Main article: Africa
Population
Main article: Population of Africa
Population
2022:57 million people
Migration
2024: Digital Nomad Visa Start
In early October 2024, Kenyan President William Ruto announced the start of issuing visas for digital nomads - Digital Nomad Work Permit. The innovation is aimed at attracting international specialists in the field of information technology who will be able to live in this East African country and work remotely.
The introduction of Digital Nomad Work Permit visas is part of Kenya's broader initiative to promote tourism and attract foreign investment. It is expected that this measure will not only expand the tourism sector, but will also contribute to the development of innovation and entrepreneurship in the country.
In
 | We are ready to welcome digital professionals from around the world to live, work and experience Kenya's rich culture and stunning scenery, "the head of state said. |  |
Ruto notes that tourism is fundamental to the country's economy, contributing significantly to employment, foreign exchange inflows and infrastructure development. In 2022, 1,483,752 international tourists arrived in Kenya, up 70.45% from 2021, when the number of guests was 870,465.
In addition to the Digital Nomad Work Permit, electronic transit permits and long connecting trips (eTA) are introduced. Thanks to eTA, travelers with long transfers at Nairobi's Jomo Kenyatta International Airport will be able to leave the air harbor and walk the city instead of waiting for their flight at the terminal. The purpose of this initiative is to popularize this tourist destination among people passing through Kenya in transit: they, as noted, will have the opportunity to get acquainted with the rich heritage, traditions and landscapes of the country.[1]
2021: Net outflow over 4 years
Tribes
Maasai
The Masai are a nomadic tribe that appeared in Kenya in the 16th century. Where they came from, it is difficult to say for sure, their own tales and myths speak of "brave warriors who came out of the vent of a volcano." Men stand out for their high stature and excellent physical data. Bright clothes and jewelry have become their hallmark thanks to the frequent use of images in films. Brave warriors of the Maasai tribe are found in many tales of the peoples of Africa, which describes their dexterity, courage and speed of running.
Marriages
Allowed to have more than one spouse
Overweight
Mortality
2017: Number of deaths in road accidents
2016: Number of deaths from opioid use
Britain's military bases
2023
Apart from various PMCs controlled by British companies, British military personnel are located in 40 African states in May 2023. The Government of the United Kingdom justifies its presence by training African personnel, peacekeeping missions (in Libya and South Sudan), as well as the fight against terrorism, which became especially relevant after the massive spread of IS and Al-Qaeda activities throughout the continent since 2011.
Special attention in Britain is paid to increasing the mobility of the armed forces. As it became known in December 2022, for these purposes, London plans to create or expand regional hubs in Kenya, Oman and Germany, which will allow concentrating stocks of logistics.
Economy
GDP
2022: GDP size forecast - $0.11 trillion
2018: GDP - $1,865 per person
Financial system
External debt
2019: Debt to China - $7.5 billion
with the
Power
Wind power
In July 2019, Kenya unveiled the largest energy project in Africa.
The wind farm, which will start operating as early as 2020, will help Kenya reduce its electricity costs. These are 365 turbines on the shores of Lake Turkana in northern Kenya that will increase the country's energy supply by 13% and reduce the price of electricity. The cost of the project is $775 million.
Kenya is one of the few African countries to have made great strides in renewable energy. About 70% of the country's electricity comes from renewable sources.
Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta plans to fully convert the country to clean energy by 2020. However, for 2019, one in four Kenyans does not have access to electricity.
Electrification
Energy carriers
2020: Energy consumption per capita
and
Ports
The 2019 Port of Mombasa is the largest transportation hub serving the foreign trade of East African countries, including Uganda, northern Tanzania, South Sudan, Burundi, Rwanda and eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.
2023: Port of Mombasa cargo turnover up 6.2% at 35.98 million tonnes
As stated in the Kenya Ports Authority, the cargo turnover of the port of Mombasa in 2023 reached 35.98 million tons. In particular, the volume of container traffic increased seriously - by 11.9%, to 1.62 million TEU.
Authorities have promised to expand capacity and upgrade the port to meet growing demand.
The indicators of the Kisumu port also increased - by 119% (the port exceeded 127,745 tons of cargo in 2023).
2019: China may get Kenya's Mombasa port for debts
In November 2019, it became known that China could gain control over the assets of the Kenya Ports Authority (KPA), including the port of Mombasa, if the state-owned Kenya Railway Corporation does not fulfill its debt obligations to the Export-Import Bank of China.
KPA's assets are at risk as the administration has undertaken obligations to ensure the loading of China-built Mombasa-Nairobi standard gauge railway, according to a report by the head of the Accounts Chamber, FT Kimani.
China has allocated a loan worth 500 billion Kenyan shillings (about 5 billion US dollars) for construction. The construction of the second line of gauge was officially completed in October 2016. Commercial cargo operations began in the winter of 2018. Losses in the first year of operation amounted to Sh10 billion.
Loan payments should begin in mid-2020 after a five-year grace period.
In December 2017, the Sri Lankan government was forced to hand over the port of Hambantota to China for debts. In September 2018, Zambia lost control of the capital's international airport in the same way.
According to KPA forecasts in September, the port's container turnover in 2019 will reach 1.4 million TEU, compared with 1.3 million TEU in 2018. At the end of 2019, a second container terminal is under construction in the port, which is funded by a loan provided by the Japanese government.
Airports
Trade
2023:38% of wheat supplies come from Russia and Ukraine
2022: US is the biggest export destination
2018
Most valuable goods exported from Africa
Major trading partners
Drug traffic
Alcohol market
Minimum age to purchase alcoholic beverages
R&D
2020: R&D expenses - $788 million
Kenya IT Market
2024: $50 million data centre launch
In late July 2024, IXAfrica Data Centers announced the launch of a data center in Kenya that can support the high workloads created by AI-based applications. Read more here.
2022: More than 150 start-ups
Agriculture
2019: Low use of pesticides in agriculture
Consumption
Meat
2023: Beef is the most consumed type of meat
Cereals
2019: Low rice consumption: 21.2 kg per person per year
Vegetables
2018: Vegetable consumption - 51 kg per capita
Automobile traffic
Kenya is a left-hand country.
Foreign policy
2024: Receiving US status as a "Major Non-NATO Ally"
On May 23, 2024, Kenyan President Ruto arrived in Washington for a three-day state visit. The main stated topic of discussion is sending a Kenyan peacekeeping contingent to Haiti to fight gangs and, on this occasion, assigning Nairobi the status of a "Major Ally outside NATO." Thus, Kenya became the first sub-Saharan African state to receive this status.
In recent years, the Kenyan leadership has supported all U.S. initiatives in the region. So the military contingent unfolds in pro-American Somalia to combat Al-Shabab, the Nairobi authorities regularly participate in US military exercises in Africa, and also take part in the anti-Houthi maritime coalition.
2019
Kenyan population backs US President Trump's policies
Kenya, Nigeria and India have more faith in U.S. President Donald Trump, according to a new Pew Research Center poll.
The poll, which aimed to find out what the world thinks about Trump, found that 65% of Kenyans and 58% of Nigerians trust the American leader and support his policies.
The Pew Research Center also notes that sub-Saharan Africa generally speaks positively about the United States.
Border closure with Somalia
In June 2019, the Kenyan government closed the border with Somalia.
For an indefinite period, it is forbidden to cross the border and conduct cross-border trade in the districts: Lamu, Mandera, Wajir and Garissa.
Kenya has taken quite a few steps against Somalia in recent times, trying to pressure Mogadishu over the territorial dispute. For several years now, the two countries have not been able to decide where their maritime border in the Indian Ocean passes. This case is pending at the International Court of Justice in The Hague.
Earlier, Somali officials were denied entry to Kenya. In addition, Kenya has imposed a double safety check on travellers from Mogadishu who must first pass control in Wajir District before heading to Nairobi.
Education
2019
Percentage of people who can read
Contraceptives for girls from the age of 10 and banning sex education
In Kenya, as of August 2019, many parents give girls contraceptives starting at age 10.
Across the country, one in five girls between the ages of 15 and 19 are pregnant or already have a child.
Proposals for the introduction of sex education lessons were sharply criticized by the authorities.
Showing porn to schoolchildren
In July 2019, owners of video stores in Kenya were arrested for showing porn to schoolchildren.
Kenyan authorities arrested at least three people after they caught 57 secondary school students watching porn on store premises.
Schoolchildren also smoked hashish in lumorkas.
Health care
2021: Maternity leave
in
2020
Duration of guaranteed paid sick leave less than a month
Part of the population defecates on the street
Hunger
Poverty
Kibera is Africa's biggest slum
South of Nairobi is the largest slum on the African continent - Kibera. According to some sources, about a million live there in 2019, according to others - about two million, beggars and sick people. The area of the slums is only three square kilometers.
Kibera is originally an area of Nubian soldiers of the colonial British Army and their families. Then migrants from other African tribes began to be equipped there, the slums grew. In the late 1920s, the colonial government wanted to demolish Kibera and relocate its inhabitants to the usual Nairobi area, but the local did not like the idea, reported the Africanistics channel.
After Kenya gained independence in 1963, there were still attempts to resettle Kibera, but they were also unsuccessful. Rent in Nairobi was fabulously expensive for the poor of Kibera, they preferred to stay put and not change anything.
Today in these slums there is no electricity and sewage, there are no police, schools and hospitals, but there is a huge percentage of HIV-infected people. They live in cardboard and slate dilapidated buildings. Along the railway track is a market - hundreds of outlets selling shoes, clothing, Chinese electronics, food and the main commodity - charcoal for cooking.
Nevertheless, the people of Kibera lead a rather ordinary life. They have beauty salons, shops with music and films, drinking establishments and even a cinema. Children chase plastic bottles, imitating football, and arrange competitions.
The Kenyan government is not proud of an urban phenomenon like Kibera. Nearby, social housing is being built, where they allegedly plan to resettle slum residents. But as history shows, doing it is not so easy because of the people themselves, who are just used to living like this.
Terrorism
Crime
In August 2019, it became known that in the capital of Kenya will create "safe" dance floors, free of men.
In 2018, Plan International ranked Nairobi sixth among the 22 cities in the world where women were most often sexually harassed.
Prisons
2019: The minimum age for children to be jailed is 8
2018: Number of prisoners per 100 thousand citizens
Sport
2022
Maasai Olympics instead of killing lions
The Maasai Olympic Games is a unique phenomenon that is only 10 years old. The original people hunted lions, but the feline population began to decline sharply from 30 thousand at the end of the last century to two thousand today. To prevent men from losing their skills, they staged competitions: throwing spears and traditional batons, high jumps from a standing position and various running options.
If you want to like the girl and take her as a wife, jump above all. Such a custom existed in the Maasai tribe for many centuries. Today, the most dexterous and fastest are also waiting for a gold medal. In 2022, the winner receives respect and a solid prize money of 16.5 thousand Kenyan shillings - that's $130. Some receive medals, others, having passed all the disciplines, turn from boys into warriors. Until recently, girls were not allowed to participate in the Olympics.
"This is the first time I've ever participated in an Olympiad and won. I'm very happy. Everyone will respect me, and for this I do not need to kill a lion, "says Maasai warrior Isaac Kitesho.
"These Olympics have changed our lives very much. Men used to kill wild animals to get heroic names. Now they get sporting nicknames. And men also receive money for winning competitions, "says Maasai athlete Vivian Mganini.
The most famous athlete from the Maasai tribe is David Rudisha. By the way, he oversees the unique tribal Olympic Games. Two-time champion of Africa, the world and the Olympics in the 800 meters. The son of the 1968 Mexico City Games silver medalist Daniel Rudishi. He continues the traditions of not only his family, but Kenyan traditions in general. This African country is famous for its athletes. 106 medals at the Olympics, 34 of which are gold.
