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Communications

Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]

AM 24, FM 7, shortwave 2

Radios [time series]

5 million

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

domestic: primarily microwave radio relay international: satellite earth stations--4 Intelsat

Telephones - fixed lines (Telephones) [time series]

383,676 (1997); 3,077 cellular telephone subscribers (1998)

Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]

8 (of which six are government-controlled and two are commercial) (1997)

Televisions [time series]

500,000

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture--products) [time series]

coffee, tea, corn, wheat, sugarcane, fruit, vegetables; dairy products, beef, pork, poultry, eggs

Budget [time series]

revenues: $2.6 billion expenditures: $2.7 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1997 est.)

Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]

1 Kenyan shilling (KSh) = 100 cents

Debt - external (Debt--external) [time series]

$6.45 billion (1997 est.)

Economic aid (Economic aid--recipient) [time series]

$642.8 million (1995)

Economic overview (Economy--overview) [time series]

Since 1993, the government of Kenya has implemented a program of economic liberalization and reform. Steps have included the removal of import licensing and price controls, removal of foreign exchange controls, fiscal and monetary restraint, and reduction of the public sector through privatizing publicly owned companies and downsizing the civil service. With the support of the World Bank, IMF, and other donors, these reforms have led to a turnaround in economic performance following a period of negative growth in the early 1990s. Kenya's real GDP grew at 5% in 1995 and 4% in 1996, and inflation remained under control. Growth slowed in 1997-98. Political violence damaged the tourist industry, and the IMF allowed Kenya's Enhanced Structural Adjustment Program to lapse due to the government's failure to enact reform conditions and to adequately address public sector corruption. Moreover, El Nino rains destroyed crops and damaged an already crumbling infrastructure in 1997 and 1998. Long-term barriers to development include electricity shortages, the government's continued and inefficient dominance of key sectors, endemic corruption, and the country's high population growth rate.

Electricity - consumption (Electricity--consumption) [time series]

3.985 billion kWh (1996)

Electricity - exports (Electricity--exports) [time series]

0 kWh (1996)

Electricity - imports (Electricity--imports) [time series]

175 million kWh (1996)

Electricity - production (Electricity--production) [time series]

3.81 billion kWh (1996)

Electricity - production by source (Electricity--production by source) [time series]

fossil fuel: 10.5% hydro: 81.63% nuclear: 0% other: 7.87% (1996)

Exchange rates [time series]

Kenyan shillings (KSh) per US$1--61.802 (January 1999), 60.367 (1998), 58.732 (1997), 57.115 (1996), 51.430 (1995), 56.051 (1994)

Exports [time series]

$2 billion (f.o.b., 1998)

Exports - commodities (Exports--commodities) [time series]

tea 18%, coffee 15%, petroleum products (1995)

Exports - partners (Exports--partners) [time series]

Uganda 16.1%, Tanzania 12.8%, UK 10.4%, Germany 7.5% (1996)

Fiscal year [time series]

1 July--30 June

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) (GDP) [time series]

purchasing power parity--$43.9 billion (1998 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin (GDP--composition by sector) [time series]

agriculture: 29% industry: 17% services: 54% (1997)

Real GDP per capita (GDP--per capita) [time series]

purchasing power parity?$1,550 (1998 est.)

Real GDP growth rate (GDP--real growth rate) [time series]

1.6% (1998 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

lowest 10%: 1.2% highest 10%: 47.7% (1992)

Imports [time series]

$3.05 billion (f.o.b., 1998)

Imports - commodities (Imports--commodities) [time series]

machinery and transportation equipment 31%, consumer goods 13%, petroleum products 12% (1995)

Imports - partners (Imports--partners) [time series]

UK 13.2%, UAE 8.2%, South Africa 7.6%, Germany 7.4% (1996)

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

3.8% (1995)

Industries [time series]

small-scale consumer goods (plastic, furniture, batteries, textiles, soap, cigarettes, flour), agricultural products processing; oil refining, cement; tourism

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

2.5% (1998)

Labor force [time series]

9.2 million (1998 est.)

Labor force - by occupation (Labor force--by occupation) [time series]

agriculture 75%-80%, nonagriculture 20%-25%

Population below poverty line [time series]

42% (1992 est.)

