Kenya | People, Map, Flag, Religion, Language, Capital, & Election

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• Introduction & Quick Facts
• Land
  • Relief
  • Drainage
  • Soils
  • Climate
  • Plant and animal life
• People
  • Ethnic groups and languages
  • Religion
  • Settlement patterns
  • Demographic trends
• Economy
  • Agriculture, forestry, and fishing
  • Resources and power
  • Manufacturing
  • Finance and trade
  • Services
  • Labor and taxation
  • Transportation and telecommunications
• Government and society
  • Constitutional framework
    • Historical background
    • The 2010 constitution
  • Local government
  • Justice
  • Political process
  • Security
  • Health and welfare
  • Housing
  • Education
• Cultural life
  • Daily life and social customs
  • The arts
  • Cultural institutions
  • Sports and recreation
  • Media and publishing
• History
  • The 18th and 19th centuries
    • Maasai and Kikuyu
    • Control of the interior
    • The British East Africa Company
  • The East Africa Protectorate
    • Resistance to European rule and early administration
    • The Uganda railway and European settlement
    • World War I and its aftermath
  • Kenya colony
    • Political movements
    • World War II to independence
  • The Republic of Kenya
    • Jomo Kenyatta’s rule
    • Moi’s rule
    • Kenya under Kibaki
      • Disputed 2007 elections
      • New constitution
      • ICC proceedings
      • Disputed 2013 elections
    • Uhuru Kenyatta’s presidency
      • ICC proceedings
      • Al-Shabaab
      • 2017 elections, annulment of presidential election results, and fresh election
      • Unexpected rapprochement, the Building Bridges Initiative, and shifting alliances
      • 2022 election
    • Ruto’s presidency
      • 2024 protests and Deputy President Gachagua’s impeachment
      • 2025 protests

References & Edit History Facts & Stats Images, Videos & Interactives For Students Kenya summary Quizzes The Country Quiz Which Country Is Larger By Area? Quiz Which Country Is Larger By Population? Quiz Which Country Is Larger? Quiz Guess the Country by Its Neighbors Quiz Related Questions

• What types of fossilized remains have been found in Kenya?
• How did Jomo Kenyatta get involved in politics?
• How did Jomo Kenyatta help lead Kenya to independence?
• What was Jomo Kenyatta’s domestic policy?
• How did Jomo Kenyatta’s fiscal policy affect low-income Kenyans?

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External Websites

• National Geographic Kids - Kenya facts: discover this amazing African country!
• Central Intelligence Agency - The World Factbook - Kenya
• globalEDGE - Kenya
• Journal of Economics, Finance and Management Studies - Foreign Dependency and Economic Growth Nexus in Kenya

Britannica Websites Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students.

• Kenya - Children's Encyclopedia (Ages 8-11)
• Kenya - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up)

Quick Summary Ask the Chatbot a Question Also known as: Jamhuri Ya Kenya, Republic of Kenya Written by Kenneth Ingham Professor Emeritus of History, University of Bristol, Eng. Author of Politics in Modern Africa: The Uneven Tribal Dimension and others. Kenneth InghamAll Fact-checked by Britannica Editors Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree.... Britannica Editors Last updated Jan. 3, 2026 •History Table of Contents Table of Contents Quick Summary Ask the Chatbot a Question Top Questions

What is Kenya known for?

Kenya is known for its scenic landscapes, vast wildlife preserves, and Indian Ocean coast with historic ports. It is famous for its diverse wildlife, including lions, elephants, and rhinoceroses, and attracts many tourists.

What are the main ethnic groups in Kenya?

Kenya is home to many ethnic groups, including the Kikuyu, Luhya, Kalenjin, Luo, Kamba, Somali, Gusii, Nyika, Meru, Maasai, and Turkana.

What is the significance of Kenya’s 2010 constitution?

Kenya’s 2010 constitution reduced presidential power, reestablished a bicameral parliament, created a decentralized government structure based on counties, and added a bill of rights.

What types of fossilized remains have been found in Kenya?

Human history in Kenya dates back millions of years, and some of the earliest fossilized remains of hominids have been found there. Prominent discoveries include those by anthropologist Richard Leakey and others in the Koobi Fora area along the shore of Lake Turkana (formerly Lake Rudolf). These finds have included portions of Australopithecus boisei and Homo habilis skeletons.

Who are some notable Kenyan authors?

Notable Kenyan authors include Ngugi wa Thiong’o, Grace Ogot, Meja Mwangi, Hilary Ngweno, Margaret Ogola, and R. Mugo Gatheru.

