Kenya Passport

【 Country Name 】 The Republic of Kenya.

【 Area 】 582646 square kilometers.

【 Population 】 52.44 million (International Monetary Fund 2024 data). There are a total of 44 ethnic groups in the country, mainly including Kikuyu (17%), Luxia (14%), Kalunjin (11%), Luo (10%), and Kangba (10%). In addition, there are also a few Indians, Arabs, and Europeans. Swahili is the national language and is an official language along with English. 45% of the population believes in Protestantism, 33% in Catholicism, 10% in Islam, and the rest in primitive religion and Hinduism.

Nairobi, the capital, has a population of approximately 3.5 million. The annual average temperature is 17.7 ℃.

President William Samoei Ruto was elected in August 2022 and sworn in on September 13th.

Independence Day: December 12th.

【 Overview 】 Located in eastern Africa, the equator crosses the central region, and the Great Rift Valley runs north-south. It borders Somalia to the east, Tanzania to the south, Uganda to the west, Ethiopia and South Sudan to the north, and the Indian Ocean to the southeast, with a coastline of 536 kilometers. There are many plateaus within the territory, with an average elevation of 1500 meters. The entire region is located in the tropical monsoon zone, with humid and hot coastal areas and mild plateau climate. The highest temperature throughout the year is 22 ℃ -26 ℃, and the lowest is 10 ℃ -14 ℃.

Kenya is one of the birthplaces of humanity, and human skull fossils dating back approximately 2.5 million years have been unearthed within its borders. In the 7th century AD, some commercial cities had already formed along the southeast coast, and Arabs began to do business and settle here. In the 16th century, Portuguese colonizers occupied the coastal areas. In 1890, Britain and Germany partitioned East Africa and Ken was placed under British rule. The British government declared Ken as its "East African Protectorate" in 1895 and changed it to a colony in 1920. In March 1960, the Kenya African National Union (KANU) and the Kenya African Democratic Union were established. In February 1962, the London Constituent Assembly decided to form a coalition government consisting of the two parties mentioned above. In May 1963, Ken held a general election and the Ken League won. On June 1st of the same year, an autonomous government was established, and on December 12th, independence was declared. The Republic of Kenya was established on December 12, 1964, but remained within the Commonwealth. Jomo Kenyatta was the first president of Kenya after independence. After his death in 1978, Vice President Moi succeeded him and served as president for 24 years.

Since independence, the Ken League has been in one party rule for a long time. After switching to a multi-party system in 1991, the Ken League won two consecutive multi-party elections in 1992 and 1997, with Moi re re elected as president. In December 2002, the third multi-party general election was held, and the opposition coalition, the National Rainbow Alliance, defeated the Kenyan coalition, and Kibaki was elected president. After the December 2007 general election, nationwide riots were triggered due to disputes over the election results between the ruling party, the National Unity Party, and the opposition party, the Orange Democratic Movement. Under the mediation of former United Nations Secretary General Annan, the disputing parties signed the "Agreement on the Principles of United Government Partnership" on February 28, 2008, and formed a coalition government on April 13. The leader of the ruling party, Kibaki, is appointed as the president, while the leader of the opposition party, Odinga, is appointed as the newly established prime minister. In the March 2013 general election, Uhuru Kenyatta, the candidate of the Jubilee Alliance, defeated Odinga, the candidate of the Reform and Democracy Alliance, and was elected as the fourth president of Kenya. In October 2017, Kenyatta was successfully re elected as president. In August 2022, Kenya held presidential elections, and William Samoi Ruto, the candidate of the United Democratic Alliance, defeated Odinga and became the fifth president on September 13. On November 1, 2024, the new Vice President of Kenya, Kim Diqui, was sworn in.

The Constitution of the Republic was promulgated in 1964 and has undergone 30 revisions to date. In June 1982, Ken established a one party system through constitutional amendment. In December 1991, the constitution was amended to adopt a multi-party system, which stipulated that Kenya is a multi-party democratic country, and the president is the head of state, head of government, and commander-in-chief of the national defense forces, with a term of 5 years and no more than two consecutive terms; The President has the highest executive and appointment powers, and has the authority to convene or dissolve parliament; The President and Cabinet are collectively accountable to Parliament; Citizens enjoy freedom of religious belief, speech, assembly, association, and movement. In 1997, the opposition party strongly demanded a comprehensive constitutional amendment, citing that the constitution did not meet the requirements of a multi-party system. In September of the same year, Ken promulgated the draft of the Constitutional Amendment Committee Act and began amending the constitution. In April 2010, the draft constitution of Kenya was approved by the parliament and officially promulgated and implemented through a national referendum in August. Its main contents include: maintaining the presidential system of government, no longer establishing the position of prime minister, but weakening the power of the president; Change the parliament to a bicameral system and add a Senate; The administrative division has been changed from six levels of central, provincial, regional, district, township, and village to two levels of central and county.

