Total Area:582,650 sq km
Land Borders: Ethiopia, Somalia, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda
Population: 34,707,817
Life Expectancy: 49 years
HIV % Total Poulation:6.7%
Ethnic Groups: Kikuyu 22%, Luhya 14%, Luo 13%, Kalenjin 12%, Kamba 11%, Kisii 6%, Meru 6%, other African 15%, non-African (Asian, European, and Arab) 1%
Languages:English (official), Kiswahili (official), numerous indigenous languages
President:Mwai KIBAKI
GDP - Per Capita: $1,100
Founding president and liberation struggle icon Jomo KENYATTA led Kenya from independence in 1963 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 were viewed as having generally reflected the will of the Kenyan people. President MOI stepped down in December 2002 following fair and peaceful elections. Mwai KIBAKI, running as the candidate of the multiethnic, united opposition group, the National Rainbow Coalition, defeated KANU candidate Uhuru KENYATTA and assumed the presidency following a campaign centered on an anticorruption platform.
Kenyan Shilling (KSh) = 100 cents. Notes are in denominations of KSh1000, 500, 200, 100 and 50. Coins are in denominations of KSh20, 10 and 5.
Credit cards are widely accepted
Cash can be easily exchanged
Bank Hours: Monday to Friday: 09:00-14:00
CommunicationsInternet cafes are found in cities and major hotels. Ouside these areas only major hotel chains have facilities and these can be expensive
Post to Europe generally takes 7 to 10 days, but is quite reliable.
Telephones and faxes are available in major towns and cities.
Country code: ++254
240 volts, 50Hz. UK-style square three-pin plugs are used
Ireland Foreign Affairs
New Zealand Foreign Affairs
UK Foreign & Commonwealth Office
Canadian Consular affairs
Australia Foreign Affairs
All foreign nationals visitoring Kenya (except East African Citizens) require a visa.
There is plenty of sunshine all the year round and summer clothes are worn throughout the year. However, it is usually cool at night and early in the morning.
The coastal areas are tropical, but tempered by monsoon winds. The lowlands are hot but mainly dry, while the highlands are more temperate with four seasons. Nairobi has a very pleasant climate throughout the year due to its altitude. Near Lake Victoria, the temperatures are much higher and rainfall can be heavy.
The long rains occur from April to June and short rains from October to December. The rainfall is sometimes heavy and when it does come it often falls in the afternoons and evenings. The hottest period is from February to March and coldest in July to August.
The annual migration of wildlife between Serengeti National Park in Tanzania and Maasai Mara National Park in Kenya takes place between June and September.
Kenya meteorological Department
world weather Information service
Jan 1 New Year's Day
Apr 18 Good Friday
Apr 21 Easter Monday
May 1 Labor Day
Jun 1 Madaraka Day
Oct 10 Moi Day
Oct 20 Kenyatta Day
Dec 12 Independence Day
Dec 25 Christmas Day
Dec 26 Boxing Day
Eid ul-Fitr (End of Ramadan)* is dependent on the Lunar Calendar.