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Kenya
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Capital: Nairobi
Population: 52,573,973
Brief History of Kenya:
Kenya has been inhabited by local tribal people for thousands of years. Cushite-speaking people migrated to the area in 2000 BC. In the first century AD, traders visited the coast of Kenya and soon Arabs and Persians began to settle along the coast.
In 1498 the first Europeans, the Portuguese, arrived. Later in the 1800s the British would start to colonize the land. They created the East African Protectorate in 1895 and Europeans began to settle in Kenya. In 1920 Kenya was made an official British colony.
In 1952, rebels called the ?Mau Mau? began to fight against the British. In 1957, Africans were able to be elected to the Legislative Council of the government and in 1963 Kenya gained full independence. The first president of Kenya was Jomo Kenyatta.
The Geography of Kenya
Total Size: 582,650 square km
Size Comparison: slightly more than twice the size of Nevada
Geographical Coordinates: 1 00 N, 38 00 E
World Region or Continent: Africa
General Terrain: low plains rise to central highlands bisected by Great Rift Valley; fertile plateau in west
Geographical Low Point: Indian Ocean 0 m
Geographical High Point: Mount Kenya 5,199 m
Climate: varies from tropical along coast to arid in interior
Major cities: NAIROBI (capital) 3.375 million; Mombassa 966,000 (2009)
The People of Kenya
Type of Government: republic
Languages Spoken: English (official), Kiswahili (official), numerous indigenous languages
Independence: 12 December 1963 (from UK)
National Holiday: Independence Day, 12 December (1963)
Nationality: Kenyan(s)
Religions: Protestant 45%, Roman Catholic 33%, indigenous beliefs 10%, Muslim 10%, other 2%
National Symbol: lion
National Anthem or Song: Ee Mungu Nguvu Yetu (Oh God of All Creation)
Economy of Kenya
Major Industries: small-scale consumer goods (plastic, furniture, batteries, textiles, soap, cigarettes, flour), agricultural products, oil refining; aluminum, steel, lead; cement, commercial ship repair, tourism
Agricultural Products: tea, coffee, corn, wheat, sugarcane, fruit, vegetables; dairy products, beef, pork, poultry, eggs
Natural Resources: limestone, soda ash, salt, gemstones, fluorspar, zinc, diatomite, gypsum, wildlife, hydropower
Major Exports: tea, horticultural products, coffee, petroleum products, fish, cement
Major Imports: machinery and transportation equipment, petroleum products, motor vehicles, iron and steel, resins and plastics
Currency: Kenyan shilling (KES)
National GDP: $71,210,000,000
** Source for population (2012 est.) and GDP (2011 est.) is CIA World Factbook.
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