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Background:
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Founding
president and liberation struggle icon Jomo KENYATTA led
Kenya from independence until his death in 1978, when
President Daniel Toroitich arap MOI took power in a
constitutional succession. The country was a de facto
one-party state from 1969 until 1982 when the ruling
Kenya African National Union (KANU) made itself the sole
legal party in Kenya. MOI acceded to internal and
external pressure for political liberalization in late
1991. The ethnically fractured opposition failed to
dislodge KANU from power in elections in 1992 and 1997,
which were marred by violence and fraud, but are viewed
as having generally reflected the will of the Kenyan
people. President MOI stepped down in December of 2002
following fair and peaceful elections. Mwai KIBAKI,
running as the candidate of the multiethnic, united
opposition group, the National Rainbow Coalition,
defeated KANU candidate Uhuru KENYATTA and assumed the
presidency following a campaign centered on an
anticorruption platform. |
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Location:
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Eastern
Africa, bordering the Indian Ocean, between Somalia and
Tanzania |
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Geographic coordinates:
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1 00 N,
38 00 E |
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Map references:
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Africa
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Area:
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total:
582,650 sq km
land: 569,250 sq km
water: 13,400 sq km |
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Area - comparative:
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slightly
more than twice the size of Nevada |
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Land boundaries:
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total:
3,477 km
border countries: Ethiopia 861 km, Somalia 682
km, Sudan 232 km, Tanzania 769 km, Uganda 933 km |
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Coastline:
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536 km
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Maritime claims:
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territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of
exploitation |
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Climate:
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varies
from tropical along coast to arid in interior |
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Terrain:
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low
plains rise to central highlands bisected by Great Rift
Valley; fertile plateau in west |
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest
point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mount Kenya 5,199 m |
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Natural resources:
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limestone, soda ash, salt, gemstones, fluorspar, zinc,
diatomite, gypsum, wildlife, hydropower |
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Land use:
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arable
land: 8.08%
permanent crops: 0.98%
other: 90.94% (2001) |
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Irrigated land:
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670 sq km
(1998 est.) |
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Natural hazards:
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recurring
drought; flooding during rainy seasons |
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Environment - current issues:
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water
pollution from urban and industrial wastes; degradation
of water quality from increased use of pesticides and
fertilizers; water hyacinth infestation in Lake
Victoria; deforestation; soil erosion; desertification;
poaching |
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Environment - international agreements:
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party
to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate
Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered
Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine
Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer
Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected
agreements |
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Geography - note:
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the
Kenyan Highlands comprise one of the most successful
agricultural production regions in Africa; glaciers are
found on Mount Kenya, Africa's second highest peak;
unique physiography supports abundant and varied
wildlife of scientific and economic value |
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Population:
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33,829,590
note: estimates for this country explicitly take
into account the effects of excess mortality due to
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 (July 2005 est.) |
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Age structure:
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0-14
years: 42.5% (male 7,252,075/female 7,124,034)
15-64 years: 55.2% (male 9,378,428/female
9,295,471)
65 years and over: 2.3% (male 356,116/female
423,466) (2005 est.) |
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Median age:
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total:
18.19 years
male: 18.08 years
female: 18.3 years (2005 est.) |
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Population growth rate:
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2.56%
(2005 est.) |
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Birth rate:
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40.13
births/1,000 population (2005 est.) |
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Death rate:
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14.65
deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.) |
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Net migration rate:
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0.08
migrant(s)/1,000 population
note: according to UNHCR, by the end of 2001
Kenya was host to 220,000 refugees from neighboring
countries, including: Somalia 145,000 and Sudan 68,000
(2005 est.) |
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Sex ratio:
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at
birth: 1.02 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.84 male(s)/female
total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2005 est.)
