Kenya

Radio broadcast stations

AM 16, FM 4, shortwave 0

Radios

NA

Telephone system

in top group of African systems domestic: primarily microwave radio relay international: satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean)

Telephones

357,251 (1989 est.)

Television broadcast stations

6

Televisions

260,000 (1993 est.)

Agriculture - products

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

Budget

revenues: $2.7 billion expenditures : $2.7 billion, including capital expenditures of $620 million (FY95/96)

Currency

1 Kenyan shilling (KSh) = 100 cents

Debt - external

$7 billion (1994 est.)

Economic aid

recipient : multilateral $490 million; bilateral $433 million (1993 est.)

Economy - overview

Since 1993, the government of Kenya has implemented a program of economic liberalization and reform. Steps have included the removal of import licensing and price controls, removal of foreign exchange controls, fiscal and monetary restraint, and reduction of the public sector through privatization of publicly owned companies and downsizing the civil service. With the support of the World Bank, IMF, and other donors, these reforms have led to a turnaround in economic performance following a period of negative growth in the early 1990s. Kenya's real GDP grew at 5% in 1995 and 4% in 1996, and inflation remained under control. Substantial barriers to growth and development remain, including electricity shortages, the government's continued and inefficient dominance of key sectors, endemic corruption, and the country's high population growth rate (which has declined substantially in recent years).

Electricity - capacity

810,000 kW (1994)

Electricity - consumption per capita

125 kWh (1995 est.)

Electricity - production

3.48 billion kWh (1994)

Exchange rates

Kenyan shillings (KSh) per US$1 - 54.738 (January 1997), 57.115 (1996), 51.430 (1995), 56.051 (1994), 58.001 (1993), 32.217 (1992)

Exports

total value: $1.9 billion (f.o.b., 1995 est.) commodities: tea 35.7%, coffee 28.7%, petroleum products 8.6% partners : Uganda 22.8%, UK 20.1%, Tanzania 19.1%, Germany 14.0%, Netherlands 7.6%, US 6.1%

Fiscal year

1 July - 30 June

GDP

purchasing power parity - $39.2 billion (1996 est.)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture: 29.7% industry: 11.1% services: 59.2% (1995 est.)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $1,400 (1996 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

4% (1996 est.)

Imports

total value: $2.6 billion (f.o.b., 1995 est.) commodities: machinery and transportation equipment 53%, petroleum and petroleum products 23.7%, iron and steel 12.2%, raw materials, food and consumer goods (1989) partners : UK 21.3%, UAE 18%, Japan 14%, Germany, US

Industrial production growth rate

3.8% (1995)

Industries

small-scale consumer goods (plastic, furniture, batteries, textiles, soap, cigarettes, flour), processing agricultural products; oil refining, cement; tourism

Inflation rate - consumer price index

1.6% (1995 est.)

Labor force

total: 8.78 million (1993 est.) by occupation: agriculture 75%-80%, non-agriculture 20%-25%

Unemployment rate

35% urban (1994 est.)

Area

total : 582,650 sq km land: 569,250 sq km water: 13,400 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly more than twice the size of Nevada

Climate

varies from tropical along coast to arid in interior

Coastline

536 km

Elevation extremes

lowest point : Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: Mount Kenya 5,199 m

Environment - current issues

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

Environment - international agreements

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified : Desertification

Geographic coordinates

1 00 N, 38 00 E

Geography - note

the Kenyan Highlands comprise one of the most successful agricultural production regions in Africa; glaciers on Mt. Kenya; unique physiography supports abundant and varied wildlife of scientific and economic value

Irrigated land

660 sq km (1993 est.)

Land boundaries

total: 3,446 km border countries : Ethiopia 830 km, Somalia 682 km, Sudan 232 km, Tanzania 769 km, Uganda 933 km

Land use

arable land: 7% permanent crops: 1% permanent pastures: 37% forests and woodland : 30% other: 25% (1993 est.)

Location

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

Map references

Africa

Maritime claims

continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm

Natural hazards

NA

Natural resources

gold, limestone, soda ash, salt barytes, rubies, fluorspar, garnets, wildlife

Terrain

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

Administrative divisions

7 provinces and 1 area*; Central, Coast, Eastern, Nairobi Area*, North Eastern, Nyanza, Rift Valley, Western

Constitution

12 December 1963, amended as a republic 1964; reissued with amendments 1979, 1983, 1986, 1988, 1991, and 1992

Country name

conventional long form: Republic of Kenya conventional short form : Kenya former: British East Africa

Data code

KE

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission : Ambassador Prudence B. BUSHNELL (17 July 1996) embassy: corner of Moi Avenue and Haile Selassie Avenue, Nairobi mailing address: P. O. Box 30137, Unit 64100, APO AE 09831 telephone: [254] (2) 334141

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Benjamin Edgar KIPKORIR chancery: 2249 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 387-6101

