52 Facts About Kenya

Kenya, officially known as the Republic of Kenya (Swahili: Jamhuri ya Kenya), is an East African country with 47 semiautonomous counties governed by elected governors.

It covers an area of 580,367 square kilometres.

Nairobi is the country's capital and largest city.

Its official languages are English and Swahili.

Kenyan shillings (KES) are the country's official currency.

Kenya is abbreviated as KY.

Ethiopia, Somalia, South Sudan, Tanzania, and Uganda are its five land bordering countries.

Kenya is home to a portion of Lake Victoria, the world's second largest freshwater lake. Tanzania and Uganda share the lake with the country. Lake Superior in North America is the world's largest freshwater lake.

Kenya is named after Mt Kenya, the country's tallest mountain and the second-highest in Africa after Kilimanjaro. The mountain's highest point is 5,199 metres.

Kenya was a colony of the United Kingdom between 1920 and 1963.

Kenya may have been the birthplace of humans. This hypothesis is supported by the discovery of the bones of one of the earliest human ancestors ever discovered in Kenya.

Kenya was also the regional hub for trade and finance in East Africa due to its geographical location.

Mombasa is an old town founded by the Portuguese in the nineteenth century. The famous Fort Jesus, a sanctuary used by the Portuguese for protection during the siege, is perhaps the oldest and most unique building.

Some of the forests, particularly in Kakamega, are home to some of the rarest species of butterflies and snakes found nowhere else.

A large portion of Kenya's land is submerged under water. Kenya has several lakes, both freshwater and saltwater, in addition to the Indian Ocean on the coast. Among these lakes are Lake Victoria, Lake Nakuru, Lake Naivasha, and Lake Bogoria. The country also has many rivers, allowing visitors to travel by boat rather than car.

Kenya has a 536-kilometer coastline along the Indian Ocean, according to the CIA.

Nairobi National Park, Tsavo Game Reserve, Maasai Mara Game Reserve, and Amboseli National Park, among others, are among the most visited parks.

Anyone visiting Kenya will undoubtedly notice some unusual scenes and locations. Among them are the Fourteen Falls in Thika, which is one of the longest and steepest waterfalls in East Africa.

Mombasa is one of the most beautiful cities in the world, surrounded by the Indian Ocean. The city is normally visited by a large number of visitors, not only for its beauty but also for business opportunities.

Lamu Island is the country's oldest continuously inhabited settlement. The town was established in 1370. Surprisingly, over 6,000 donkeys are used to transport goods and people throughout the town. The town's streets are narrow. On the island, there are only two cars, one of which serves as an ambulance for the donkeys.

Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA or NBO) in Kenya is one of the largest airports in East Africa and the ninth busiest in Africa.

Dr. Wangari Maathai was born in Kenya in 1940, making her the first African woman to receive the Nobel Peace Prize.

Kenya is also well-known for producing some of the world's most beautiful and well-known long-distance runners. Wilson Kipsang of Kenya is one such runner. Interestingly, all these runners are actually from the same tribe of Kenyans known as "the Kalenjin".

Iten, a town in Kenya, attracts elite athletes from all over the country and the world to train because of its miles of hilly dirty roads and ideal altitude for long distance running. Runners train for 20 to 30 miles per day here.

David Rudisha led from start to finish in what was dubbed "The Greatest 800 Meter Race Ever" on August 9, 2012, at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London. As a result, he became the first and only runner to break the 1:41 barrier in the 800 m race.

According to the World Bank, Kenya's population density reached a high of 85.15 in 2016 and a low of 14.69 in 1961.

Religious freedom is one of Kenyans' constitutional rights. The majority of the country's population is Christian. Muslims, Hindus, and Sikhs are among the other religious groups.

Kenya is the birthplace of former President of the United States of America Barack Obama. He recently visited the country to promote the opening of a sports and training centre founded by his half-sister, Auma Obama, through her charitable foundation, according to The Associated Press.

Kenyans are more group-oriented than individualistic. Unlike in most other parts of the world, where people are typically unconcerned about others, social life in this country is based on companionship, hospitality, kindness, and a willingness to assist. This is possibly what keeps visitors coming back for more.

