Kenya

 

Quick Facts

• Continental region – East Africa
• Currency symbol of Kenya-Shilling (KES)
• Capital City –Nairobi
• Official languages – Swahili and English
• Population – 51,390,000 (2018)
• Country dialling code  –  (+254 )
• Official website – Kenya
• Top 3 biggest industries  –Agriculture, Foresting , Manufacturing
• Google Maps link –Kenya
• Where is it? –Kenya is located in East Africa. Its terrain rises from a low coastal plain on the Indian Ocean to mountains and plateaus at its center. Most Kenyans live in the highlands, where Nairobi, the capital, sits at an altitude of 5,500 feet.

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Kenya In Pictures

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Kenya History

• How did the country get its first name? –The Republic of Kenya is named after Mount Kenya. The Kikuyu people who lived around present day Mt Kenya referred to it as Kirinyaga or Kerenyaga, meaning ‘mountain of whiteness’ because of its snow capped peak. the name Kenya arose out of the inability of the British to pronounce Kirinyaga correctly.
• When and by whom the country was first discovered? -The British Empire established the East Africa Protectorate in 1895 as part of the outcome of the Berlin Conference in 1844 to partition Africa amongst European colonialists.
• Who were the first Inhabitants? – Kenya has some of the earliest known evidence of modern homo sapiens. From about 2,000 BC herders came to the region. Then from about 800 AD Arabs sailed to Kenya. Some settled and intermarried and they created the Swahili culture along the coast. The first European to reach Kenya was Vasco da Gama in 1498.
• When it was first recognized as a country? – December 12, 1963.
• Who was the first leader of the country? –Jomo Kenyatta (1897 – 1978) was a Kenyan anti-colonial activist and politician who governed Kenya as its Prime Minister from 1963 to 1964 and then as its first President from 1964 to his death in 1978.

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Five Significant Events 

1. 1944 Event Mau Mau’s violence: Kenyan African Union (KAU) formed to campaign for African independence. Secret Kikuyu guerrilla group known as Mau Mau begins violent campaign against white settlers. State of emergency declared, Jomo Kenyatta jailed, KAU banned.(https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-13682176)

2. 1963 Event Independence: Kenya gains independence, with Mr Kenyatta as prime minister. Republic of Kenya formed. Jomo Kenyatta becomes president and Oginga Odinga vice-president. (https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-13682176)

3. 1978 Event Moi Era: Kenyatta dies in office. In 1992 Approximately 2,000 people killed in tribal conflict in the west of the country. (https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-13682176)­

4. 1998 Event Embassy bomb: Al-Qaeda operatives bomb the US embassy in Nairobi, killing 224 people and injuring thousands. (https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-13682176)

5. 2010 Event Constitution approved: New constitution designed to limit the powers of the president and devolve power to the regions approved in referendum. (https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-13682176)

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Five Places to Visit in Kenya

1. Massai Mara: Maasai Mara National Reserve (also “Masai Mara”) is one of the world’s most magnificent game reserves. Bordering Tanzania, the Mara is the northern extension of the Serengeti and forms a wildlife corridor between the two countries. (https://www.thecrazytourist.com/15-best-places-visit-kenya/)

2. Amboseli National reserve: Crowned by Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa’s highest peak, Amboseli National Reserve is one of Kenya’s most popular tourist parks. The name “Amboseli” comes from a Maasai word meaning “salty dust,” an apt description for the park’s parched conditions. (https://www.planetware.com/tourist-attractions/kenya-ken.htm)

3. Tsavo National park: Kenya’s largest park, Tsavo, is sliced in two: Tsavo West and Tsavo East. Together these parks comprise four percent of the country’s total area and encompass rivers, waterfalls, savannah, volcanic hills, a massive lava-rock plateau, and an impressive diversity of wildlife. (https://www.planetware.com/tourist-attractions/kenya-ken.htm)

4. Lake Nakuru National park: Lake Nakuru National Park, in Central Kenya, is famous for its huge flocks of pink flamingos. The birds throng on Lake Nakuru itself, one of the Rift Valley soda lakes that comprises almost a third of the park’s area. The park was established in 1961. (https://www.planetware.com/tourist-attractions/kenya-ken.htm)

5. Nairobi: Kenya’s capital and largest city, Nairobi is legendary for its colourful colonial history. It was once the capital of British East Africa, luring settlers who came here to stake their fortune in the coffee and tea industries. Today, you can explore the city’s famous historic sites, as well as some excellent wildlife-related attractions.(https://www.planetware.com/tourist-attractions/kenya-ken.htm)

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References:

• https://www.planetware.com/tourist-attractions/kenya-ken.htm
• https://www.thecrazytourist.com/15-best-places-visit-kenya/
• https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-13682176
• https://www.insightguides.com/destinations/africa-middle-east/kenya/historical-highlights
• http://www.kenyaembassyspain.es/kenya-in-brief/