Named
for Mount Kenya, this East African republic was owned by
Great Britain until 1963, when it declared its independence.
Twice the size of Nevada, its coast is bordered by the Indian
Ocean. It is also bordered by Somalia, Ethiopia, Tanzania, Uganda and Sudan.
Nairobi is the capital and largest city.
Kenya has a dry climate, making its soils unsuitable for farming. More fertile soils lie at the Lake Victoria Basin and the Kenya Highlands and are more suited for agriculture.
Kenya has a republic government, headed by a president who is elected by popular vote for a 5-year term. English, tribal, and Islamic law are the basis for Kenya's legal system.
Over 40 varied ethnic groups make up the population. The Kikuyu, a Bantu-speaking group, is the largest group. Other groups that inhabit Kenya include the Somali, Arabs, Swahili, and Europeans. Most Kenyans practice Christianity. Roughly 10 percent practice Islam.
Swahili, a Bantu language influenced by Arabic, is the official language of Kenya. English is also an official language.
Kenya's economy is primarily influenced by agriculture. The Kenya shilling is the basic unit of currency.
As of January 2006, a recent drought devastated the country, leaving 2.5 million Kenyans at risk of starvation.
Web Sites
Catalog
Search the library's catalog for Kenya.
Databases
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