Magical Kenya

OFFICIAL NAME: Republic of Kenya

FORM OF GOVERNMENT: Republic

CAPITAL: Nairobi

POPULATION: 48,397,527

OFFICIAL LANGUAGES: Swahili,

English

MONEY: Kenyan shilling

AREA: 224,081 square miles (580,367

square kilometers)

MAJOR MOUNTAIN RANGES: Aberdare

Range, Mau Escarpment

MAJOR RIVERS: Athi/Galana, Tana

Location

Kenya is located on the East Coast of Africa. It lies across the equator and covers an area of 582,646 Km2. It is geo-strategically located at the confluence of the Great Lakes, Horn of Africa and the Indian Ocean contiguity, making it a gateway to Africa’s major trading blocs such as the East African Community (EAC) and the Common MARKET for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA). It shares a border with Tanzania to the south, Uganda to the west, South Sudan to the north-west, Ethiopia to the north and Somalia to the north-east. Kenya also has a maritime border of 536Km along the Indian Ocean.

United Nations Headquarters in Africa

Kenya is host to the United Nations headquarters in Africa, and forms a vibrant community of several UN agencies that include; the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) both of which have their headquarters in Nairobi. Other agencies with Regional officers in Nairobi include the FAO, IFAD, ICAO, ILO, IMO, IMF, UNIFEM, UNDP, UNODC, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNICEF, UNPOS, UNPF, UNAIDS, World Bank, WFP, WHO and UNCRD.

Population

Kenya has a population of over 40 Million people. Nairobi is the capital city with a population of approximately 4 Million people. Other cities are Mombasa and Kisumu. There are two official languages in Kenya; Kiswahili and English. Kiswahili is also the national language.

Climate

Kenya enjoys a varied climate, ranging from tropical to temperate. It has two wet seasons: March-May (long rains) and October-December (short rains). With a largely arable and fertile land, coupled with conducive climatic conditions, the country produces world major exports such as tea, coffee, flowers and other horticultural products.

Culture

In addition to the wide range of wildlife reserves and spectacular scenery, there are unlimited opportunities for recreation and sports, luxury hotels, game lodges, resorts and comfortable housing available in secure verdant suburbs. The Great Rift Valley, which is visible from space, bisects the country from North to South, spotted with beautiful lakes and extinct volcanoes.

Politics & Economics

Since her independence in 1963, Kenya has enjoyed uninterrupted political stability. This, together with the modern infrastructure that facilitates connectivity to the region, has made Kenya the natural base for the administration of relief assistance to troubled neighbouring countries, where she has also actively participated in several peace processes and missions.

The pragmatic economic approach that the Government has followed, coupled with democratic maturity and political stability, have encouraged foreign and local investment leading to remarkable development in various sectors.

PEOPLE & CULTURE

In Kenya, more than 60 languages are spoken and there are more than 40 ethnic groups. Almost everyone there speaks more than one African language.

School is free in Kenya, but many children are too busy to go to classes. They help their families by working the land, tending cattle, cooking, or fetching water.

Music and storytelling are important parts of Kenyan culture. For centuries, tribes throughout the country have used songs, stories, and poems to pass on their beliefs, history, and customs.

NATURE

Millions of people visit Kenya each year to see its endless savanna and the animals that inhabit it: elephants, lions, cheetahs, giraffes, zebras, hippos, rhinos, and more. The Kenyan government has set up more than 50 reserves and parks to protect these animals.

People seeking African wildlife usually focus on Kenya's lowland savannas. But Kenya's ecosystems also include deserts, swamps, mountain, and forests. Each region has its own mix of plants and animals that are suited to the area's particular conditions. Kenya's highland forests are home to many animals found nowhere else in the world.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2023