The setting and structures of families and communities may contribute to the Kenyan people's kindness. In Kenya, a child is raised by the community and society as a whole, not just by family members. This facilitates the development of feelings of concern and helpfulness towards others, strangers or not.

Kenyans are willing to give up some of their daily rituals and beliefs in order to accommodate people from other cultural backgrounds. For peaceful coexistence, visitors must acknowledge and respect the locals' way of life.

Greetings are an important part of Kenyan social and cultural life. Whenever two people meet, regardless of whether they are acquaintances or not, they must greet each other with a raised hand or thumbs up. "Jambo?" ("How are you?") is the most common greeting, usually said immediately before the handshake. Inquiries about health and family members are common in greetings.

When it comes to food, Kenya's staple dish is a delicacy known as "ugali." This is a flour-based meal that can be made from maize, sorghum, or millet. Many visitors, including President Obama during his visit to the country, enjoy the delicacy, which is usually served with stew.

Although it is common to see Kenyans dressed in Western clothing, their own style is distinct. When visiting this country, it is impossible not to notice a red/pink/maroon piece of clothing known as "Maasai's Shuka" wrapped around people's shoulders/waists/necks.

Despite the fact that Kenyans do not wear uniform footwear, there is no doubt that Sahara Boots and sandals, for both men and women, are the most commonly worn shoes throughout the country.

Kenya has a population of at least 40 ethnic groups and more than 60 languages are spoken.

English and Swahili are the official languages of both Kenya and Tanzania.

On weekends, most Kenyan youths throng city clubs to watch various sports, including football, basketball, rugby and other athletic endeavors.

Football (soccer) is the most popular sport in Kenya.

The main economic activity in Kenya is farming. The country is among the top exporters of coffee, tea, flowers, and pyrethrum. Due to their quality, Kenyan coffee and tea are normally grabbed the moment it reaches the international market.

Coffee is the biggest foreign income generator for Kenya. Surprisingly, only 3% of the coffee grown in Kenya is consumed locally.

Fishing and trade are two other economic activities. Kenya has many rivers and lakes, making it easy for fishermen to catch large amounts of fish. Clothing and basic commodities are examples of trade activities.

Entertainment is an important part of Kenyans' lives. Traditional dancing, storytelling, and bullfighting are the most common forms of local entertainment.

According to the current exchange rate, a US dollar will buy approximately 100 Kenyan Shillings when exchanged for the local currency.

Kenya is a politically stable country with no history of major civil unrest. The country, led by the President and his Deputy, has well-defined structures that make it ideal for foreigners to conduct business.

Kenya adopted its new constitution on August 27, 2010, establishing a bicameral house comprised of a senate and a parliament. Following the independence constitution of 1963, the constitution underwent two major reforms, one in 1969 and the other in 2010. The country also has a governance system in place through its 47 counties.

Kenya's president can be appointed for a five-year term, and he or she can only serve as president twice. The Supreme Court is the highest court in Kenya, the Court of Appeal is the second highest, and the High Court is the third highest.

The Great Wildebeest Migration also passes through Kenya. Between the Serengeti in Tanzania and the Maasai Mara in Kenya, approximately 1.7 to 2 million animals (including gazelle, zebra, and eland) migrate. This transition has even been dubbed one of the "Seven New Wonders of the World" by some. The event is also known as "The World Cup of Wildlife".

The Maasai Mara has one of the highest lion densities in the world.

Some scenes are unique to the film and cannot be found anywhere else in the world. As one travels to Machakos city, there is a section of the highway that appears to defy gravity: things normally move upward rather than downward. For the most part, this location has remained a mystery.

Kenya is also well-known for the Crying Stone in Kakamega. As one approaches this town from Kisumu, there is a unique, seven-foot-tall stone that produces a streak of water that appears to be crying. The droplets of water, which local scientists have been unable to explain, normally resemble tears.

The Maasai Ostrich Farm in Kenya is where you can ride an Ostrich, the world's largest living species of bird. The ostrich is the fastest two-legged creature on the planet, with a running speed of 40-60 miles per hour. The farm was founded in 1991.