Kenya Country Profile

Discovering Kenya

Kenya Flag

The Republic of Kenya is a nation situated on East African coast right along the equator. Lying along the Indian Ocean, Kenya is bound by Ethiopia to the north, the Sudan to the northwest, Uganda plus Lake Victoria directly to the west, southward lies Tanzania and Somalia in the northeast. At 580,367 sq km, it is the world’s forty-seventh largest country and covers an area about 85%-a size comparable to that of France. Kenya was named after Mount Kenya- a significant landmark and the second among the highest mountain peaks of Africa. The country’s capital city is Nairobi.

Geography

Mount Kenya

Kenya’s geography is marvelously varied. While much of northeastern Kenya is a flat, bush-covered plain, the remainder of the country encompasses pristine beaches, scenic highlands and lake regions, the Great Rift Valley, and the magnificent Mount Kenya.
Kenya is comparable twice the size of Nevada, USA In the north, the land is arid; the southwest corner is in the fertile Lake Victoria Basin; and a length of the eastern depression of the Great Rift Valley separates western highlands from those that rise from the lowland coastal strip.

From the coast on the Indian Ocean the Low plains rise to central highlands. The highlands are bisected by the Great Rift Valley; a fertile plateau in the east. 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; this is the most significant landmass in the country and goes up to 5,199 m in height and is also the site of glaciers. Climate varies from tropical along the coast to arid in the interior.

History and people of Kenya

Kenya has known the presence of humankind when first inhabited over 2 millions years ago before the very earliest development of human species. With the arrival of the Portuguese in the area in early 1500s, the East African coastal areas were mainly dominated by Whites. Later with the expulsion of these Portuguese, Arab dynasties came into existence in late 1720s and prevailed till late 1800s. The land of Kenya has been dominantly a migratory path that has undergone several transitions of people from all over Africa and Middle East later as well.
Of special interest, unlike other regions of Africa, Kenya by early 1100s or so had developed its own lingua Franca, Swahili – a Bantu language with mixture of Arabic.

Kenya has more than 50 ethnic groups. Its largest group, the Kikuyu, migrated to the region as early as in the 1800s. Other more significant groups are the Kamba, Gusii, Luhya, and Luo. This makes the country’s population overwhelmingly (97%) unique with a composition of people of African descent. English and Swahili are the chief dialects.

Kenya gained sovereignty in 1963 preceding several upheavals that occurred beginning late 1940s and in 1952 the Mau Mau movement, made up of Kikuyu militants, rebelled against the government. These fightings went on until early 1957. Much as the country internal and external strife, it has in years gradually achieved a more stable multi-party political system. The country’s population has grown rapidly in recent decades to nearly 38 million.

Culture

Kikuyu dances

Kenya is a culturally diverse country, with many dissimilar cultures. Notable cultures include the Swahili on the coast, pastoralist communities in the north, and several different communities in the central and western regions. The Masai culture which is most known is given heavy exposure from tourism much as it constitute a relatively minor percentage of the Kenyan population. The Masai are known for their jewelry.

Wildlife

Kenya boasts numerous wildlife and national parks habiting thousands of animal species. Up to 250,000 Blue wildebeest participate in a large scale annual migration an arduous movement in search of forage during the dry season. The “Big Five” i.e. the lion, leopard, buffalo, rhinoceros and elephant can also be found in Kenya. A significant population of other wild animals, reptiles and birds can be found in the country’s national parks. Kenya National Parks include Masai Mara,

A ruma warthog

Mt. Kenya, Aberdares, Tsavo, Nairobi, Amboseli, Samburu, Lake Nakuru and Meru.

Climate

Kenya experiences a tropical climate. It is hot and humid at the coast, temperate inland and very dry in the north and northeast parts of the country. There is nonetheless heavy rain between March and May, and reducing in October and November. The temperature remains high throughout these months.