# Kenya

> country in Eastern Africa

**Wikidata**: [Q114](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q114)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kenya)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/kenya

## Summary

Kenya is a country in Africa[1] that was established in 1963. Its official languages are Swahili and English[2]. The head of state is William Ruto[3].In 2019, the nation had a population of 47.6M. It operates in the UTC+03:00 time zone within the Africa/Nairobi region[4].

## Summary
Kenya is a sovereign state and country located in Eastern Africa, established in 1963. It spans an area of 581,309 square kilometers and has a population of approximately 48 million people as of 2019. The capital city is Nairobi, and the official languages are Swahili and English.

## Key Facts
- **Establishment**: Founded in 1963, succeeding Kenya (1963–1964).
- **Geography**: Covers 581,309 km², bordered by Ethiopia, Somalia, Tanzania, Uganda, South Sudan, and Sudan.
- **Capital**: Nairobi.
- **Languages**: Official languages are Swahili and English.
- **Government**: Presidential republic; current president is William Ruto (since 2022).
- **Economy**: Nominal GDP of $113.42 billion (2022); currency is the Kenyan shilling.
- **Membership**: Member of the United Nations, African Union, Commonwealth of Nations, and World Trade Organization.
- **Demographics**: Population of 47.56 million (2019); major ethnic groups include Kikuyu, Luhya, and Luo.
- **Human Development**: HDI of 0.575 (2021); life expectancy of 67.03 years (2016).

## FAQs
- **What are Kenya's neighboring countries?** Kenya shares borders with Ethiopia, Somalia, Tanzania, Uganda, South Sudan, and Sudan.
- **What is Kenya's political structure?** It is a presidential republic with a multi-party system; the current president is William Ruto.
- **What languages are spoken in Kenya?** The official languages are Swahili and English, with numerous local languages also in use.
- **What is Kenya's economic status?** It has a nominal GDP of $113.42 billion (2022) and a Gini coefficient of 40.8 (2015), indicating moderate inequality.
- **What are Kenya's major ethnic groups?** Key groups include Kikuyu (22%), Luhya (14%), Luo (13%), and Kalenjin (12%).

## Why It Matters
Kenya plays a significant role in East African geopolitics and economics, serving as a regional hub. Its diverse ecosystems, including savannas and the Mount Kenya World Heritage site, contribute to global biodiversity. The country's strategic location and active membership in international organizations underscore its importance in African and global affairs.

## Notable For
- **Biodiversity**: Home to diverse wildlife and ecosystems, including the Maasai Mara National Reserve.
- **Cultural Heritage**: Rich cultural diversity with over 40 ethnic groups.
- **Economic Growth**: One of the fastest-growing economies in Africa, driven by agriculture, manufacturing, and services.
- **Political Influence**: Active participant in regional and global governance through organizations like the African Union and United Nations.

## Body

### Geography and Climate
Kenya is situated in Eastern Africa, spanning 581,309 km². It borders Ethiopia to the north, Somalia to the northeast, Tanzania to the south, Uganda to the west, and South Sudan and Sudan to the northwest. The country's geography includes varied landscapes, from coastal plains to highlands and the snow-capped Mount Kenya, the highest point at 5,199 meters. The climate ranges from tropical to arid, influenced by its Indian Ocean coastline.

### History and Politics
- **Independence**: Gained independence from Britain on December 12, 1963, becoming a republic in 1964.
- **Government**: A presidential republic with a multi-party system. The current president, William Ruto, has been in office since September 13, 2022, succeeding Uhuru Kenyatta.
- **International Relations**: Member of the United Nations (since 1963), African Union, Commonwealth of Nations, and World Trade Organization (since 1995).

### Demographics and Culture
- **Population**: Approximately 47.56 million (2019), with a growth rate of 2.8% annually.
- **Ethnic Groups**: Over 40 ethnic communities, with the largest being Kikuyu (22%), Luhya (14%), Luo (13%), and Kalenjin (12%).
- **Languages**: Swahili and English are official; local languages are widely spoken.
- **Religion**: Predominantly Christian (85-90%), with significant Muslim and traditional religious minorities.

### Economy
- **GDP**: Nominal GDP of $113.42 billion (2022), with a growth rate of 7.4% (2022).
- **Currency**: Kenyan shilling (KES).
- **Sectors**: Agriculture (tea, coffee, horticulture), manufacturing, and services drive the economy. Tourism, particularly wildlife tourism, is a major contributor.