The Parliament is the highest legislative body in Kenya, established in 1963 with a Senate and a House of Representatives. In 1966, the Constitution was revised to merge the Senate into the House of Representatives, forming a unicameral system and establishing the National Assembly. The new constitution promulgated in August 2010 stipulated the restoration of the Senate by the parliament. The 13th parliament, consisting of the National Assembly and the Senate, will be elected in August 2022. The term of office for members of parliament is 5 years.

The Speaker and Vice Speaker of the current National Assembly are nominated by each party from non members and members of their own party, and elected by all members of the National Assembly. The current Speaker of the National Assembly, Moses Wetangula. The main functions of the National Assembly include: legislation, deciding on national tax distribution, supervising government and national fiscal expenditures, approving wars, extending the state of emergency, impeaching the President and Vice President, approving important personnel appointments, etc. There are 32 committees established.

The Senate President and Vice President are nominated by each party from non members and members of their own party, and elected by all senators. Current Senate Speaker Amason Kingi. The main functions of the Senate include: participating in legislation related to each county, tax allocation, fiscal expenditure, delegation of powers, and participating in impeachment of the President and Vice President. Set up 20 committees.

The government implements a presidential system. President William Samoei Ruto adjusted the cabinet list in August 2024 as follows: Vice President Kithure Kindiki, Chief Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Overseas Chinese Affairs, Minister of Interior and State Administration (interim) Musalia Mudavadi, Minister of Roads and Transport Davis Chirchir, Minister of Mines, Blue Economy and Ocean Affairs Hassan Ali Joho, Minister of Environment, Climate Change and Forestry Aden Duale, Minister of Land, Public Works, Housing and Tourism Minister of Urban Construction Alice Wahome, Minister of Labor and Social Security Alfred Mutua, Education Minister Julius Migos Ogamba, Tourism and Wildlife Minister Rebecca Miano, Youth Affairs, Creative Economy and Sports Minister Onesmus Kipchumba Murkomen, Defense Minister Roselinda Soipan Tuya, Cooperatives and Small and Medium Enterprises Development Minister Wycliffe Ambetsa Oparanya, Finance and Economic Planning Minister John Mbadi Ng'ongo, Water Affairs, Minister of Environment, Health and Irrigation Eric Murithi Muuga, Minister of Health Deborah Mulongo Barasa, Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry Salim Mvuria, Minister of Agriculture and Livestock Development Andrew Mwihia Karanja, Minister of Energy and Petroleum James Opiyo Wandayi, Minister of Information, Communications and Digital Economy Margaret Nyambura Ndung'u, Minister of Public Services and Human Resources Development Justin Bedan Njoka Muturi.

The country is divided into 47 counties.

The judiciary is divided into four levels, namely regional courts, resident courts, high courts, and appellate courts. Establish Islamic courts in areas with a majority Muslim population. Chief Justice Martha Koome, female, took office in May 2021.

The multi-party system was implemented in 1992. Currently, there are about 90 registered political parties. Before the 2022 general election, various parties focused on accelerating their division and formation, forming two major camps: the Unity Platform Alliance led by Odinga and the Kenya First Alliance centered around the United Democratic Alliance formed by Ruto. In the end, the United Democratic Alliance won the election.

William Samoy Ruto: President. Born in 1966, of the Kalunjin ethnic group. Obtained a Bachelor's degree in Botany, a Master's degree in Plant Ecology, and a PhD from the University of Nairobi. Served as a member of the National Assembly, Deputy Minister of the Interior, Minister of Agriculture, Minister of Higher Education, and other positions. In 2013, he was elected Vice President as Kenyatta's running mate and was re elected in 2017. In August 2022, Ruto ran for president and won, becoming the fifth president of Kenya in September.

Ken is one of the countries in sub Saharan Africa with a relatively strong economic foundation. Agriculture, service industry, and industry are the three pillars of the national economy, while tea and other agricultural products, tourism, and overseas remittances are the three major sources of foreign exchange. Industry is relatively developed in East Africa, with a complete range of categories and basic self-sufficiency in daily necessities.