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Infant mortality rate:
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total:
61.47 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 64.26 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 58.62 deaths/1,000 live births (2005
est.) |
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Life expectancy at birth:
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total
population: 47.99 years
male: 48.87 years
female: 47.09 years (2005 est.) |
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Total fertility rate:
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4.96
children born/woman (2005 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
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6.7%
(2003 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
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1.2
million (2003 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - deaths:
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150,000
(2003 est.) |
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Major infectious diseases:
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degree
of risk: very high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and
protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne disease: malaria is a high risk in
some locations
water contact disease: schistosomiasis (2004)
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Nationality:
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noun:
Kenyan(s)
adjective: Kenyan |
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Ethnic groups:
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Kikuyu
22%, Luhya 14%, Luo 13%, Kalenjin 12%, Kamba 11%, Kisii
6%, Meru 6%, other African 15%, non-African (Asian,
European, and Arab) 1% |
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Religions:
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Protestant 45%, Roman Catholic 33%, indigenous beliefs
10%, Muslim 10%, other 2%
note: a large majority of Kenyans are Christian,
but estimates for the percentage of the population that
adheres to Islam or indigenous beliefs vary widely |
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Languages:
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English
(official), Kiswahili (official), numerous indigenous
languages |
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Literacy:
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definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 85.1%
male: 90.6%
female: 79.7% (2003 est.) |
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Country name:
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conventional long form: Republic of Kenya
conventional short form: Kenya
former: British East Africa |
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Government type:
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republic
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Capital:
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Nairobi
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Administrative divisions:
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7
provinces and 1 area*; Central, Coast, Eastern, Nairobi
Area*, North Eastern, Nyanza, Rift Valley, Western |
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Independence:
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12
December 1963 (from UK) |
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National holiday:
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Independence Day, 12 December (1963) |
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Constitution:
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12
December 1963; amended as a republic 1964; reissued with
amendments 1979, 1982, 1986, 1988, 1991, 1992, 1997, and
2001 |
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Legal system:
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based on
Kenyan statutory law, Kenyan and 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 |
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Suffrage:
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18 years
of age; universal |
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Executive branch:
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chief
of state: President Mwai KIBAKI (since 30 December
2002) and Vice President Moody AWORI (since 25 September
2003); note - the president is both the chief of state
and head of government
head of government: President Mwai KIBAKI (since
30 December 2002) and Vice President Moody AWORI (since
25 September 2003); 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 for
a five-year term; in addition to receiving the largest
number of votes in absolute terms, the presidential
candidate must also win 25% or more of the vote in at
least five of Kenya's seven provinces and one area to
avoid a runoff; election last held 27 December 2002
(next to be held December 2007); vice president
appointed by the president
election results: President Mwai KIBAKI elected;
percent of vote - Mwai KIBAKI 63%, Uhuru KENYATTA 30%
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Legislative branch:
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unicameral National Assembly or Bunge (224 seats; 210
members elected by popular vote to serve five-year
terms, 12 so-called "nominated" members who are
appointed by the president but selected by the parties
in proportion to their parliamentary vote totals, 2
ex-officio members)
elections: last held 27 December 2002 (next to be
held by early 2007)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA%;
seats by party - NARC 125, KANU 64, FORD-P 14, other 7;
ex-officio 2; seats appointed by the president - NARC 7,
KANU 4, FORD-P 1 |
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Judicial branch:
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Court of
Appeal (chief justice is appointed by the president);
High Court |
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Political parties and leaders:
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Forum for
the Restoration of Democracy-People or FORD-People [Kimaniwa
NYOIKE, chairman]; Kenya African National Union or KANU
[Uhuru KENYATTA]; National Rainbow Coalition or NARC [Mwai
KIBAKI] - the governing party |
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Political pressure groups and leaders:
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human
rights groups; labor unions; Muslim organizations;
National Convention Executive Council or NCEC, a
proreform coalition of political parties and
nongovernment organizations [Kivutha KIBWANA];
Protestant National Council of Churches of Kenya or NCCK
[Mutava MUSYIMI]; Roman Catholic and other Christian
churches; Supreme Council of Kenya Muslims or SUPKEM [Shaykh
Abdul Gafur al-BUSAIDY] |
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International organization participation:
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ACP,
AfDB, AU, C, EADB, FAO, G-15, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO,
ICCt (signatory), ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS,
IGAD, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MIGA,
MINURSO, MONUC, NAM, ONUB, OPCW, UN, UNAMSIL, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMEE, UNMIK, UNMIL, UNOCI, UPU,
WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO |
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Diplomatic representation in the US:
