Facts About Kenya

• Kenya is located in East Africa, on the equator.
• In 2012, the population of Kenya was estimated to be around 43 million.
• Kenya is officially known as the Republic of Kenya.
• The capital and largest city is Nairobi. Mombasa is the second largest city.
• The two official languages in Kenya are English and Swahili, although there are dozens of other languages spoken in various parts of the country.
• Kenya shares Lake Victoria, the world’s second largest fresh water lake, with Tanzania and Uganda.
• Kenya features many national parks and wildlife reserves, with safaris being a popular activity for visitors.
• Agriculture is important to Kenya’s economy, especially tea, coffee and flowers.
• Large animals such as lions, buffalo, leopards, elephants and rhinoceros are present in Kenya.
• Kenya is roughly the same size of Texas at 362,040 square miles.
• After coffee, Kenya’s biggest income generator is tourism.
• For the Kenyans, however, coffee is considered an export product, not something for local consumption. The local favorites are tea and beer.
• Kenyans usually drink their beverages hot or at room temperature. Hot beer, anyone?
• Some of the oldest known paleontological records of man’s history have been found in Kenya.
• Kenya’s Great Rift Valley was formed around 20 million years ago, when the crust of the Earth was split.
• Most Kenyans are either very poor or very rich. Very few can be classified as middle class.
• Before marriage Kenyans still pay a dowry to the bride’s family, which starts at 10 cows.
• The men of Kenya are allowed to have more than one wife.
• Kenyan environmentalist Professor Maathai won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2004. She was the first African woman to do so.
• Kenya’s economy is a described as a liberal market without government control. The only thing that the government does control about the economy is certain commodity prices.
• Telecommunication is the largest sector in Kenya’s economy. It comprises 62% of Kenya’s total GDP. Agriculture is next, which comprises 22% of the GDP.
• Kenya was ruled by the British for almost 100 years. They gained their independence in 1963.
• Kenya is the 49th largest country in the world.
• Lake Turkana National Park and Mount Kenya national park are world heritage sites.
• Kenya has the 31st largest population in the world.
• The cheetah is the fastest animal in Kenya.
• Kenya has over 100 types of birds.
• There are 110 different types of bat found in Kenya.
• Kenya Life expectancy at birth is 62 years for males and 65 years for females.
• The largest ethnic group in Kenya is the Kikuyu representing 22% of the population.
• Kenyans drive on the left hand side of the road.
• Kenya has 194 airports
• Kenya has 160,000 km of roads – that would take you around the world over six times.

KENYA BASIC INFORMATION

• Population 43,500,000
• Capital Nairobi
• Language Swahili/English
• Religion Christianity
• Currency Shilling
• Area (mi² )224,000
• Area (km²) 9.707 million