The most popular sport is football
in
History
2024: President Ruto blames US NGO Ford Foundation for sponsoring protests
Two weeks after the attenuation of speeches in Kenya due to dissatisfaction with the new tax legislation, the opposition decided to hold a new general anti-government action, which took place on July 16, 2024. This time, the stated goal was no longer a protest against taxation, but the removal of the current government.
The largest strike took place in the suburb of Nairobi - Kitingele: Protesters burned rubber, waved state flags and threw stones at the police. As a result, at least 3 people died during the dispersal of the demonstration.
President Ruto accused the Ford Foundation, an American NGO with links to the CIA, of sponsoring the protests. The organization hastened to refute this.
2023: Several killed in mass demonstration by Orange Democratic Movement party
On Monday, March 27, 2023, mass demonstrations of supporters of the opposition Orange Democratic Movement party took place in Kenya. Party leader Raila Odinga said protesters were opposed to food price hikes and "illegitimately elected" President William Ruto.
Police on Sunday banned any demonstrations. Odinga, however, refused to follow law enforcement requirements.
Kenya's capital, Nairobi, has seen the biggest protests. Demonstrators threw stones, set fire to cars and smashed shops. Law enforcement officers used tear gas and water cannons. Several people were killed in clashes with police.
An unknown group of individuals broke in and looted the William Ruto family's farm, as well as the private plot of the previous Kenyan president, who supported Ruto in the election race.
Protests of this magnitude have been taking place in Kenya for the second week in a row. The Orange Democratic Movement said the demonstrations will not stop and will continue every Monday and Thursday until the situation in the country stabilizes and President Ruto agrees to concessions.
2019:60 killed in landslide
The number of victims of a landslide in West Pokot County in northwestern Kenya in November 2019 rose to 60, according to the county government.
The landslide came down after showers that did not stop all night. Earlier it was reported about 37 dead. The landslide forced more than 10,000 people to flee their homes, according to authorities. Another 47 people are reported missing.
1963: Gaining independence from Britain
After KANU won the first general election to the Kenyan National Assembly in May 1963, Jomo Kenyatta formed a government of self-government, thus becoming the first Prime Minister of Kenya.
On June 1, 1963, Kenya received internal self-government.
On December 12, 1963, Jomo Kenyatta lowered the flag of Britain, making Kenya an independent state.
1956: Mau Mau uprising crushed, over 50,000 Kenyans killed
By the beginning of 1956, the rebels of the Mau Mau uprising were blocked in the mountains, their main forces were defeated, most of the leaders were killed or captured, including Kimati (executed in 1957). At the end of 1956, Britain ceased military operations, in January 1957 the state of emergency was lifted, but until the declaration of independence of Kenya (1963), disparate rebel groups still remained in its forests.
According to official figures, 11.5 thousand were killed during the hostilities and 1.1 thousand rebels were executed; according to international organizations, more than 50 thousand were killed, 250-300 thousand Africans[2] were thrown into concentration camps and prisons.
The Mau Mau Rebellion forced Britain to reform the colonial government system in Kenya. At the same time, it complicated ethnic relations in Kenya, intensified contradictions in its society, especially among kikuyu.
1954: Britain launches large-scale artillery and air operations against rebels
In April 1954, the British authorities launched large-scale operations against the rebels using artillery and aviation.
1953: Guerrilla warfare against British colonisers
In the spring of 1953, the Central Committee, created by the rebellious Kenyans, was defeated by British counterintelligence, after which the forests of the Aberdare massif and the Kenya mountains became the main centers of the uprising.
In August 1953, the rebels formed the Kenya Military Council and the Army of Land and Freedom (30-50 thousand fighters) under the command of D. V. Kimati. Armed mainly with homemade weapons, rebels attacked police stations and army posts, guarded "strategic villages," committed sabotage and arson, ambushed roads. T. N. the passive wing of the Army of Land and Freedom operated in cities and reserves, conducted reconnaissance, provided the rebels with weapons, ammunition and medicines.
