In this post, I’ve shared some of the interesting facts about Kenya.
Kenya is a country in Eastern Africa. It covers an area of 580,367 square kilometers, making it the world’s 48th biggest country. Kenya shares borders with South Sudan, Ethiopia, Uganda and Tanzania.
19 Facts About Kenya.
Here are 19 interesting facts about Kenya that I have chosen and thoroughly researched.
- Nairobi is Kenya’s capital and largest city, as well as the country’s largest city by population, with over 4.5 million residents.
2. Mombasa is the second-largest city, followed by Kisumu City, while other major urban centres include Nakuru and Eldoret.
3. Kenya is a presidential representative democratic republic, with elected politicians representing the people and the president serving as the country’s head of state and government.
4. Kenya was named after Mount Kenya.
5. Kenya’s economy is lower-middle-income with the largest economy in Eastern and Central Africa.
6. Agriculture is the largest sector, the main traditional cash crops of Kenya include tea and coffee.
7. The service industry, particularly tourism, is a key economic force. Following agriculture, tourism is the second-largest source of foreign exchange earnings.
8. The Kenyan Highlands are one of Africa’s most productive agricultural areas. The highlands are home to Kenya’s highest point and the Africa’s second highest peak, Mount Kenya.
9. Kenya lies on the equator and enjoys a pleasant tropical climate, however there are significant regional climatic variations caused by a variety of factors, including altitude. March/April through May/June is the “long rains” season. From October until November/December, the “short rains” season occurs. Rainfall is occasionally heavy, and it usually rains in the afternoons and evenings.
10. Kenya has a lot of territory dedicated to animal habitats, such the Masai Mara, where blue wildebeest and other bovids like antelopes migrate on a massive scale every year. The migration across the Mara River involves around a million wildebeest and over 200,000 zebras.
Also Read – Facts About Uganda
More Interesting facts about Kenya
11. Wild Animals like lion, leopard, buffalo, elephant and rhinoceros, known as the The “Big Five” game animals of Africa can be found in Kenya, particularly in the Masai Mara. Other wild animals, reptiles, and birds can be found in great numbers in the country’s national parks and wildlife reserves.
12. The first direct elections for Africans to the Legislative Council were held in 1957, and those elected fueled public demand for Jomo Kenyatta’s release. Kenyatta was freed in 1962 and became Kenya’s first Prime Minister when the country gained independence on December 12, 1963. Kenya established a republic the following year, with Kenyatta as its first President.
13. Kenya Defence Forces are the country’s military forces. The National Defence Forces are made up of the Kenya Army, Kenya Navy, and Kenya Air Force.
14. Homosexual acts are punished by up to 14 years in jail in Kenya, yet the state frequently turns a blind eye when it comes to prosecuting homosexual individuals. There is a list of Kenyan celebrities that came out as LGBTQIA+ in 2021 but were never prosecuted.
15. Kenya’s population is diversified, encompassing many of Africa’s main ethnoracial and linguistic groups. The Kikuyu are the largest native ethnic group, followed by the Luhya, Kalenjin, Luo, Kamba, Somali, Kisii, Mijikenda, Meru, Maasai, and Turkana.
16. Kenya has 69 languages spoken due to the country’s many ethnic groups, who mainly speak their mother tongues within their respective communities. However, the two official languages, English and Swahili, are used to communicate with various communities. English is widely used in business, education, and government. Peri-urban and rural residents are bilingual, with many speaking just Swahili or their native languages.
17. The dominant religion in Kenya is Christianity, with Islam coming in second. Other faiths practiced in Kenya include Buddhism, Hinduism, and traditional religions.
18. Kenya has 42 tribes, and practically every community has its own specialty meal. You will never be able to try them all, but try the traditional Kenyan foods such as Ugali, Sukuma wiki, Samaki (Fish), Nyama Choma (Grilled Meat), Kachumbari, Matoke (Tomato and Onion Salsa), and Mukimo.
19. The most important rule of the road is to drive on the correct side of the road. The standard in Kenya, according to traffic laws, is to drive on the left side of the road. Many residents, however, drive on the wrong side of the road if they come across a pothole or an animal in their path.
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