Kenya - Wikipedia Kenya For the commune in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, see Kenya, Lubumbashi. Coordinates : 1 ° N 38 ° E ﻿ / ﻿ 1 ° N 38 ° E ﻿ / 1 ; 38 Republic of Kenya Jamhuri ya Kenya ( Kiswahili ) Flag Coat of arms Motto : `` Harambee '' ( Kiswahili ) `` Let us all pull together '' Anthem : Ee Mungu Nguvu Yetu O God of all creation Location of Kenya ( dark blue ) in the African Union ( light blue ) Capital and largest city Nairobi 1 ° 16 ′ S 36 ° 48 ′ E ﻿ / ﻿ 1.267 ° S 36.800 ° E ﻿ / - 1.267 ; 36.800 Official languages English Kiswahili National language Kiswahili Ethnic groups ( 2016 ) 22 % Kikuyu 14 % Luhya 13 % Luo 12 % Kalenjin 11 % Kamba 6 % Kisii 6 % Meru 15 % other African 1 % non-African Demonym Kenyan Government Unitary presidential constitutional republic President Uhuru Kenyatta Deputy President William Ruto Speaker of the Senate Kenneth Lusaka Speaker of the National Assembly Justin Muturi Attorney General Githu Muigai Legislature Parliament Upper house Senate Lower house National Assembly Independence from the United Kingdom 12 December 1963 Republic declared 12 December 1964 Area Total 580,367 km ( 224,081 sq mi ) ( 48th ) Water ( % ) 2.3 Population 2017 estimate 48,655,760 ( 28th ) 2009 census 38,610,097 Density 78 / km ( 202.0 / sq mi ) ( 124th ) GDP ( PPP ) 2017 estimate Total $164.340 billion Per capita $3,516 GDP ( nominal ) 2017 estimate Total $75.099 billion Per capita $1,607 Gini ( 2014 ) 42.5 medium 48th HDI ( 2015 ) 0.555 medium 146th Currency Kenyan shilling ( KES ) Time zone EAT ( UTC + 3 ) Date format dd / mm / yy ( AD ) Drives on the left Calling code + 254 ISO 3166 code KE Internet TLD. ke According to the CIA, estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of mortality because of AIDS ; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lower population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex, than would otherwise be expected. Kenya ( / ˈkɛnjə / ; locally ( ˈkɛɲa ) ( listen ) ), officially the Republic of Kenya, is a country in Africa and a founding member of the East African Community ( EAC ). Its capital and largest city is Nairobi. Kenya 's territory lies on the equator and overlies the East African Rift covering a diverse and expansive terrain that extends roughly from Lake Victoria to Lake Turkana ( formerly called Lake Rudolf ) and further south - east to the Indian Ocean. It is bordered by Tanzania to the south and southwest, Uganda to the west, South Sudan to the north - west, Ethiopia to the north and Somalia to the north - east. Kenya covers 581,309 km ( 224,445 sq mi ), and had a population of approximately 48 million people in January 2017. Kenya has a warm and humid tropical climate on its Indian Ocean coastline. The climate is cooler in the savannah grasslands around the capital city, Nairobi, and especially closer to Mount Kenya, which has snow permanently on its peaks. Further inland are highlands in Central and Rift Valley regions where tea and coffee are grown as cash crops which are major foreign revenue earners. In the West are Nyanza and Western regions, there is an equatorial, hot and dry climate which becomes humid around Lake Victoria, the largest tropical fresh - water lake in the world. This gives way to temperate and forested hilly areas in the neighbouring western region. The north - eastern regions along the border with Somalia and Ethiopia are arid and semi-arid areas with near - desert landscapes. Kenya is known for its world class athletes in track and field and rugby. Thanks to its diverse climate and geography, expansive wildlife reserves and national parks such as the East and West Tsavo National Park, Amboseli National Park, Maasai Mara, Lake Nakuru National Park, Aberdares National Park and white sand beaches at the Coastal region, Kenya is home to the modern safari and has several world heritage sites such as Lamu and numerous beaches, including in Diani, Bamburi and Kilifi, where international yachting competitions are held every year. The African Great Lakes region, which Kenya is a part of, has been inhabited by humans since the Lower Paleolithic period. By the first millennium AD, the Bantu expansion had reached the area from West - Central Africa. The borders of the modern state consequently comprise the crossroads of the Niger - Congo, Nilo - Saharan and Afroasiatic areas of the continent, representing most major ethnolinguistic groups found in Africa. Bantu and Nilotic populations together constitute around 97 % of the nation 's residents. European and Arab presence in coastal Mombasa dates to the Early Modern period ; European exploration of the interior began in the 19th century. The British Empire established the East Africa Protectorate in 1895, which starting in 1920 gave way to the Kenya Colony. Kenya obtained independence in December 1963. Following a referendum in August 2010 and adoption of a new constitution, Kenya is now divided into 47 semi-autonomous counties, governed by elected governors. The capital, Nairobi, is a regional commercial hub. The economy of Kenya is the largest by GDP in East and Central Africa. Agriculture is a major employer ; the country traditionally exports tea and coffee and has more recently begun to export fresh flowers to Europe. The service industry is also a major economic driver. Additionally, Kenya is a member of the East African Community trade bloc. Contents 1 Etymology 2 History 2.1 Prehistory 2.2 Neolithic 2.3 Swahili culture and trade ( 1st century -- 19th century ) 2.4 British Kenya ( 1888 -- 1962 ) 2.4. 1 Mau Mau Uprising ( 1952 -- 1959 ) 2.5 Independent Kenya ( 1963 ) 2.5. 1 Moi era ( 1978 -- 2002 ) 2.5. 2 2000s 3 Geography and climate 3.1 Climate 3.2 Wildlife 4 Government and politics 4.1 2013 elections and new government 4.2 Foreign relations 4.3 Armed forces 4.4 Administrative divisions 4.5 Human rights 5 Economy 5.1 Tourism 5.2 Agriculture 5.3 Industry and manufacturing 5.4 Transport 5.5 Energy 5.6 Overall Chinese investment and trade 5.7 Vision 2030 5.8 Oil exploration 5.9 Child labour and prostitution 5.10 Microfinance in Kenya 6 Demographics 6.1 Ethnic groups 6.2 Languages 6.3 Urban centres 6.4 Religion 6.5 Health 6.6 Education 7 Culture 7.1 Media 7.2 Literature 7.3 Music 7.4 Sports 7.5 Cuisine 8 See also 9 References 10 Bibliography 11 External links Etymology The Republic of Kenya is named after Mount Kenya. The origin of the name Kenya is not clear, but perhaps linked to the Kikuyu, Embu and Kamba words Kirinyaga, Kirenyaa, and Kiinyaa which mean `` God 's resting place '' in all three languages. If so, then the British may not so much have mispronounced it ( ' Keenya ' ), as misspelled it. Prehistoric volcanic eruptions of Mount Kenya ( now extinct ) may have resulted in its association with divinity and creation among the indigenous Bantu ethnic groups, who are the native inhabitants of the agricultural land surrounding Mount Kenya. In the 19th century, the German explorer Johann Ludwig Krapf was staying with the Bantu Kamba people when he first spotted the mountain. On asking for the name of the mountain, he was told `` Kĩ - Nyaa '' or `` Kĩĩma - Kĩĩnyaa '' probably because the pattern of black rock and white snow on its peaks reminded them of the feathers of the cock ostrich. The Agikuyu, who inhabit the slopes of Mt. Kenya, call it Kĩrĩma Kĩrĩnyaga in Kikuyu, which is quite similar to the Kamba name. Ludwig Krapf recorded the name as both Kenia and Kegnia believed by most to be a corruption of the Kamba version. Others say that this was -- on the contrary -- a very precise notation of a correct African pronunciation / ˈkɛnjə /. An 1882 map drawn by Joseph Thompsons, a Scottish geologist and naturalist, indicated Mt. Kenya as Mt. Kenia, 1862. Controversy over the actual meaning of the word Kenya notwithstanding, it is clear that the mountain 's name became widely accepted, pars pro toto, as the name of the country. History Main article : History of Kenya Prehistory The Turkana boy, a 1.6 - million - year - old hominid fossil belonging to Homo erectus. Fossils found in Kenya suggest that primates roamed the area more than 20 million years ago. Recent findings near Lake Turkana indicate that hominids such as Homo habilis ( 1.8 and 2.5 million years ago ) and Homo erectus ( 1.9 million to 350,000 years ago ) are possible direct ancestors of modern Homo sapiens, and lived in Kenya in the Pleistocene epoch. During excavations at Lake Turkana in 1984, paleoanthropologist Richard Leakey assisted by Kamoya Kimeu discovered the Turkana Boy, a 1.6 - million - year - old fossil belonging to Homo erectus. Previous research on early hominids is particularly identified with Mary Leakey and Louis Leakey, who were responsible for the preliminary archaeological research at Olorgesailie and Hyrax Hill. Later work at the former site was undertaken by Glynn Isaac. Neolithic The first inhabitants of present - day Kenya were hunter - gatherer groups, akin to the modern Khoisan speakers. These people were later replaced by agropastoralist Cushitic speakers from the Horn of Africa. During the early Holocene, the regional climate shifted from dry to wetter climatic conditions, providing an opportunity for the development of cultural traditions, such as agriculture and herding, in a more favourable environment. Around 500 BC, Nilotic - speaking pastoralists ( ancestral to Kenya 's Nilotic speakers ) started migrating from present - day Southern Sudan into Kenya. Nilotic groups in Kenya include the Samburu, Luo, Turkana, Maasai. By the first millennium AD, Bantu - speaking farmers had moved into the region. The Bantus originated in West Africa along the Benue River in what is now eastern Nigeria and western Cameroon. The Bantu migration brought new developments in agriculture and iron working to the region. Bantu groups in Kenya include the Kikuyu, Luhya, Kamba, Kisii, Meru, Kuria, Aembu, Ambeere, Wadawida - Watuweta, Wapokomo and Mijikenda among others. Remarkable prehistoric sites in the interior of Kenya include the archaeoastronomical site Namoratunga on the west side of Lake Turkana and the walled settlement of ThimLich Ohinga in Migori County. Swahili culture and trade ( 1st century -- 19th century ) Further information : Swahili culture and Sultanate of Zanzibar A traditional Swahili carved wooden door in Lamu. The Kenyan coast had served host to communities of ironworkers and communities of Bantu subsistence farmers, hunters and fishers who supported the economy with agriculture, fishing, metal production and trade with foreign countries. These communities formed the earliest city states in the region which were collectively known as Azania. By the 1st century CE, many of the city - states such as Mombasa, Malindi, and Zanzibar began to establish trade relations with Arabs. This led to the increase economic growth of the Swahili states, introduction of Islam, Arabic influences on the Swahili Bantu language, cultural diffusion, as well as the Swahili city - states becoming a member of a larger trade network. Many historians had long believed that the city states were established by Arab or Persian traders, but archeological evidence has led scholars to recognize the city states as an indigenous development which, though subjected to foreign influence due to trade, retained a Bantu cultural core. The Kilwa Sultanate was a medieval sultanate, centred at Kilwa in modern - day Tanzania. At its height, its authority stretched over the entire length of the Swahili Coast, including Kenya. It was said to be founded in the 10th century by Ali ibn al - Hassan Shirazi, a Persian Sultan from Shiraz in southern Iran. However, scholars have suggested that claims of Arab or Persian origin of city - states were attempts by the Swahili to legitimize themselves both locally and internationally. Since the 10 century, rulers of Kilwa would go on to build elaborate coral mosques and introduce copper coinage. Pottery sherds from the Kilwa Sultanate, founded in the 10th century by the Persian Sultan Ali ibn al - Hassan Shirazi. The Swahili built Mombasa into a major port city and established trade links with other nearby city - states, as well as commercial centres in Persia, Arabia, and even India. By the 15th - century, Portuguese voyager Duarte Barbosa claimed that `` Mombasa is a place of great traffic and has a good harbour in which there are always moored small craft of many kinds and also great ships, both of which are bound from Sofala and others which come from Cambay and Melinde and others which sail to the island of Zanzibar. '' Later on in the 17th century, once the Swahili coast was conquered and came under direct rule of Omani Arabs, the slave trade was expanded by the Omani Arabs to meet the demands of plantations in Oman and Zanzibar. Initially these traders came mainly from Oman, but later many came from Zanzibar ( such as Tippu Tip ). In addition, the Portuguese started buying slaves from the Omani and Zanzibari traders in response to the interruption of the transatlantic slave trade by British abolitionists. Swahili, a Bantu language with Arabic, Persian, and other Middle Eastern and South Asian loanwords, later developed as a lingua franca for trade between the different peoples. Swahili now also has loan words from English. Throughout the centuries, the Kenyan Coast has played host to many merchants and explorers. Among the cities that line the Kenyan coast is the City of Malindi. It has remained an important Swahili settlement since the 14th century and once rivalled Mombasa for dominance in the African Great Lakes region. Malindi has traditionally been a friendly port city for foreign powers. In 1414, the Chinese trader and explorer Zheng He representing the Ming Dynasty visited the East African coast on one of his last ' treasure voyages '. Malindi authorities welcomed the Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama in 1498. British Kenya ( 1888 -- 1962 ) Main article : British Kenya British East Africa in 1909 The colonial history of Kenya dates from the establishment of a German