Facts About Kenya

Kenya is an East African country of about 59 million people, and its capital is Nairobi. The equator runs through the country, which stretches from the Indian Ocean coast to Lake Victoria, the largest lake in Africa. Mount Kenya, at 5,199 meters (17,057 feet), is the second-highest mountain in Africa after Kilimanjaro.

Each year, millions of wildebeests, along with hundreds of thousands of zebras and other animals, cross from Tanzania’s Serengeti into Kenya’s Maasai Mara National Reserve in the Great Migration, and the reserve is home to lions, elephants, leopards, buffalo and rhinos.

Kenya’s currency is the Kenyan shilling (KSh).

Kenyan Culture and Traditions

Faith and community shape daily life in Kenya. About 85% of Kenyans are Christians and about 11% are Muslim, according to the 2020 census. Kenyans belong to dozens of ethnic groups.

The national motto, harambee, is a Swahili word meaning “all pull together.” Kenya’s first prime minister (and then later, first president), Jomo Kenyatta used the word in 1963 to call on Kenyans to build their new nation together, and it now appears on the country’s coat of arms. Communities still hold harambee events to raise money for local needs, such as school fees, medical bills and funerals.

Running is a point of national pride. Kenya is famous for its long-distance runners, and the highland town of Iten, about 2,400 meters (8,000 feet) above sea level, calls itself the “Home of Champions.” Children head to school on the same dirt tracks where runners train at dawn.

Kenyans mark three national days tied to independence. Madaraka Day on June 1 celebrates self-rule in 1963. Mashujaa (Heroes) Day on October 20 honors those who fought for independence. Jamhuri Day on December 12 marks full independence in 1963 and becoming a republic in 1964.

What Language Is Spoken in Kenya?

Kenya has two official languages, Swahili and English, and Swahili is also the national language. There are 68 languages spoken in the country. Most belong to three groups: Bantu, Nilotic and Cushitic. In Nairobi and other cities, many young people also speak Sheng, an informal mix of Swahili and English. Sheng first developed the mid-20^th century among young people in Nairobi’s Eastlands neighborhoods.

A few everyday Swahili words: Habari means “How are you?,” asante means “Thank you,” and rafiki means “friend.” Safari, the Swahili word for any journey, made its way into English too.

Traditional Kenyan Food

One of the most common foods in Kenya is ugali, a stiff dough made by cooking maize flour in boiling water. People pinch off a piece with their fingers and use it to scoop up stew or vegetables. It’s often served with sukuma wiki, greens similar to kale. The name is Swahili for “push the week,” because the inexpensive dish helps families stretch their food budget. Nyama choma, meat roasted over a charcoal or wood fire, is often called Kenya’s unofficial national dish, and many families serve it on Christmas Day. Githeri, a filling stew of maize and beans, is another everyday meal, and families near Lake Victoria eat tilapia and Nile perch.

Kenya is also the world's largest exporter of black tea.

A Brief History of Kenya

Kenya’s history runs from early settlers and Swahili coastal trade to British rule and then independence in 1963. Over the centuries, Cushitic, Bantu-speaking and Nilotic peoples settled the region, and coastal towns Mombasa and Lamu grew into trading centers where the Swahili language and culture took shape.

Lamu Old Town, lived in for more than 700 years, is one of the few early Swahili towns still standing and in daily use.

Britain took control in 1895 and later made Kenya a colony. After decades of resistance to colonial rule, Kenya won independence on December 12, 1963.

Its flag, adopted that day, uses black to represent the people of Kenya, red for the blood shed in the fight for independence, green for the land and white for peace, with a Maasai shield and two spears in the center standing for the country’s defense.