CEFA

Background

Revered president and liberation struggle icon Jomo KENYATTA led Kenya from independence until his death in 1978, when current President Daniel Toroitich arap MOI took power in a constitutional succession. The country was a de facto one-party state from 1969 until 1982 when the ruling Kenya African National Union (KANU) made itself the sole legal party in Kenya. MOI acceded to internal and external pressure for political liberalization in late 1991. The ethnically fractured opposition failed to dislodge KANU from power in elections in 1992 and 1997, which were marred by violence and fraud, but are viewed as having generally reflected the will of the Kenyan people. The country faces a period of political uncertainty because MOI is constitutionally required to step down at the next elections that have to be held by early 2003.

Area

582,650km2

Population

30,765,916

Age structure

0-14 years: 41.95% (male 6,524,776; female 6,381,192)
15-64 years: 55.26% (male 8,529,842; female 8,471,609)
65 years and over: 2.79% (male 376,151; female 482,346) (2001 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

47.49 years

Natural resources

gold, limestone, soda ash, salt barites, rubies, fluorspar, garnets, wildlife, hydropower

Natural hazards

recurring drought in northern and eastern regions; flooding during rainy seasons

Environment - current issues

water pollution from urban and industrial wastes; degradation of water quality from increased use of pesticides and fertilizers; water hyacinth infestation in Lake Victoria; deforestation; soil erosion; desertification; poaching Geography - note: the Kenyan Highlands comprise one of the most successful agricultural production regions in Africa; glaciers are found on Mount Kenya, Africa's second highest peak; unique physiography supports abundant and varied wildlife of scientific and economic value

HIV/AIDS

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: 13.95% (1999 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: 2.1 million (1999 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths 180,000 (1999 est.)

Ethnic groups

Kikuyu 22%, Luhya 14%, Luo 13%, Kalenjin 12%, Kamba 11%, Kisii 6%, Meru 6%, other African 15%, non-African (Asian, European, and Arab) 1%

Religions:

Protestant 38%, Roman Catholic 28%, indigenous beliefs 26%, Muslim 7%, other 1%

Languages

English (official), Kiswahili (official), numerous indigenous languages

C.E.F.A. - Comitato Europeo per la Formazione e l'Agricoltura
Via Lame, 118 - 40122 Bologna (Italy)
Tel. 0039-051-520285/520068
Fax. 0039-051-520712
cefa.bo@tin.it

Sito realizzato ed offerto da ITALIA MULTIMEDIA S.r.l.