population
Unimproved total: 41.8% of population (2020 est.)

Hiv/Aids

Major infectious diseases

Obesity adult prevalence rate: 7.1% (2016)

Alcohol consumption
Per capita total: 1.68 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Per capita beer: 0.81 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Per capita wine: 0.04 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Per capita spirits: 0.81 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Per capita other alcohols: 0.03 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Tobacco use
Total: 11.1% (2020 est.)
Male: 19.5% (2020 est.)
Female: 2.7% (2020 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 10.1% (2022)

Education expenditures: 4.8% of GDP (2021 est.)

Literacy
Definition: age 15 and over can read and write
Total population: 82.6%
Male: 85.5%
Female: 79.8% (2021)

School life expectancy primary to tertiary education

Youth unemployment
Rate ages 15 24 total: 12.2% (2023 est.)
Rate ages 15 24 male: 8.1% (2023 est.)
Rate ages 15 24 female: 16.3% (2023 est.)
Rate ages 15 24 note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment


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Country name
Conventional long form: Republic of Kenya
Conventional short form: Kenya
Local long form: Republic of Kenya (English)/ Jamhuri ya Kenya (Swahili)
Local short form: Kenya
Former: British East Africa
Etymology: named for Mount Kenya; the meaning of the name is unclear but may derive from the Kikuyu, Embu, and Kamba words 'kirinyaga,' 'kirenyaa,' and 'kiinyaa' - all of which mean 'God's resting place'

Government type: presidential republic

Capital
Name: Nairobi
Geographic coordinates: 1 17 S, 36 49 E
Time difference: UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Etymology: the name derives from the Maasai expression meaning 'cool waters' and refers to a cold water stream that flowed through the area in the late 19th century

Administrative divisions: 47 counties; Baringo, Bomet, Bungoma, Busia, Elgeyo/Marakwet, Embu, Garissa, Homa Bay, Isiolo, Kajiado, Kakamega, Kericho, Kiambu, Kilifi, Kirinyaga, Kisii, Kisumu, Kitui, Kwale, Laikipia, Lamu, Machakos, Makueni, Mandera, Marsabit, Meru, Migori, Mombasa, Murang'a, Nairobi City, Nakuru, Nandi, Narok, Nyamira, Nyandarua, Nyeri, Samburu, Siaya, Taita/Taveta, Tana River, Tharaka-Nithi, Trans Nzoia, Turkana, Uasin Gishu, Vihiga, Wajir, West Pokot

Dependent areas

Independence: 12 December 1963 (from the UK)

National holiday: Jamhuri Day (Independence Day), 12 December (1963)
Note: Madaraka Day, 1 June (1963) marks the day Kenya attained internal self-rule

Constitution
History: current constitution passed by referendum on 4 August 2010
Amendments: amendments can be proposed by either house of Parliament or by petition of at least one million eligible voters; passage of amendments by Parliament requires approval by at least two-thirds majority vote of both houses in each of two readings, approval in a referendum by majority of votes cast by at least 20% of eligible voters in at least one half of Kenya’s counties, and approval by the president; passage of amendments introduced by petition requires approval by a majority of county assemblies, approval by majority vote of both houses, and approval by the president

Legal system: mixed legal system of English common law, Islamic law, and customary law; judicial review in the new Supreme Court established by the new constitution

International law organization participation: accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

Citizenship
Citizenship by birth: no
Citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Kenya
Dual citizenship recognized: yes
Residency requirement for naturalization: 4 out of the previous 7 years

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch
Chief of state: President William RUTO (since 13 September 2022)
Head of government: President William RUTO (since 13 September 2022)
Cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president, subject to confirmation by the National Assembly
Elections/appointments: president and deputy president directly elected on the same ballot by majority vote nationwide and at least 25% of the votes cast in at least 24 of the 47 counties; failure to meet these thresholds requires a runoff between the top two candidates; election last held on 9 August 2022 (next to be held on 10 August 2,027)
Election results: 2022: William RUTO elected president in first round; percent of vote - William RUTO (UDA) 50.5%, Raila ODINGA (ODM) 48.9%, other 0.6%; 2017: Uhuru KENYATTA reelected president; percent of vote - Uhuru KENYATTA (JP) 98.3%, Raila ODINGA (ODM) 1%, other 0.7%
Note: the president is both chief of state and head of government