In 2008, the Kenyan government launched the "2030 Vision Plan", proposing to prioritize the development of key industries such as tourism, agriculture, manufacturing, wholesale and retail, business process outsourcing (BPO), and financial services, striving to achieve an average annual economic growth rate of 10%. By 2030, Kenya will develop into an emerging industrialized middle-income country with global competitiveness, high-quality living for its people, beautiful environment, and social stability. Affected by the 2008 election crisis, drought, and international financial crisis, the pace of economic development slowed down for a period of time. Since 2010, the Kenyan government has adopted a series of policies to promote economic growth, and the economy has shown a good momentum of development. However, the poverty rate and unemployment rate are still relatively high, both around 40%. In 2015, Ken introduced the National Industrial Development Plan and the Special Economic Zone Law, vigorously strengthening infrastructure construction, attaching importance to the development of oil and gas resources, as well as new energy such as geothermal and solar energy, and actively promoting the industrialization process and economic transformation. In 2017, the Kenyan government proposed four major development goals, including food security, housing security, manufacturing development, and medical security. The main economic data for 2023 are as follows:

Gross Domestic Product: 107.44 billion US dollars.

Per capita Gross Domestic Product: 1949.9 US dollars.

Economic growth rate: 5.4%.

Currency name: Kenyan shilling.

Exchange rate: 1 US dollar ≈ 147 Kenyan shillings.

(Source: World Bank data)

【 Resources 】 Mineral deposits mainly include soda ash, salt, fluorite, limestone, barite, gold, silver, copper, aluminum, zinc, niobium, and thorium. Except for soda ash and fluorite, most mineral deposits have not yet been developed. The forest area is 87000 square kilometers, accounting for 15% of the national land area. The forest reserves are 950 million tons. In early 2012, oil reserves were discovered, with a proven oil reserve of 2.9 billion barrels. Geothermal, wind, hydro and other clean energy sources are abundant.

After independence, the country developed rapidly and has a relatively complete range of industries, making it the most developed industrial country in East Africa. Mainly in manufacturing, with developed food processing industry. The industry is mainly concentrated in the three major cities of Nairobi, Mombasa, and Kisumu. The manufacturing industry accounts for about 10% of the gross domestic product. Larger enterprises include refineries, tire factories, cement factories, steel rolling factories, power generation factories, and automobile assembly factories. 85% of daily consumer goods are produced domestically, including clothing, paper, food, beverages, cigarettes, etc., which are basically self-sufficient, and some are also exported.

Agriculture, animal husbandry and fishery are the pillars of the national economy, accounting for nearly one-third of the gross domestic product, and its exports account for more than half of Kenya's total exports. About 80% of the population in the country is engaged in agriculture and animal husbandry. The arable land area is 92000 square kilometers (about 16% of the national land area), of which 73% is already arable land, mainly concentrated in the southwest. In normal years, the grain is basically self-sufficient, and wheat and rice rely heavily on imports. The export volume of sisal ranks second in the world. The largest flower exporting country in Africa, occupying about one-third of the market share in the European Union. In 2016, tea, horticultural products, and coffee were exported for approximately 1.2 billion, 990 million, and 200 million US dollars respectively; Among horticultural products, fresh flowers, vegetables, and fruits were exported for approximately 690 million, 230 million, and 70 million US dollars respectively. The fishery resources are abundant, with a production of 146000 tons in 2016, mostly from freshwater lakes within the country. Among them, Victoria Lake accounts for more than 80% of the total fishery production annually.

The tourism industry is a pillar industry and the second largest source of foreign exchange income in Kenya, directly creating 250000 jobs and indirectly creating 550000 jobs. In 2023, there will be 1.95 million international tourists and tourism revenue of approximately 2.4 billion US dollars. The top 5 tourist source countries are the United States, Uganda, Tanzania, the United Kingdom, and India. The main tourist attractions include national parks, lake scenic areas, as well as the East African Rift Valley, Mount Kenya, and the Mombasa coastline in Nairobi, Tsavo, Amboseli, Nakuru, and Maasai Mara.

Transportation mainly relies on road transportation. The Kenyan government attaches great importance to infrastructure construction, and the budget for infrastructure and information and communication is second only to the government's budget for education, security, and public services.

Highway: The total length of the Kenyan highway network is over 160000 kilometers.

Railway: The total length is 2885 kilometers, of which about 600 kilometers are standard gauge railways (about 480 kilometers for the Mombasa Nairobi Railway and about 120 kilometers for the first phase of the Nairobi Malaba Railway), and the rest are narrow gauge railways.

