Country Information on Kenya

Terrain Kenya may be divided into four well-defined topographical regions: the coastal lowland densely covered by tropical vegetation given frequent precipitation; the scarcely-populated and dry central part; the arid highland plateau in the outer western region of the country; the mountainous region including the country's highest elevation, Mount Kenya (5,199 m). Kenya's mountainous region touches the eastern edges of the Central African Rift and is characterized by temperate climate and volcanic, fertile cropland areas, which makes it the country's most-densely populated area and economic centre. Kenya's most important rivers are the Tana and the Athi-Galana (further upstream also referred to as Athi). The largest portion of Lake Rudolf and part of Lake Victoria are situated within the Kenyan boundaries. Climate The equator runs right through the middle of the country. North of the equator the climate is hot and comparatively dry. The southern region can be divided into three zones: the coastal area is humid, average annual temperatures range between 24.4°C in June and July and around 27.8°C in February, March, and April; the climate in the highlands is moderate; and around Lake Victoria it is tropical. The rainy season is from October to December and from April to June. Fauna/Flora In the forests along the coast palms, mangroves, teak trees, and sandalwood trees grow. In the lowlands up to an altitude of approximately 900 m there are baobabs and acacias. Typical of the vegetation at altitudes between 900 and 2,700 m are vast savannahs. In the dense rain forests on the easterly and south-easterly slopes camphor trees and bamboo are characteristic. Kenya is renowned for its fauna, particularly because of the big mammals in the savannahs. Among these count elephants, rhinoceroses, zebras, giraffes, lions and other big cats. Most of these animals enjoy the protection of national parks and wildlife reserves; still poachers have reduced the number of big mammals like elephants and rhinoceroses enormously. Besides, Kenya is the habitat of numerous species of bird and many reptiles. History/Politics Due to the discovery of the oldest human fossil remains, Kenya is considered to be the "Cradle of Mankind". Records on Kenya's ancient history seem to be lost in the mists of time. However, Arab traders were the first to explore the region in the 8th century. They established trading ports and founded the rich and flourishing city of Malindi in the 10th century. After Vasco da Gama had discovered the route to India in 1498, the Portuguese tried to monopolize all sea trade on the Indian Ocean. Despite fierce resistance by the local population they succeeded in maintaining their power until 1698. The actual European colonization of Africa started in 1880. Frequent tribal warfare, famines and diseases weakened the supremacy of indigenous tribes and paved the way for the British to establish a colony. The indigenous tribes put up resistance and were finally forced to leave their ancestral lands by having to retreat to the country's south. European immigrants took their place in turn, also claiming the biggest part of arable land. First nationalist tendencies in favour of Kenya's independence developed after World War I. Following World War II, conflict between European settlers and the indigenous population increased, eventually leading to the foundation of a radical party called "Mau-Mau". By the late 1950s, Mau-Mau was organizing attacks on European settlers and their estates, resulting in outright massacres. Although the Mau-Mau insurrection was crushed, Great Britain decided to give independence to Kenya in 1963. The people of Kenya decided to remain within the Commonwealth when free elections were held and the country became a republic in 1964. Jomo Kenyatta, leader of the Kenya African National Union (KANU) became the first president. After his death in 1978 Daniel T. Arap Moi followed him in office. In 1982 KANU was declared the only legitimate party, so as to prevent the founding of parties on the basis of ethnic origin. Moi was confirmed in his office after having been the only presidential candidate 1983 elections. During his office, Moi abolished the one-party system in 1991. Despite accusations of misappropriation put forward by the opposition, Moi was re-elected in 1997 multi-party elections for a fifth term in office (Moi claimed this to be his last term in office). Economy Kenya used to have a stable economy, which suffered enormously in the nineties. The capacity for growth was hindered by drought, political unrest, and the worldwide recession in the first half of the decade. Reforms were not carried through to avoid further unrest, and the government has mainly been concentrating on the stabilization of the economy. Major exports are coffee, tea, and horticultural products. Pyrethrum, a pest-control agent processed from Chrysanthemums, is one of Kenya's most important export crops. Vital agricultural products are maize, wheat, manioc, and sugar cane; livestock breeding is important, as well. Tourism has been an essential economic factor. Culture Self-made drums and guitars are often used to accompany dances in rural areas. The music style known as benga is the contemporary dance music that is most popular. It originated among the Luo people of western Kenya and became popular in the area in the 1950s. Benga was originally a dance rhythm played on the lyre, in the fifties it was made suitable for acoustic guitar. Outside the big towns a multitude of regional musical styles and traditions can be found, the songs usually being sung in one of the numerous languages of the Kenyan ethnic groups.