Kenya

Kenya

Location

Kenya is an East African country bordered to the north by Somalia, Ethiopia and Sudan, to the south by Tanzania, to the west by Uganda and to the east by the Indian Ocean. Kenya lies astride the Equator and has a tropical climate. It is very dry in the northern part of the country, temperate in the inland, and hot and humid at the coast.

Languages:

English is the official language and Kiswahili is the national language.

Ethnic Groups

Kenya has over 70 tribal groups. Some of the main tribes include the Kikuyu, Luhya, Luo, Kalenjin, Masai, Kamba, Kisii, and Meru. The main cultures of Kenya are Swahili and Masai. The Bantu people along the Kenyan coastal areas created and spread the swahili culture. Other cultures include the Gusii, Kamba, Nubi, Kipsigis, Oromo, Shilluk and European, Arab, and Asian peoples.

Religion

The common religions of Kenya are Protestantism, Catholicism, Islam, and traditional beliefs. Christians are mainly found in the interior of Kenya while Muslims are found along the coast.

Physical Features

Great Rift Valley is the biggest physical feature; it is found in both the central and western part of Kenya, stretching from the northern part of Kenya to its southern part. This rift valley stretches from Jordan to Mozambique.

Kenyan lakes include Lake Turkana; which is found in the northern part of the country, Lake Victoria; found in the western part of the country, Lake Nakuru; lake found in the cental rift valley and it is known for its abundance of Flamingoes, Lake Naivasha; has abundant wild life and different bird species.

Examples of rivers found in Kenya include River Tana, River Athi, River Nzoia, River Yala, River Gola, River Ngiro, River Ewaso and others. Kenya also has a variety of national parks and Game reserves for example Maasi Mara game reserves, Amboseli National park, Lake Nakuru national park, Mount Kenya national park and others.

Economy

Kenya mainly depends on agricultural products, including coffee, tea, wheat, sugarcane, vegetables, fruits, diary products (from the Kenyan Highlands), poultry, pork, and eggs. The economy also has industries in other sectors such as oil refining, aluminum, steel, cement, and tourism.

History

The first inhabitants of Kenya were the Kikuyu, Kamba, Luo, Masai and many other small tribal groups. The Arabs and Europeans (from Britain, German, and Portugal) began colonizing in the 19^th century. The Arabs bartered with the indigenous peoples. The indigenous peoples exchanged slaves, ivory, beads for guns, clothes and many other items. The British overthrew the Arabs in 1895 and Kenya became a British protectorate. As the British were constructing a railway through Kenya to Uganda, they decided to settle in the Kenyan highlands (the most fertile and productive area in Africa). The British displaced the indigenous peoples, which resulted in the Mau Mau Rebellion. Kenya attained independence on December 12, 1963.

The first president of Kenya after Independence was Jomo Kenyatta and he ruled from 1964 until 1978. Daniel Arap Moi, his vice president, succeeded him and he ruled for 26 years (1978-2002). Arap Moi was succeeded by Mwai Kibaki in 2002.

various kinds of birds some of the bird beaks giraffes are friendly