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BASIC INFORMATION
Full
Country Name: The Republic of Kenya
Country
Profile:
Area: 580,370 sq.
km (224,081sq. ml)
Population: 31.5 million
Capital city:
Nairobi
People (approx): Kikuyu 24%, Luhya 15%, Luo 12% Kalenjin 12%,
Kamba 11%, Kisii 6%, Meru 6%, Maasai/Samburu 2%
Language(s): English,
Kiswahili, various indigenous languages
Religion(s): Protestant
(mainstream) 27%, Protestant (evangelical) 23%, Roman Catholic 31%, Muslim 8%,
other 2%, None 2% (Afro Barometer, March 2004)
Currency: Kenyan
shilling (KSH)
Head of State: Emilio Mwai Kibaki (elected 27 December
2002)
Foreign Minister: Chairau Ali Mwakwere
Major Political
parties: National Alliance of Kenya(NAK); Liberal Democratic Party (LDP);
Kenya African National Union (KANU).
Membership of international
groupings/organizations: UN, Commonwealth, African Union, WTO, East African
Community (EAC), Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD), Common
Market for Eastern and Southern Africa
(COMESA).
GEOGRAPHY
Kenya lies in East Africa, and is
bordered by Somalia, Ethiopia, Sudan, Uganda, Tanzania and the Indian Ocean.
Kenya has a climate ranging from tropical to temperate largely depending on the
altitude.
HISTORY
Kenya became a British protectorate in
1895 and a colony in 1920. White settlement was encouraged and by the 1940s
European settlers had achieved considerable prosperity. African population
growth resulted in increasing pressure for land. Jomo Kenyatta formed the first
national organisation in 1944. But when the Mau Mau rebellion erupted in 1952, a
state of emergency was declared, parties were banned and Kenyatta was tried and
sent to prison. African members were elected to the legislative council in 1957
and the state of emergency was lifted in 1960. Political parties were legalised
and Africans formed a majority on the legislative council. Two parties emerged:
the Kenya Africa National Union (KANU) and the Kenya African Democratic Union
(KADU). KANU won a general election in 1961 but refused to form an
administration until the release of Kenyatta.
At independence in 1963,
Kenyatta became Prime Minister. The following year KADU dissolved itself and
Kenya became a republic with Kenyatta as its first President. A new opposition
party was banned in 1969 and Kenya remained a de facto one-party state for the
remainder of Kenyatta’s rule. On his death in 1978 Daniel arap Moi became
President and later turned Kenya into a de jure one-party state.
In 1991,
under pressure from Kenyan activists and the international community, this was
reversed. With multi-partyism restored, several opposition parties emerged: FORD
Kenya, FORD Asili, Democratic Party, Social Democratic Party, National
Development Party of Kenya and other smaller parties. However KANU retained
control, winning contentious elections in 1992 and 1997 against a divided
opposition and amidst allegations of election abuse. The Kenyan political
environment remained turbulent throughout the
1990s.
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