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Kenya

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For other uses, see Kenya (disambiguation).
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events or newly available information. (November 2018)
Coordinates: 1�N 38�E

Republic of Kenya
Jamhuri ya Kenya (Swahili)
Flag of Kenya
Flag
Coat of arms of Kenya
Coat of arms
Motto: "Harambee" (Swahili)
"Let us all pull together"
Anthem: "Ee Mungu Nguvu Yetu"
(English: "O God of all creation")
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Kenya (orthographic projection).svg
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Location of Kenya
Capital
and largest city
Nairobi
1�16?S 36�48?E
Official languages
EnglishSwahili[1]
National language Swahili[1]
Ethnic groups (2019[2])
17.13% Kikuyu
14.35% Luhya
13.37% Kalenjin
10.65% Luo
9.81% Kamba
5.85% Somalis
5.68% Kisii
5.23% Mijikenda
4.15% Meru
13.78% Other
Religion (2019[2])
85.52% Christian
10.91% Muslim
1.6% Irreligion
0.68% Traditional
1.29% Other
Demonym(s) Kenyan
Government Unitary presidential constitutional republic
� President
Uhuru Kenyatta
� Deputy President
William Ruto
� Speaker of the Senate
Kenneth Lusaka
� Speaker of the National Assembly
Justin Muturi
� Chief Justice
David Maraga
� Attorney General
Paul Kihara Kariuki
Legislature Parliament
� Upper house
Senate
� Lower house
National Assembly
Independence
� from the United Kingdom
12 December 1963
� Republic declared
12 December 1964
Area
� Total
580,367 km2 (224,081 sq mi)[3][4] (48th)
� Water (%)
2.3
Population
� 2019 census
47,564,296[5] (29th)
� Density
78/km2 (202.0/sq mi) (124th)
GDP (PPP) 2020 estimate
� Total
$206.532 billion[6]
� Per capita
$4,071[7]
GDP (nominal) 2020 estimate
� Total
$109.116 billion[7]
� Per capita
$2,151[7]
Gini (2014) 42.5[8]
medium � 48th
HDI (2018) Decrease 0.579[9]
medium � 147th
Currency Kenyan shilling (KES)
Time zone UTC+3 (EAT)
Date format dd/mm/yy (AD)
Driving side left
Calling code +254
ISO 3166 code KE
Internet TLD .ke
[10] According to the CIA, estimates for this country explicitly take into account
the effects of mortality because of 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.
Kenya (/?k?nj?/ (About this soundlisten)), officially the Republic of Kenya
(Swahili: Jamhuri ya Kenya), is a country in Africa with 47 semiautonomous counties
governed by elected governors. At 580,367 square kilometres (224,081 sq mi), Kenya
is the world's 48th largest country by total area. With a population of more than
47.6 million people, Kenya is the 29th most populous country.[5] Kenya's capital
and largest city is Nairobi, while its oldest city and first capital is the coastal
city of Mombasa. Kisumu City is the third largest city and also an inland port on
Lake Victoria. Other important urban centres include Nakuru and Eldoret.
Kenya is bordered by South Sudan to the northwest, Ethiopia to the north, Somalia
to the east, Uganda to the west, Tanzania to the south, and the Indian Ocean to the
southeast.

According to archaeological dating of associated artifacts and skeletal material,


the Cushites first settled in the lowlands of Kenya between 3,200 and 1,300 BC, a
phase referred to as the Lowland Savanna Pastoral Neolithic.

Nilotic-speaking pastoralists (ancestral to Kenya's Nilotic speakers) started


migrating from present-day southern Sudan into Kenya around 500 BC.[11] European
contact began in 1500 with the Portuguese Empire, though effective colonisation of
Kenya began in the 19th century during the European exploration of the interior.
Modern-day Kenya emerged from a protectorate established by the British Empire in
1895 and the subsequent Kenya Colony, which began in 1920. Numerous disputes
between the UK and the colony led to the Mau Mau revolution, which began in 1952,
and the subsequent declaration of independence in 1963. After independence, Kenya
remained a member of the Commonwealth of Nations. The current constitution was
adopted in 2010 to replace the 1963 independence constitution.

Kenya is a presidential representative democratic republic, in which elected


officials represent the people and the president is the head of state and
government.[12] Kenya is a member of the United Nations, World Bank, International
Monetary Fund, COMESA, International Criminal Court, and other international
organisations. With a GNI of 1,460,[13] Kenya is a lower-middle-income economy.
Kenya's economy is the largest in eastern and central Africa,[14][15] with Nairobi
serving as a major regional commercial hub.[15] Agriculture is the largest sector:
tea and coffee are traditional cash crops, while fresh flowers are a fast-growing
export. The service industry is also a major economic driver, particularly tourism.
Kenya is a member of the East African Community trade bloc, though some
international trade organisations categorise it as part of the Greater Horn of
Africa.[16] Africa is Kenya's largest export market, followed by the European
Union.[17]

Contents
1 Etymology
2 History
2.1 Human Prehistory
2.2 Neolithic
2.3 Swahili trade period
2.4 Early Portuguese colonization
2.5 British Kenya (1888�1962)
2.6 Mau Mau Uprising
2.7 Somalis of Kenya referendum, 1962
2.8 Independence
2.9 The first president of Kenya
2.10 Moi era
2.11 Transition to multiparty democracy
2.12 President Kibaki and the road to a new constitution
2.13 Devolution of government and separation of powers
3 Geography and climate
3.1 Climate
3.2 Wildlife
4 Government and politics
4.1 2013 elections and new government
4.2 Foreign relations
4.3 Armed forces
4.4 Administrative divisions
4.5 Human rights
5 Economy
5.1 Tourism
5.2 Agriculture
5.3 Industry and manufacturing
5.4 Transport
5.5 Energy
5.6 Chinese investment and trade
5.7 Vision 2030
5.8 Oil exploration
5.9 Child labour and prostitution
5.10 Microfinance in Kenya
6 Demographics
6.1 Ethnic groups
6.2 Languages
6.3 Urban centres
6.4 Religion
6.5 Health
6.6 Women
6.7 Education
7 Culture
7.1 Media
7.2 Literature
7.3 Music
7.4 Sports
7.5 Cuisine
8 See also
9 References
10 Sources
11 External links

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