Kenia

The official name of Kenya is “Republic of Kenya”. The capital of Kenya is Nairobi. The second largest city is Mombassa, located on the southeast coast. There are living 29,5 million people in Kenya. Kenya covers an area of 582,646 square kilometres. Kenya has been led by President Daniel arap Moi since 1978, and became a multiparty democracy in 1992. English is the official language but Swahili is the national language. That means that education is in English. In addition to these two languages, most of the people in Kenya also speak what they would call their "mother tongue" - the language that they grew up speaking. While an increasing number of city-dwellers are growing up speaking English, most rural people still speak their tribal languages when they go home. The coast and Great Rift Valley are hot and humid, the plateau interior is temperate and the north-eastern desert hot and dry. Rain generally falls from April to May and October to November. Poverty-related illnesses are increasing, particularly among children and women, and the country has a high incidence of HIV and AIDS. Kenya has 15 doctors and 23 qualified nurses for every 100,000 people. Respiratory and diarrheal diseases, malaria are Major causes of death. The education system provides for eight years of primary, four years of secondary and four years of university education. Currently, Kenya has five public and four private universities. There are three national polytechnics, 17 institutes of technology and 12 technical training institutions. There are 700000 visitors per year in Kenya. Germany-15%, UK-15%, Tanzania 12%, Uganda 8%, USA 7%, other 43%. There is a high rate of crime in all cities, particularly Nairobi, Mombassa, Kisumu, and at coastal beach resorts. Pickpockets and thieves carry out "snatch and run" crimes on city streets and near crowds. Visitors have found it safer not to carry valuables, but rather to store them in hotel safety deposit boxes or safe rooms. Walking alone or at night, especially in downtown areas, public parks, along footpaths, on beaches, and in poorly lit areas, is dangerous. The coast and Great Rift Valley are hot and humid, the plateau interior is temperate and the north-eastern desert hot and dry. Rain generally falls from April to May and October to November. Kenya became a multi-party democracy in late 1991, and its political institutions are still developing. From time to time, political or ethnic tensions boil over in outbreaks of civil disorder or political violence. Student demonstrations in Nairobi have become increasingly common. Ongoing electricity outages and water rationing may elicit further demonstrations. In the lead-up to the next national election in 2002, political meetings, demonstrations, and strikes are likely. These are often spontaneous, unpredictable, and sometimes violent. They are normally localized but could affect tourists. Travellers should follow the printed and electronic media to keep abreast of where and when any political rallies and demonstrations are likely to occur, and of the potential for confrontation. Thieves routinely snatch jewellery and other objects from open vehicle windows while motorists are either stopped at traffic lights or in heavy traffic. Armed vehicle hijackings are common in Nairobi, but can occur anywhere in the country. Some nine or ten vehicles are stolen by armed robbers in the capital every day. Although these attacks are often violent, victims are generally injured only if they resist. There is also a high incidence of residential break-ins. Thieves and con artists have been known to impersonate hotel employees, police officers or government officials. Thieves on buses and trains may steal valuables from inattentive passengers. Passengers on inter-city buses should not accept food or drink from a new acquaintance, even a child, as such food or drink may contain narcotics used to incapacitate a victim and facilitate a robbery. Natural resources: gold, limestone, soda ash, salt barites, rubies, fluorspar, garnets, wildlife
Exports: Tea, coffee, horticultural products, hides and skins, pyrethrum, pineapples, beer, among others. Imports : Industrial machinery, crude petroleum, motor vehicles and transport equipment, minerals, iron and steel, chemicals, food and manufactured goods. Main Industries : Food and beverages processing, manufacture of petroleum products, textiles and fibres, garments, tobacco, processed fruits, cement, paper, pyrethrum products, engineering products, wood products, pharmaceuticals, basic chemicals, sugar, rubber, plastics, etc. The colors: Black represents the people of Kenya. Red represents the blood shed in the fight for independence. Green represents the fertility of the land. White represents peace. The shield of the warrior represents Kenya's pride and tradition. 38% of the population is Protestant, 28% is Roman Catholic, 26% indigenous beliefs, 6% is Muslim. The National Anthem: Kiswahili English

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Ee Mungu nguvu yetuIlete baraka kwetuHaki iwe ngao na mlinziNatukae na unduguAmani na uhuruRaha tupate na ustawi. O God of all creationBless this our land and nationJustice be our shield and defenderMay we dwell in unityPeace and libertyPlenty be found within our borders. 2 2
Amkeni ndugu zetuTufanye sote bidiiNasi tujitoe kwa nguvuNchi yetu ya KenyaTunayoipendaTuwe tayari kuilinda Let one and all ariseWith hearts both strong and trueService be our earnest endeavourAnd our homeland of KenyaHeritage of splendourFirm may we stand to defend. 3 3
Natujenge taifa letuEe, ndio wajibu wetuKenya istahili heshimaTuungane mikonoPamoja kaziniKila siku tuwe na shukrani Let all with one accordIn common bond unitedBuild this our nation togetherAnd the glory of KenyaThe fruit of our labourFill every heart with thanksgiving.