Kenya at a Glance
Country Profile
Tourism
Country Profile
Quick Facts About Kenya
Official Name : Republic of Kenya
President : His Excellency Dr. William S. Ruto, C.G.H, Commander-in-Chief of the Kenya Defence Forces
Capital City : Nairobi
Population : 47,564,296 (2019)
Total Area : 580,367 km²
Location : Kenya lies on both sides of the equator. The country is bordered by Somalia in the east, South Sudan and Ethiopia in the north, Uganda in the west, Tanzania in the south, and the Indian Ocean in the southeast.
GDP growth : 5.4% (2019)
Independence/National Day: 12th December, 1963
Official Languages : Kiswahili and English
Official Currency : Kenya Shilling
Timezone : GMT plus 3hrs
Main Religions : Protestant, Catholic, Muslims, Hindu, and Traditional Beliefs
Administrative Structure: National and 47 County Governments
Kenya’s national days
- Madaraka Day, observed on 1st June;
- Mashujaa Day, observed on 20th October; and
- Jamhuri Day, observed on 12th December.
Tourism
Kenya is situated in East Africa from 5.5˚North to 4.5˚ South Latitudes, 34˚ West and 42˚ East Longitudes. The Country is bisected from North to South by the Great Rift Valley and from East to West by the equator. The Kenyan landscape covers a great range of terrain, stretching from sea level at the Coast up to 5199 m on the snowcapped peak of Mt. Kenya. This is one of the most geographically diverse countries with vast expanses of savannah, highland ranges, equatorial rainforest, extinct volcanoes, a series of fresh water and soda lakes, alpine glaciers, arid deserts and tropical beaches, all within the borders of a single country.
The great diversity of habitat is equalled by a remarkable variety of species of flora and fauna. These include large grazing herds of wildebeests, zebras and gazelles, large mammals such as elephants, buffaloes and rhinos, and a range of predators including lions, leopards and cheetahs. The annual wildebeest migration, one of the Seven Wonders of the World takes place between Serengeti National park in Tanzania and Maasai Mara National reserve in Kenya during July through October.
Kenya has a coastline with a total length of 1,420 km. This is home to one of the world’s most stunning beaches spread along the Indian Ocean. Kenyan beaches are prized for their characteristic clear blue waters, pristine sandy beaches, dotted with exotic hotels and islands, marine parks and many outdoor sporting activities. From the famous resort beach of Diani, to the quieter creek area of Kilifi, the Marine National Park of Watamu, the unique architecture and fresh sea food of Malindi, the UNESCO World Heritage of Lamu and the more popular tourist city of Mombasa, the coastal experience along with world class hospitality and Swahili culture provide a welcoming and exciting atmosphere for locals and tourists alike.