Unemployment rate [time series]

50% (1998 est.)

Geography

Area [time series]

total: 582,650 sq km land: 569,250 sq km water: 13,400 sq km

Area - comparative (Area--comparative) [time series]

slightly more than twice the size of Nevada

Climate [time series]

varies from tropical along coast to arid in interior

Coastline [time series]

536 km

Elevation (Elevation extremes) [time series]

lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: Mount Kenya 5,199 m

Environment - current issues (Environment--current issues) [time series]

water pollution from urban and industrial wastes; degradation of water quality from increased use of pesticides and fertilizers; deforestation; soil erosion; desertification; poaching

International environmental agreements (Environment--international agreements) [time series]

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geographic coordinates [time series]

1 00 N, 38 00 E

Geography - note (Geography--note) [time series]

the Kenyan Highlands comprise one of the most successful agricultural production regions in Africa; glaciers on Mt. Kenya; unique physiography supports abundant and varied wildlife of scientific and economic value

Irrigated land [time series]

660 sq km (1993 est.)

Land boundaries [time series]

total: 3,446 km border countries: Ethiopia 830 km, Somalia 682 km, Sudan 232 km, Tanzania 769 km, Uganda 933 km

Land use [time series]

arable land: 7% permanent crops: 1% permanent pastures: 37% forests and woodland: 30% other: 25% (1993 est.)

Location [time series]

Eastern Africa, bordering the Indian Ocean, between Somalia and Tanzania

Map references [time series]

Africa

Maritime claims [time series]

continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm

Natural hazards [time series]

recurring drought in northern and eastern regions; flooding during rainy seasons

Natural resources [time series]

gold, limestone, soda ash, salt barites, rubies, fluorspar, garnets, wildlife

Terrain [time series]

low plains rise to central highlands bisected by Great Rift Valley; fertile plateau in west

Government

Administrative divisions [time series]

7 provinces and 1 area*; Central, Coast, Eastern, Nairobi Area*, North Eastern, Nyanza, Rift Valley, Western

Capital [time series]

Nairobi

Constitution [time series]

12 December 1963, amended as a republic 1964; reissued with amendments 1979, 1983, 1986, 1988, 1991, 1992, and 1997

Country name [time series]

conventional long form: Republic of Kenya conventional short form: Kenya former: British East Africa

Data code [time series]

Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Prudence B. BUSHNELL embassy: USAID Building, The Crescent, Parklands, Nairobi (temporary location) mailing address: P. O. Box 30137, Box 21A, Unit 64100, APO AE 09831

Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Samuel K. CHEMAI chancery: 2249 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 consulate(s) general: Los Angeles and New York

Executive branch [time series]

chief of state: President Daniel Toroitich arap MOI (since 14 October 1978); note--the president is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: President Daniel Toroitich arap MOI (since 14 October 1978); note--the president is both the chief of state and head of government cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president elections: president elected by popular vote from among the members of the National Assembly for a five-year term; election last held 29 December 1997 (next to be held by early 2003); vice president appointed by the president election results: President Daniel T. arap MOI reelected; percent of vote--Daniel T. arap MOI (KANU) 40.12%, Mwai KIBAKI (DP) 31.09%, Raila ODINGA (NDP) 10.2%, Michael WAMALWA (FORD-Kenya) 8.29%, Charity NGILU (SDP) 7.71%

Flag (Flag description) [time series]

three equal horizontal bands of black (top), red, and green; the red band is edged in white; a large warrior's shield covering crossed spears is superimposed at the center

Government type [time series]

republic

Independence [time series]

12 December 1963 (from UK)

International organization participation [time series]

ACP, AfDB, C, CCC, EADB, ECA, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGAD, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MINURSO, MONUA, NAM, OAU, OPCW, UN, UN Security Council (temporary), UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNMOP, UNOMIL, UNOMSIL, UNPREDEP, UNU, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Judicial branch [time series]

Court of Appeal, chief justice is appointed by the president; High Court

Legal system [time series]

based on English common law, tribal law, and Islamic law; judicial review in High Court; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations; constitutional amendment of 1982 making Kenya a de jure one-party state repealed in 1991

