Kenya is a country located in East Africa bordering five countries: Ethiopia, Somalia, South Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda. The country is named after Mount Kenya (the country’s highest peak). The meaning of the name is unclear but may derive from the Kikuyu, Embu, and Kamba words “kirinyaga,” “kirenyaa,” and “kiinyaa” – all of which mean “God’s resting place”. The name of the capital city, Nairobi, stems from the Maasai phrase meaning “cool waters” and refers to a cold-water stream that flowed through the area during the 19th century.
The country was colonised by Britain first as part of the British East African Protectorate from 1895 and then as a crown colony administered by a British governor from 1920 onwards. The Kenyan flag is made up of horizontal stripes of black, red and green separated by thinner white stripes. In the centre is a shield and two crossed spears. Black represents the indigenous population, red the struggle for freedom, green the land and white unity and peace. The shield and spears are carried by the Maasai people and reflect the traditional ways of life in Kenya.
Kenya achieved independence from the UK in 1963 following a drawn-out guerrilla war with the British colonisers who committed a number of atrocities including massacres of civilians. It’s largest exports are tea ($1.13B), cut flowers ($616M), refined petroleum ($404M) and coffee ($224M). Kenya is home to more than 40 tribes with over 60 tribal languages spoken.
Just outside the city is Nairobi National Park, home to plentiful wildlife that can be viewed against a backdrop of city skyscrapers and planes coming into land. It’s one of the world’s only national parks bordering a capital city and also home to home to the world’s densest concentration of black rhinos (over 50).
Kenya produces some of the world’s best long-distance runners, particularly marathon runners. Kenyan Eliud Kipchoge has collected more gold medals and records than any other marathon runner in history.
Ugali is a staple meal in Kenya with most meals centred around the thick, doughlike mass made from maize and/or cassava flour. Polygamy is legal in Kenya which means men can take more wives without consulting existing spouses. The controversial marriage law was passed in 2014.
The East Africa country has seven UNESCO World Heritage Sites. In Africa, only South Africa (10), Ethiopia (9), Morocco (9) and Tunisia (8) have more. Kenya is located along the East African Rift (also known as Great Rift Valley or simply Rift Valley), where two tectonic plates are moving apart, essentially breaking the African continent in two. The rift has been developing for 30 million years and causes extensive volcanic activity and huge lakes to form in the area.
Kenya’s national symbol is the lion. It is one of the best places in the world to see wildlife, including the celebrated Big Five game animals of lions, leopards, rhino, elephants and buffalo in the country. The world-renowned Maasai Mara National Reserve is famed for its abundant wildlife and the annual migration of half a million animals of animals such as wildebeest, gazelles and zebras, and their predators, from Tanzania.
