CAPITAL:
Nairobi
POPULATION:
39 million inhabitants, of which 22 percent live in the cities. About 40 different ethnic groups, the largest being Kikuyu, Luyha, Kalenjin and Luo.
LANGUAGES:
Official languages are English and Swahili. There are also some 40 local languages.
AREA:
582,650 square kilometres.
INDEPENDENCE:
After 11 years of fighting the British Empire for independence, Kenya was declared independent on 12 December 1963.
GOVERNMENT:
Republic with free elections every five years. The next election will take place in 2012.
CHIEF OF STATE:
President Mwai Kibaki, Party of National Unity (PNU).
POLITICAL SYSTEM:
Multi-party system.
GNP:
USD 29 billion in 2009.
MOST IMPORTANT NATIONAL RESOURCES:
Agriculture, fishing and forestry (24 percent), transport and communications (9.8 percent).
SWEDISH AID TO KENYA 2010:
SEK 385 million.
LITERACY AMONG ADULTS:
More than 85 percent.
LIFE EXPECTANCY:
53 years.