Official Name: amhuri ya Kenya (Swahili); Republic of Kenya (English)

Area: Africa

Size: 580,367 km²

Coastline: 536 km

Independence: from the UK December 12, 1963

Form of Govt.: Unitary multiparty republic

Head of Govt.: President

Capital: Nairobi

Largest City: Nairobi

Demographics (2005): 34,707,817.   59 /km²

Kikuyu 22%, Luhya 14%, Luo (Kenya) 13%, Kalenjin 12%, Kamba 11%, Kisii 6%, Meru 6%, other African 15%, non-African 1%

GDP per Capita (2005): $1,445

Languages: Swahili, English

Geography: The country can be divided into seven topographical regions. (1.) the coastal strip or Temborari. (2.) The Nyika and Tana Plains which are thorn scrub bush lands with the latter containing the Lorian Swamp. (3.) The eastern plateau which includes the Amboseli, Serengeti and the Aruba Plains as well as the Chyulu Range and Taita Hills. (4.) The vast northern plains that account for 60% of the land area and are a series of arid plains, it also includes Kenya's only true desert, the Chalbi Desert. (5.) The Kenya Highlands or White Highlands. This region includes Mt. Kenya, Mt. Niandarawa, Mt. Elgon and the Aberdare Range. (6.) The Rift Valley with the basin consisting of a series of extinct volcanoes and the lakes of Naivasha, Elmenteita, Nakuri, Hannington or Bogoria and Magadi. (7.) The western plateau which descends into Lake Victoria. The principal rivers are the Tana and Galana or Athi.

Climate: Kenya's climate varies from a tropical climate on the coast characterized by hot and humid conditions to a temperate climate inland and to a dry climate in the north. Over 70% of the country is arid receiving less than 510 mm of annual precipitation while rainfall is greatest in the highlands. Altitude is a major factor in variations in temperature between the different regions of the country. Average temperature ranges in Nairobi are from 11 to 21 degrees in July to 13 to 26 degrees in February.