Surface: 582.640 kmē
Population: 26.440.000 inhabitants
Density of population: 50.3 inhabitants/kmē
Capital: Nairobi
Official language: English and Swahili
Official currency: Kenyan shilling
Imported products: coffee, tea, fruits, vegetables, petroleum products
Brut Intern Product: 85.000 million $
State type: republic
Climate:
Although is near to the Equator in the most part of the country is cold because of the altitude. The medium temperatures are 20 Celsius degrees, except the depressions along the coast where the medium temperature is 26 Celsius degrees. There are two rainy seasons between March and May, and between November and December. The amount of rainfall on the coast is approximately 100 cm, mainly between April a
nd March. The northern side of the plateau has medium rainfall of 50 cm and even lower near the deserts in Somalia and Ethiopia. The mountains in the south-west receive 70-100 cm (130 in the higher parts). Nairobi has temperatures of 19 Celsius degrees in January, 16 Celsius degrees in July and rainfall of almost 100 cm. in the coast city Mombasa the numbers are: 27 Celsius degrees, 23 Celsius degrees and 120 cm.
Geographical Characteristics:
There are coral reefs and mangrove marshes on the coast, and in the interior is the semi-arid Nyika Plain. The rest of the country is a plateau, with medium heights of 1.500-2.500 m, and is crossed by the Valley of the Great Rift with a depth of 600-900 m. in the west of the Valley of the Great Rift is the Mau Slope and the Basin of Victoria Lake, and to the east are Aberdare Mountains. Kenya Peak (5.200 m) is the highest in the country and the second as height in Africa. The Nyika Plain occupies half of the country's surface and is covered especially with bushes. On the plateau there are grasslands and forests. Many of the mountainous regions are covered with trees.
Agriculture:
75% of the population works in the sustenance agriculture. Only 4% of the country's surface is cultivated, especially in Tana Valley, small parts of the coast region and some parts of the mountains. Other 4% is grassland mainly in the plateau. They can cultivate both tropical and temperate plants. In the higher altitudes are cultivated coffee, tea, sisal, corn, potatoes and grain. In the lower altitudes are cultivated tobacco, coco nuts, cotton, manioc and sugar cane. Coffee, the first among the exported products, is cultivated in the south of Kenya Peak, where is also produced tea. Coffee and tea bring 33% of the export incomes. Kenya is Africa's biggest producer of tea and the fourth in the world. They grow cows, coats and sheep.
Fishing and Forestry:
The forests cover 6% of the country's surface. The bamboos is found in altitudes over 3.000 m. the cider is important in the constructions area and the mangroves forests are used for the production of tannin. Fishing is an important source of food. The annual amount of fish is 200.000 tones.
Mining and Energy:
The important minerals are: fluorine, salt, limestone, gold and calcined soda. 63% of the electric energy is produced in the hydro-electric stations, 6% in the geothermal stations and the rest in thermo-electric power centrals.
Industry:
Most of the industries are based on the agricultural products and their processing. They are: soap, tobacco, furniture, coffee, meat, sugar, powder, coco nuts and cotton industries. There are a few hard industries and a tourism industry which are new. Nairobi and Mombasa are the most important industrial cities.
Transport:
The country has 2.650 km of railways and 63.700 km of roads. The main railway connects Mombasa to Nairobi and further Uganda. Mombasa is the main port. Lamu is the second port.
Cities and population:
99% of the population is African. The largest people are Kikuyu (21%), Iuhya (14%), Iuo (13%), Kalenjin (11%) and Kamba (11%). The Bantu groups as Kikuya, Iuhya and Kamba live in the central and western regions, and the Nilotic groups as Iuo and Kalenjin live in the north-west. 1% of the population is European, Asian and Arabian. 20% of the hole population lives in cities. Nairobi, the industrial and commercial center of Eastern Africa, is between the coast region and Victoria Lake.
Kenya is situated in the east of Africa.