Shipping: Mombasa Port is the largest port in East Africa, with 22 deep-water berths and 2 large oil terminals, capable of accommodating 20000 ton cargo ships. It has been in operation for 24 hours since August 2008. The cargo throughput of Mombasa Port in 2023 is 35.98 million tons, approximately 1.62 million standard containers. In June 2021, the important project of the Lamu Port South Sudan Ethiopia transportation corridor in Kenya and the trial operation of berth 1 of the Lamu Port 1-3 berth project began.

Air freight: There are 4 international airports and over 100 domestic airports in China. Kenya Airways operates over 40 international routes and has 98 offices worldwide.

Pipeline transportation: The Mombasa Nairobi oil pipeline was built in 1978 and has now been expanded to Nakuru, Eldoret, and Kisumu.

Fiscal revenue mainly relies on taxation. As of the end of 2023, the total public debt of the Kenyan government is 69.9 billion US dollars. In the fiscal year 2022/2023, Kenya's fiscal (budget) revenue was 2.3605 trillion Kenyan shillings, fiscal (budget) expenditure was 3.1609 trillion Kenyan shillings, fiscal (budget) deficit was 800.4 billion Kenyan shillings, and fiscal (budget) deficit accounted for 5.6% of GDP.

Foreign trade occupies an important position in the national economy, but has a long-term deficit. The main export commodities are tea, flowers, coffee, cement, sisal, pyrethroids, soda ash, leather, meat, and processed petroleum products. The main imported goods are machinery, steel, vehicles, fertilizers, pharmaceuticals, etc. In 2022, the total import and export trade volume of Kenya was 28.49 billion US dollars, including exports of 7.14 billion US dollars and imports of 21.35 billion US dollars. Uganda and the United States are the first and second largest destinations for Kenyan exports, respectively. China is the largest source of imports for Kenya.

Since its independence in 1963, Ken has always attached great importance to absorbing and utilizing foreign capital to serve the country's economic development. In 1964, the government promulgated and implemented the Foreign Investment Protection Law. At present, hundreds of companies from countries such as the United Kingdom, the United States, Germany, and France have established operations in Kenya, investing in various sectors including agriculture, industry, commerce, tourism, finance, and transportation. The main areas of foreign investment in Kenya are manufacturing, agriculture, energy, construction, communication, and mining. In 2022, Kenya will attract foreign direct investment of 340 million US dollars.

The main aid countries and international organizations include Japan, Germany, the United Kingdom, the United States, France, as well as the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, the International Development Association, the United Nations Development Programme, the African Development Bank, the European Development Fund, and the Global Fund. Foreign aid is mainly used for agriculture, military, transportation, education, health, telecommunications, and social development projects.

The national poverty rate exceeds 40%, and the average life expectancy is 60 years. The uneven development of various regions in Kenya is severe, with a rural poverty rate of 50% and an urban poverty rate of 30%. The "2023/2024 Human Development Report" released by the United Nations shows that Kenya's Human Development Index ranks 146th out of 193 countries and regions worldwide.

The military was established after independence in 1963. The President concurrently serves as the Commander in Chief of the National Defense Forces and has the highest command authority. The National Defense Forces Command is the highest operational command organization, and the President commands the entire army through the National Defense Forces Command. The National Defense Commission is the highest military decision-making body accountable to the President, composed of the Minister of National Defense, the Executive Vice Minister of National Defense, the Commander of the National Defense Forces, and the Commander of the Army, Navy, and Air Force. Adhering to a proactive defense national defense policy, actively participating in the fight against terrorism and United Nations and African Union peacekeeping operations in recent years. Implement a voluntary military service system. There are 33200 active military personnel, including 25000 in the army, 3200 in the navy, and 5000 in the air force. The Kenyan military is a professional military with a tradition of not participating in politics.

The government attaches great importance to the development of education, with an adult literacy rate of nearly 90%, ranking among the top in African countries. The education system is divided into two categories: formal and informal education. Formal education implements an 8-4-4 education system for primary, secondary, and tertiary education. Non formal education includes adult education and literacy activities. At present, nearly 10 million children in China are enrolled in primary schools, with over 7000 in secondary schools and 60 in universities. There are also more than 30 vocational training schools, technical schools, etc. Famous higher education institutions include the University of Nairobi, Moi University, Kenyatta University, Egerton University, Kenyatta Agricultural and Technical University, and Masseno University.

