Founding president and liberation struggle icon Jomo KENYATTA led Kenya from independence in 1963 until his death in 1978, when Vice President Daniel 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 were viewed as having generally reflected the will of the Kenyan people. President MOI stepped down in December 2002 following fair and peaceful elections. Mwai KIBAKI, running as the candidate of the multiethnic, united opposition group, the National Rainbow Coalition (NARC), defeated KANU candidate Uhuru KENYATTA, the son of founding president Jomo KENYATTA, and assumed the presidency following a campaign centered on an anticorruption platform.

KIBAKI's reelection in December 2007 brought charges of vote rigging from Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) candidate Raila ODINGA and unleashed two months of violence in which as many as 1,500 people died. African Union-sponsored mediation led by former UN Secretary General Kofi ANNAN in late February 2008 resulted in a power-sharing accord bringing ODINGA into the government in the restored position of prime minister. The power sharing accord included a broad reform agenda, the centerpiece of which was constitutional reform. In August 2010, Kenyans overwhelmingly adopted a new constitution in a national referendum. The new constitution introduced additional checks and balances to executive power and significant devolution of power and resources to 47 newly created counties. It also eliminated the position of prime minister following the first presidential election under the new constitution, which occurred in March 2013. Uhuru KENYATTA won the election and was sworn into office in April 2013.

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

1 00 N, 38 00 E

Africa

five times the size of Ohio; slightly more than twice the size of Nevada

536 km

varies from tropical along coast to arid in interior

low plains rise to central highlands bisected by Great Rift Valley; fertile plateau in west

highest point: Mount Kenya 5,199 m

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

arable land 9.8%; permanent crops 0.9%; permanent pasture 37.4%

1,030 sq km (2012)

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

recurring drought; flooding during rainy seasons

water pollution from urban and industrial wastes; degradation of water quality from increased use of pesticides and fertilizers; water hyacinth infestation in Lake Victoria; deforestation; soil erosion; desertification; poaching

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

47,615,739

Kikuyu 22%, Luhya 14%, Luo 13%, Kalenjin 12%, Kamba 11%, Kisii 6%, Meru 6%, other African 15%, non-African (Asian, European, and Arab) 1%

English (official), Kiswahili (official), numerous indigenous languages

Christian 83% (Protestant 47.7%, Catholic 23.4%, other Christian 11.9%), Muslim 11.2%, Traditionalists 1.7%, other 1.6%, none 2.4%, unspecified 0.2% (2009 est.)

Kenya has experienced dramatic population growth since the mid-20th century as a result of its high birth rate and its declining mortality rate. More than 40% of Kenyans are under the age of 15 because of sustained high fertility, early marriage and childbearing, and an unmet need for family planning. Kenya’s persistent rapid population growth strains the labor market, social services, arable land, and natural resources. Although Kenya in 1967 was the first sub-Saharan country to launch a nationwide family planning program, progress in reducing the birth rate has largely stalled since the late 1990s, when the government decreased its support for family planning to focus on the HIV epidemic. Government commitment and international technical support spurred Kenyan contraceptive use, decreasing the fertility rate (children per woman) from about 8 in the late 1970s to less than 5 children twenty years later, but it has plateaued at just over 3 children today.

Kenya is a source of emigrants and a host country for refugees. In the 1960s and 1970s, Kenyans pursued higher education in the UK because of colonial ties, but as British immigration rules tightened, the US, the then Soviet Union, and Canada became attractive study destinations. Kenya’s stagnant economy and political problems during the 1980s and 1990s led to an outpouring of Kenyan students and professionals seeking permanent opportunities in the West and southern Africa. Nevertheless, Kenya’s relative stability since its independence in 1963 has attracted hundreds of thousands of refugees escaping violent conflicts in neighboring countries; Kenya shelters more than 300,000 Somali refugees as of April 2017.

1.69% (2017 est.)

23.9 births/1,000 population (2017 est.)

6.7 deaths/1,000 population (2017 est.)

-0.2 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2017 est.)

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

NAIROBI (capital) 3.915 million; Mombassa 1.104 million (2015)

20.3 years

510 deaths/100,000 live births (2015 est.)

2.98 children born/woman (2017 est.)

66.3% (2015)

5.7% of GDP (2014)

0.2 physicians/1,000 population (2013)

1.4 beds/1,000 population (2010)

urban: 81.6% of population

rural: 56.8% of population

total: 63.2% of population

urban: 18.4% of population

rural: 43.2% of population

total: 36.8% of population (2015 est.)

urban: 31.2% of population

rural: 29.7% of population

total: 30.1% of population

urban: 68.8% of population

rural: 70.3% of population

total: 69.9% of population (2015 est.)

5.4% (2016 est.)

1.6 million (2016 est.)

36,000 (2016 est.)