protectorate over the Sultan of Zanzibar 's coastal possessions in 1885, followed by the arrival of the Imperial British East Africa Company in 1888. Incipient imperial rivalry was forestalled when Germany handed its coastal holdings to Britain in 1890. This was followed by the building of the Kenya -- Uganda railway passing through the country. This was resisted by some ethnic groups -- notably the Nandi led by Orkoiyot Koitalel Arap Samoei for ten years from 1890 to 1900 -- however the British eventually built the railway. The Nandi were the first ethnic group to be put in a native reserve to stop them from disrupting the building of the railway. In 1920, the East Africa Protectorate was turned into a colony and renamed Kenya for its highest mountain. During the railway construction era, there was a significant inflow of Indian people, who provided the bulk of the skilled manpower required for construction. They and most of their descendants later remained in Kenya and formed the core of several distinct Indian communities such as the Ismaili Muslim and Sikh communities. While building the railway through Tsavo, a number of the Indian railway workers and local African labourers were attacked by two lions known as the Tsavo maneaters. At the outbreak of World War I in August 1914, the governors of British East Africa ( as the protectorate was generally known ) and German East Africa agreed a truce in an attempt to keep the young colonies out of direct hostilities. Lt. Col. Paul von Lettow - Vorbeck took command of the German military forces, determined to tie down as many British resources as possible. Completely cut off from Germany, von Lettow conducted an effective guerrilla warfare campaign, living off the land, capturing British supplies, and remaining undefeated. He eventually surrendered in Northern Rhodesia ( today Zambia ) fourteen days after the Armistice was signed in 1918. The Kenya -- Uganda Railway near Mombasa, about 1899. To chase von Lettow, the British deployed the British Indian Army troops from India but needed large numbers of porters to overcome the formidable logistics of transporting supplies far into the interior on foot. The Carrier Corps was formed and ultimately mobilised over 400,000 Africans, contributing to their long - term politicisation. Throughout World War II, Kenya was an important source of manpower and agriculture for the United Kingdom. Kenya itself was the site of fighting between Allied forces and Italian troops in 1940 -- 41 when Italian forces invaded. Wajir and Malindi were bombed as well. During the early part of the 20th century, the interior central highlands were settled by British and other European farmers, who became wealthy farming coffee and tea. ( One depiction of this period of change from one colonist 's perspective is found in the memoir Out of Africa by Danish author Baroness Karen von Blixen - Finecke, published in 1937. ) By the 1930s, approximately 30,000 white settlers lived in the area and gained a political voice because of their contribution to the market economy. The central highlands were already home to over a million members of the Kikuyu people, most of whom had no land claims in European terms and lived as itinerant farmers. To protect their interests, the settlers banned the growing of coffee, introduced a hut tax, and the landless were granted less and less land in exchange for their labour. A massive exodus to the cities ensued as their ability to provide a living from the land dwindled. There were 80,000 white settlers living in Kenya in the 1950s. In 1952, Princess Elizabeth and her husband Prince Philip were on holiday at the Treetops Hotel in Kenya when her father, King George VI, died in his sleep. The young princess cut short her trip and returned home immediately to take her throne. She was crowned Queen Elizabeth II at Westminster Abbey in 1953 and as British hunter and conservationist Jim Corbett ( who accompanied the royal couple ) put it, she went up a tree in Africa a princess and came down a queen. Mau Mau uprising ( 1952 -- 1959 ) Further information : Mau Mau Uprising A statue of Dedan Kimathi, a Kenyan rebel leader with the Mau Mau who fought against the British colonial system in the 1950s. From October 1952 to December 1959, Kenya was in a state of emergency arising from the Mau Mau rebellion against British rule. The governor requested and obtained British and African troops, including the King 's African Rifles. The British began counter-insurgency operations. In May 1953, General Sir George Erskine took charge as commander - in - chief of the colony 's armed forces, with the personal backing of Winston Churchill. The capture of Warũhiũ Itote ( aka General China ) on 15 January 1954 and the subsequent interrogation led to a better understanding of the Mau Mau command structure. Operation Anvil opened on 24 April 1954, after weeks of planning by the army with the approval of the War Council. The operation effectively placed Nairobi under military siege. Nairobi 's occupants were screened and the Mau Mau supporters moved to detention camps. The Home Guard formed the core of the government 's strategy as it was composed of loyalist Africans, not foreign forces such as the British Army and King 's African Rifles. By the end of the emergency, the Home Guard had killed 4,686 Mau Mau, amounting to 42 % of the total insurgents. The capture of Dedan Kimathi on 21 October 1956 in Nyeri signified the ultimate defeat of the Mau Mau and essentially ended the military offensive. During this period, substantial governmental changes to land tenure occurred. The most important of these was the Swynnerton Plan, which was used to both reward loyalists and punish Mau Mau. Independent Kenya ( 1963 ) The first President and founding father of Kenya, Jomo Kenyatta. The first direct elections for native Kenyans to the Legislative Council took place in 1957. Despite British hopes of handing power to `` moderate '' local rivals, it was the Kenya African National Union ( KANU ) of Jomo Kenyatta that formed a government. The Colony of Kenya and the Protectorate of Kenya each came to an end on 12 December 1963 with independence being conferred on all of Kenya. The United Kingdom ceded sovereignty over the Colony of Kenya. The Sultan of Zanzibar agreed that simultaneous with independence for the Colony of Kenya, the Sultan would cease to have sovereignty over the Protectorate of Kenya so that all of Kenya would be one sovereign, independent state. In this way, Kenya became an independent country under the Kenya Independence Act 1963 of the United Kingdom. Exactly 12 months later on 12 December 1964, Kenya became a republic under the name `` Republic of Kenya ''. Concurrently, the Kenyan army fought the Shifta War against ethnic Somali rebels inhabiting the Northern Frontier District, who wanted to join their kin in the Somali Republic to the north. A cease fire was eventually reached with the signature of the Arusha Memorandum in October 1967, but relative insecurity prevailed through 1969. To discourage further invasions, Kenya signed a defence pact with Ethiopia in 1969, which is still in effect. On 12 December 1964 the Republic of Kenya was proclaimed, and Jomo Kenyatta became Kenya 's first president. Moi era ( 1978 -- 2002 ) At Kenyatta 's death in 1978, Daniel arap Moi became President. Daniel arap Moi retained the Presidency, being unopposed in elections held in 1979, 1983 ( snap elections ) and 1988, all of which were held under the single party constitution. The 1983 elections were held a year early, and were a direct result of an abortive military coup attempt on 2 August 1982. Daniel arap Moi, Kenya 's second President, and George W. Bush, 2001 The abortive coup was masterminded by a low ranked Air Force serviceman, Senior Private Hezekiah Ochuka, and was staged mainly by enlisted men in the Air Force. The putsch was quickly suppressed by forces commanded by Chief of General Staff Mahamoud Mohamed, a veteran Somali military official. They included the General Service Unit ( GSU ) -- a paramilitary wing of the police -- and later the regular police. On the heels of the Garissa Massacre of 1980, Kenyan troops committed the Wagalla massacre in 1984 against thousands of civilians in Wajir County. An official probe into the atrocities was later ordered in 2011. The election held in 1988 saw the advent of the mlolongo ( queuing ) system, where voters were supposed to line up behind their favoured candidates instead of a secret ballot. This was seen as the climax of a very undemocratic regime and it led to widespread agitation for constitutional reform. Several contentious clauses, including one that allowed for only one political party, were changed in the following years. In democratic, multiparty elections in 1992 and 1997, Daniel arap Moi won re-election. 2000s In 2002, Moi was constitutionally barred from running, and Mwai Kibaki, running for the opposition coalition `` National Rainbow Coalition '' ( NARC ), was elected President. Anderson ( 2003 ) reports the elections were judged free and fair by local and international observers, and seemed to mark a turning point in Kenya 's democratic evolution. In 2005, Kenyans rejected a plan to replace the 1963 independence constitution with a new one. The toll of the 2007 Post-election violence included approximately 1,500 deaths and up to 600,000 people left internally displaced. In mid-2011, two consecutive missed rainy seasons precipitated the worst drought in East Africa seen in 60 years. The northwestern Turkana region was especially affected, with local schools shut down as a result. The crisis was reportedly over by early 2012 because of coordinated relief efforts. Aid agencies subsequently shifted their emphasis to recovery initiatives, including digging irrigation canals and distributing plant seeds. Geography and climate Main article : Geography of Kenya A map of Kenya. A Köppen climate classification map of Kenya. At 580,367 km ( 224,081 sq mi ), Kenya is the world 's forty - seventh largest country ( after Madagascar ). It lies between latitudes 5 ° N and 5 ° S, and longitudes 34 ° and 42 ° E. From the coast on the Indian Ocean, the low plains rise to central highlands. The highlands are bisected by the Great Rift Valley, with a fertile plateau lying to the east. The Kenyan Highlands are one of the most successful agricultural production regions in Africa. The highlands are the site of the highest point in Kenya and the second highest peak on the continent : Mount Kenya, which reaches 5,199 m ( 17,057 ft ) and is the site of glaciers. Mount Kilimanjaro ( 5,895 m or 19,341 ft ) can be seen from Kenya to the south of the Tanzanian border. Climate This section does not cite any sources. Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. ( December 2016 ) Kenya 's climate varies from tropical along the coast to temperate inland to arid in the north and northeast parts of the country. The area receives a great deal of sunshine every month, and summer clothes are worn throughout the year. It is usually cool at night and early in the morning inland at higher elevations. The `` long rains '' season occurs from March / April to May / June. The `` short rains '' season occurs from October to November / December. The rainfall is sometimes heavy and often falls in the afternoons and evenings. The temperature remains high throughout these months of tropical rain. The hottest period is February and March, leading into the season of the long rains, and the coldest is in July, until mid August. A giraffe at Nairobi National Park, with Nairobi 's skyline in background Average annual temperatures City Elevation ( m ) Max ( ° C ) Min ( ° C ) Mombasa Coastal town 17 32.3 23.8 Nairobi Capital city 1,661 25.2 13.6 Kisumu Lakeside city 1,131 31.8 16.9 Eldoret Rift Valley town 2,085 23.6 9.5 Lodwar Dry north plainlands 506 34.8 23.7 Mandera Dry north plainlands 506 34.8 25.7 Wildlife Main articles : Wildlife of Kenya and Environmental issues in Kenya Kenya has considerable land area devoted to wildlife habitats, including the Masai Mara, where blue wildebeest and other bovids participate in a large scale annual migration. More than 1 million wildebeest and 200,000 zebras participate in the migration across the Mara River. The `` Big Five '' game animals of Africa, that is the lion, leopard, buffalo, rhinoceros, and elephant, can be found in Kenya and in the Masai Mara in particular. A significant population of other wild animals, reptiles and birds can be found in the national parks and game reserves in the country. The annual animal migration occurs between June and September with millions of animals taking part, attracting valuable foreign tourism. Two million wildebeest migrate a distance of 2,900 kilometres ( 1,802 mi ) from the Serengeti in neighbouring Tanzania to the Masai Mara in Kenya, in a constant clockwise fashion, searching for food and water supplies. This Serengeti Migration of the wildebeest is a curious spectacle listed among the Seven Natural Wonders of Africa. Government and politics Main article : Politics of Kenya Former president Mwai Kibaki Kenya is a presidential representative democratic republic. The President is both the head of state and head of government, and of a multi-party system. Executive power is exercised by the government. Legislative power is vested in both the government and the National Assembly and the Senate. The Judiciary is independent of the executive and the legislature. There was growing concern especially during former president Daniel arap Moi 's tenure that the executive was increasingly meddling with the affairs of the judiciary. Kenya ranks low on Transparency International 's Corruption Perception Index ( CPI ), a metric which attempts to gauge the prevalence of public sector corruption in various countries. In 2012, the nation placed 139th out of 176 total countries in the CPI, with a score of 27 / 100. However, there are several rather significant developments with regards to curbing corruption from the Kenyan