Legislative branch
Description: bicameral Parliament consists of: Senate (68 seats; 47 members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote and 20 directly elected by proportional representation vote - 16 women, 2 representing youth, 2 representing the disabled, and one Senate speaker; members serve 5-year terms), National Assembly (350 seats; 290 members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote, 47 women in single-seat constituencies elected by simple majority vote, and 12 members nominated by the National Assembly - 6 representing youth and 6 representing the disabled, and one Assembly speaker; members serve 5-year terms)
Elections: Senate - last held on 9 August 2022 (next to be held on 10 August 2,027), National Assembly - last held on 9 August 2022 (next to be held on 10 August 2,027)
Elections results: Senate - percent of vote by party/coalition - NA; seats by party/coalition - Kenya Kwanza 33, Azimio La Umoja 32, independent 2, other 1; composition - men 46, women 21, percentage women is 31.3%, National Assembly - percent of vote by party/coalition - NA; seats by party/coalition - Kenya Kwanza alliance 176, Azimio La Umoja alliance 161, independent 12, other 1; composition - men 267, women 81, percentage women 24.6%

Judicial branch
Highest courts: Supreme Court (consists of chief and deputy chief justices and 5 judges)
Judge selection and term of office: chief and deputy chief justices nominated by Judicial Service Commission (JSC) and appointed by the president with approval of the National Assembly; other judges nominated by the JSC and appointed by president; chief justice serves a nonrenewable 10-year term or until age 70, whichever comes first; other judges serve until age 70
Subordinate courts: High Court; Court of Appeal; military courts; magistrates' courts; religious courts

Political parties and leaders: Azimio La Umoja–One Kenya Coalition Party, Amani National Congress or ANC, Chama Cha Kazi or CCK, Democratic Action Party or DAP-K, Democratic Party or DP, Forum for the Restoration of Democracy–Kenya or FORD-Kenya, Grand Dream Development Party or GDDP , Jubilee Party or JP, Kenya African National Union or KANU, Kenya Kwanza coalition, Kenya Union Party or KUP, Maendeleo Chap Chap Party or MCC, Movement for Democracy and Growth or MDG, National Agenda Party or NAP-K , National Ordinary People Empowerment Union or NOPEU, Orange Democratic Movement or ODM, Pamoja African Alliance or PAA], The Service Party or TSP, United Democratic Alliance or UDA, United Democratic Movement or UDM, United Democratic Party or UDP, United Party of Independent Alliance or UPIA , United Progressive Alliance or UPA , Wiper Democratic Movement-Kenya or WDM-K

International organization participation: ACP, AfDB, ATMIS, AU, C, CD, COMESA, EAC, EADB, FAO, G-15, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCT, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGAD, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MONUSCO, NAM, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNISFA, UNMIL, UNMISS, UNOOSA, UNSOM, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation
In the us: chief of mission: Ambassador David Kipkorir Kiplagat KERICH (since 18 September 2024)
In the us chancery: 2,249 R St 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 email address and website: information@kenyaembassydc.org; [link]
In the us consulates: New York
From the us chief of mission: Ambassador Margaret 'Meg' WHITMAN (since 5 August 2022)
From the us embassy: P.O. Box 606 Village Market, 00621 Nairobi
From the us mailing address: 8,900 Nairobi Place, Washington, DC 20,521-8,900
From the us telephone: [254] (20) 363-6,000
From the us fax: [254] (20) 363-6,157
From the us email address and website: kenya_acs@state.gov; [link]

Flag description: three equal horizontal bands of black (top), red, and green; the red band is edged in white; a large Maasai warrior's shield covering crossed spears is superimposed at the center; black symbolizes the majority population, red the blood shed in the struggle for freedom, green stands for natural wealth, and white for peace; the shield and crossed spears symbolize the defense of freedom

National symbols: lion; national colors: black, red, green, white

National anthem
Name: 'Ee Mungu Nguvu Yetu' (Oh God of All Creation)
Lyrics/music: Graham HYSLOP, Thomas KALUME, Peter KIBUKOSYA, Washington OMONDI, and George W. SENOGA-ZAKE/traditional, adapted by Graham HYSLOP, Thomas KALUME, Peter KIBUKOSYA, Washington OMONDI, and George W. SENOGA-ZAKE
Note: adopted 1963; based on a traditional Kenyan folk song

National heritage
Total world heritage sites: 8(5 cultural, 3 natural)
Selected world heritage site locales:


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Economy overview: fast growing, third largest Sub-Saharan economy; strong agriculture sector with emerging services and tourism industries; IMF program to address current account and debt service challenges; business-friendly policies foster infrastructure investment, digital innovation and public-private partnerships; vulnerable to climate change-induced droughts

Real gdp purchasing power parity: $314.063 billion (2023 est.); $297.9 billion (2022 est.); $284.129 billion (2021 est.)
Note: data in 2021 dollars

Real gdp growth rate: 5.43% (2023 est.); 4.85% (2022 est.); 7.59% (2021 est.)
Note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Real gdp per capita: $5,700 (2023 est.); $5,500 (2022 est.); $5,400 (2021 est.)
Note: data in 2021 dollars

Gross national saving

Gdp composition by end use
Household consumption: 77% (2023 est.)
Government consumption: 12.3% (2023 est.)
Investment in fixed capital: 17.7% (2023 est.)
Investment in inventories: 0.4% (2023 est.)
Exports of goods and services: 11.8% (2023 est.)
Imports of goods and services: -20.6% (2023 est.)
Note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection

Gdp composition by sector of origin
Agriculture: 21.3% (2023 est.)
Industry: 17.1% (2023 est.)
Services: 55.5% (2023 est.)
Note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

Agriculture products: sugarcane, milk, maize, tea, bananas, potatoes, cabbages, camel milk, cassava, mangoes/guavas (2022)
Note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

Industries: agriculture, transportation, services, manufacturing, construction, telecommunications, tourism, retail

Industrial production growth rate: 2.2% (2023 est.)
Note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

Labor force: 25.502 million (2023 est.)
Note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

Unemployment rate: 5.68% (2023 est.); 5.81% (2022 est.); 5.69% (2021 est.)
Note: % of labor force seeking employment

Youth unemployment
Rate ages 15 24 total: 12.2% (2023 est.)
Rate ages 15 24 male: 8.1% (2023 est.)
Rate ages 15 24 female: 16.3% (2023 est.)
Rate ages 15 24 note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment

Population below poverty line: 36.1% (2015 est.)
Note: % of population with income below national poverty line

Gini index

Household income or consumption by percentage share

Distribution of family income gini index

Budget
Revenues: $20.202 billion (2023 est.)
Expenditures: $29.933 billion (2023 est.)
Note: central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenses converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated

Taxes and other revenues: 13.26% (of GDP) (2021 est.)
Note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP

Public debt: 54.2% of GDP (2017 est.)

Revenue
From forest resources: 1.3% of GDP (2018 est.)
From coal: 0% of GDP (2018 est.)

Fiscal year

Inflation rate consumer prices: 7.67% (2023 est.); 7.66% (2022 est.); 6.11% (2021 est.)
Note: annual % change based on 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: -$5.766 billion (2022 est.); -$5.744 billion (2021 est.); -$4.792 billion (2020 est.)
Note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars

Exports: $13.859 billion (2022 est.); $11.825 billion (2021 est.); $9.709 billion (2020 est.)
Note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars
Partners: US 10%, Uganda 9%, Pakistan 7%, Netherlands 7%, Rwanda 6% (2022)
Partners note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports
Commodities: tea, cut flowers, garments, coffee, titanium ore (2022)
Commodities note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

Imports: $24.406 billion (2022 est.); $21.853 billion (2021 est.); $17.717 billion (2020 est.)
Note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars
Partners: China 26%, UAE 14%, India 11%, Malaysia 4%, Saudi Arabia 4% (2022)
Partners note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports
Commodities: refined petroleum, palm oil, garments, wheat, plastics (2022)
Commodities note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $7.342 billion (2023 est.); $7.969 billion (2022 est.); $9.491 billion (2021 est.)
Note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars

Debt external: $31.029 billion (2022 est.)
Note: present value of external debt in current US dollars

Stock of direct foreign investment at home

Stock of direct foreign investment abroad

Exchange rates:


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Electricity
Access electrification total population: 76% (2022 est.)
Access electrification urban areas: 98%
Access electrification rural areas: 65.6%
Installed generating capacity: 3.746 million kW (2022 est.)
Consumption: 9.622 billion kWh (2022 est.)
Exports: 18 million kWh (2022 est.)
Imports: 221.841 million kWh (2022 est.)
Transmission/distribution losses: 2.947 billion kWh (2022 est.)
Generation sources fossil fuels: 8% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)
Generation sources solar: 3.1% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)
Generation sources wind: 17.3% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)
Generation sources hydroelectricity: 24.6% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)
Generation sources geothermal: 44.6% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)
Generation sources biomass and waste: 2.3% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)

Coal
Consumption: 1.168 million metric tons (2022 est.)
Exports: (2022 est.) less than 1 metric ton
Imports: 1.168 million metric tons (2022 est.)