News •

Conservationists in Kenya pay tribute to beloved 'super tusker' elephant Craig, who died at age 54 • Jan. 3, 2026, 8:45 AM ET (AP) ...(Show more) A tall building under construction collapses in Nairobi, with 4 believed to be trapped • Jan. 2, 2026, 3:11 PM ET (AP) Scientists and data explain why Kenya's lakes are rising as thousands face an uncertain future • Dec. 22, 2025, 2:59 AM ET (AP) Half of $18B in federal funds for Minnesota-run programs may have been defrauded, official says • Dec. 18, 2025, 5:21 PM ET (AP) South African immigration authorities raid a US refugee processing center • Dec. 17, 2025, 7:02 AM ET (AP) Show less

Kenya, country in East Africa famed for its scenic landscapes and vast wildlife preserves. Its Indian Ocean coast provided historically important ports by which goods from Arabian and Asian traders have entered the continent for many centuries. Along that coast, which holds some of the finest beaches in Africa, are predominantly Muslim Swahili cities such as Mombasa, a historic center that has contributed much to the musical and culinary heritage of the country. Inland are populous highlands famed for both their tea plantations, an economic staple during the British colonial era, and their variety of animal species, including lions, elephants, cheetahs, rhinoceroses, and hippopotamuses. Western Kenya is marked by lakes and rivers, while desert and semidesert areas are found in the north and the central south. The country’s diverse wildlife and panoramic geography draw large numbers of visitors, and tourism is an important contributor to Kenya’s economy.

The capital of Kenya is Nairobi, a sprawling city that, like many other African metropolises, is a study in contrasts, with modern skyscrapers looking out over vast shantytowns in the distance, many harboring refugees fleeing civil wars in neighboring countries. Older neighborhoods, some of them prosperous, tend to be ethnically mixed and well served by utilities and other amenities, while the tents and hastily assembled shacks that ring the city tend to be organized tribally and even locally, inasmuch as in some instances whole rural villages have removed themselves to the more promising city.

Quick Facts See article: flag of Kenya Audio File: National anthem of Kenya Head Of State And Government4: President: William Ruto (Show more) Capital: Nairobi (Show more) Population: (2025 est.) 53,477,000 (Show more) Form Of Government: unitary multiparty republic with two legislative houses1 (Senate [682]; National Assembly [3503]) (Show more) Official Languages: Swahili; English (Show more) Official Religion: none (Show more) Official Name: Jamhuri ya Kenya (Swahili); Republic of Kenya (English) (Show more) Total Area (Sq Km): 582,646 (Show more) Total Area (Sq Mi): 224,960 (Show more) Monetary Unit: Kenyan shilling (K Sh) (Show more) Population Rank: (2025) 28 (Show more) Population Projection 2030: 64,296,000 (Show more) Density: Persons Per Sq Mi: (2025) 237.7 (Show more) Density: Persons Per Sq Km: (2025) 91.8 (Show more) Urban-Rural Population: Urban: (2019) 31.2% Rural: (2019) 68.8% (Show more) Life Expectancy At Birth: Male: (2022) 68 years Female: (2022) 71.4 years (Show more) Literacy: Percentage Of Population Age 15 And Over Literate: Male: (2022) 86% Female: (2022) 80% (Show more) Gni (U.S.$ ’000,000): (2023) 116,961 (Show more) Gni Per Capita (U.S.$): (2023) 2,110 (Show more)

1. A new constitution promulgated August 27, 2010, provided for the establishment of a 68-seat Senate in 2013.
2. Includes 16 nonelective seats reserved for women, 2 reserved for youth, 2 reserved for people with disabilities, and 1 ex officio member.
3. Includes 12 nonelective seats and 1 ex officio member.
4. The 2010 constitution abolished the post of prime minister effective from the 2013 presidential election.

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With a long history of musical and artistic expression, Kenya enjoys a rich tradition of oral and written literature, including many fables that speak to the virtues of determination and perseverance, important and widely shared values, given the country’s experience during the struggle for independence. Kikuyu writer Ngugi wa Thiong’o, one of the country’s best-known authors internationally, addresses these concerns in his remarks on one folkloric figure:

Hare being small, weak, but full of innovative wit, was our hero. We identified with him as he struggled against the brutes of prey like lion, leopard, and hyena. His victories were our victories and we learnt that the apparently weak can outwit the strong.

Land

Bisected horizontally by the Equator and vertically by longitude 38° E, Kenya is bordered to the north by South Sudan and Ethiopia, to the east by Somalia and the Indian Ocean, to the south by Tanzania, and to the west by Lake Victoria and Uganda.

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Relief

The 38th meridian divides Kenya into two halves of striking contrast. While the eastern half slopes gently to the coral-backed seashore, the western portion rises more abruptly through a series of hills and plateaus to the Eastern Rift Valley, known in Kenya as the Central Rift. West of the Rift is a westward-sloping plateau, the lowest part of which is occupied by Lake Victoria. Within this basic framework, Kenya is divided into the following geographic regions: the Lake Victoria basin, the Rift Valley and associated highlands, the eastern plateau forelands, the semiarid and arid areas of the north and south, and the coast.