1952: The start of the Mau Mau uprising against the British colonialists
The MAU-MAU uprising of 1952-56 in Kenya, one of the largest anti-colonial uprisings in the African possessions of Britain. The uprising was preceded by a massive underground movement "for land and freedom" (Mau-Mau movement; the origin of the name is unknown), whose participants sought the return of land taken by Europeans from the indigenous population and the granting of self-government to Kenya.
The spiritual leader of the movement was Jomo Kenyatta. Gradually, its participants switched to active actions, began to attack the so-called loyalists and European farmers, to create partisan detachments. In October 1952, a state of emergency was imposed in Kenya, many leaders of the movement, including Kenyatta, were arrested, tens of thousands of kikuyu, emba and measure were deported to reserves. Parts of the British army and colonial troops from neighboring British possessions were transferred to Kenya. The governing body of the movement, the Central Committee, called for an armed uprising. Combat units began to operate in Nairobi and other cities.
1940: British East African colonies enter World War II
Main article: British Colonies of East Africa
1914
XIII century: The emergence of the city of Gedi
It is believed that the city of Gedi arose in the XIII century. in Kenya. It had a population of about 2,500.
Researchers have still not answered the question of what happened to the population, why Gedi fell into decay.
As a result of excavations, objects from various and rather remote parts of the world were found here, which indicates active trade ties between local residents and merchants from different countries.
4.2 mln LN - 3.9 million liters: Australopithecus anamus
Main article: History of mankind. Main dates
Australopithecus anamus (lifetime 4.2 million liters - 3.9 million liters). Finds in two locations in Kenya - Kanapoi and Allia Bay, found about 100 fossils from more than 20 individuals.
"Monkey" skull structure. Given the very large length and massiveness of the radial bone, elements of quadrupedal locomotion in Anamanian Australopithecus are very likely.
5.8 million hp: Orrorins live in forests
The remains orrorins were found in Kenya. They lay between two layers of volcanic ash, thanks to which they date relatively accurately: between 5.8 and 6.1 million years ago, during the Miocene era.
Tourism
National Parks
Gates of Hell
In August 2019, four people died and several more went missing due to flash flooding in Kenya's Gates of Hell National Park.
The Kenyan Wildlife Service said seven people: five Kenyans, a local guide and an extraneous tourist were at Hell's Gate National Park on Sunday when the flooding took them by surprise.
"The gorge at Hell's Gate National Park has been closed to the public due to the ongoing rains," the Kenya Service said on Sunday.
Search and rescue operations are underway to find three people who are still missing.
2020: Safari tourists survive emergency landing
In January 2020, safari tourists survived an emergency landing in Kenya.
According to carrier Yellow Wings, the accident occurred because the pilot lost control during landing, hitting soft ground, causing the plane to roll over.
Kenya's civil aviation authority says all four people who were on board are "safe and unharmed."
Culture
Ballet
Religion
Rastafarianism
In September 2019, Kenya officially recognized Rastafarianism as a religion.
The country's court ruled that the Rastamans deserve the same treatment as Christians, Muslims, as well as representatives of other religions.
The case began with a 15-year-old teenage girl who was banned from school because of dreadlocks. Teachers and the principal of a high school in Nairobi said her hairstyle did not match the official uniform.
The girl's father went to court, claiming that his family adheres to Rastafarianism.
"The child has a constitutional right to basic education. Dreadlocks are a way for a girl to practice her faith, and it is wrong to force her to cut her hair, this is contrary to her religion, "the court concluded.
Fauna
The Great Wildebeest Migration
One of the most striking events of the animal world of the planet is the Great Wildebeest Migration, which takes place in Tanzania and Kenya. See the 2019 video snippet below.
White giraffes
The snow-white female and baby giraffe were filmed in Kenya in summer 2019.
These giraffes are not albinos; their fair skin is a consequence of leukemia. This mutation causes the coat to turn white and the skin underneath is pink.
Calendar
Notes
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