KENYA

Kenya Facts

Conventional long form: Republic of Kenya
Climate: tropical (coast), semiarid and arid (north, north-east), sub-tropical (Highland/Central)
Geographic Coordinates: 1 17 S, 36 49 E
Size: 582.646 sq km
Capital: Nairobi, population ca. 3 Mio.
Population: 39 Mio. (2007: 37,2 Mio.)
Former: British East Africa
Government type: Republic
Time Difference: UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Administrative divisions: 7 provinces and 1 area*; Central, Coast, Eastern, Nairobi Area*, North Eastern, Nyanza, Rift Valley, Western
Independence: 12 December 1963 (from the UK)
National holiday: Independence Day, 12 December (1963)
Constitution: 27 August 2010; the new constitution abolishes the position of prime minister and establishes a bicameral legislature; many details have yet to be finalized and will require significant legislative action
Official language(s): Swahili, English
Government: Semi-presidential Republic
President: Mwai Kibaki
Prime Minister: Raila Odinga
Flag description: three equal horizontal bands of black (top), red, and green; the red band is edged in white; a large Maasai warrior’s shield covering crossed spears is superimposed at the center; black symbolizes the majority population, red the blood shed in the struggle for freedom, green stands for natural wealth, and white for peace; the shield and crossed spears symbolize the defense of freedom
Religion in percent: Protestant 45%, Roman Catholic 33%, Islam 10%, Indigenous 10%, Other 2%