Republic of Kenya is a country in East Africa. Lying on both sides of the equator, Kenya is bordered by Sudan and Ethiopia to the North, Somalia to the East, Tanjania to the south, and Uganda to the west. Indian Ocean is on the south east of Kenya and Lake Victoria on the west. Earlier Kenya was a colony of British. Kenya gained independence form British rule in 1963, and became a republic in 1964. Nairobi is the Capital of Kenya and the largest city.
Fossil studies done on Kenya suggest that humans were living in present day Kenya in the area of Lake Rudolph as early as two million years ago. People were keeping cattle during third millennium BC in the part of present day New North Kenya. During first millennium BC Cushitic speaking people came to the land and introduced the culture of food production. The Neolitic speakers came during 16th century. Kikuyu people approached near Mt. Kenya during 1400, Meru further joined these in 1750. The Western Bantu (Luhya and Gusii) developed from an influx of Kalenjin (1598–1625) and Bantu (1598–1733) migrants. Luo people were living in large numbers during 1750 and 1800. The last migrants into the country were the Somali, who did not enter northeastern Kenya in great numbers until the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Portuguese sailor Vasco da Gamma approached Malindi in 1498. Arab came during 1740 and displaced Portuguese traders. Independent Arab settlements persisted for a century when during the rule of Sayyid Sa'id (1806–56), a kind of unity was established. Arab control even in the 19th century continued to be confined to the coastal belt. In 1840, Sayyid Sa'id moved the capital of his sultanate to Zanzibar.
European people started occupying Kenyan land during 1887. Two German missionaries registered their presence in Kenya Johannes Rebmann and Johann Ludwig Krapf, during 1847 – 1849. The English explorer John Hanning Speke approached Lake Victoria in 1858. British and German made agreement regarding their authority in East Africa in 1886. Following to this Imperial British East African Company started expanding wings in the region.
Anglo – German agreement was signed in 1890 and arrangements were made with the sultan of Zanzibar for protection to be extended to his mainland holdings. In 1895, Imperial British East African Company failed and British took direct control over the "East African Protectorate". In December 1901, Lake Victoria linked via rail links to Mombassa. In 1920 the protectorate, with the exception of the coastal strip (later ceded by Zanzibar), was declared a crown colony.
Kenya was a fast developing British colony by the World War I. During inter war years the British faced major challenges from Asians who wanted equality with Europeans in governmental representative institutions. Later African started demanding ouster of British people from the region, they started using all possible methods to snatch power from British. The first such effort made by African ended with the eruption of the Mau Mau movement in the region and a state of emergency was declared in 1952. During the initial period of the emergency in 1954, the "Lyttelton" multiracial constitution was imposed.
In 1957, direct election for Africans introduced in Legislative council. This was the biggest political gain for African over British. With the 1960 "Macleod" constitution brought an African-elected majority in the Legislative Council; this represented a decisive shift in the direction of an African-controlled state of Kenya.
A constitutional conference held in London in early in 1962 produced a "framework" constitution, which included formation of a national government representing both political parties. New national elections were held under this constitution in May 1963, Kenya became self-governing on June 1. Kenya got freedom on December 12, 1963. And exactly after one year Kenya became republic within the Commonwealth of Nations. Jomo Kenyatta became the first president of the Republic of Kenya. The Kenya African National Union (KANU) was the political party.
Kenya is a republic. The president of Kenya is both the Head of the State and the Head of the Government. The president is elected by public vote for a 5 years term. The Kenyan constitution limits the tern of president to two years. The president appoints the cabinet ministers. The parliament of Kenya has only one chamber called the National Assembly. Any law passed by parliament legislature comes into effect with ascent from the President. Elections to the national assembly are held in a period of 5 years. The president has the veto power. The parliament of Kenya has 210 directly elected members, 12 members nominated by the President, the attorney general, and the speaker of the house.
The Judiciary system in Kenya is composed of two major courts and a number of lower magistrate courts. The President appoints all Judges. Politically, Kenya is divided into seven provinces (Central Province, Coast Province, Eastern Province, Northeastern Province, Nyanza Province, Rift Valley Province, and Western Province), in addition to the extra-provincial region of Nairobi and its environs.
Kenya is known for topographical variances. The low-lying, fertile coastal region, fringed with coral reefs and islands, is backed by a gradually rising coastal plain, a dry region covered with savanna and thornbush. Most of the Kenyan population lives in the southwest region. The northern part is arid and semi desert. The Highland Plateau Area in Kenya is known as the Kenya highlands, this region is known for Mt. Kenya, Mt. Elgon, and Aberdare Range, which rise 13000 ft above sea level. The plateau is bisected from north to south by the Great Rift Valley, which can be traced from Syria through the Red Sea and East Africa to Mozambique. The valley is broad and shallow, embracing like Lake Rudolph in the north of Kenya. West of the Great Rift Valley, the plateau descends to the plains that border Lake Victoria.
The principal rivers in Kenya are are the Tana and the Athi, both drainage into the Indian Ocean. The Ewaso Ngiro, which flows in a northeasterly direction to the swamps of the Lorian Plain. The climatic conditions in Kenya vary greatly with topographical changes. The temperature in coastal regions averages around 27 degree Celsius. The Capital city Nairobi has a mean annual temperature of 19 degree Celsius. The temperature in northern plains ranges from 21 to 27 degree Celsius. Kenya has two rainy seasons; long rainy season (April to June) and short rainy season (October to December). Average annual rainfall varies in a year from 5 cm in arid zone to 193 cm near Lake Victoria. The coast and highland areas receive an annual average rainfall of 102 cm.
Kenya has rich animal life and vegetation. Palm, mangrove, teak, and sandalwood trees are found in abundance along the coast of Indian Ocean. Lowland plateau is a place for plants like Baobab, euphorbia, acacia trees, and the grassland. Kenya is also known for its wide variety of animals and birds including ostriches, flamingos, and vultures etc.
A large part of Kenyan population is of Black Africans divided into 40 ethnic groups. These ethnic belongs to three-linguigistic families- the Bantu, the Cushitic, and the Nilotic. English and Swahili are languages used for communication both officially and in domestic use. Many Kenyans have their own languages inherited from ethnic group, thus Kenyan speak three languages, English, Swahili and a local language. Approximately 75% Kenyan follows Christianity; Protestants are large in numbers compared to Roman Catholics. The rest of the population belongs to traditional African religion or Muslim. There are also good number of Hindus and Sikhs.
Kenya’s economy was largely dependent on agricultural activities like farming, hunting, herding and trade. During British rule economy was based on export of agricultural goods. Coffee Sisal and tea were exported at large. Local people were mainly involved in producing items for sale in local market, and working in European farms producing export crops. Post World War II and after attaining the status of Republic Kenyan economy grew magnificently. However, Kenya’s economy weekend in 1980s as a result of rising trade deficit. The Kenyan government has target of achieving industrialized economy by 2020.
In the year 2005, the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) was $18.7. There were 15.5 million work forces, of which 19% working in agriculture, 62 percent in service sector and approximately 20%in industry. Mining employs only small number of work force. Tourism is expanding wings in Kenya since independence. It is the main source of foreign currency. Tourists from all pars of the wold visit Kenya to see national parks and game reserves like Masai Mara Game Park, Tsavo National Park, and Amboseli National Park; and museums and historical sites.
Kenya produces 74% of electricity from hydroelectric plants in the Tana River basin, in the Turkwel River gorge, and in neighboring Uganda. Kenya also has oil burning facility and a geothermal station for producing power supply.