Main English newspapers and magazines: Ethnic Daily, with a circulation of about 200000 copies; The East African Flag, a daily newspaper with a circulation of approximately 70000 copies; The Kenya Times, a daily newspaper, is the official newspaper of the former ruling party, the Kenya Alliance, with a circulation of approximately 52000 copies; Weekly Review, Ken's largest private English weekly with a circulation of approximately 18500 copies; The East African Daily, a weekly newspaper, was first published in November 1994 and was simultaneously published in Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania. The Swahili language newspaper "Tahfa" (meaning "Today's Ethnic News"), founded by the Ethnic Daily Media Group, has the most influence, with a circulation of about 50000 copies.

The Kenya News Agency is an official news agency established in 1963, providing news and images to newspapers, radio stations, and television stations in Nairobi.

The Kenya Broadcasting Corporation, established by British colonizers, began broadcasting in 1927 and broadcasts in English, Swahili, Hindi, and 15 African languages. After Kenya gained independence in 1963, it was nationalized and renamed "Voice of Kenya".

The Kenya Broadcasting and Television Corporation, established in 1987, is currently the largest broadcasting and television company in Kenya with nationwide coverage of radio and television programs. Kenya Television Network, established in 1989, was the first private television station in Kenya to broadcast in English. As of the end of 2004, the Kenyan government had issued operating licenses for 82 channels of 14 television stations and 163 frequencies of 42 radio stations. Currently, 39 television channels and 90 radio frequencies have been officially broadcasted, but the coverage is mainly limited to major cities such as Nairobi and Mombasa.

We adhere to a foreign policy of peace, neighborly friendship, and non alignment, actively participate in regional and international affairs, vigorously promote regional political and economic integration, oppose foreign interference, attach importance to developing relations with the West and neighboring countries, pay attention to developing economic and trade relations with other countries, carry out comprehensive pragmatic diplomacy, and emphasize that diplomacy serves the economy. In recent years, we have actively strengthened our relations with Asian countries such as China. Kenya served as a non permanent member of the United Nations Security Council from 2021 to 2022.

Ken is a member of the United Nations, the African Union, the Non Aligned Movement, the Group of 77, a signatory of the Lom é Agreement, and a member of sub regional organizations such as the East African Intergovernmental Development Organization, the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa, the East African Community, and the Indian Ocean Rim Cooperation Association. One of the four major headquarters of the United Nations, the United Nations Environment Programme and the United Nations Human Settlements Programme are headquartered in Nairobi. Kenya has established diplomatic relations with over 100 countries.

Attitude towards current major international issues

Regarding the New International Political and Economic Order, it is believed that the existing international political and economic order is unfair and unreasonable to the vast number of developing countries. The Western pursuit of hegemonism and power politics, and the exploitation of the existing international economic order for the benefit of developing countries, have objectively caused poverty in developing countries, especially in Africa. Advocate for political compliance with the United Nations Charter, adherence to basic international relations norms such as sovereign equality and non-interference in each other's internal affairs; Economically, increase the participation of developing countries in formulating the "rules of the game" and promote the establishment of a fair and reasonable new international political and economic order.

Regarding the situation in Africa, it is believed that conflicts and instability are the main factors hindering Africa's development. We advocate for maintaining and promoting African unity and cooperation, and resolving disputes between African countries through peaceful means. Africa is facing the threat of further marginalization in economic globalization, and African countries should unite to strengthen themselves and enhance their ability to cope with the challenges of globalization through economic integration. Call on developed countries to significantly reduce African debt, increase development assistance to Africa, and open their markets to African products.

Regarding the issue of climate change, Ken is a member of the African Committee of Heads of State and Government on Climate Change and supports the common position of the African Union. Adhere to the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities, demand developed countries to take the lead in reducing emissions, and oppose setting mandatory emission reduction targets for developing countries. It is believed that developed countries should provide funding and technology to developing countries to help them improve their ability to adapt to climate change. Advocate for the United Nations Environment Programme to play a key role in climate change negotiations. In 2021, Kenya joined the UK initiated "Adaptation to Climate Action Alliance" and "Climate Adaptation and Recovery Action Initiative", and actively participated in the 26th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change hosted by the UK. In September 2023, the first African Climate Summit was held in Nairobi, the capital of Kenya, where the Nairobi Declaration was adopted. The 6th United Nations Environment Assembly will be held in Nairobi in March 2024.

Regarding human rights issues, it is believed that the right to survival and the right to development are fundamental human rights. Developing countries, in a relatively poor and backward state, should first address survival and development issues, otherwise democracy, freedom, and other political, economic, and social rights cannot be discussed. Advocate strengthening international human rights exchanges through dialogue, oppose confrontation in the field of human rights, and oppose Western countries using human rights issues to pressure other countries.