government, for instance, the establishment of a new and independent Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission ( EACC ). The Supreme Court of Kenya building. Following general elections held in 1997, the Constitution of Kenya Review Act designed to pave the way for more comprehensive amendments to the Kenyan constitution was passed by the national parliament. In December 2002, Kenyans held democratic and open elections, most of which were judged free and fair by international observers. The 2002 elections marked an important turning point in Kenya 's democratic evolution in that power was transferred peacefully from the Kenya African National Union ( KANU ), which had ruled the country since independence to the National Rainbow Coalition ( NARC ), a coalition of political parties. Under the presidency of Mwai Kibaki, the new ruling coalition promised to focus its efforts on generating economic growth, combating corruption, improving education, and rewriting its constitution. A few of these promises have been met. There is free primary education. In 2007, the government issued a statement declaring that from 2008, secondary education would be heavily subsidised, with the government footing all tuition fees. 2013 elections and new government Main articles : Kenyan general election, 2013 ; Kenyan presidential election, 2013 ; Kenya National Assembly elections, 2013 ; Kenya Senate elections, 2013 ; Kenya gubernatorial elections, 2013 ; Kenya Women Representatives elections, 2013 ; and Kenya County Representative elections, 2013 Under the new constitution and with President Kibaki prohibited by term limits from running for a third term, Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta ran for office. He won with 50.51 % of the vote in March 2013. In December 2014, President Uhuru Kenyatta signed a Security Laws Amendment Bill, which supporters of the law suggested was necessary to guard against armed groups. Opposition politicians, human rights groups, and nine Western countries criticised the security bill, arguing that it infringed on democratic freedoms. The governments of the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, and France also collectively issued a press statement cautioning about the law 's potential impact. Through the Jubilee Coalition, the Bill was later passed on 19 December in the National Assembly under acrimonious circumstances. Foreign relations Main article : Foreign relations of Kenya Kenya has close ties with its fellow Swahili - speaking neighbours in the African Great Lakes region. Relations with Uganda and Tanzania are generally strong, as the three nations work toward economic and social integration through common membership in the East African Community. Relations with Somalia have historically been tense, although there has been some military co-ordination against Islamist insurgents. Kenya has good relations with the United Kingdom. Kenya is one of the most pro-American nations in Africa, and the wider world. With International Criminal Court trial dates scheduled in 2013 for both President Kenyatta and Deputy President William Ruto related to the 2007 election aftermath, US President Barack Obama chose not to visit the country during his mid-2013 African trip. Later in the summer, Kenyatta visited China at the invitation of President Xi Jinping after a stop in Russia and not having visited the United States as president. In July 2015 Obama visited Kenya, the first American president to visit the country while in office. Armed forces Main article : Kenya Defence Forces Kenyan Army Brig. Gen. Leonard Ngondi, left, greets U.S. Marine Lt. Col. Steve Nichols, left, at Camp Lonestar in Kenya, 2006 The Kenya Defence Forces are the armed forces of the Republic of Kenya. The Kenya Army, Kenya Navy and Kenya Air Force compose the National Defence Forces. The current Kenya Defence Forces were established, and its composition laid out, in Article 241 of the 2010 Constitution of Kenya ; the KDF is governed by the Kenya Defence Forces Act of 2012. The President of Kenya is the commander - in - chief of all the armed forces. The armed forces are regularly deployed in peacekeeping missions around the world. Further, in the aftermath of the national elections of December 2007 and the violence that subsequently engulfed the country, a commission of inquiry, the Waki Commission, commended its readiness and adjudged it to `` have performed its duty well. '' Nevertheless, there have been serious allegations of human rights violations, most recently while conducting counter-insurgency operations in the Mt Elgon area and also in the district of Mandera central. Kenya 's 47 counties. Kenya 's armed forces, like many government institutions in the country, have been tainted by corruption allegations. Because the operations of the armed forces have been traditionally cloaked by the ubiquitous blanket of `` state security '', the corruption has been hidden from public view, and thus less subject to public scrutiny and notoriety. This has changed recently. In what are by Kenyan standards unprecedented revelations, in 2010, credible claims of corruption were made with regard to recruitment and procurement of Armoured Personnel Carriers. Further, the wisdom and prudence of certain decisions of procurement have been publicly questioned. Administrative divisions Main articles : Counties of Kenya and Divisions of Kenya Kenya is divided into 47 semi-autonomous counties that are headed by governors. These 47 counties now form the first - order divisions of Kenya. The smallest administrative units in Kenya are called locations. Locations often coincide with electoral wards. Locations are usually named after their central villages / towns. Many larger towns consist of several locations. Each location has a chief, appointed by the state. Constituencies are an electoral subdivision, with each county comprising a whole number of constituencies. An Interim Boundaries commission was formed in year 2010 to review the constituencies and in its report, it recommended creation of an additional 80 constituencies. Previous to the 2013 elections, there were 210 constituencies in Kenya. Human rights See also : Human rights in Kenya and LGBT rights in Kenya Homosexual acts are illegal in Kenya and punishable by up to 14 years in prison though the state often turns a blind eye on prosecuting homosexuals. According to 2013 survey by the Pew Research Center, 90 % of Kenyans believe that homosexuality should not be accepted by society. While addressing a joint press conference together with President Barack Obama in 2015, President Kenyatta declined to assure Kenya 's commitment to gay rights saying that `` the issue of gay rights is really a non-issue. '' `` But there are some things that we must admit we do n't share. Our culture, our societies do n't accept. '' Kenya has against the Western nations to use human rights to involve their domestic politics. In November 2008, WikiLeaks brought wide international attention to The Cry of Blood report. In the report, the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights ( KNCHR ) reported these in their key finding `` e ) '', stating that the forced disappearances and extrajudicial killings appeared to be official policy sanctioned by the political leadership, the Police. The police often shoot suspected gangsters in public as a new `` strategy '' to fight the rising levels of crime in the country in total disregard of the laws. Economy Main article : Economy of Kenya A proportional representation of Kenya 's exports. Although Kenya is the biggest and most advanced economy in east and central Africa, and has an affluent urban minority, it has a Human Development Index ( HDI ) of 0.519, ranked 145 out of 186 in the world. As of 2005, 17.7 % of Kenyans lived on less than $1.25 a day. In 2017, Kenya ranked 92nd in the World Bank ease of doing business rating from 113rd in 2016 ( of 190 countries ). The important agricultural sector is one of the least developed and largely inefficient, employing 75 % of the workforce compared to less than 3 % in the food secure developed countries. Kenya is usually classified as a frontier market or occasionally an emerging market, but it is not one of the least developed countries. A market hall in Mombasa. The economy has seen much expansion, seen by strong performance in tourism, higher education and telecommunications, and acceptable post-drought results in agriculture, especially the vital tea sector. Kenya 's economy grew by more than 7 % in 2007, and its foreign debt was greatly reduced. But this changed immediately after the disputed presidential election of December 2007, following the chaos which engulfed the country. East and Central Africa 's biggest economy has posted tremendous growth in the service sector, boosted by rapid expansion in telecommunication and financial activity over the last decade, and now contributes 62 % of GDP. 22 % of GDP still comes from the unreliable agricultural sector which employs 75 % of the labour force ( a consistent characteristic of under - developed economies that have not attained food security -- an important catalyst of economic growth ) A small portion of the population relies on food aid. Industry and manufacturing is the smallest sector, accounting for 16 % of GDP. The service, industry and manufacturing sectors only employ 25 % of the labour force but contribute 75 % of GDP. Privatisation of state corporations like the defunct Kenya Post and Telecommunications Company, which resulted in East Africa 's most profitable company -- Safaricom, has led to their revival because of massive private investment. As of May 2011, economic prospects are positive with 4 -- 5 % GDP growth expected, largely because of expansions in tourism, telecommunications, transport, construction and a recovery in agriculture. The World Bank estimated growth of 4.3 % in 2012. Kenya, Trends in the Human Development Index 1970 -- 2010. In March 1996, the presidents of Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda re-established the East African Community ( EAC ). The EAC 's objectives include harmonising tariffs and customs regimes, free movement of people, and improving regional infrastructures. In March 2004, the three East African countries signed a Customs Union Agreement. Kenya is East and Central Africa 's hub for financial services. The Nairobi Securities Exchange ( NSE ) is ranked 4th in Africa in terms of market capitalisation. The Kenyan banking system is supervised by the Central Bank of Kenya ( CBK ). As of late July 2004, the system consisted of 43 commercial banks ( down from 48 in 2001 ), several non-bank financial institutions, including mortgage companies, four savings and loan associations, and several core foreign - exchange bureaus. Tourism Main article : Tourism in Kenya Elephants at Amboseli National Park against Mount Kilimanjaro Kenya 's services sector, which contributes 61 % of GDP, is dominated by tourism. The tourism sector has exhibited steady growth in most years since independence and by the late 1980s had become the country 's principal source of foreign exchange. Tourists, the largest number being from Germany and the United Kingdom, are attracted mainly to the coastal beaches and the game reserves, notably, the expansive East and Tsavo West National Park 20,808 square kilometres ( 8,034 sq mi ) in the southeast. Tourism has seen a substantial revival over the past several years and is the major contributor to the pick - up in the country 's economic growth. Tourism is now Kenya 's largest foreign exchange earning sector, followed by flowers, tea, and coffee. In 2006 tourism generated US $803 million, up from US $699 million the previous year. Presently, there are also numerous shopping malls in Kenya. In addition, there are four main hypermarket chains in Kenya. Kenya banned most game hunting in 1977, removing a major economic incentive for rural communities to protect wildlife. By best estimates, Kenya 's wildlife has declined by more than 70 percent over the past 20 years. Agriculture Main article : Agriculture in Kenya A Tea farm near Kericho, Kericho County. Agriculture is the second largest contributor to Kenya 's gross domestic product ( GDP ), after the service sector. In 2005 agriculture, including forestry and fishing, accounted for 24 % of GDP, as well as for 18 % of wage employment and 50 % of revenue from exports. The principal cash crops are tea, horticultural produce, and coffee. Horticultural produce and tea are the main growth sectors and the two most valuable of all of Kenya 's exports. The production of major food staples such as corn is subject to sharp weather - related fluctuations. Production downturns periodically necessitate food aid -- for example, in 2004 aid for 1.8 million people because of one of Kenya 's intermittent droughts. A Kenyan farmer at work in the Mount Kenya region. A consortium led by the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics ( ICRISAT ) has had some success in helping farmers grow new pigeon pea varieties, instead of maize, in particularly dry areas. Pigeon peas are very drought resistant, so can be grown in areas with less than 650 mm annual rainfall. Successive projects encouraged the commercialisation of legumes, by stimulating the growth of local seed production and agro-dealer networks for distribution and marketing. This work, which included linking producers to wholesalers, helped to increase local producer prices by 20 -- 25 % in Nairobi and Mombasa. The commercialisation of the pigeon pea is now enabling some farmers to buy assets, ranging from mobile phones to productive land and livestock, and is opening pathways for them to move out of poverty. Tea, coffee, sisal, pyrethrum, corn, and wheat are grown in the fertile highlands, one of the most successful agricultural production regions in Africa. Livestock predominates in the semi-arid savanna to the north and east. Coconuts, pineapples, cashew nuts, cotton, sugarcane, sisal, and corn are grown in