Official name: The Republic of Kenya
Capital and largest city: Nairobi
Area: 580,367 sq km
Population: 58,246,378 (2024 estimate)
Life expectancy: 64 years (men) 69 years (women)
Languages: Swahili, English
Real GDP (purchasing power parity): $263.737 billion (2022 estimate)
President: William Ruto (since 2022)
Industries: small-scale consumer goods (plastic, furniture, batteries, textiles, soap, cigarettes, flour), agricultural products, oil refining; aluminum, steel, lead; cement, commercial ship repair, tourism.
Natural resources: limestone, soda ash, salt, gemstones, fluorspar, zinc, diatomite, gypsum, wildlife, hydropower.
Major trading partners: Uganda, UK, U.S., Netherlands, Tanzania, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, India, China, Congo
Telephones: main lines in use: 251,600 (2012); mobile cellular: 30.732 million (2012).
Broadcast media: about a half-dozen large-scale privately owned media companies with TV and radio stations as well as a state-owned TV broadcaster provide service nation-wide; satellite and cable TV subscription services available; state-owned radio broadcaster operates 2 national radio channels and provides regional and local radio services in multiple languages; a large number of private radio stations broadcast on a national level along with over 100 private and non-profit provincial stations broadcasting in local languages; transmissions of several international broadcasters available (2014).
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 71,018 (2010).
Internet users: 3.996 million (2009).
Summary
Kenya, a large economy on the east coast of Africa and a country with direct ties to prehistoric times, is located on the equator.
Kenya, a former British colony, attained independence following the 1950s Mau Mau liberation struggle.
It is well-known for its beautiful scenery and vast animal preserves.
Kenya and the Masai Mara in particular are home to the “Big Five” game animals of Africa: the lion, leopard, buffalo, rhinoceros, and elephant.
Over the past few decades, the nation has implemented substantial political and economic changes that have aided in the advancement of social development, political stability, and steady economic growth.
Nonetheless, poverty, inequality, young unemployment, climate change, accountability and transparency issues, low private sector investment, and the economy’s susceptibility to both internal and foreign shocks continue to be the main development obstacles.
Furthermore, the public sector had a major role in Kenya’s strong growth before to the COVID-19 outbreak, which led to debt risks that have gotten worse as international funding conditions have tightened.