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chief
of mission: Ambassador Leonard NGAITHE
chancery: 2249 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 387-6101
FAX: [1] (202) 462-3829
consulate(s) general: Los Angeles |
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Diplomatic representation from the US:
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chief
of mission: Ambassador William M. BELLAMY
embassy: US Embassy, United Nations Ave., Gigiri;
P. O. Box 606 Village Market Nairobi
mailing address: Box 21A, Unit 64100, APO AE
09831
telephone: [254] (20) 537-800
FAX: [254] (20) 537-810 |
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Flag description:
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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
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Economy - overview:
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The
regional hub for trade and finance in East Africa, Kenya
has been hampered by corruption and by reliance upon
several primary goods whose prices have remained low. In
1997, the IMF suspended Kenya's Enhanced Structural
Adjustment Program due to the government's failure to
maintain reforms and curb corruption. A severe drought
from 1999 to 2000 compounded Kenya's problems, causing
water and energy rationing and reducing agricultural
output. As a result, GDP contracted by 0.2% in 2000. The
IMF, which had resumed loans in 2000 to help Kenya
through the drought, again halted lending in 2001 when
the government failed to institute several
anticorruption measures. Despite the return of strong
rains in 2001, weak commodity prices, endemic
corruption, and low investment limited Kenya's economic
growth to 1.2%. Growth lagged at 1.1% in 2002 because of
erratic rains, low investor confidence, meager donor
support, and political infighting up to the elections.
In the key 27 December 2002 elections, Daniel Arap MOI's
24-year-old reign ended, and a new opposition government
took on the formidable economic problems facing the
nation. In 2003, progress was made in rooting out
corruption and encouraging donor support, with GDP
growth edging up to 1.7%. GDP grew a moderate 2.2% in
2004. |
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GDP (purchasing power parity):
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$34.68
billion (2004 est.) |
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GDP - real growth rate:
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2.2%
(2004 est.) |
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GDP - per capita:
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purchasing power parity - $1,100 (2004 est.) |
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GDP - composition by sector:
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agriculture: 19.3%
industry: 18.5%
services: 62.4% (2004 est.) |
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Labor force:
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11.4
million (2004 est.) |
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Labor force - by occupation:
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agriculture 75% (2003 est.) |
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Unemployment rate:
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40% (2001
est.) |
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Population below poverty line:
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50% (2000
est.) |
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Household income or consumption by percentage share:
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lowest
10%: 2%
highest 10%: 37.2% (2000) |
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Distribution of family income - Gini index:
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44.9
(1997) |
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Inflation rate (consumer prices):
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9% (2004
est.) |
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Investment (gross fixed):
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14.7% of
GDP (2004 est.) |
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Budget:
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revenues: $2.89 billion
expenditures: $3.443 billion, including capital
expenditures of NA (2004 est.) |
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Public debt:
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74.3% of
GDP (2004 est.) |
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Agriculture - products:
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tea,
coffee, corn, wheat, sugarcane, fruit, vegetables; dairy
products, beef, pork, poultry, eggs |
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Industries:
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small-scale consumer goods (plastic, furniture,
batteries, textiles, soap, cigarettes, flour),
agricultural products; oil refining, aluminum, steel,
lead, cement; commercial ship repair, tourism |
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Industrial production growth rate:
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2.6%
(2004 est.) |
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Electricity - production:
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4.475
billion kWh (2002) |
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Electricity - production by source:
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fossil
fuel: 17.7%
hydro: 71%
nuclear: 0%
other: 11.3% (2001) |
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Electricity - consumption:
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4.337
billion kWh (2002) |
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Electricity - exports:
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0 kWh
(2002) |
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Electricity - imports:
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175
million kWh (2002) |
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Oil - production:
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0 bbl/day
(2004 est.) |
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Oil - consumption:
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57,000
bbl/day (2001 est.) |
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Oil - exports:
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NA |
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Oil - imports:
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NA |
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Current account balance:
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$-459.2
million (2004 est.) |
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Exports:
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$2.589
billion f.o.b. (2004 est.) |
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Exports - commodities:
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tea,
horticultural products, coffee, petroleum products,
fish, cement |
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Exports - partners:
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Uganda
13.3%, UK 11.4%, US 10.6%, Netherlands 8.2%, Egypt 4.9%,
Tanzania 4.5%, Pakistan 4.3% (2004) |
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Imports:
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$4.19
billion f.o.b. (2004 est.) |
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Imports - commodities:
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machinery