the lower - lying areas. Kenya has not attained the level of investment and efficiency in agriculture that can guarantee food security and coupled with resulting poverty ( 53 % of the population lives below the poverty line ), a significant portion of the population regularly starves and is heavily dependent on food aid. Poor roads, an inadequate railway network, under - used water transport and expensive air transport have isolated mostly arid and semi-arid areas and farmers in other regions often leave food to rot in the fields because they can not access markets. This was last seen in August and September 2011 prompting the Kenyans for Kenya initiative by the Red Cross. Kenya 's irrigation sector is categorized into three organizational types : smallholder schemes, centrally - managed public schemes and private / commercial irrigation schemes. The smallholder schemes are owned, developed and managed by individuals or groups of farmers operating as water users or self - help groups. Irrigation is carried out on individual or on group farms averaging 0.1 -- 0.4 ha. There are about 3,000 smallholder irrigation schemes covering a total area of 47,000 ha. The country has seven large, centrally managed irrigation schemes, namely Mwea, Bura, Hola, Perkera, West Kano, Bunyala and Ahero covering a total commanded area of 18,200 ha and averaging 2,600 ha per scheme. These schemes are managed by the National Irrigation Board and account for 18 % of irrigated land area in Kenya. Large - scale private commercial farms cover 45,000 hectares accounting for 40 % of irrigated land. They utilize high technology and produce high - value crops for the export market, especially flowers and vegetables. Kenya is the world 's 3rd largest exporter of cut flowers. Roughly half of Kenya 's 127 flower farms are concentrated around Lake Naivasha, 90 kilometers northwest of Nairobi. To speed their export, Nairobi airport has a terminal dedicated to the transport of flowers and vegetables. Industry and manufacturing The Kenya Commercial Bank headquarters at KENCOM House in Nairobi. Although Kenya is the most industrially developed country in the African Great Lakes region, manufacturing still accounts for only 14 % of the GDP. Industrial activity, concentrated around the three largest urban centres, Nairobi, Mombasa and Kisumu, is dominated by food - processing industries such as grain milling, beer production, and sugarcane crushing, and the fabrication of consumer goods, e.g., vehicles from kits. There is a cement production industry. Kenya has an oil refinery that processes imported crude petroleum into petroleum products, mainly for the domestic market. In addition, a substantial and expanding informal sector commonly referred to as jua kali engages in small - scale manufacturing of household goods, auto parts, and farm implements. Kenya 's inclusion among the beneficiaries of the US Government 's African Growth and Opportunity Act ( AGOA ) has given a boost to manufacturing in recent years. Since AGOA took effect in 2000, Kenya 's clothing sales to the United States increased from US $44 million to US $270 million ( 2006 ). Other initiatives to strengthen manufacturing have been the new government 's favourable tax measures, including the removal of duty on capital equipment and other raw materials. Transport Main article : Transport in Kenya The country has an extensive network of paved and unpaved roads. Kenya 's railway system links the nation 's ports and major cities and connects Kenya with neighbouring Uganda. There are 15 airports with paved runways. Energy Main article : Energy in Kenya The largest share of Kenya 's electricity supply comes from geothermal energy followed by hydroelectric stations at dams along the upper Tana River, as well as the Turkwel Gorge Dam in the west. A petroleum - fired plant on the coast, geothermal facilities at Olkaria ( near Nairobi ), and electricity imported from Uganda make up the rest of the supply. Kenya 's installed capacity stood at 1,142 megawatts between 2001 and 2003. The state - owned Kenya Electricity Generating Company ( KenGen ), established in 1997 under the name of Kenya Power Company, handles the generation of electricity, while Kenya Power handles the electricity transmission and distribution system in the country. Shortfalls of electricity occur periodically, when drought reduces water flow. To become energy sufficient, Kenya aims to build a nuclear power plant by 2017. Workers at Olkaria Geothermal Power Plant. Kenya has proven deposits of oil in Turkana and the commercial viability was just discovered. Tullow Oil estimates Kenya 's oil reserves to be around 10 billion barrels. Exploration is still continuing to determine if there are more reserves. Kenya currently imports all crude petroleum requirements. Kenya, east Africa 's largest economy, has no strategic reserves and relies solely on oil marketers ' 21 - day oil reserves required under industry regulations. Petroleum accounts for 20 % to 25 % of the national import bill. Overall Chinese investment and trade Published comments on Kenya 's Capital FM website by Liu Guangyuan, China 's ambassador to Kenya, at the time of President Kenyatta 's 2013 trip to Beijing, said, `` Chinese investment in Kenya... reached $474 million, representing Kenya 's largest source of foreign direct investment, and... bilateral trade... reached $2.84 billion '' in 2012. Kenyatta was `` ( a ) ccompanied by 60 Kenyan business people ( and hoped to )... gain support from China for a planned $2.5 billion railway from the southern Kenyan port of Mombasa to neighboring Uganda, as well as a nearly $1.8 billion dam '', according to a statement from the president 's office also at the time of the trip. Base Titanium, a subsidiary of Base resources of Australia, shipped its first major consignment of minerals to China. About 25,000 tonnes of ilmenite was flagged off the Kenyan coastal town of Kilifi. The first shipment was expected to earn Kenya about Kshs15 -- 20 billion in earnings. Recently the Chinese contracted railway project from Nairobi to Mombasa was suspended due to dispute over compensation for land acquisition. Vision 2030 The official logo of Vision 2030. In 2007, the Kenyan government unveiled Vision 2030, an economic development programme it hopes will put the country in the same league as the Asian Economic Tigers by the year 2030. In 2013, it launched a National Climate Change Action Plan, having acknowledged that omitting climate as a key development issue in Vision 2030 was an oversight. The 200 - page Action Plan, developed with support from the Climate & Development Knowledge Network, sets out the Government of Kenya 's vision for a ' low carbon climate resilient development pathway '. At the launch in March 2013, the Secretary of the Ministry of Planning, National Development and Vision 2030 emphasised that climate would be a central issue in the renewed Medium Term Plan that would be launched in the coming months. This would create a direct and robust delivery framework for the Action Plan and ensure climate change is treated as an economy - wide issue. Economic summary GDP $41.84 billion ( 2012 ) at Market Price. $76.07 billion ( Purchasing Power Parity, 2012 ) There exists an informal economy that is never counted as part of the official GDP figures. Annual growth rate 5.1 % ( 2012 ) Per capita income Per Capita Income ( PPP ) = $1,800 Agricultural produce tea, coffee, corn, wheat, sugarcane, fruit, vegetables, dairy products, beef, pork, poultry, eggs Industry small - scale consumer goods ( plastic, furniture, batteries, textiles, clothing, soap, cigarettes, flour ), agricultural products, horticulture, oil refining ; aluminium, steel, lead ; cement, commercial ship repair, tourism Trade in 2012 Exports $5.942 billion tea, coffee, horticultural products, petroleum products, cement, fish Major markets Uganda 9.9 %, Tanzania 9.6 %, Netherlands 8.4 %, UK, 8.1 %, US 6.2 %, Egypt 4.9 %, Democratic Republic of the Congo 4.2 % ( 2012 ) Imports $14.39 billion machinery and transportation equipment, petroleum products, motor vehicles, iron and steel, resins and plastics Major suppliers China 15.3 %, India 13.8 %, UAE 10.5 %, Saudi Arabia 7.3 %, South Africa 5.5 %, Japan 4.0 % ( 2012 ) Oil exploration See also : Oil in Kenya Lake Turkana borders Turkana County Kenya has proven oil deposits in Turkana County. President Mwai Kibaki announced on 26 March 2012 that Tullow Oil, an Anglo - Irish oil exploration firm, had struck oil but its commercial viability and subsequent production would take about three years to confirm. Early in 2006 Chinese President Hu Jintao signed an oil exploration contract with Kenya, part of a series of deals designed to keep Africa 's natural resources flowing to China 's rapidly expanding economy. The deal allowed for China 's state - controlled offshore oil and gas company, CNOOC, to prospect for oil in Kenya, which is just beginning to drill its first exploratory wells on the borders of Sudan and Somalia and in coastal waters. There are formal estimates of the possible reserves of oil discovered. Child labour and prostitution Maasai people. The Maasai live in both Kenya and Tanzania. Child labour is common in Kenya. Most working children are active in agriculture. In 2006, UNICEF estimated that up to 30 % of girls in the coastal areas of Malindi, Mombasa, Kilifi, and Diani were subject to prostitution. Most of the prostitutes in Kenya are aged 9 -- 18. The Ministry of Gender and Child Affairs employed 400 child protection officers in 2009. The causes of child labour include poverty, the lack of access to education and weak government institutions. Kenya has ratified Convention No. 81 on labour inspection in industries and Convention No. 129 on labour inspection in agriculture. Microfinance in Kenya Main article : Microfinance in Kenya 24 institutions offer business loans on a large scale, specific agriculture loans, education loans and for any other purpose loans. Additionally there are : emergency loans, which are more expensive in respect to interest rates, but are quickly available group loans for smaller groups ( 4 -- 5 members ) and larger groups ( up to 30 members ) women loans, which are also available to a group of women Out of approximately 40 million Kenyans, about 14 million Kenyans are not able to receive financial service through formal loan application service and an additional 12 million Kenyans have no access to financial service institutions at all. Further, 1 million Kenyans are reliant on informal groups for receiving financial aid. Conditions for microfinance products Eligibility criteria : the general criteria might include gender as in the case for special women loans, to be at least 18 years old, to own a valid Kenyan ID, have a business, demonstrate the ability to repay the loan, and to be a customer of the institution. Credit scoring : there is no advanced credit scoring system and the majority has not stated any official loan distribution system. However, some institutions require to have an existing business for at least 3 months, own a small amount of cash, provide the institution with a business plan or proposal, have at least one guarantor, or to attend group meetings or training. For group loans, almost half of the institutions require group members to guarantee for each other. Interest rate : they are mostly calculated on a flat basis and some at a declining balance. More than 90 % of the institutions require monthly interest payments. The average interest rate is 30 -- 40 % for loans up to 500,000 Kenyan Shilling. For loans above 500,000 Kenyan Shilling, interest rates go up to 71 %. Demographics Main article : Demographics of Kenya A Bantu Kikuyu woman in traditional attire Kenya had a population of approximately 48 million people in January 2017. Kenya has a young population, with 73 % of residents aged below 30 years because of rapid population growth ; from 2.9 million to 40 million inhabitants over the last century. Kenya 's capital, Nairobi, is home to Kibera, one of the world 's largest slums. The shanty town is believed to house between 170,000 and 1 million locals. The UNHCR base in Dadaab in the north also currently houses around 500,000 people. Ethnic groups Kenya has a diverse population that includes most major ethnoracial and linguistic groups found in Africa. There are an estimated 47 different communities, with Bantus ( 67 % ) and Nilotes ( 30 % ) constituting the majority of local residents. Cushitic groups also form a small ethnic minority, as do Arabs, Indians and Europeans. According to the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics ( KNBS ), Kenya has a total population of 38,610,097 inhabitants. The largest native ethnic groups are the Kikuyu ( 6,622,576 ), Luhya ( 5,338,666 ), Kalenjin ( 4,967,328 ), Luo ( 4,044,440 ), Kamba ( 3,893,157 ), Kisi ( 2,205,669 ), Mijikenda ( 1,960,574 ), Meru ( 1,658,108 ), Turkana ( 988,592 ), and Maasai ( 841,622 ). Foreign - rooted populations include Kenyan Arabs, Somalis, Asians and Europeans. A Nilotic Turkana woman wearing traditional neck beads Languages Main article : Languages of Kenya Kenya 's various ethnic groups typically speak their mother tongues within their own communities. The two official languages, English and Swahili, are used in varying degrees of fluency for communication with other populations. English is widely spoken in commerce, schooling and government. Peri-urban and rural dwellers are less multilingual, with many in rural areas speaking only their native languages. British English is primarily used in Kenya. Additionally, a distinct local dialect, Kenyan English, is used by some communities and individuals in the country, and contains features unique to it that were derived from local Bantu languages, such as Kiswahili and Kikuyu. It has been developing since colonisation and also contains certain elements of American English. Sheng is a Kiswahili - based cant spoken in some urban areas. Primarily consisting of a mixture of Kiswahili and English, it is an example of linguistic code - switching. There are a total of 69 languages spoken in Kenya. Most belong to two broad language families : Niger - Congo ( Bantu branch ) and Nilo - Saharan ( Nilotic branch ), spoken by the country 's Bantu and Nilotic populations, respectively. The Cushitic and Arab ethnic minorities speak languages belonging to the separate Afroasiatic family, with the Indian and European residents speaking languages from the Indo - European family. Urban centres Main article : List of cities and towns in Kenya by population Largest cities or towns in Kenya OpenData Kenya CIA Factbook Rank Name County Pop. Rank Name County Pop. Nairobi Mombasa Nairobi Nairobi 3 375 000 11 Naivasha Nakuru 181 966 Kisumu Nakuru Mombasa Mombasa 1 200 000 12 Kitui Kitui 155 896 Kisumu Kisumu 409 928 13 Machakos Machakos 150 041 Nakuru Nakuru 307 990 14 Thika Kiambu 139 853 5 Eldoret Uasin Gishu 289 380 15 Athi River Machakos 139 380 6 Kehancha Migori 256 086 16 Karuri Kiambu 129 934 7 Ruiru Kiambu 238 858 17 Nyeri Nyeri 125 357 8 Kikuyu Kiambu 233 231 18 Kilifi Kilifi 122 899 9 Kangundo - Tala Machakos 218 557 19 Garissa Garissa 119 696 10 Malindi Kilifi 207 253 20 Vihiga Vihiga 118 696 Religion Main article : Religion in Kenya Holy Ghost Roman Catholic cathedral in Mombasa. The majority of Kenyans are Christian ( 83 % ), with 47.7 % regarding themselves as Protestant and 23.5 % as Roman Catholic of the Latin Rite. The Presbyterian Church of East Africa has 3 million followers in Kenya and the surrounding countries. There are smaller conservative Reformed churches, the Africa Evangelical Presbyterian Church, the Independent Presbyterian Church in Kenya, and the Reformed Church of East Africa. 