Sub Saharan Africa

Kenya
Last reviewed: 21 April 2009

Country information

See entire profile

Map of The Republic of Kenya

KENYA TODAY

Country Facts

Area: 580,370 sq km (224,081 sq miles)
Population: 38.6 million (2008 est, UNPOP)
Capital city: Nairobi
People (approx): Kikuyu 22%, 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 45%, Roman Catholic 33%, Muslim 12%, indigenous beliefs 10%,
Currency: Kenyan shilling (KSH) £1=118 KSh (April 2009)
President: Emilio Mwai Kibaki (sworn in 30th December December 2007)
Vice President (and Minister for Home Affairs): Stephen Kalonzo Musyoka
Prime Minister: Raila Odinga (sworn-in 17 April 2008)
Deputy Prime Minister (and Finance Minister): Uhuru Kenyatta
Deputy Prime Minister (and Minister for Local Government): Wycliffe Musalia Mudavadi
Foreign Minister: Moses Wetangula

Major Political parties: Kibaki heads Party of National Unity (PNU): including National Rainbow Coalition-Kenya (Narc-K), Democratic Party (DP), Forum for the Restoration of Democracy-Kenya (Ford-Kenya), Forum for the Restoration of Democracy-People (Ford-People), New Ford-Kenya, Kenyan African National Union (KANU), Shirikisho, Safina, and other smaller parties. Raila Odinga heads the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), and Kalonzo Musyoka heads the smaller Orange Democratic Movement-Kenya (ODM-K).
Membership of international groupings/organisations: UN, Commonwealth, African Union, WTO, East African Community (EAC), Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD), Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA).