Introduction

Founding president Jomo Kenyatta led Kenya from independence until his death in 1978, when President Moi took power in a constitutional succession. President Moi stepped down in December 2002 following fair and peaceful elections. Mwai Kibaki, running as the candidate of the National Rainbow Coalition, defeated KANU candidate Uhuru Kenyatta and assumed the presidency. Under his presidency, the new ruling coalition promised to focus its efforts on generating economic growth, combating corruption, improving education, and rewriting its constitution. A few of these promises have been met. There is free primary education. In 2007 the government issued a statement declaring that from 2008, secondary education would be heavily subsidised, with the government footing all tuition fees. President Kibaki subsequently launched the free Secondary education program in February 2008 at Jamhuri High School in Nairobi. Before the contentious elections were held, a general overview indicated that Under president Kibaki, the democratic space had expanded, the media was freer than before. Kenyans could associate and express themselves without fearing being harassed by security agents as it used to be the case during the Moi administration. In November 2005, the Kenyan electorate resoundingly defeated a new draft constitution supported by Parliament and President Kibaki. Kibaki responded by dismissing his entire cabinet. and appointing a new slate of ministers. The last general elections were held in December 2007. In them, President Kibaki ran for re-election against the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM)candidate, Raila Odinga. As the count came in to the Kenyan Election Commission, Odinga was shown to have a slight, and then substantial lead. However, as the Electoral Commission of Kenya (ECK) continued to count the votes, Kibaki closed the gap and then overtook his opponent by a substantial margin amid largely substantiated claims of rigging (notably by the EU Observers). This led to protests and riots, open discrediting of the ECK for complicity and to Odinga declaring himself the "people's president" and calling for a recount and Kibaki to resign. The protests escalated into unprecedented violence and destruction of property, leading to over 1000 deaths and the internal displacement of over 350,000 people.

Geographical Location

Kenya is in Eastern Africa, bordering the Indian Ocean, between Somalia and Tanzania. It borders Ethiopia, Somalia, Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda. Its size is slightly more than twice the state of Nevada, with a total area of 582,650 sq. km. It has 536 km. of coastline. The Kenyan Highlands comprise one of the most successful agricultural production regions in Africa; glaciers are found on Mount Kenya, Africa's second highest peak; unique physiography supports abundant and varied wildlife of scientific and economic value. Natural resources include gold, limestone, soda ash, salt, rubies, fluorspar, garnets, wildlife, and hydro power. Environmental issues include water pollution, deforestation; soil erosion; desertification; and poaching.

Climate

The climate varies from tropical along the coast to arid in the interior. The terrain consists of low plains rising to the central highlands, bisected by the Great Rift Valley, and a fertile plateau in the west. The highest point is Mt. Kenya at 5,199 m. Natural hazards are recurring drought and flooding during the rainy season.

Population

The population of Kenya in 2009 was 39,002,772. Of those, 1.2 million are living with HIV/AIDS. Other major infectious diseases that there are a very high risk of are typhoid fever, malaria and schistosomiasis. The population growth rate is 2.691% with a birth rate of 36.64 births per 1000 and the death rate of 9.72 per 1000. Life expectancy at birth is 57.86 years. Ethnic groups include Kikuyu 22%, Luhya 14%, Luo 13%, Kalenjin 12%, Kamba 11%, Kisii 6%, Meru 6%, other African 15%, non-African (Asian, European, and Arab) 1%.

Languages

The two official languages are English and Kiswahili, with other numerous indigenous languages used, too. 85.1% of all those age 15 and over can read and write.

Religion

A large majority of Kenyans are Christian, but estimates for the percentage of the population that adheres to Islam or indigenous beliefs very widely. The breakdown is: Protestant 45%, Roman Catholic 33%, indigenous beliefs 10%, Muslim 10%, and others 2%.