621,200 of Kenyans are Orthodox Christians. Notably, Kenya has the highest number of Quakers in the world, with around 133,000 members. The only Jewish synagogue in the country is located in the capital, Nairobi. Minorities of other faiths exist ( Muslim 11.2 %, indigenous beliefs 1.7 % ), and nonreligious 2.4 %. Sixty percent of the Muslim population lives in Kenya 's Coastal Region, comprising 50 % of the total population there. Western areas of the Coast Region are mostly Christian. The upper part of Kenya 's Eastern Region is home to 10 % of the country 's Muslims, where they constitute the majority religious group. In addition, there is a large Hindu population in Kenya ( around 300,000 ), who have played a key role in the local economy ; they are mostly of Indian origin. Health Main article : Health in Kenya Outpatient Department of AIC Kapsowar Hospital in Kapsowar. Kenya 's private sector is one of the most advanced and dynamic in Sub-Saharan Africa and is the main source of health care even for the nation 's poorest people. The private health sector is larger and more easily accessible than both the public and the non-profit health sectors in terms of facilities and personnel. According to a World Bank report, nearly half of the poorest 20 percent of Kenyans use a private health facility when a child is sick. Private health facilities are diverse and cater for all economic groups. World - class hospitals such as the Aga Khan Hospital and the Mombasa Hospital are comparable to many hospitals in the developed world but are expensive and accessible only to the rich and the insured. Many affordable and low - cost private medical institutions and clinics exist and are easily accessible to the poor and the working middle - class. The unlicensed practice and control of medical practice by laymen through limited liability companies and other artificial legal entities is common and widespread unlike other countries where it is strictly forbidden. The public health sector consists of community - based ( level I ) services which are run by community health workers, dispensaries ( level II facilities ) which are run by nurses, health centers ( level III facilities ) which are run by clinical officers, sub-county hospitals ( level IV facilities ) which may be run by a clinical officer or a medical officer, county hospitals ( level V facilities ) which may be run by a medical officer or a medical practitioner, and national referral hospitals ( level VI facilities ) which are run by fully qualified medical practitioners ( consultants and sub-specialists ). Table showing different grades of clinical officers, medical officers and medical practitioners in Kenya 's public service Nurses are by far the largest group of front - line health care providers in all sectors followed by clinical officers, medical officers and medical practitioners. According to the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics, in 2011 there were 65,000 qualified nurses registered in the country ; 8,600 clinical officers and 7,000 doctors for the population of 43 million people ( These figures from official registers include those who have died or left the profession hence the actual number of these workers may be lower ). Traditional healers ( Herbalists, witch doctors and faith healers ) are readily available, trusted and widely consulted as practitioners of first or last choice by both rural and urban dwellers. Despite major achievements in the health sector, Kenya still faces many challenges. The life expectancy estimate has dropped to approximately 55 years in 2009 -- five years below 1990 levels. The infant mortality rate is high at approximately 44 deaths per 1,000 children in 2012. The WHO estimated in 2011 that only 42 % of births were attended by a skilled health professional. Diseases of poverty directly correlate with a country 's economic performance and wealth distribution : Half of Kenyans live below the poverty level. Preventable diseases like malaria, HIV / AIDS, pneumonia, diarrhoea and malnutrition are the biggest burden, major child - killers, and responsible for much morbidity ; weak policies, corruption, inadequate health workers, weak management and poor leadership in the public health sector are largely to blame. According to 2009 estimates, HIV prevalence is about 6.3 % of the adult population. However, the 2011 UNAIDS Report suggests that the HIV epidemic may be improving in Kenya, as HIV prevalence is declining among young people ( ages 15 -- 24 ) and pregnant women. Kenya had an estimated 15 million cases of malaria in 2006. The total fertility rate in Kenya is estimated to be 4.49 children per woman in 2012. According to a 2008 -- 09 survey by the Kenyan government, the total fertility rate was 4.6 % and the contraception usage rate among married women was 46 %. Maternal mortality is high, partly because of female genital mutilation, with about 27 % of women having undergone it. This practice is however on the decline as the country becomes more modernised, and the practice was also banned in the country in 2011. Education Main article : Education in Kenya School children in a classroom. An MSc student at Kenyatta University in Nairobi. Children attend nursery school, or kindergarten in the private sector until they are five years old. This lasts one to three years ( KG1, KG2 and KG3 ) and is financed privately because there has been no government policy regarding it until recently. Basic formal education starts at age six years and lasts 12 years consisting of eight years in primary school and four years in high school or secondary school. Primary school is free in public schools and those attend can join a vocational youth / village polytechnic or make their own arrangements for an apprenticeship program and learn a trade such as tailoring, carpentry, motor vehicle repair, brick - laying and masonry for about two years. Those who complete high school can join a polytechnic or other technical college and study for three years, or proceed directly to the university and study for four years. Graduates from the polytechnics and colleges can then join the workforce and later obtain a specialized higher diploma qualification after a further one to two years of training, or join the university -- usually in the second or third year of their respective course. The higher diploma is accepted by many employers in place of a bachelor 's degree and direct or accelerated admission to post-graduate studies is possible in some universities. A Maasai girl at school. Public universities in Kenya are highly commercialized institutions and only a small fraction of qualified high school graduates are admitted on limited government - sponsorship into programs of their choice. Most are admitted into the social sciences, which are cheap to run, or as self - sponsored students paying the full cost of their studies. Most qualified students who miss out opt for middle - level diploma programs in public or private universities, colleges, and polytechnics. 38.5 percent of the Kenyan adult population is illiterate. There are very wide regional disparities ; for example, Nairobi had the highest level of literacy, 87.1 per cent, compared to North Eastern Province, the lowest, at 8.0 per cent. Preschool, which targets children from age three to five, is an integral component of the education system and is a key requirement for admission to Standard One ( First Grade ). At the end of primary education, pupils sit the Kenya Certificate of Primary Education ( KCPE ), which determines those who proceed to secondary school or vocational training. The result of this examination is needed for placement at secondary school. Primary school is for students aged 6 / 7 - 13 / 14 years. For those who proceed to the secondary level, there is a national examination at the end of Form Four -- the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education ( KCSE ), which determines those proceeding to the universities, other professional training or employment. Students sit examinations in eight subjects of their choosing. However, English, Kiswahili and mathematics are compulsory subjects. The Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Service ( KUCCPS ), formerly the Joint Admissions Board ( JAB ), is responsible for selecting students joining the public universities. Other than the public schools, there are many private schools, mainly in urban areas. Similarly, there are a number of international schools catering to various overseas educational systems. Despite its impressive commercial approach and interests in the country, Kenya 's academia and higher education system is notoriously rigid and disconnected from the needs of the local labor market and is widely blamed for the high number of unemployable and half - baked university graduates who struggle to fit in the modern workplace. ( 5 ) Culture Main article : Culture of Kenya Kenyan boys and girls performing a traditional dance Nation Media House which hosts the Nation Media Group The culture of Kenya consists of multiple traditions. Kenya has no single prominent culture that identifies it. It instead consists of the various cultures of the country 's different communities. Notable populations include the Swahili on the coast, several other Bantu communities in the central and western regions, and Nilotic communities in the northwest. The Maasai culture is well known to tourism, despite constituting a relatively small part of Kenya 's population. They are renowned for their elaborate upper body adornment and jewellery. Additionally, Kenya has an extensive music, television and theater scene. Media Further information : Media of Kenya Kenya has a number of media outlets that broadcast domestically and globally. They cover news, business, sports and entertainment. Popular Kenyan newspapers include : The Daily Nation ; part of the Nation Media Group ( NMG ) ( largest market share ) The Standard The Star The People East Africa Weekly Taifa Leo Television stations based in Kenya include : Kenya Broadcasting Corporation ( KBC ) Citizen TV Kenya Television Network ( KTN ) NTV ( part of the Nation Media Group ( NMG ) ) Kiss Television K24 Television Kass - TV All of these terrestrial channels are transmitted via a DVB T2 digital TV signal. Literature Main article : Literature of Kenya Kenyan author Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o. Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o is one of the best known writers of Kenya. His novel, Weep Not, Child, is an illustration of life in Kenya during the British occupation. The story details the effects of the Mau Mau on the lives of Kenyans. Its combination of themes -- colonialism, education, and love -- helped to make it one of the best - known novels in Africa. M.G. Vassanji 's 2003 novel The In - Between World of Vikram Lall won the Giller Prize in 2003. It is the fictional memoir of a Kenyan of Indian heritage and his family as they adjust to the changing political climates in colonial and post-colonial Kenya. Additionally, since 2003, the literary journal Kwani ? has been publishing Kenyan contemporary literature. Music Main article : Music of Kenya Popular Kenyan musician Jua Cali. Kenya has a diverse assortment of popular music forms, in addition to multiple types of folk music based on the variety over 40 regional languages. The drums are the most dominant instrument in popular Kenyan music. Drum beats are very complex and include both native rhythm and imported ones, especially the Congolese cavacha rhythm. Popular Kenyan music usually involves the interplay of multiple parts, and more recently, showy guitar solos as well. There are also a number of local hip hop artists, including Jua Cali and afro - pop bands such as Sauti Sol. Lyrics are most often in Kiswahili or English. There is also some emerging aspect of Lingala borrowed from Congolese musicians. Lyrics are also written in local languages. Urban radio generally only plays English music, though there also exist a number of vernacular radio stations. Zilizopendwa is a genre of local urban music that was recorded in the 1960s, 70s and 80s by musicians such as Daudi Kabaka, Fadhili William and Sukuma Bin Ongaro, and is particularly revered and enjoyed by the older folks -- having been popularised by the Kenya Broadcasting Corporation 's Kiswahili service ( formerly called Voice of Kenya or VOK ). The isukuti is a vigorous dance performed by the Luhya sub-tribes to the beat of a traditional drum called the Isukuti during many occasions such as the birth of a child, marriage and funerals. Other traditional dances include the Ohangla among the Luo, Nzele among the Mijikenda, Mugithi among the Kikuyu and Taarab among the Swahili. Additionally, Kenya has a growing Christian gospel music scene. Prominent local gospel musicians include the Kenyan Boys Choir. Benga music has been popular since the late 1960s, especially in the area around Lake Victoria. The word benga is occasionally used to refer to any kind of pop music. Bass, guitar and percussion are the usual instruments. Sports Main article : Sport in Kenya Jepkosgei Kipyego and Jepkemoi Cheruiyot at London 2012 Olympics 5,000 meters Kenya is active in several sports, among them cricket, rallying, football, rugby union and boxing. The country is known chiefly for its dominance in middle - distance and long - distance athletics, having consistently produced Olympic and Commonwealth Games champions in various distance events, especially in 800 m, 1,500 m, 3,000 m steeplechase, 5,000 m, 10,000 m and the marathon. Kenyan athletes ( particularly Kalenjin ) continue to dominate the world of distance running, although competition from Morocco and Ethiopia has reduced this supremacy. Kenya 's best - known athletes included the four - time women 's Boston Marathon winner and two - time world champion Catherine Ndereba, 800m world record holder David Rudisha, former Marathon world record - holder Paul Tergat, and John Ngugi. Kenya won several medals during the Beijing Olympics, six gold, four silver and four bronze, making it Africa 's most successful nation in the 2008 Olympics. New athletes gained attention, such as Pamela Jelimo, the women 's 800m gold medalist who went ahead to win the IAAF Golden League jackpot, and Samuel Wanjiru who won the men 's marathon. Retired Olympic and Commonwealth Games champion Kipchoge Keino helped usher in Kenya 's ongoing distance dynasty in the 1970s and was followed by Commonwealth Champion Henry Rono 's spectacular string of world record performances. Lately, there has been controversy in Kenyan athletics circles, with the defection of a number of Kenyan athletes to represent other countries, chiefly Bahrain and Qatar. The Kenyan Ministry of Sports has tried to stop the defections, but they have continued anyway, with Bernard Lagat the latest, choosing to represent the United States. Most of these defections occur because of economic or financial factors. Decisions by the Kenyan government to tax athletes ' earnings may also be a reason for defection. Some elite Kenyan runners who can not qualify for their country 's strong national team find it easier to qualify by running for other countries. Kenyan Olympic and world record holder in the 800 meters, David Rudisha. Kenya has been a dominant force in women 's volleyball within Africa, with both the clubs and the national team winning various continental championships in the past decade. The women 's team has competed at the Olympics and World Championships though without any notable success. Cricket is another popular sport, also ranking as the most successful team sport. Kenya has competed in the Cricket World Cup since 1996. They upset some of the world 's best teams and reached the semi-finals of the 2003 tournament. They won the inaugural World Cricket League Division 1 hosted in Nairobi and participated in the World T20. They also participated in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011. Their current captain is Rakep Patel. Kenya is represented by Lucas Onyango as a professional rugby league player who plays with Oldham Roughyeds. Besides the former European Super League team, he has played for Widnes Vikings and rugby union with Sale Sharks. Rugby union is increasing in popularity, especially with the annual Safari Sevens tournament. The Kenya Sevens team ranked 9th in IRB Sevens World Series for the 2006 season. In 2016, the team beat Fiji at the Singapore Sevens finals, making Kenya the second African nation after South Africa to win a World Series championship. Kenya was also a regional powerhouse in football. However, its dominance has been eroded by wrangles within the now defunct Kenya Football Federation, leading to a suspension by FIFA which was lifted in March 2007. In the motor rallying arena, Kenya is home to the world - famous Safari Rally, commonly acknowledged as one of the toughest rallies in the world. It was a part of the World Rally Championship for many years until its exclusion after the 2002 event owing to financial difficulties. Some of the best rally drivers in the world have taken part in and won the rally, such as Björn Waldegård, Hannu Mikkola, Tommi Mäkinen, Shekhar Mehta, Carlos Sainz and Colin McRae. Although the rally still runs annually as part of the Africa rally championship, the organisers are hoping to be allowed to rejoin the World Rally championship in the next couple of years. Nairobi has hosted several major continental sports events, including the FIBA Africa Championship 1993 where Kenya 's national basketball team finished in the top four, its best performance to date. Cuisine Ugali and sukuma wiki, staples of Kenyan cuisine Kenyans generally have three meals in a day -- breakfast in the morning ( kiamsha kinywa ), lunch in the afternoon ( chakula cha mchana ) and supper in the evening ( chakula cha jioni or known simply as `` chajio '' ). In between, they have the 10 o'clock tea ( chai ya saa nne ) and 4 p.m. tea ( chai ya saa kumi ). Breakfast is usually tea or porridge with bread, chapati, mahamri, boiled sweet potatoes or yams. Ugali with vegetables, sour milk, meat, fish or any other stew is generally eaten by much of the population for lunch or supper. Regional variations and dishes also exist. In western Kenya : among the Luo, fish is a common dish ; among the Kalenjin who dominate much of the Rift Valley Region, mursik -- sour milk -- is a major drink. In cities such as Nairobi, there are fast food restaurants, including Steers, KFC, and Subway. There are also many fish and chip shops. See also Foreign relations of Kenya Index of Kenya - related articles Outline of Kenya Water supply and sanitation in Kenya Kenya portal Geography of Kenya portal Africa portal References ^ Constitution ( 2009 ) Art. 7 ( National, official and other languages ) `` ( 1 ) The national language of the Republic is Kiswahili. ( 2 ) The official languages of the Republic are Kiswahili and English. ( 3 ) The State shall -- - -- - ( a ) promote and protect the diversity of language of the people of Kenya ; and ( b ) promote the development and use of indigenous languages, Kenyan Sign language, Braille and other communication formats and technologies accessible to persons with disabilities. '' ^ Central Intelligence Agency ( 2012 ). `` Kenya ''. The World Factbook. Retrieved 28 May 2013. ^ `` Demographic Yearbook -- Table 3 : Population by sex, rate of population increase, surface area and density '' ( PDF ). United Nations Statistics Division. 2012. Retrieved 4 September 2017. http://unstats.un.org/unsd/demographic/products/dyb/dyb2012.htm ^ countrymeters.info. `` Kenya population 2017 -- Current population of Kenya ''. ^ `` Kenya 2009 Population and housing census highlights '' ( PDF ). Archived from the original ( PDF ) on 10 August 2013. Retrieved 22 May 2011... www.knbs.or.ke. ^ `` Report for Selected Countries and Subjects ( valuation of Kenya GDP ) ''. International Monetary Fund. ^ `` Human Development Report 2014 '' ( PDF ). United Nations. 2014. Retrieved 26 July 2014. ^ `` 2016 Human Development Report '' ( PDF ). United Nations. 2016. Retrieved 9 April 2017. ^ Asongu, J.J. ; Marr, Marvee ( 2007 ). Doing Business Abroad : A Handbook for Expatriates. Greenview Publishing Co. pp. 12 & 112. ISBN 0 - 9797976 - 3 - 2. ^ Ethiopia GDP purchasing power 2010 : 86 billion. Imf.org. 14 September 2006. ^ Kenya GDP purchasing power 2010 : 66 Billion. Imf.org. 14 September 2006. ^ `` History ''. Retrieved 13 May 2016. ^ Sullivan, Paul ( 2006 ). Kikuyu Districts. Dar es Salaam, Tanzania : Mkuki na Nyota Publishers. ^ Krapf, Johann Ludwig ( 1860 ). Travels, Researches, and Missionary Labours in Eastern Africa. London : Frank Cass & Co. Ltd. ^ Krapf, Johann Ludwig ( 13 May 1850 ). `` Extract from Krapf 's diary ''. Church Missionary Intelligencer. i : 452. ^ Foottit, Claire ( 2006 ) ( 2004 ). Kenya. The Brade Travel Guide. Bradt Travel Guides Ltd. ISBN 1 - 84162 - 066 - 1. ^ Ratcliffe, B.J. ( January 1943 ). `` The Spelling of Kenya ''. Journal of the Royal African Society. 42 ( 166 ) : 42 -- 44. JSTOR 717465. ^ Glynn Llywelyn Isaac, Barbara Isaac ( 1977 ). Olorgesailie : archeological studies of a Middle Pleistocene lake basin in Kenya. University of Chicago Press. p. xiii. ^ Ehret, C. ( 2002 ) The Civilizations of Africa : a History to 1800, University Press of Virginia, ISBN 0 - 8139 - 2085 - X. ^ Ehret, C. ( 1980 ) The historical reconstruction of Southern Cushitic phonology and vocabulary, Kölner Beiträge zur Afrikanistik 5, Bd., Reimer, Berlin. ^ Ehret, C. ( 1983 ) Culture History in the Southern Sudan, J. Mack, P. Robertshaw, Eds., British Institute in Eastern Africa, Nairobi, pp. 19 -- 48, ISBN 1 - 872566 - 04 - 9. ^ Ambrose, S.H. ( 1982 ). `` Archaeological and linguistic reconstructions of history in East Africa. '' In Ehert, C., and Posnansky, M. ( eds. ), The archaeological and linguistic reconstruction of African history, University of California Press, ISBN 0 - 520 - 04593 - 9. ^ Ambrose, S.H. ( 1986 ) Sprache und Geschichte in Afrika 7.2, 11. ^ International Labour Office, Traditional occupations of indigenous and tribal peoples : emerging trends. International Labour Organization ( 2000 ), p. 55, ISBN 92 - 2 - 112258 - 1. ^ Ehret, C. ( 1998 ) An African Classical Age : Eastern and Southern Africa in World History, 1000 B.C. to A.D. 400., University Press of Virginia, Charlottesville, pp. xvii, 354, ISBN 0 - 8139 - 2057 - 4. ^ Smith, C. Wayne ( 1995 ) Crop Production : Evolution, History, and Technology, John Wiley & Sons, p. 132, ISBN 0 - 471 - 07972 - 3. ^ `` Wonders of the African World ''. PBS. Retrieved 16 April 2010. ^ `` History and Origin of Swahili -- Jifunze Kiswahili ''. swahilihub.com. Retrieved 17 July 2016. ^ Don Nanjira, Daniel ( 2010 ) African Foreign Policy and Diplomacy : From Antiquity to the 21st century, ABC - CLIO, p. 114 ISBN 0 - 313 - 37982 - 3. ^ Spear, Thomas ( 2000 ). `` Early Swahili History Reconsidered ''. The International Journal of African Historical Studies. 33 ( 2 ) : 257 -- 290. JSTOR 220649. ^ شاكر مصطفى, موسوعة دوال العالم الأسلامي ورجالها الجزء الثالث, ( دار العلم للملايين : 1993 ), p. 1360 ^ Hastings, James ( 2003 ) Encyclopedia of Religion and Ethics Part 24, Kessinger Publishing, p. 847 ^ `` The wealth of Africa The Swahili Coast '' ( PDF ). British Museum. Retrieved 7 June 2017. ^ K. Kris Hirst ( 12 February 2017 ). `` Swahili Culture Guide -- The Rise and Fall of Swahili States ''. 10 June 2017. ^ Nicolini, Beatrice and Watson, Penelope - Jane ( 2004 ) Makran, Oman, and Zanzibar, Volume 3 of Islam in Africa, BRILL, p. 62 ISBN 90 - 04 - 13780 - 7. ^ Alsayyad, Nezar ( 30 March 2001 ). Hybrid Urbanism. Greenwood Publishing Group. ISBN 978 - 0 - 275 - 96612 - 6. ^ Ali, Shanti Sadiq ( 1996 ). The African Dispersal in the Deccan. Orient Blackswan. ISBN 978 - 81 - 250 - 0485 - 1. ^ `` Slavery ( sociology ) ''. Encyclopædia Britannica Online. ^ Swahili Coast. National Geographic. ^ `` PBS website ''. Retrieved 12 October 2015. ^ Encyclopædia Britannica ^ R. Mugo Gatheru ( 2005 ) Kenya : From Colonization to Independence, 1888 -- 1970, McFarland, ISBN 0 - 7864 - 2199 - 1 ^ Jenkins, Orville Boyd. `` Sikh ''. Orvillejenkins.com. Retrieved 16 April 2010. ^ `` Ismaili muslim ''. Magicalkenya.com. Archived from the original on 3 January 2009. Retrieved 16 April 2010. ^ `` We Want Our Country ''. Time. 5 November 1965. ^ `` Kenya ''. Matthew Firestone ( 2009 ). p. 28. ISBN 1 - 74104 - 773 - 0 ^ Vickers, Hugo ( 29 January 2012 ). `` Diamond Jubilee : the moment that Princess Elizabeth became Queen ''. The Daily Telegraph. London. ^ Maloba, Wunyabari O. ( 1993 ) Mau Mau and Kenya : An Analysis of Peasant Revolt, Indiana University Press, 0852557450. ^ `` Commonwealth and Colonial Law '' by Kenneth Roberts - Wray, London, Stevens, 1966. P. 762 ^ HC Deb 22 November 1963 vol 684 cc1329 - 400 wherein the UK Under - Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations and for the Colonies stated '' `` An agreement was then signed on the 8th October, 1963, providing that on the date when Kenya became independent the territories comprising the Kenya Coastal Strip would become part of Kenya proper. '' ^ Bruce Baker, Escape from Domination in Africa : Political Disengagement & Its Consequences, ( Africa World Press : 2003 ), p. 83 ^ Hogg, Richard ( 1986 ). `` The New Pastoralism : Poverty and Dependency in Northern Kenya ''. Africa : Journal of the International African Institute. 56 ( 3 ) : 319 -- 333. JSTOR 1160687. doi : 10.2307 / 1160687. ^ Howell, John ( May 1968 ). `` An Analysis of Kenyan Foreign Policy ''. The Journal of Modern African Studies. 6 ( 1 ) : 29 -- 48. JSTOR 158675. doi : 10.1017 / S0022278X00016657. ^ Pike, John ( 1992 ). `` Post-Independence Low Intensity Conflict in Kenya ''. Globalsecurity.org. Retrieved 16 April 2010. ^ Permanent Mission of the Republic of Kenya to the United Nations ( 2002 ). `` Kenya at the United Nations ''. Consulate General of Kenya in New York. Archived from the original on 8 June 2009. Retrieved 15 February 2010. ^ Society. Nyamora Communications Limited. 1992. p. 12. ^ `` Wagalla massacre : Raila Odinga orders Kenya probe ''. BBC. 11 February 2011. Retrieved 14 November 2013. ^ Harden, Blaine ( 25 February 1988 ) Many Voters Stay Home as Kenya Drops Secret Ballot in Parliamentary Election, The ' Washington Post. ^ Moreno, Pedro C. ( ed. ). `` Kenya ''. Handbook on Religious Liberty Around the World. Charlottesville, VA : The Rutherford Institute. ^ Anderson, David M. ( 2003 ). `` Kenya 's Elections 2002 -- The Dawning of a New Era ? ''. African Affairs. 