Executive branch

chief of state : President Daniel Toroitich arap MOI (since 14 October 1978); Vice President George SAITOTI (since 10 May 1989); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: President Daniel Toroitich arap MOI (since 14 October 1978); Vice President George SAITOTI (since 10 May 1989); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president elections: president elected by popular vote from among the members of the National Assembly for a five-year term; election last held 29 December 1992 (next to be held by early 1998); vice president appointed by the president election results : President Daniel T. arap MOI reelected; percent of vote - Daniel T. arap MOI 37%, Kenneth MATIBA (FORD-ASILI) 26%, Mwai KIBAKI (DP) 19%, Oginga ODINGA (FORD-Kenya) 17%

FAX

[1] (202) 462-3829 consulate(s) general: Los Angeles and New York

FAX

[254] (2) 340838

Flag description

three equal horizontal bands of black (top), red, and green; the red band is edged in white; a large warrior's shield covering crossed spears is superimposed at the center

Government type

republic

Independence

12 December 1963 (from UK)

International organization participation

ACP, C, CCC, EADB, ECA, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGADD, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MINURSO, NAM, OAU, UN, UN Security Council (temporary), UNAVEM III, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNMOP, UNOMIL, UNPREDEP, UNTAES, UNU, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Judicial branch

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

Legal system

based on English common law, tribal law, and Islamic law; judicial review in High Court; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations; constitutional amendment of 1982 making Kenya a de jure one-party state repealed in 1991

Legislative branch

unicameral National Assembly or Bunge (200 seats, 12 appointed by the president, 188 popularly elected members to serve 5-year terms) elections: last held 29 December 1992 (next to be held between 1 April 1997 and 31 January 1998) election results : percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - KANU 100, FORD-Kenya 31, FORD-Asili 31, DP 23, smaller parties 3; president nominates 12 additional members; note - as of 9 April 1996 seat distribution (among non-appointed seats) was: KANU 106, FORD-Kenya 32, FORD-Asili 22, DP 22, smaller parties and vacancies 6 note : first multiparty election since repeal of one-party state law in 1991

National capital

Nairobi

National holiday

Independence Day, 12 December (1963)

Political parties and leaders

ruling party : Kenya African National Union or KANU [President Daniel Toroitich arap MOI] opposition party: Forum for the Restoration of Democracy or FORD-Kenya [Michael WAMALWA]; Forum for the Restoration of Democracy or FORD-Asili [Kenneth MATIBA]; Democratic Party of Kenya or DP [Mwai KIBAKI]

Political pressure groups and leaders

Roman Catholic and other Christian churches; unregistered SAFINA party with which prominent naturalist Richard Leakey is associated; human rights groups; labor unions

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Military branches

Army, Navy, Air Force, paramilitary General Service Unit of the Police

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$134 million (FY94/95)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

3.9% (FY94/95)

Military manpower - availability

males age 15-49 : 6,903,241 (1997 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service

males: 4,266,063 (1997 est.)

Age structure

0-14 years : 44% (male 6,403,826; female 6,264,971) 15-64 years: 53% (male 7,682,401; female 7,696,504) 65 years and over: 3% (male 340,664; female 414,719) (July 1997 est.)

Birth rate

32.44 births/1,000 population (1997 est.)

Death rate

10.83 deaths/1,000 population (1997 est.)

Ethnic groups

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

Infant mortality rate

55.2 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)

Languages

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

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 54.39 years male : 54.21 years female: 54.59 years (1997 est.)

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population : 78.1% male: 86.3% female: 70% (1995 est.)

Nationality

noun : Kenyan(s) adjective: Kenyan

Net migration rate

-0.34 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1997 est.)

Population

28,803,085 (July 1997 est.)

Population growth rate

2.13% (1997 est.)

Religions

Protestant (including Anglican) 38%, Roman Catholic 28%, indigenous beliefs 26%, other 8%

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.82 male(s)/female total population: 1 male(s)/female (1997 est.)

Total fertility rate

4.26 children born/woman (1997 est.)

Disputes - international

administrative boundary with Sudan does not coincide with international boundary

Illicit drugs

widespread harvesting of small, wild plots of marijuana and qat (chat); transit country for South Asian heroin destined for Europe and, sometimes, North America; Indian methaqualone also transits on way to South Africa KINGMAN REEF (territory of the US)

Airports

200 (1996 est.)

Airports - with paved runways

total : 92 over 3,047 m: 3 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m : 22 under 914 m: 63 (1996 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total : 108 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 12 914 to 1,523 m: 95 (1996 est.)

Highways

total: 63,663 km paved: 8,785 km unpaved : 54,878 km (1995 est.)

Merchant marine

total : 2 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 4,883 GRT/6,255 DWT ships by type: oil tanker 1, roll on/roll off 1 (1996 est.)

Pipelines

petroleum products 483 km

Ports and harbors

Kisumu, Lamu, Mombasa

Railways

total : 2,652 km narrow gauge: 2,652 km 1.000-m gauge

Waterways

part of Lake Victoria system is within boundaries of Kenya