### Infrastructure and Technology
- **Transport**: Extensive road network, with railways connecting major cities. Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi is a key aviation hub.
- **Technology**: A growing tech sector, often referred to as "Silicon Savannah," with innovations in mobile money (e.g., M-Pesa).

### Environment and Conservation
- **Biodiversity**: Home to the Big Five game animals and numerous national parks and reserves, including the Maasai Mara.
- **Challenges**: Faces issues like deforestation, wildlife poaching, and climate change impacts, including droughts and desertification.

### Education and Health
- **Education**: Universal primary education is mandated, with a literacy rate of approximately 73% (2015).
- **Health**: Life expectancy at birth is 67.03 years (2016). Challenges include HIV/AIDS prevalence and access to healthcare in rural areas.

### Culture and Society
- **Cuisine**: Influenced by African, Arab, and British traditions, featuring dishes like ugali, sukuma wiki, and nyama choma.
- **Arts and Media**: Vibrant music scene (e.g., Benga, Gengetone) and a growing film industry (Nollywood collaborations).

### Global Influence
- **Diplomacy**: Plays a key role in regional peacekeeping and conflict resolution, particularly in Somalia through the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM).
- **Economic Partnerships**: Member of the East African Community, promoting regional trade and integration.

## References

1. [Source](https://www.workwithdata.com/place/kenya)
2. [Source](https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-62886989)
3. Constitution of Kenya
4. The World Factbook
5. BnF authorities
6. International Standard Name Identifier
7. [Source](https://d-nb.info/gnd/4030236-2/about/lds)
8. Virtual International Authority File
9. OpenStreetMap
10. [Source](https://data.iana.org/time-zones/tzdb-2021e/africa)
11. Lingua Libre
12. [Source](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/African_Development_Bank)
13. [Interpol](https://www.interpol.int/Member-countries/World)
14. [Source](https://www.interpol.int/Who-we-are/Member-countries/Africa/KENYA)
15. [Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons](https://www.opcw.org/about-opcw/member-states/)
16. [Source](https://www.opcw.org/about-us/member-states/kenya)
17. [Source](http://www.unesco.org/eri/cp/ListeMS_Indicators.asp)
18. [Source](http://www.upu.int/en/the-upu/member-countries.html)
19. [Source](https://www.upu.int/en/Universal-Postal-Union/About-UPU/Member-Countries?csid=-1&cid=164)
20. [Source](https://www.itu.int/online/mm/scripts/gensel8)
21. [Source](https://public.wmo.int/en/members/kenya)
22. [Source](https://www.who.int/choice/demography/by_country/en/)
23. [Source](https://www.wcoomd.org/-/media/wco/public/global/pdf/about-us/wco-members/list-of-members-with-membership-date.pdf)
24. [Source](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_parties_to_the_Treaty_on_the_Non-Proliferation_of_Nuclear_Weapons)
25. [Source](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/African_Continental_Free_Trade_Area#List_of_signatories_and_parties_to_the_agreement)
26. [Source](http://www.bmeia.gv.at/botschaft/nairobi/kenia/ostafrika.html)
27. [Source](https://www.ncnk.org/sites/default/files/content/resources/publications/NCNK_Issue_Brief_DPRK_Diplomatic_Relations.pdf)
28. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
29. FIPS 10-4
30. MusicBrainz
31. Integrated Authority File
32. [Human Development Report. 2022](https://hdr.undp.org/data-center/human-development-index#/indicies/HDI)
33. World Bank Open Data
34. census
35. [Source](https://www.knbs.or.ke/)
36. [Source](https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SI.POV.GINI)
37. [Source](http://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SL.UEM.TOTL.ZS)
38. [Source](http://cnig.gouv.fr/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/CNT-PVM_r%C3%A9vis%C3%A9_2020-01-27-1.pdf)
39. The National Terminology Database for Irish
40. [Source](https://freedomhouse.org/report/freedom-world/freedom-world-2017)
41. [Source](http://www.kra.go.ke/customs/faqcustoms2.html#Q1)
42. [World Bank](https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/NY.GDP.MKTP.CD)
43. [UNESCO Institute for Statistics](http://data.uis.unesco.org/Index.aspx?DataSetCode=DEMO_DS)
44. [UNESCO Institute for Statistics](http://data.uis.unesco.org/index.aspx?queryid=3372)
45. BabelNet
46. [International Numbering Resources Database](http://www.itu.int/net/itu-t/inrdb/e129_important_numbers.aspx)
47. [World Plugs](http://www.iec.ch/worldplugs/list_bylocation.htm)
48. UMLS 2023
49. English as a Global Language, second edition
50. [Source](https://countrycodebase.com/undp/)