102 ( 407 ) : 331 -- 342. doi : 10.1093 / afraf / adg007. ^ `` Of Oranges and Bananas : The 2005 Kenya Referendum on the Constitution ''. CMI -- Chr. Michelsen Institute. Retrieved 13 May 2016. ^ `` Kenya opposition cancels protests ''. BBC News. April 12, 2008. Archived from the original on January 10, 2008. ^ Koech, Dennis ( 25 July 2011 ). `` Red Cross warns of catastrophe in Turkana ''. Kbc.co.ke. Archived from the original on 4 January 2012. Retrieved 7 August 2011. ^ `` Kenya : schools close as famine takes hold in Turkana ''. Indcatholicnews.com. 28 July 2011. Retrieved 7 August 2011. ^ Gettleman, Jeffrey ( 3 February 2012 ) U.N. Says Famine in Somalia Is Over, but Risks Remain. The New York Times. ^ CIA ( 2010 ). The World Factbook. Potomac Books, Inc. p. 336. ISBN 978 - 1 - 59797 - 541 - 4. ^ Society, National Geographic ( 19 January 2012 ). `` Wildebeest Migration ''. National Geographic Society. Retrieved 13 May 2016. ^ `` Masai Mara ''. ^ Novak, Andrew. `` The Criminal Justice System and Eroding Democracy After Independence -- Page 12 ''. racism.org. Retrieved 13 May 2016. ^ `` Transparency International : CPI ''. Transparency International. Retrieved 29 May 2013. ^ `` Business Corruption in Kenya ''. Business Anti-Corruption Portal. Retrieved 4 April 2014. ^ A short history of the 2010 Kenya constitution. kenyaconstitution.org ^ `` International observers declare Kenyan elections fair ''. www.cbc.ca. Retrieved 13 May 2016. ^ `` The Turning Point : Free Primary Education in Kenya -- NORRAG ''. www.norrag.org. Retrieved 13 May 2016. ^ `` Africa Free secondary schools for Kenya ''. BBC News. 11 February 2008. Retrieved 26 February 2013. ^ `` Kenya president signs tough ' anti-terror ' law ''. Al Jazeera. 19 December 2014. Retrieved 22 December 2014. ^ ( 1 ). Kenya -- Foreign Relations. Retrieved on 16 January 2015. ^ `` Opinion of the United States ''. Pewglobal.org. Retrieved 17 July 2016. ^ Epatko, Larisa, `` Why Obama Is Visiting Senegal, South Africa and Tanzania But Not Kenya '', PBS NewsHour, 25 June 2013. Retrieved 18 August 2013. ^ Raghavan, Sudarsan, `` In snub to Washington, Kenyan president visits China, Russia first '', Washington Post, 17 August 2013. Ambassador Liu 's comments at capitalfm.co.ke linked to here ( 2 ). Retrieved 18 August 2013. ^ GEORGE KEGORO More by this Author. `` KEGORO : Circumstances created need that made visit possible ''. Nation.co.ke. Retrieved 17 July 2016. ^ Ministry of Defence. `` Kenya Defence Forces Act -- No. 25 of 2012 '' ( PDF ). National Council for Law Reporting. Retrieved 6 May 2014. ^ Commission of Inquiry into the Post Election Violence Archived 20 December 2008 at the Wayback Machine. ^ Kenya National Commission on Human Rights Archived 14 February 2012 at the Wayback Machine. ^ Security men accused of torture and rape Daily Nation. 11 January 2008. ^ The Standard 31 October 2010 Activists give military 5 days to re-admit recruit INTERNET http://www.standardmedia.co.ke/InsidePage.php?id=2000021408&catid=159&a=1 Cited on 3 January 2011 ^ The Standard Sh 1.6 billion tender rocks the DoD INTERNET http://www.standardmedia.co.ke/InsidePage.php?id=2000020947&catid=4&a=1 Cited on 3 January 2011 ^ For example the decision to acquire ex-Jordanian F5 fighter aircraft. See The Standard Kenya 's ' new ' fighter jets can not take off INTERNET http://www.standardmedia.co.ke/InsidePage.php?id=2000021374&catid=4&a=1 Cited on 3 January 2011 ^ Kenya Roads Board Constituency funding under the RMLF ^ `` Laws on Homosexuality in African Nations ''. Library of Congress. 2015. ^ `` Here are the 10 countries where homosexuality may be punished by death ''. The Washington Post. June 16, 2016. ^ `` The Global Divide on Homosexuality. '' pewglobal. 4 June 2013. 4 June 2013. ^ Scott, Holmes, Eugene, Kristen ( July 25, 2017 ). `` Obama lectures Kenyan president on gay rights ''. CNN. Missing or empty url = ( help ) ^ WikiLeaks ( 2 June 2009 ). `` WikiLeaks wins Amnesty International 2009 Media Award ''. WikiLeaks. Archived from the original on 28 December 2010. ^ `` ' The Cry of Blood ' -- Report on Extra-Judicial Killings and Disappearances '' ( PDF ). Kenya National Commission on Human Rights / Enforced Disappearances Information Exchange Center. 25 September 2008. Archived from the original ( PDF ) on 28 December 2010. Retrieved 29 December 2010. ^ http://www.capitalfm.co.ke/news/2017/04/was-extra-judicial-killing-of-eastleigh-thugs-justified-kenyans-divided/ ^ Ludeki Chweya, John Kithome Tuta & S. Kichamu Akivaga 2005. ^ `` Doing Business in Kenya -- World Bank Group ''. www.doingbusiness.org. Retrieved 2017 - 01 - 14. ^ `` Country Profile : Kenya '' ( PDF ). Federal Research Division. Library of Congress. June 2007. Retrieved 23 April 2011. ^ `` Food Assistance Fact Sheet -- Kenya ''. www.usaid.gov. Retrieved 13 May 2016. ^ Fengler, Wolfgang ( 5 December 2012 ). `` Kenya Economic Update ''. The World Bank. ^ Martin, Glen, Kenya : A Contrarian View, The Huffington Post, 24 May 2012 ^ `` Drought leaves two million Kenyans in need of food aid ''. United Nations World Food Programme. 26 April 2005. Retrieved 5 August 2016. ^ Pigeonpea in Eastern and Southern Africa Archived 18 July 2014 at the Wayback Machine... ICRISAT Posted 10 October 2012. Downloaded 26 January 2014. ^ Towards Achieving Food Security in Kenya. Joseph Kinyua, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture, Kenya ; 1 April 2004, Kampala, Uganda ^ Republic of Kenya, Ministry of Water and Irrigation ( 2009 ) National Irrigation and Drainage Policy : 3 -- 4. ^ Veselinovic, Milena ( 16 March 2015 ). `` Got roses this Valentine 's Day ? They probably came from Kenya ''. Edition.cnn.com. Retrieved 17 July 2016. ^ `` Cement production keeps pace with growing demand ''. Construction Business Review. 5 September 2015. Retrieved 13 May 2016. ^ `` Kenya : Employers ' organizations taking the lead on linking the informal sector to formal Kenyan enterprises ''. www.ilo.org. 2 August 2005. Retrieved 13 May 2016. ^ `` Jua Kali sector plays key role in economic development and job creation ''. MyGov. 13 November 2015. Retrieved 13 May 2016. ^ Kamau, Pithon. `` Industry ''. Brand Kenya Board. Retrieved 13 May 2016. ^ `` Kenya ''. Retrieved 10 June 2016. ^ Electricity in Kenya. IEA 2014 ^ McGregor, Sarah ( 20 September 2010 ) Kenya Aims to Build a Nuclear Power Plant by 2017. Bloomberg L.P.. ^ Kenya From Nowhere Plans East Africa 's First Oil Exports : Energy. Bloomberg L.P.. ^ Kenya plans strategic oil reserve. Reuters ( 10 November 2011 ). ^ Jackson Okoth ; Philip Mwakio ( 14 February 2014 ). `` Standard Digital News : : Business -- Kenya joins mineral exporters as first titanium cargo leaves port ''. Standard Digital News. Retrieved 15 February 2015. ^ Shem Oirere. `` Construction of Kenyan standard - gauge line suspended ''. Retrieved 15 February 2015. ^ NEWS : Kenya 's National Climate Change Action Plan is officially launched, Climate & Development Knowledge Network, 28 March 2013 ^ BBC News -- Kenya oil discovery after Tullow Oil drilling. BBC. 26 March 2012. ^ Barber, Lionel ; England, Andrew ( 10 August 2006 ). `` China 's scramble for Africa finds a welcome in Kenya ''. Financial Times. Retrieved 27 June 2008. ^ `` Country profile report -- Kenya '' ( PDF ). United Nations. 2009. ^ Suda, Collette ( 2001 ). `` The Invisible Child Worker in Kenya : The Intersection of Poverty, Legislation and Culture '' ( PDF ). Nordic Journal of African Studies. 10 ( 2 ) : 163 -- 175. ^ `` Archived copy ''. Archived from the original on 3 June 2013. Retrieved 25 September 2015. ^ `` Why a new president may slow population growth ''. The Christian Science Monitor. 14 January 2008. ^ Zinkina J. ; Korotayev A. ( 2014 ). `` Explosive Population Growth in Tropical Africa : Crucial Omission in Development Forecasts ( Emerging Risks and Way Out ) ''. World Futures. 70 ( 2 ) : 120 -- 139. ^ `` Exploding population ''. The New York Times. 7 January 2008. ^ Karanja, Muchiri ( 3 September 2010 ). `` Myth shattered : Kibera numbers fail to add up ''. Daily Nation. Retrieved 4 September 2010. ^ `` World Water Day Focus on Global Sewage Flood ''. National Geographic. 22 March 2010. Retrieved 10 February 2012. ^ The UN Refugee Agency. Unhcr.org. ^ Okoth, A. and Ndaloh, A. ( 2006 ) Peak Revision K.C.P.E. Social Studies, East African Publishers, pp. 60 -- 61 ISBN 9966 - 25 - 450 - 1. ^ `` The 2009 Kenya Population and Housing Census Volume II -- Population and Household Distribution by Social Economic Characteristics p. 397 - 398. ''. Kenya National Bureau of Statistics ( KNBS ). ^ Proquest Info & Learning ( COR ) ( 2009 ). Culturegrams : World Edition. Proquest / Csa Journal Div. p. 98. ISBN 0 - 9778091 - 6 - 1. ^ Brown, E.K. ; Asher, R.E. ; Simpson, J.M.Y. ( 2006 ). Encyclopedia of language & linguistics, Volume 1, Edition 2. Elsevier. p. 181. ISBN 0 - 08 - 044299 - 4. ^ Nyaggah, Lynette Behm. `` Cross-linguistic influence in Kenyan English : The impact of Swahili and Kikuyu on syntax ''. University of California. Retrieved 8 August 2014. ^ Derek Nurse, Gérard Philippson ( 2006 ). Bantu Languages. Routledge. p. 197. ISBN 1 - 135 - 79683 - 1. Retrieved 20 October 2014. ^ Languages of Kenya. Ethnologue.com. ^ Wycliffe Ambetsa Oparanya ( 31 August 2010 ) `` 2009 Population & Housing Census Results '' ( PDF ). Archived from the original on 10 August 2013. Retrieved 15 January 2013. CS1 maint : BOT : original - url status unknown ( link ). Ministry of State for Planning. knbs.or.ke ^ Address data base of Reformed churches and institutions. Reformiert-online.net. Retrieved 16 April 2013. ^ The World Reformed Fellowship -- Promoting Reformed Partnerships Worldwide -- News. Wrfnet.org. Retrieved 16 April 2013. ^ `` Kenya ''. Oikoumene.org. 3 February 2008. Archived from the original on 11 March 2008. Retrieved 26 February 2013. ^ Finding Quakers Around the World Archived 15 December 2010 at the Wayback Machine... FWCC. GIF map ^ `` Kenya : International Religious Freedom Report 2008 ''. U.S. Department of State. 2008. Retrieved 16 April 2010. ^ ( 3 ). ^ ( 4 ). ^ `` Kenya Facts ''. Retrieved 10 June 2016. ^ UNICEF Statistics : Kenya. Unicef.org. ^ Infant Mortality ranks. The World Factbook ^ WHO Health - Related Millennium Development Goals Report 2011. ^ CIA World Factbook : HIV / AIDS -- Adult Prevalence Rate Rankings. Cia.gov. Retrieved 23 April 2012. ^ World AIDS Day Report 2011. UNAIDS ^ `` Kenya '', pp. 111 -- 113 in World Malaria report 2009. WHO. ^ `` IFs Forecast -- Version 7.00 -- Google Public Data Explorer ''. Retrieved 15 February 2015. ^ Kenya -- Kenya Demographic and Health Survey 2008 -- 09. Kenya National Data Archive ( KeNADA ) ^ `` WHO -- Female genital mutilation and other harmful practices ''. Retrieved 15 February 2015. ^ Boseley, Sarah ( 8 September 2011 ). `` FGM : Kenya acts against unkindest cut ''. The Guardian. London. Retrieved 7 January 2012. ^ Reporter, Standard. `` Government to review Early Childhood Development policy ''. Standard Digital News. Retrieved 23 June 2016. ^ `` Primary School Education in Kenya ''. kenyapage.net. Retrieved 10 June 2016. ^ `` Kenya National Adult Literacy Survey report / website = eldis.org ''. Retrieved 27 June 2016. ^ On the Beat -- Tapping the Potential of Kenya 's Music Industry, WIPO Magazine ( July 2007 ). ^ IAAF : Changes of Allegiance 1998 to 2005 Archived 9 May 2013 at the Wayback Machine... ^ Mynott, Adam ( 20 May 2005 ). `` Kenya examines track star defections ''. BBC News. Retrieved 10 June 2016. ^ `` Furious Kenyans threaten to defect over taxes ''. Reuters. 22 January 2014. Retrieved 10 June 2016. ^ `` Why the defections ? ''. mobile.nation.co.ke. Retrieved 10 June 2016. ^ `` Kenya women 's volleyball caps three decades of excellence Kenya Page Blog ''. kenyapage.net. Retrieved 10 June 2016. ^ `` Volleyball : Champions Kenya Scoop Major Continental Awards ``. www.chimpreports.com. Retrieved 10 June 2016. ^ `` : : Cricket Kenya : : ''. www.cricketkenya.co.ke. Retrieved 10 June 2016. ^ `` Nakuru upset KCB in Kenya Cup ''. Daily Nation. 25 July 2009. Retrieved 16 April 2010. ^ `` Kenya win Singapore Sevens title ''. SuperSport. 17 April 2016. Retrieved 10 June 2016. ^ `` Kenya beat Fiji to win their first Sevens World Series title ''. BBC Sport. Retrieved 10 June 2016. ^ `` HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series : Kenya shock Fiji and win maiden title in Singapore ''. The Telegraph. Retrieved 10 June 2016. ^ New Vision, 3 June 2004 : Wrangles land Kenya indefinite FIFA ban Archived 10 January 2008 at the Wayback Machine. ^ The Auto Channel, 21 July 2001 : FIA RALLY : Delecour takes points finish on Safari Rally debut ^ 1993 FIBA Africa Championship for Men, ARCHIVE.FIBA.COM. Retrieved 24 January 2016. ^ `` Fast food finds fans in sub-Sahara Africa, where obesity problem is growing ''. NBC News. 24 October 2012. Archived from the original on 16 January 2013. Retrieved 26 February 2013. ^ US fast food chain to open first Kenya outlet in August -- Money Markets. businessdailyafrica.com. Retrieved 9 August 2013. ^ `` Sonford Fish And Chips -- Sonford Fish And Chips in Kenya Info Provided by Postel Yellowpages ''. www.yellowpageskenya.com. Retrieved 10 June 2016. Bibliography Ludeki Chweya ; John Kithome Tuta ; S. Kichamu Akivaga ( 2005 ), Control of Corruption in Kenya : Legal - political Dimensions, The University of Michigan, p. 259, ISBN 978 - 9966 - 915 - 55 - 9 External links Find more aboutKenyaat Wikipedia 's sister projects Definitions from Wiktionary Media from Commons News from Wikinews Quotations from Wikiquote Texts from Wikisource Textbooks from Wikibooks Travel guide from Wikivoyage Learning resources from Wikiversity Official website of the President of Kenya Official website of the Parliament of Kenya Wikimedia Atlas of Kenya `` Kenya ''. The World Factbook. Central Intelligence Agency. Kenya profile from Africa.com Kenya Corruption Profile from the Business Anti-Corruption Portal World Bank Summary Trade Statistics Kenya, 2010 Kenya at DMOZ Kenya articles History Timeline Arab slave trade East Africa Protectorate Uganda Railway Kenya Colony In World War II Ilemi Triangle Kenya African Union Mau Mau Uprising 1963 Constitution 1982 coup d'état attempt Goldenberg scandal 1992 Elections 2007 -- 2008 crisis 2010 referendum 2013 Elections Geography Biosphere reserves Climate Ecoregions Environmental issues Great Rift Valley Lakes Mountains Protected areas Rivers Volcanoes Wildlife World Heritage Sites Subdivisions Cities Counties ( * Coat of arms * Flags ) Politics Constitution Elections Foreign relations Government Human rights Intersex LGBT Judiciary Law enforcement Military Parliament Political parties President list Deputy President Prime Minister ( defunct ) Economy Agriculture Central bank Coffee Energy Real Estate Shilling ( currency ) Telecommunications Tourism Transport Society Corruption Crime Demographics Education Health healthcare Languages Religion Water supply and sanitation Culture Anthem Cinema Coat of arms English Engsh Flag Names Literature Media Museums Music Public holidays Sports Sheng Video gaming Outline Index Category Portal Countries and territories of Africa Sovereign states entirely in Africa Algeria Angola Benin Botswana Burkina Faso Burundi Cameroon Cape Verde Central African Republic Chad Comoros Democratic Republic of the Congo Republic of the Congo Djibouti Egypt Equatorial Guinea Eritrea Ethiopia Gabon The Gambia Ghana Guinea Guinea - Bissau Ivory Coast ( Côte d'Ivoire ) Kenya Lesotho Liberia Libya Madagascar Malawi Mali Mauritania Mauritius Morocco Mozambique Namibia Niger Nigeria Rwanda São Tomé and Príncipe Senegal Seychelles Sierra Leone Somalia South Africa South Sudan Sudan Swaziland Tanzania Togo Tunisia Uganda Zambia Zimbabwe partly in Africa France Mayotte Réunion Italy Pantelleria Pelagie Islands Portugal Madeira Spain Canary Islands Ceuta Melilla Plazas de soberanía Yemen Socotra Territories and dependencies Îles Éparses France Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha UK Southern Provinces ( Western Sahara ) States with limited recognition Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic Somaliland Unclear sovereignty. Articles related to Kenya First - and second - level administrative divisions of Kenya 47 Counties ( since March 2013 ) Baringo ( 30 ) Bomet ( 36 ) Bungoma ( 39 ) Busia ( 40 ) Elgeyo - Marakwet ( 28 ) Embu ( 14 ) Garissa ( 07 ) Homa Bay ( 43 ) Isiolo ( 11 ) Kajiado ( 34 ) Kakamega ( 37 ) Kericho ( 35 ) Kiambu ( 22 ) Kilifi ( 03 ) Kirinyaga ( 20 ) Kisii ( 45 ) Kisumu ( 42 ) Kitui ( 15 ) Kwale ( 02 ) Laikipia ( 31 ) Lamu ( 05 ) Machakos ( 16 ) Makueni ( 17 ) Mandera ( 09 ) Marsabit ( 10 ) Meru ( 12 ) Migori ( 44 ) Mombasa ( 01 ) Murang'a ( 21 ) Nairobi ( 47 ) Nakuru ( 32 ) Nandi ( 29 ) Narok ( 33 ) Nyamira ( 46 ) Nyandarua ( 18 ) Nyeri ( 19 ) Samburu ( 25 ) Siaya ( 41 ) Taita - Taveta ( 06 ) Tana River ( 04 ) Tharaka - Nithi ( 13 ) Trans - Nzoia ( 26 ) Turkana ( 23 ) Uasin Gishu ( 27 ) Vihiga ( 38 ) Wajir ( 08 ) West Pokot ( 24 ) Principal cities and towns Nairobi ( capital ) Athi River Baragoi Bomet Bungoma Busia Chuka Eldoret Embu Garissa Hola Homa Bay Isiolo Iten Kabarnet Kajiado Kakamega Kapsabet Kangundo - Tala Kapenguria Karuri Kericho Kerugoya Kiambu Kibwezi Kikuyu Kilifi Kisii Kisumu Kitale Kitengela Kitui Kwale Limuru Lodwar Lokichogio Loiyangalani Lamu Machakos Makindu Malindi Mandera Maralal Marsabit Masii Meru Mombasa Moyale Mtito Andei Mumias Murang'a Mutomo Mwingi Naivasha Nakuru Namanga Nanyuki Narok Nyahururu Nyamira Nyeri Ol Kalou Ongata Rongai Ruiru Siaya Thika Vihiga Voi Wajir Webuye Wote Wundanyi Years in Kenya ( 1963 -- present ) 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2000 2001 2002 2003 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 1990 1991 1992 1994 1995 1997 1998 1999 1980 1981 1982 1984 1985 1986 1970 1971 1972 1973 1976 1977 1978 1979 Pre-1963 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 Members of the Commonwealth of Nations Sovereign states ( Members ) Antigua and Barbuda Australia Bahamas Bangladesh Barbados Belize Botswana Brunei Cameroon Canada Cyprus Dominica Fiji Ghana Grenada Guyana India Jamaica Kenya Kiribati Lesotho Malawi Malaysia Malta Mauritius Mozambique Namibia Nauru New Zealand Nigeria Pakistan Papua New Guinea Rwanda St. Kitts and Nevis St. Lucia St. Vincent and the Grenadines Samoa Seychelles Sierra Leone Singapore Solomon Islands South Africa Sri Lanka Swaziland Tanzania Tonga Trinidad and Tobago Tuvalu Uganda United Kingdom Vanuatu Zambia Dependencies of Members Australia Ashmore and Cartier Islands Australian Antarctic Territory Christmas Island Cocos ( Keeling ) Islands Coral Sea Islands Heard Island and McDonald Islands Norfolk Island New Zealand Cook Islands Niue Ross Dependency Tokelau United Kingdom Akrotiri and Dhekelia Anguilla Bermuda British Antarctic Territory British Indian Ocean Territory British Virgin Islands Cayman Islands Falkland Islands Gibraltar Guernsey Isle of Man Jersey Montserrat Pitcairn Islands St. Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands Turks and Caicos Islands Source : Commonwealth Secretariat - Member States Countries and regions in the Somali Plate Countries Somalia Madagascar Seychelles Comoros Uganda Kenya Tanzania Swaziland Mozambique Regions Somaliland Réunion Mayotte Mauritius KwaZulu - Natal Khatumo Somali Region African Union ( AU ) History Pan-Africanism Casablanca Group Monrovia Group Abuja Treaty Sirte Declaration Lome Summit Organisation of African Unity Chairperson Secretary General Geography Borders Extreme points Member states Regions Organs Executive Council Permanent Representatives ' Committee Specialized Technical Committees Assembly Chairperson Commission Chairperson Deputy Chairperson AUCC Pan-African Parliament Bureau Secretariat Gallagher Estate African Court of Justice African Court on Human and Peoples ' Rights ECOSOCC Committees Peace and Security Political Affairs Infrastructure and Energy Social Affairs and Health HR, Sciences and Technology Trade and Industry Rural Economy and Agriculture Economic Affairs Women and Gender Cross-Cutting Programs Financial Institutions African Central Bank African Monetary Fund African Investment Bank Peace and Security Council ACIRC African Standby Force Panel of the Wise UNAMID AMIB AMIS AMISOM MISCA Politics APRM Foreign relations African Charter on Human and Peoples ' Rights African Commission on Human and Peoples ' Rights Enlargement Symbols Anthem Emblem Flag Economy Currencies Development Bank African Economic Community NEPAD African Free Trade Zone Tripartite Free Trade Area Culture Africa Day Languages Theory Afro United States of Africa United States of Latin Africa Category Nations in the Group of 15 ( G - 15 ) Summits 1990 1991 1992 1994 1995 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2006 2012 Members Algeria Argentina Brazil Chile Egypt India Indonesia Iran Jamaica Kenya Malaysia Mexico Nigeria Senegal Sri Lanka Venezuela Zimbabwe Countries and territories bordering the Indian Ocean Africa Comoros Djibouti Egypt Eritrea France Mayotte Réunion Kenya Madagascar Mauritius Mozambique Rodrigues ( Mauritius ) Seychelles Somalia South Africa Sudan Tanzania Zanzibar, Tanzania Asia Bahrain Bangladesh British Indian Ocean Territory Chagos Archipelago - United Kingdom Christmas Island ( Australia ) Cocos ( Keeling ) Islands ( Australia ) India Indonesia Iran Iraq Israel Jordan Kuwait Malaysia Maldives Myanmar Oman Pakistan Qatar Saudi Arabia Sri Lanka Thailand Timor - Leste United Arab Emirates Yemen Other Antarctica Australian Antarctic Territory French Southern and Antarctic Lands Heard Island and McDonald Islands Australia Geographic locale Lat. and Long. 1 ° 16 ′ S 36 ° 48 ′ E ﻿ / ﻿ 1.267 ° S 36.800 ° E ﻿ / - 1.267 ; 36.800 ( Nairobi ) Languages English - speaking world Click on a coloured area to see an article about English in that country or region Further links Articles English - speaking world History of the English language British Empire English in the Commonwealth of Nations Lists List of countries by English - speaking population List of countries where English is an official language Countries and territories where English is the national language or the native language of the majority Africa Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha Americas Anguilla Antigua and Barbuda The Bahamas Barbados Belize Bermuda British Virgin Islands Canada Cayman Islands Dominica Falkland Islands Grenada Guyana Jamaica Montserrat Saba Saint Kitts and Nevis Saint Lucia Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Sint Eustatius Sint Maarten South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands Trinidad and Tobago Turks and Caicos Islands United States United States Virgin Islands Europe Guernsey Ireland Isle of Man Jersey United Kingdom Oceania Australia New Zealand Norfolk Island Pitcairn Islands Countries and territories where English is an official language, but not the majority first language Africa Botswana Cameroon The Gambia Ghana Kenya Lesotho Liberia Malawi Mauritius Namibia Nigeria Rwanda Sierra Leone Somaliland South Africa South Sudan Sudan Swaziland Tanzania Uganda Zambia Zimbabwe Americas Puerto Rico Asia Christmas Island Cocos ( Keeling ) Islands Hong Kong Special Administrative Region India Pakistan Philippines Singapore Europe Gibraltar Malta Oceania American Samoa Cook Islands Fiji Guam Kiribati Marshall Islands Micronesia Nauru Niue Northern Mariana Islands Palau Papua New Guinea Samoa Solomon Islands Tokelau Tuvalu Vanuatu Dependencies shown in italics. VIAF : 128920262 LCCN : n80061011 ISNI : 0000 0001 2353 0985 GND : 4030236 - 2 SUDOC : 026612461 BNF : cb11882655r ( data ) NDL : 00565510 Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Kenya&oldid=801426599 '' Categories : Kenya Bantu countries and territories Commonwealth republics Southeast African countries English - speaking countries and territories G15 nations Member states of the African Union Member states of the Commonwealth of Nations Member states of the United Nations States and territories established in 1963 Swahili - speaking countries and territories 1963 establishments in Africa Countries in Africa Hidden categories : Webarchive template wayback links Pages using web citations with no URL CS1 maint : BOT : original - url status unknown Wikipedia indefinitely move - protected pages Wikipedia pages semi-protected against vandalism EngvarB from March 2015 Use dmy dates from November 2016 Coordinates on Wikidata Articles with hAudio microformats All articles that may contain original research Articles that may contain original research from September 2011 Articles needing additional references from December 2016 All articles needing additional references Wikipedia articles needing clarification from April 2017 Articles containing potentially dated statements from 2005 All articles containing potentially dated statements All articles with minor POV problems Articles with minor POV problems from January 2015 All articles with vague or ambiguous time Vague or ambiguous time from November 2014 Official website different in Wikidata and Wikipedia Articles with DMOZ links Wikipedia articles with VIAF identifiers Wikipedia articles with LCCN identifiers Wikipedia articles with ISNI identifiers Wikipedia articles with GND identifiers Wikipedia articles with BNF identifiers Talk View source Contents About Wikipedia Wikinews Wikiquote Wikivoyage Languages Acèh Адыгабзэ Afrikaans Alemannisch አማርኛ Ænglisc Aragonés Arpetan Asturianu Azərbaycanca تۆرکجه Bamanankan বাংলা Bahasa Banjar Bân - lâm - gú Башҡортса Беларуская Беларуская ( тарашкевіца ) ‎ भोजपुरी Bikol Central Български བོད ་ ཡིག Bosanski Brezhoneg Буряад Català Чӑвашла Cebuano Čeština ChiShona Cymraeg Dansk Deutsch ދިވެހިބަސް Dolnoserbski ཇོང ་ ཁ Eesti Ελληνικά Español Esperanto Estremeñu Euskara Eʋegbe فارسی Fiji Hindi Føroyskt Français Frysk Fulfulde Gaeilge Gaelg Gagauz Gàidhlig Galego Gĩkũyũ ગુજરાતી गोंयची कोंकणी / Gõychi Konknni 客家 語 / Hak - kâ - ngî Хальмг 한국어 Hausa Hawaiʻi Հայերեն हिन्दी Hornjoserbsce Hrvatski Ido Igbo Ilokano বিষ্ণুপ্রিয়া মণিপুরী Bahasa Indonesia Interlingua Interlingue Ирон IsiZulu Íslenska Italiano עברית Basa Jawa Kalaallisut ಕನ್ನಡ Kapampangan ქართული Қазақша Kernowek Kinyarwanda Kiswahili Kongo Kreyòl ayisyen Kurdî Кыргызча Кырык мары Ladino Лезги لۊری شومالی Latgaļu Latina Latviešu Lëtzebuergesch Lietuvių Ligure Limburgs Lingála Livvinkarjala La. lojban. Luganda Lumbaart Magyar Македонски Malagasy മലയാളം Malti Māori मराठी მარგალური مصرى مازِرونی Bahasa Melayu Baso Minangkabau Mìng - dĕ̤ng - ngṳ̄ Монгол မြန်မာဘာသာ Nāhuatl Dorerin Naoero Nederlands नेपाली नेपाल भाषा 日本 語 Napulitano Нохчийн Nordfriisk Norfuk / Pitkern Norsk Norsk nynorsk Novial Occitan ଓଡ଼ିଆ Oromoo Oʻzbekcha / ўзбекча ਪੰਜਾਬੀ पालि Pangasinan پنجابی Papiamentu پښتو Patois Piemontèis Plattdüütsch Polski Português Qaraqalpaqsha Qırımtatarca Română Runa Simi Русский Саха тыла Sámegiella संस्कृतम् Sängö Sardu Scots Seeltersk Sesotho Sesotho sa Leboa Shqip Sicilianu Simple English SiSwati Slovenčina Slovenščina Ślůnski Soomaaliga کوردی Српски / srpski Srpskohrvatski / српскохрватски Basa Sunda Suomi Svenska Tagalog தமிழ் Taqbaylit Татарча / tatarça తెలుగు ไทย ትግርኛ Тоҷикӣ Türkçe Türkmençe Thuɔŋjäŋ Удмурт Українська اردو ئۇيغۇرچە / Uyghurche Vahcuengh Vèneto Vepsän kel ' Tiếng Việt Volapük Võro 文言 Winaray Wolof 吴语 Xitsonga ייִדיש Yorùbá 粵語 Zazaki Žemaitėška 中文 डोटेली Kabɩyɛ Edit links This page was last edited on 19 September 2017, at 16 : 17. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution - ShareAlike License ; additional terms may apply. By using this site, you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Wikipedia ® is a registered trademark of the Wikimedia Foundation, Inc., a non-profit organization. About Wikipedia

Question: this african nation is located south of sudan and west of kenya
Answer: South Sudan