7.1% (2016)

11% (2014)

5.3% of GDP (2015)

presidential republic

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

12 December 1963 (from the UK)

Jamhuri Day (Independence Day), 12 December (1963); note - Madaraka Day, 1 June (1963) marks the day Kenya attained internal self-rule

mixed legal system of English common law, Islamic law, and customary law; judicial review in a new Supreme Court established pursuant to the new constitution

accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

18 years of age; universal

National Assembly - percent of vote by party/coalition - NA; seats by party/coalition - Jubilee Party 171; CORD Coalition 139 (ODM 76, WDM-K 23, ANC 14, FORD-K 12, KANU 10, other 4); EFP 5; MCC 4; PDR 4; independent 14; other 11; one vacancy

Alliance Party of Kenya or APK [Kiraitu MURUNGI]

Amani National Congress [Musalia MUDAVADI]

Coalition for Reforms and Democracy or CORD (includes ODM, WDM-K, FORD-K) [Raila ODINGA]

Federal Party of Kenya or FPK [Cyrus JIRONGA]

Forum for the Restoration of Democracy-Kenya or FORD-K [Moses WETANGULA]

Forum for the Restoration of Democracy-People or FORD-P [Henry OBWOCHA]

Jubilee Party [Uhuru KENYATTA]

Kenya African National Union or KANU [Gideon MOI]

National Rainbow Coalition or NARC [Charity NGILU]

Orange Democratic Movement Party of Kenya or ODM [Raila ODINGA]

United Democratic Forum [Musalia MUDAVADI]

Wiper Democratic Movement-K or WDM-K (formerly Orange Democratic Movement-Kenya or ODM-K) [Kalonzo MUSYOKA]

African Center for Open Governance or AfriCOG [Gladwell OTIENO]

Anglican Church of Kenya [Archbishop Jackson Nasoore Ole SAPIT]

Council of Imams and Preachers of Kenya or CIPK [Sheikh Mohammed KHALIFA]

Federation of Women Lawyers in Kenya

Kenya Association of Manufacturers

Kenya Human Rights Commission or KHRC [George KEGORO]

Kenya Private Sector Alliance

Kenyans for Peace with Truth and Justice (umbrella group of more than 30 NGOs)

Muslim Human Rights Forum [Ali-Amin KIMATHI]

National Muslim Leaders Forum or NAMLEF [Abdullahi ABDI]

Protestant National Council of Churches of Kenya or NCCK [Canon Peter Karanja MWANGI]

Roman Catholic Church [Cardinal John NJUE]

Supreme Council of Kenya Muslims or SUPKEM [Adan WACHU]

ACP, AfDB, 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, MINUSMA, MONUSCO, NAM, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNMIL, UNMISS, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WMO, WTO

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

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

Kenya is the economic, financial, and transport hub of East Africa. Kenya’s real GDP growth has averaged over 5% for the last eight years. Since 2014, Kenya has been ranked as a lower middle income country because its per capita GDP crossed a World Bank threshold. While Kenya has a growing entrepreneurial middle class and steady growth, its economic and development trajectory could be impaired by weak governance and corruption. Although reliable numbers are hard to find, unemployment and under-employment are extremely high, and could be near 40% of the population.

Agriculture remains the backbone of the Kenyan economy, contributing one-third of GDP. About 75% of Kenya’s population of roughly 44.2 million work at least part-time in the agricultural sector, including livestock and pastoral activities. Over 75% of agricultural output is from small-scale, rain-fed farming or livestock production.

Inadequate infrastructure continues to hamper Kenya’s efforts to improve its annual growth to the 8%-10% range so that it can meaningfully address poverty and unemployment. The KENYATTA administration has been successful in courting external investment for infrastructure development. International financial institutions and donors remain important to Kenya's economic growth and development, but Kenya has also successfully raised capital in the global bond market. Kenya issued its first sovereign bond offering in mid-2014. Nairobi has contracted with a Chinese company to construct a new standard gauge railway connecting Mombasa and Nairobi, with completion expected in June 2017. In 2013, the country adopted a devolved system of government with the creation of 47 counties, and is in the process of devolving state revenues and responsibilities to the counties. Inflationary pressures and sharp currency depreciation peaked in early 2012 but have since abated following low global food and fuel prices and monetary interventions by the Central Bank. Drought-like conditions in parts of the country have pushed March 2017 inflation above 9%. Chronic budget deficits, including a shortage of funds in mid-2015, hampered the government’s ability to implement proposed development programs, but the economy is back in balance with many indicators, including foreign exchange reserves, interest rates, and FDI moving in the right direction. Underlying weaknesses were exposed in the banking sector in 2016 when the government was forced to take over three small and undercapitalized banks. In 2016, the government enacted legislation that limits interest rates banks can charge on loans and set a rate that banks must pay their depositors. This measure led to a sharp shrinkage of credit in the economy.

Tourism holds a significant place in Kenya’s economy. A spate of terrorist attacks by the Somalia-based group al-Shabaab reduced international tourism earning after their deadly 2013 attack on Nairobi’s Westgate mall, which killed 67 people, but the sector is now recovering. In 2016, tourist arrivals grew by 17% while revenues from tourism increased by 37%.

$152.9 billion (2016 est.)

$142.6 billion (2015 est.)

$133.5 billion (2014 est.)

$70.53 billion (2016 est.)

5.8% (2016 est.)

5.7% (2015 est.)

