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.

Geographic coordinates: 1 00 N, 38 00 E

Map reference: Africa

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 barites, rubies, fluorspar, garnets, wildlife

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.)

Natural hazards: recurring drought in northern and eastern regions; flooding during rainy seasons

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

Population: 28,808,658 (July 1999 est.)
Growth rate: 1.59% (1999 est.)
Below poverty line: 42% (1992 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 38%, Roman Catholic 28%, indigenous beliefs 26%, Muslim 7%, other 1%

Age structure
0-14 years: 43% (male 6,244,321; female 6,104,181)
15-64 years: 54% (male 7,845,083; female 7,826,442)
65 years and over: 3% (male 343,449; female 445,182) (1999 est.)

Population growth rate: 1.59% (1999 est.)

Birth rate: 30.8 births/1000 population (1999 est.)

Death rate: 14.58 deaths/1000 population (1999 est.)

Net migration rate: -0.34 migrant(s)/1000 population (1999 est.)

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, Whaling
International agreements signed but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

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: 0.77 male(s)/female
Total population: 1 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 59.07 deaths/1000 live births (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 47.02 years
Male: 46.56 years
Female: 47.49 years (1999 est.)

Total fertility rate: 3.88 children born/woman (1999 est.)

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

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, 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

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; 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 elected by popular vote to serve five-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-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-Kenya 1, DP 2, SDP 1, NDP 1, SAFINA 1

Judicial branch: Court of Appeal, chief justice is appointed by the president; High Court

International organization participation: ACP, AfDB, 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, MONUA, NAM, OAU, OPCW, UN, UN Security Council (temporary), UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNMOP, UNOMIL, UNOMSIL, UNPREDEP, UNU, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation
In the us chief of mission: Ambassador Samuel 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
From the us embassy: USAID Building, The Crescent, Parklands, Nairobi (temporary location)
From the us mailing address: P. O. Box 30,137, Box 21A, Unit 64,100, APO AE 9,831
From the us telephone: [254] (2) 751,613
From the us FAX: [254] (2) 743,204

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 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 1997-98. 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 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 growth rate: 1.6% (1998 est.)

Real gdp per capita: purchasing power parity: $1,550 (1998 est.)

Gdp composition by sector of origin
Agriculture: 29%
Industry: 17%
Services: 54% (1997)

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), agricultural products processing; oil refining, cement; tourism

Industrial production growth rate: 3.8% (1995)

Labor force: 9.2 million (1998 est.)
By occupation agriculture: 75%-80%
By occupation nonagriculture: 20%-25%

Unemployment rate: 50% (1998 est.)

Population below poverty line: 42% (1992 est.)

Budget
Revenues: $2.6 billion
Expenditures: $2.7 billion, including capital expenditures of $N/A (1997 est.)

Fiscal year: 1 July_30 June

Exports: $2 billion (f.o.b., 1998)
Commodities: tea 18%, coffee 15%, petroleum products (1995)
Partners: Uganda 16.1%, Tanzania 12.8%, UK 10.4%, Germany 7.5% (1996)

Imports: $3.05 billion (f.o.b., 1998)
Commodities: machinery and transportation equipment 31%, consumer goods 13%, petroleum products 12% (1995)
Partners: UK 13.2%, UAE 8.2%, South Africa 7.6%, Germany 7.4% (1996)

Debt external: $6.45 billion (1997 est.)

Exchange rates: Kenyan shillings (KSh) per US$1_61.802 (January 1999), 60.367 (1998), 58.732 (1997), 57.115 (1996), 51.430 (1995), 56.051 (1994)

Electricity
Production: 3.81 billion kWh (1996)
Production by source fossil fuel: 10.5%
Production by source hydro: 81.63%
Production by source nuclear: 0%
Production by source other: 7.87% (1996)
Consumption: 3.985 billion kWh (1996)
Exports: 0 kWh (1996)
Imports: 175 million kWh (1996)

Telephones: 383,676 (1997; 3,077 cellular telephone subscribers (1998)

Telephone system
Domestic: primarily microwave radio relay
International: satellite earth stations_4 Intelsat

Military expenditures
Dollar figure: $197 million (FY98/99)
Percent of gdp: 1.9% (FY98/99)

Airports: 232 (1998 est.)
With paved runways total: 21
With paved runways over 3047 m: 4
With paved runways 2438 to 3047 m: 1
With paved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 2
With paved runways 914 to 1523 m: 14 (1998 est.)
With unpaved runways total: 211
With unpaved runways 2438 to 3047 m: 1
With unpaved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 14
With unpaved runways 914 to 1523 m: 113
With unpaved runways under 914 m: 83 (1998 est.)

Pipelines: petroleum products 483 km

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

Waterways: part of the Lake Victoria system is within the 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 cargo 1 (1998 est.)

Disputes international: administrative boundary with Sudan does not coincide with international boundary

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