and transportation equipment, petroleum products, motor
vehicles, iron and steel, resins and plastics |
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Imports - partners:
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UAE
12.6%, Saudi Arabia 9.1%, South Africa 8.8%, US 7.7%,
India 7.2%, UK 6.7%, China 6.4%, Japan 5% (2004) |
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Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
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$1.5
billion (2004 est.) |
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Debt - external:
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$6.792
billion (2004 est.) |
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Economic aid - recipient:
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$453
million (1997) |
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Currency (code):
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Kenyan
shilling (KES) |
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Currency code:
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KES |
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Exchange rates:
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Kenyan
shillings per US dollar - 79.174 (2004), 75.936 (2003),
78.749 (2002), 78.563 (2001), 76.176 (2000) |
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Fiscal year:
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1 July -
30 June |
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Telephones - main lines in use:
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328,400
(2003) |
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Telephones - mobile cellular:
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1,590,800
(2003) |
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Telephone system:
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general assessment: unreliable; little attempt to
modernize except for service to business
domestic: trunks are primarily microwave radio
relay; business data commonly transferred by a very
small aperture terminal (VSAT) system
international: country code - 254; satellite
earth stations - 4 Intelsat |
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Radio broadcast stations:
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AM 24, FM
18, shortwave 6 (2001) |
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Radios:
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3.07
million (1997) |
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Television broadcast stations:
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8 (2002)
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Televisions:
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730,000
(1997) |
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Internet country code:
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.ke |
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Internet hosts:
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8,325
(2003) |
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Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
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65 (2001)
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Internet users:
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400,000
(2002) |
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Railways:
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total:
2,778 km
narrow gauge: 2,778 km 1.000-m gauge (2004) |
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Highways:
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total:
63,942 km
paved: 7,737 km
unpaved: 56,205 km (2000) |
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Waterways:
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part of
Lake Victoria system is within boundaries of Kenya
(2004) |
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Pipelines:
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refined
products 752 km (2004) |
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Ports and harbors:
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Mombasa
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Merchant marine:
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total:
3 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 6,049 GRT/7,082 DWT
by type: cargo 2, petroleum tanker 1
registered in other countries: 6 (2005) |
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Airports:
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221 (2004
est.) |
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Airports - with paved runways:
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total:
15
over 3,047 m: 4
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 6
under 914 m: 1 (2004 est.) |
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Airports - with unpaved runways:
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total:
206
1,524 to 2,437 m: 12
914 to 1,523 m: 110
under 914 m: 84 (2004 est.) |
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Military branches:
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Army,
Navy, Air Force |
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Military service age and obligation:
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18 years
of age (est.) (2004) |
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Manpower available for military service:
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males
age 18-49: 7,303,153 (2005 est.) |
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Manpower fit for military service:
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males
age 18-49: 3,963,532 (2005 est.) |
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Military expenditures - dollar figure:
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$177.1
million (2004) |
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Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
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1.3%
(2004) |
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Disputes - international:
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Kenya
served as an important mediator in brokering Sudan's
north-south separation in February 2005; Kenya provides
shelter to approximately a quarter of a million refugees
including Ugandans who flee across the border
periodically to seek protection from Lord's Resistance
Army (LRA) rebels; Kenya's administrative limits extend
beyond the treaty border into the Sudan, creating the
Ilemi Triangle |
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Refugees and internally displaced persons:
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refugees (country of origin): 154,272 (Somalia)
11,139 (Ethiopia) 63,197 (Sudan)
IDPs: 350,000 (KANU attacks on opposition tribal
groups in 1990s) (2004) |
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Illicit drugs:
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widespread harvesting of small plots of marijuana;
transit country for South Asian heroin destined for
Europe and North America; Indian methaqualone also
transits on way to South Africa; significant potential
for money-laundering activity given the country's status
as a regional financial center; massive corruption, and
relatively high levels of narcotics-associated
activities |
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This page was last updated on
20 October, 2005 |
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