Country
Countries A-Z
Kenya
Republic of Kenya
Jamhuri ya Kenya
Political Status: Independent member of the Commonwealth since December 12, 1963; republic established in 1964; de facto one-party system, established in 1969, recognized as de jure by constitutional amendment on June 9, 1982; multiparty system approved by constitutional amendment on December 20, 1991; new constitution approved by referendum on August 4, 2011, providing for a mixed presidential-parliamentary system with a bicameral legislature.
Area: 224,960 sq. mi. (582,646 sq. km.).
Population: 42,918,282 (2012E—UN); 43,013,341 (2012E—U.S. Census).
Major Urban Centers (2005E): NAIROBI (urban area, 2,725,000); Mombasa (798,000).
Official Language: English (Kiswahili is the national language).
Monetary Unit: Kenya Shilling (principal rate October 3, 2011: 101.25 shillings = $1US).
President: Emilio Mwai KIBAKI (Party of National Unity) elected by popular vote on December 27, 2002, and inaugurated on December 30, ...