Legislative branch [time series]

unicameral National Assembly or Bunge (222 seats, 12 appointed by the president, 210 members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: last held 29 December 1997 (next to be held between 1 December 2002 and 30 April 2003) election results: percent of vote by party--NA; seats by party--KANU 107, FORD-A 1, FORD-K 17, FORD-People 3, DP 39, NDP 21, SDP 15, SAFINA 5, smaller parties 2; seats appointed by the president--KANU 6, FORD-Kenya 1, DP 2, SDP 1, NDP 1, SAFINA 1

National holiday [time series]

Independence Day, 12 December (1963)

Political parties (Political parties and leaders) [time series]

Toroitich arap MOI] SHIKUKU, chairman]; Forum for the Restoration of Democracy-Kenya or MWANDAWIRO, secretary general]

Political parties (Political pressure groups and leaders) [time series]

National Convention Executive Council or NCEC, a proreform coalition of political Catholic and other Christian churches; human rights groups; labor unions; Muslim organizations; Protestant National Council of

Suffrage [time series]

18 years of age; universal

Military

Military and security forces (Military branches) [time series]

Army, Navy, Air Force, paramilitary General Service Unit of the Police

Military expenditures - dollar figure (Military expenditures--dollar figure) [time series]

$197 million (FY98/99)

Military expenditures (Military expenditures--percent of GDP) [time series]

1.9% (FY98/99)

Military manpower - availability (Military manpower--availability) [time series]

males age 15-49: 7,094,151 (1999 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service (Military manpower--fit for military service) [time series]

males age 15-49: 4,397,008 (1999 est.)

People

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 43% (male 6,244,321; female 6,104,181) 15-64 years: 54% (male 7,845,083; female 7,826,442) 65 years and over: 3% (male 343,449; female 445,182) (1999 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

30.8 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Death rate [time series]

14.58 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Ethnic groups [time series]

Kikuyu 22%, Luhya 14%, Luo 13%, Kalenjin 12%, Kamba 11%, Kisii 6%, Meru 6%, other African 15%, non-African (Asian, European, and Arab) 1%

Infant mortality rate [time series]

59.07 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)

Languages [time series]

English (official), Swahili (official), numerous indigenous languages

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 47.02 years male: 46.56 years female: 47.49 years (1999 est.)

Literacy [time series]

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 78.1% male: 86.3% female: 70% (1995 est.)

Nationality [time series]

noun: Kenyan(s) adjective: Kenyan

Net migration rate [time series]

-0.34 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Population [time series]

28,808,658 (July 1999 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

1.59% (1999 est.)

Religions [time series]

Protestant 38%, Roman Catholic 28%, indigenous beliefs 26%, Muslim 7%, other 1%

Sex ratio [time series]

at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.77 male(s)/female total population: 1 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

3.88 children born/woman (1999 est.)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international (Disputes--international) [time series]

administrative boundary with Sudan does not coincide with international boundary

Illicit drugs [time series]

widespread harvesting of small, wild plots of marijuana and qat (chat); transit country for South Asian heroin destined for Europe and, sometimes, North America; Indian methaqualone also transits on way to South Africa

Transportation

Airports [time series]

232 (1998 est.)

Airports - with paved runways (Airports--with paved runways) [time series]

total: 21 over 3,047 m: 4 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 14 (1998 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways (Airports--with unpaved runways) [time series]

total: 211 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 14 914 to 1,523 m: 113 under 914 m: 83 (1998 est.)

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

total: 63,800 km paved: 8,868 km unpaved: 54,932 km (1996 est.)

Merchant marine [time series]

total: 2 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 4,883 GRT/6,255 DWT ships by type: oil tanker 1, roll-on/roll-off cargo 1 (1998 est.)

Pipelines [time series]

petroleum products 483 km

Ports (Ports and harbors) [time series]

Kisumu, Lamu, Mombasa

Railways [time series]

total: 2,652 km narrow gauge: 2,652 km 1.000-m gauge

Waterways [time series]

part of the Lake Victoria system is within the boundaries of Kenya