The Lake Victoria basin is part of a plateau rising eastward from the lakeshore to the Rift highlands. The lower part, forming the lake basin proper, is itself a plateau area lying between 3,000 and 4,000 feet (900 and 1,200 meters) above sea level. The rolling grassland of this plateau is cut almost in half by the Kano Plain, into which an arm of the lake known as Winam Gulf (Kavirondo Gulf) extends eastward for 50 miles (80 km). The floor of the Kano Plain merges north and south into highlands characterized by a number of extinct volcanoes. These include Mount Elgon, rising to 14,178 feet (4,321 meters) at the Ugandan border on the extreme north of the basin.

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The Rift Valley splits the highland region into two sections: the Mau Escarpment to the west and the Aberdare Range to the east. The valley itself is 30 to 80 miles (50 to 130 km) wide, and its floor rises from about 1,500 feet (450 meters) in the north around Lake Turkana (formerly Lake Rudolf) to over 7,000 feet (2,100 meters) at Lake Naivasha but then drops to 2,000 feet (600 meters) at the Tanzanian border in the south. The floor of the Rift is occupied by a chain of shallow lakes separated by extinct volcanoes. Lake Naivasha is the largest of these; the others include Lakes Magadi, Nakuru, Bogoria, and Baringo. West of the valley the diverse highland area runs from the thick lava block of the Mau Escarpment–Mount Tinderet complex northward to the Uasin Gishu Plateau. East of the Rift the Aberdare Range rises to nearly 10,000 feet (3,000 meters). The eastern highlands extend from the Ngong Hills and the uplands bordering Tanzania northward to the Laikipia Escarpment. Farther east they are linked by the Nyeri saddle to Mount Kenya, the country’s highest peak, at 17,058 feet (5,199 meters). The relief of both highlands is complex and includes plains, deep valleys, and mountains. Important in the historic and economic development of Kenya, the region was the focus of European settlement.

The eastern plateau forelands, located just east of the Rift highlands, constitute a vast plateau of ancient rocks gently sloping to the coastal plain. They are a region of scattered hills and striking elevated formations, the most prominent being the hills of Taita, Kasigau, Machakos, and Kitui. These hills, containing the area of more favorable climate, are surrounded by regions historically prone to famine.

The semiarid and arid areas in the north and northeast are part of a vast region extending from the Ugandan border through Lake Turkana to the plateau area between the Ethiopian and Kenyan highlands. (The area from Lake Magadi southward, though not as arid, has the same characteristics.) Although tree and grass cover is scanty there, the areas of true desert are limited to the Chalbi Desert east of Lake Turkana. The movement of people and livestock is strictly limited by the availability of water.

The coastal plain proper, which runs for about 250 miles (400 km) along the Indian Ocean, is a narrow strip only about 10 miles (16 km) wide in the south, but in the Tana River lowlands to the north it broadens to about 100 miles (160 km). Farther northeast it merges into the lowlands of Somalia. The excellent natural harbors include that of Mombasa, which is one of the best in East Africa.

Drainage

Kenya’s drainage pattern originated when a large oval dome of rock arose in the west-central part of the country and created the Central Rift. This dome produced a primeval watershed from which rivers once drained eastward to the Indian Ocean and westward to the Congo River system and the Atlantic Ocean. Still following this ancient pattern are the Tana and Galana rivers, which rise in the eastern highlands and flow roughly southeast to the Indian Ocean. West of the Central Rift, however, the major streams now drain into Lake Victoria. These include the Nzoia, Yala, Mara, and Nyando rivers. Between the eastern and western systems, the rifting of the dome’s crust has created a complex pattern of internal streams that feed the major lakes.

There are no major groundwater basins, and, apart from the Tana River, most of the rivers in Kenya are short and often disappear during the dry season. Lake Victoria, with a surface area of 26,828 square miles (69,484 square km), is the largest lake in Africa, the second largest freshwater body in the world, and a major reservoir of the Nile River. Lake Turkana, some 150 miles (240 km) long and 20 miles (30 km) wide, is the largest of the country’s Rift Valley lakes. Other lakes are rather small, and their surface areas fluctuate considerably.

Soils

In the Lake Victoria basin, lava deposits have produced fertile and sandy loam soils in the plateaus north and south of Winam Bay, while the volcanic pile of Mount Elgon produces highly fertile volcanic soils well known for coffee and tea production. The Rift Valley and associated highlands are composed of fertile dark brown loams developed on younger volcanic deposits.

The most widespread soils in Kenya, however, are the sandy soils of the semiarid regions between the coast and the Rift highlands. To the north of the Rift are vast areas covered by red desert soils, mainly sandy loams. Kenya’s soils are subject to widespread erosion largely because of the lack of forest cover; overgrazing and cultivation, especially in the arid and semiarid regions, also contribute to soil loss.