Petroleum
Refined petroleum consumption: 119,000 bbl/day (2022 est.)

Crude oil

Refined petroleum

Natural gas

Carbon dioxide emissions: 19.471 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)
From coal and metallurgical coke: 2.638 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)
From petroleum and other liquids: 16.833 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)

Energy consumption per capita: 5.692 million Btu/person (2022 est.)


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Telephones
Fixed lines total subscriptions: 63,000 (2022 est.)
Fixed lines subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: (2022 est.) less than 1
Mobile cellular total subscriptions: 65.737 million (2022 est.)
Mobile cellular subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 122 (2022 est.)

Telephone system

Broadcast media

Internet

Broadband fixed subscriptions


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Military expenditures: 1% of GDP (2023 est.); 1.1% of GDP (2022 est.); 1.2% of GDP (2021 est.); 1.2% of GDP (2020 est.); 1.2% of GDP (2019 est.)

Military and security forces: Kenya Defense Forces (KDF): Kenya Army, Kenya Navy, Kenya Air Force (2024)
Note 1: the National Police Service maintains internal security and reports to the Ministry of Interior and Coordination of National Government; it includes a paramilitary General Service Unit and Rapid Deployment Unit, as well as a Border Police Unit
Note 2: the Kenya Coast Guard Service (established 2018) is under the Ministry of Interior but led by a military officer and comprised of personnel from the military, as well as the National Police Service, intelligence services, and other government agencies

Military service age and obligation: no conscription; 18-26 years of age for voluntary service for men and women (under 18 with parental consent; upper limit 30 years of age for specialists, tradesmen, or women with a diploma; 39 years of age for chaplains/imams); 9-year service obligation (7 years for Kenyan Navy) and subsequent 3-year re-enlistments; applicants must be Kenyan citizens (2024)

Space program

Terrorist groups: al-Shabaab; Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC)/Qods Force
Note: details about the history, aims, leadership, organization, areas of operation, tactics, targets, weapons, size, and sources of support of the group(s) appear(s) in the Terrorism reference guide


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National air transport system
Number of registered air carriers: 25 (2020)
Inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 188
Annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 5,935,831 (2018)
Annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 294.97 million (2018) mt-km

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: 5Y

Airports: 370 (2024)

Heliports

Pipelines: 4 km oil, 1,432 km refined products (2018)

Railways

Roadways
Total: 161,451 km
Paved: 18,603 km
Unpaved: 157,596 km (2023)

Waterways: (2011) none specifically; the only significant inland waterway is the part of Lake Victoria within the boundaries of Kenya; Kisumu is the main port and has ferry connections to Uganda and Tanzania

Merchant marine

Ports and terminals


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Disputes international

Refugees and internally displaced persons
Refugees country of origin: 21,847 (Ethiopia), 5,756 (Sudan) (2023); 298,117 (Somalia), 176,776 (South Sudan), 59,384 (Democratic Republic of the Congo), 8,701 (Burundi) (2024)
Idps: 30,000 (election-related violence, intercommunal violence, resource conflicts, al-Shabaab attacks in 2017 and 2018) (2022)
Stateless persons: 16,779 (2022)
Note: the stateless population consists of Nubians, Kenyan Somalis, and coastal Arabs; the Nubians are descendants of Sudanese soldiers recruited by the British to fight for them in East Africa more than a century ago; Nubians did not receive Kenyan citizenship when the country became independent in 1963; only recently have Nubians become a formally recognized tribe and had less trouble obtaining national IDs; Galjeel and other Somalis who have lived in Kenya for decades are included with more recent Somali refugees and denied ID cards

Illicit drugs: a transit country for illicit drugs and precursor chemicals; domestic drug consumption of cannabis and miraa (khat) is growing; heroin enters Kenya via Tanzania and in shipments across the Indian Ocean from Southwest Asia mostly destined for international markets, principally Europe; cocaine enters Kenya primarily via transshipment through Ethiopia