By Milton Wilches

DEMOGRAPHICS  Kenya covers 581,309 km 2 (224,445 sq mi) and has a population of about 44 million as of July  The vast majority of Kenyans are Christian (83%), with 47.7% regarding themselves as Protestant and 23.5% as Roman Catholic of the Latin Rite.  The country has a young population, with 73% of residents aged below 30 years because of rapid population growth; from 2.9 million to 40 million inhabitants over the last century.  The average family is reported to have 3-5 children. Kenya is characterized as having a very diverse ethnic and religious population composed of over 40 tribal affiliations. Kenya reports a literacy rate of 85%.

 Nurses treat 80% of the population who visit dispensaries, health centers and private clinics in rural and under-served urban areas. Complicated cases are referred to clinical officers, medical officers and consultants (specialists).

Geography  Its capital and largest city is Nairobi.  Kenya lies on the equator with the Indian Ocean to the south-east, Tanzania to the south, Uganda to the west, South Sudan to the north-west, Ethiopia to the north and Somalia to the north- east.  It lies between latitudes 5°N and 5°S, and longitudes 34°W and 42°E. It is also on the coast on the Indian Ocean.  Kenya's climate varies from tropical along the coast to temperate inland to arid in the north and northeast parts of the country.

Wildlife  Kenya has considerable land area devoted to wildlife habitats, including the Masai Mara, where Blue Wildebeest and other bovid participate in a large scale annual migration.  The "Big Five" animals of Africa can be found in Kenya and in the Masai Mara in particular: The lion, leopard, buffalo, rhinoceros and elephant.  Kenya is the setting for one of the Natural Wonders of the World – the great wildebeest migration.

Ethnic Groups  There are an estimated 42 different communities, with Bantus (67%) and Nilotes (30%) constituting the majority of local residents. Cushitic groups also form a small ethnic minority, as do Arabs, Indians and Europeans.  Ethnic groups in the nation are represented as follows: Kikuyu 22%, Luhya 14%, Luo 13%, Kalenjin 12%, Kamba 11%, Kisii 6%, Meru 6%, other African 15%, non-African (Asian, European, and Arab) 1%.  Kenya's various ethnic groups typically speak their mother tongues within their own communities. The two official languages are English and Swahili.

Economy  Kenya is still a poor developing country with a Human Development Index (HDI) of 0.519, putting the country at the position of 145 out of 186 – one of the lowest in the world and about 38% of Kenyans live in absolute poverty.  Unfortunately, a massive 22% of GDP still comes from the unreliable agricultural sector which employs 75% of the labor force.  Industry and manufacturing is the smallest sector that accounts for 16% of the GDP.

 Kenya's services sector, which contributes 61% of GDP, is dominated by tourism.  Agriculture is the second largest contributor to Kenya's gross domestic product (GDP), after the service sector.  In 2005 agriculture, including forestry and fishing, accounted for 24% of GDP, as well as for 18% of wage employment and 50% of revenue from exports.  The principal cash crops are tea, horticultural produce, and coffee; horticultural produce and tea are the main growth sectors and the two most valuable of all of Kenya's exports.

Government  Kenya is a presidential representative democratic republic. The President is both the head of state and head of government, and of a multi-party system.  Executive power is exercised by the government.  Legislative power is vested in both the government and the National Assembly or parliamentary lower house.  The Judiciary is independent of the executive and the legislature.  Under the presidency of Mwai Kibaki, the new ruling coalition promised to focus its efforts on generating economic growth, combating corruption, improving education, and rewriting its constitution. A few of these promises have been met.

Summary  Kenya has a population of about 44 million.  Kenya has a diverse population that includes most major ethno racial and linguistic groups found in Africa.  Kenya is characterized as having a very diverse ethnic and religious population composed of over 40 tribal affiliations.  The Republic of Kenya, is a sovereign state in the African Great Lakes region of East Africa.  Its capital and largest city is Nairobi. Kenya has considerable land area devoted to wildlife habitats.  The two official languages, English and Swahili, are used in varying degrees of fluency for communication with other populations.  Kenya is still a poor developing country.  Kenya is a presidential representative democratic republic.