(source: Wikipedia.org)
Republic of Kenya (engl.), Jamhuri ya Kenya (Kisuaheli)
type of government: presidential republic, capital: Nairobi, present president: Mwai Kibaki
The national flag of Kenya was officially pulled up for the very first time in December 12, 1963 (independance from Great Britain). The flag shall remind all Kenyans at the difficult time of the colonies and enslavement. In the center it shows a traditional Massai-buckler with two crossed spears (symbol of the well fortified will for freedom). The black stripe on top is standing for the black people, the red stripe stands for all the blood that was spilled with a lot of courage, the green stripe symbolises the fields and forests of the country, the separating, white lines stand for peace between the past and the future of the black man in Africa and the unity of the people. The kenyan motto: "Harambee" (let us work together). The national anthem: "Ee Mungu Nguvu Yetu" (Oh God of all creatures).
Kenya lies in East Africa
Borders : in the east to Somalia and the Indian Ocean, in the south to Tansania, in the west to Uganda and in the north to Sudan and Ethiopia.
Coordinates : 5°S - 5°N, 34° - 42°E
Country's area : 582.646 km2
Time zone : UTC +3 (UTC = world time coordinated)
Number of inhabitants : 33.829.590 (per July 2005) corresponds to rank 36 among all countries of the world
Population density : 55 Einwohner per km2
Average life expectancy : approx. 47 years
Currency : Kenya-Shilling, abbr.: K.Sh., ISO-4217-Code: KES, (1€ = approx. 87 KES)
Gross domestic product/inhabitant : 436 US-$ (2004)
Road system : 63.942 km, asphalts of it: approx. 8.000 km
Railway rails : approx. 3.000 km
Climate : Climate varies from tropical along the coast to arid in interior.
Annual average temperatures 20° - 30°C (depending upon region), warmest months: January-May and September-December, 2 rain seasons (March-May and October-December), in the western highlands also a rainy season from June to August
At 224,961 mi² (582,646 km²), Kenya is the world's forty-seventh largest country (after Madagascar). It is comparable in size to France, and is somewhat smaller than the US state of Texas.
From the coast on the Indian Ocean the Low plains rise to central highlands. The highlands are bisected by Great Rift Valley; fertile plateau in west. The Kenyan Highlands comprise 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 in Africa): Mount Kenya, which reaches 5,199 meters (17,057 ft) and is also the site of glaciers. In 1997 UNESCO has declared Mount Kenya a "world natural heritage". Massai people call it Kere nyaga, or Kinyaa, which means "black and white mountain". The lowest of Kenya is at 0m along the 480 km long coast of the Indian Ocean. The longest rivers of the country are Tana, Athi and Kerio.
Nakuru, founded in 1904, is the provincial capital of Kenya's Rift Valley province, with roughly 300,000 inhabitants, and currently the fourth largest urban centre in the country, lies about 1850 m above sea level.
The biggest cities (January 2005) are: Nairobi (2.750.561 inhabitants), Mombasa (799.727 inhabitants), Nakuru (259.934 inhabitants), Eldoret (218.472 inhabitants) and Kisumu (216.479 inhabitants).
People and languages : totaly there are 52 ethnic groups living in Kenya : Kikuyu, Luhya, Luo, Kalenjin, Massai, Iteso, Nandi, Kamba, Kissii, Samburu, Njemps, Giriamas, Rendille,...along the coast there are also arabic, indian and chinese groups. 61 language variations are known (incl. indian dialects). Englisch is the official language in Kenya, Swahili or Kisuaheli - is the second official language, the so called "lingua franca" of East-Africa. In the Slums of Kenyas big cities many people speak "Sheng", a completely new language of the youth (popular in "Rap" and in "Hip-Hop-music).
Religion : 70% of the population are Christians, therefrom 53% members of the more than 200 different african churches. 24,86% of the total population are catholics. At least 18% are adherents of traditional african religions. More than 9% are Muslims, specially along the coast.
