The Republic of Kenya is located in Eastern Africa region. It expands over a total area of 582,650 sq km (land: 569,250 sq km; water: 13,400 sq km).

The country has a coastline with the Indian ocean over 536 km in the South-East.

Its bordering neighbors are: in the North; Ethiopia over 830 km; in the East: Somalia over 682 km; in the North-West: Sudan over 232 km; in the South: Tanzania over 769 km; in the West: Uganda over 933 km.

It population numbers: 28,808,658 (July 1999); 31,639,091(July 2003 est.). Growth rate of: 1.59% (1999); 1.27% (2003 est.).

Independence from United Kingdom: December 12, 1963
National holiday: December 12

Natural resources: gold, limestone, soda ash, salt barites, rubies, fluorspar, garnets, wildlife.

Agriculture production: coffee, tea, corn, wheat, sugarcane, fruit, vegetables; dairy products, beef, pork, poultry, eggs.

Industry production: small-scale consumer goods (plastic, furniture, batteries, textiles, soap, cigarettes, flour), agricultural products processing; oil refining, cement; tourism. Industrial production growth rate: 3.5% (1998)

- KENYA IN TURMOIL

End of December 2007, violence erupted after the presidential ballot's electoral commission proclaimed the victory of Mwai Kibaki, the incumbent president against his rival chief of the opposition, Raila Odinga (a member of the Luo tribe).

The opposition, backed by the majority of other tribes population is was adamant the election had been rigged to keep Kibaki in power.

Kibaki became president on December 2002, His election stirred up huge hope for changes. He promised to fight against corruption and further develop the economy to benefit the populations. Five years later, the promises were not fulfilled, and his attempt to hang on power was perceived by other tribes as a provocation, which led to ethnic violence never seen before in Kenya. Hundred of people had been killed and thousand and thousand Kikuyus are fleeing the west of the country in cars, buses and lorries heading toward the hinterland,

Indeed, Kenya has more than 40 tribes, but the Kikuyus have almost always been on top. They run shops, restaurants, banks and factories across the country. And most of the top officials and big guns in the state machine and in the government — including the ministers of defense, justice, finance and internal security — are Kikuyus.

Raila Odinga, the opposition leader had built his campaign on a promise to end Kikuyu favoritism and share the fruits of Kenya’s growing economy with all tribes.

Current political and social stand off between Kibaki followers and the opposition, might lead Kenya into persistent political instability and chaos; to joining the league of its neighbors, like Congo, Rwanda, Somalia and Sudan (click here for countries briefs) .that have experienced persistent political destabilization.

This just because successive Kenya rulers, since the independence in 1961, members of the Kikuyu tribe, failed to "engage" and promote kenyans from other tribes to participate into the nation building process, and benefit from the economic progress.

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GNP: US$ 32.75 billion (2000); 32.89 billion (2002) 33.25 billion (2003)
GNP-real growth rate: 0.4% (2000); 1.1% (2002)
GNP-per capita: US$ 1,129 (2000); 1,052 (2003)

Click here for the difference between GNP and Parity Purchasing.

GNP-composition by sector

1. agriculture: 25%
   

2. industry: 13%
   
3. services: 62%

Exports: US$ 1.7billion (f.o.b., 2000) 2.1 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Commodities: tea 18%, coffee 15%, petroleum products, horticultural products, fish, cement
Exports - partners: Uganda 18.3%, UK 12.9%, US 8%, Netherlands 7.6%, Pakistan 4.9%, Tanzania 4.4%, Egypt 4.1% (2002)

Imports: US$ 3 billion (f.o.b., 2000); 3 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Commodities: Machinery and transportation equipment 31%, consumer goods 13%, petroleum products 13%
Imports - partners: UAE 12%, Saudi Arabia 8.7%, US 8.1%, UK 7.1%, South Africa 7.1%, France 5.8%, China 5.5%, Japan 5%, India 4.8% (2002)

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A passport - valid six months beyond sojourn duration - and a visa are required for most nationalities as well as tickets and/or documents for return or onward travel. It is preferable to obtain visas in advance (contact one of the addresses below listed for more information).

Visa may be delivered at arrival at airport (although some delay might be expected for this service).

Proof of yellow fever immunization may be requested. Airport departure tax (US$20 in hard currency) is payable upon departure from Kenya airports.

USA Embassy of the Republic of Kenya 2249 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 Tel: +(1) 202 3876101 Fax: +(1) 202 4623829	Kenya National Tourist Office 25 Brook's Mews, (Davies Street), Mayfair, London W1Y 1LF, England Tel: +(44) 171 3553144 Fax: +(44) 171 4958656
England Embassy of the Republic of Kenya 45 Portland Place, London, W1N 4AS Tel: +(44) 171 6362371 Fax: +(44) 171 3236717	Consulate and Tourism office of the Republic of Kenya 424 MadIson Avenue, Suite 1401, New York, NY 10017 Tel: +(1) 212 4861300 Fax: +(1) 212 6880911 kenya2d@americaonline.com

Kenya being one of the top ranked world tourism destination, air connection to Nairobi is easy and serviced by all the big players in the air transport industry

Accommodation in Kenya is easy and includes big brands of the international hotels industry; luxury tented resorts, lodges, hostels and camping are available all around the country side. For additional information on hotel accommodation, you may visit this link. Some hotel bills must be paid in foreign currency.