5.4% (2014 est.)

$3,400 (2016 est.)

$3,300 (2015 est.)

$3,200 (2014 est.)

15.5% of GDP (2016 est.)

10.9% of GDP (2015 est.)

12.1% of GDP (2014 est.)

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

small-scale consumer goods (plastic, furniture, batteries, textiles, clothing, soap, cigarettes, flour), agricultural products, horticulture, oil refining; aluminum, steel, lead; cement, commercial ship repair, tourism

6.5% (2016 est.)

19.14 million (2016 est.)

40% (2013 est.)

40% (2001 est.)

43.4% (2012 est.)

42.5 (2008 est.)

44.9 (1997)

18.9% of GDP (2016 est.)

-7.1% of GDP (2016 est.)

53.5% of GDP (2016 est.)

50.4% of GDP (2015 est.)

1 July - 30 June

6.3% (2016 est.)

6.6% (2015 est.)

11.5% (20 January 2016)

7% (31 December 2010)

16.58% (31 December 2016 est.)

16.16% (31 December 2015 est.)

$12.77 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

$9.927 billion (31 December 2015 est.)

$22.86 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

$21.77 billion (31 December 2015 est.)

$29.88 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

$27.77 billion (31 December 2015 est.)

$26.16 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$22.09 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

$14.79 billion (31 December 2012 est.)

$-3.653 billion (2016 est.)

$-4.308 billion (2015 est.)

$5.747 billion (2016 est.)

$5.982 billion (2015 est.)

tea, horticultural products, coffee, petroleum products, fish, cement

Uganda 10.1%, Tanzania 8.6%, US 7.7%, Netherlands 7.4%, UK 7.3%, UAE 4.6%, Pakistan 4.5% (2016)

$13.64 billion (2016 est.)

$14.36 billion (2015 est.)

machinery and transportation equipment, petroleum products, motor vehicles, iron and steel, resins and plastics

China 24.1%, India 11.2%, UAE 7.7%, Japan 5.4% (2016)

$7.601 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

$7.548 billion (31 December 2015 est.)

$22.6 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

$19.15 billion (31 December 2015 est.)

$5.317 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

$4.562 billion (31 December 2015 est.)

$NA (31 December 2016 est.)

$NA (31 December 2015 est.)

Kenyan shillings (KES) per US dollar -

101.504 (2016 est.)

101.504 (2015 est.)

98.179 (2014 est.)

87.921 (2013 est.)

84.53 (2012 est.)

9.548 billion kWh (2015 est.)

7.666 billion kWh (2015 est.)

45 million kWh (2015 est.)

67 million kWh (2015 est.)

2.301 million kW (2015 est.)

31.9% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)

0% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)

35.6% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)

53.6% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)

0 bbl/day (2016 est.)

0 bbl/day (2014 est.)

11,870 bbl/day (2014 est.)

0 bbl (1 January 2017 es)

14,320 bbl/day (2014 est.)

93,000 bbl/day (2015 est.)

345.2 bbl/day (2014 est.)

76,090 bbl/day (2014 est.)

0 cu m (2013 est.)

0 cu m (2013 est.)

0 cu m (2013 est.)

0 cu m (2013 est.)

0 cu m (1 January 2014 es)

13 million Mt (2013 est.)

about a half-dozen large-scale privately owned media companies with TV and radio stations, as well as a state-owned TV broadcaster, provide service nationwide; satellite and cable TV subscription services available; state-owned radio broadcaster operates 2 national radio channels and provides regional and local radio services in multiple languages; many private radio stations broadcast on a national level along with over 100 private and non-profit provincial stations broadcasting in local languages; transmissions of several international broadcasters available (2014)

.ke

5Y (2016)

197 (2013)

oil 4 km; refined products 928 km (2013)

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 (2011)

1.32% of GDP (2016)

1.32% of GDP (2015)

1.33% of GDP (2014)

1.56% of GDP (2013)

1.67% of GDP (2012)

Kenya Defence Forces: Kenya Army, Kenya Navy, Kenya Air Force (2012)

18-26 years of age for male and female voluntary service (under 18 with parental consent), with a 9-year obligation (7 years for Kenyan Navy); applicants must be Kenyan citizens and provide a national identity card (obtained at age 18) and a school-leaving certificate; women serve under the same terms and conditions as men; mandatory retirement at age 55 (2012)

Kenya served as an important mediator in brokering Sudan's north-south separation in February 2005; Kenya provides shelter to an estimated 580,000 refugees, including Ugandans who flee across the border periodically to seek protection from Lord's Resistance Army rebels; Kenya works hard to prevent the clan and militia fighting in Somalia from spreading across the border, which has long been open to nomadic pastoralists; the boundary that separates Kenya's and Sudan's sovereignty is unclear in the "Ilemi Triangle," which Kenya has administered since colonial times

widespread harvesting of small plots of marijuana; transit country for South Asian heroin destined for Europe and North America; Indian methaqualone also transits on way to South Africa; significant potential for money-laundering activity given the country's status as a regional financial center; massive corruption, and relatively high levels of narcotics-associated activities