Geography
Kenya is located on the Eastern African Coast between latitudes 5° 40’ north and 4° 4’ south and between longitudes 33° 50’ and 41° 45’ east. The country is bordered by Tanzania to the South; Uganda to the West; Sudan and Ethiopia to the North; and Somalia and Indian Ocean to the East. Kenya has an area of 583,000 km2 of which 45,000 km2 is under wildlife Conservation sanc-tuaries, and a coastline 608 km long.
Kenya has diverse land-forms ranging from the coastal plains through the dry Nyika Plateau to the savannah grasslands and the highlands on both sides of the Rift Valley. The high-lands which are traversed by the Rift Valley are dominated by Mount Kenya, the Mau Ranges, Mount Elgon, and the Aberdare or Nyandarua Range. The vast expanse of the north-eastern Province varies from flat semi-desert in the east to the more rugged country west of Lake Turkana.

Climate
The variations in altitude and terrain found in Kenya create sharp contrasts in climate. The coast (Mombasa, Malindi, Lamu) is hot and often humid. Mornings and evenings in the central highlands (around Mt. Kenya) can be cool verging on cold during Kenya’s winter (July-August), whilst in the north and east (close to the Sudanese border) the days are dry and very hot.
Over most of the country there are two major rainy seasons. The short rains normally occur from late October through November and the long rains from late March through to early June.

Population
The population in Kenya is on the verge of reaching 32 million people. In 1997, Kenya had 28,8 million inhabitants. 50% of them are under 15 years of age. The population annual growth rate is 2,4%. Most of Kenya’s citizens live in the central highlands and the western part of the country. 30% of them live in urban areas. The dry and dessert north is mostly uninhabited (only 1,7% of the population in 20% of the area).
The capital of Kenya, Nairobi is a very young city and centre of business in the country. Its population is around 3 million at present. Major towns are Mombasa, Nakuru, Kisumu and Eldoret.
The current population of Kenya is made up of over forty ethnic groups. However, the Bantus, Nilotes and Cushites form the bulk of the population. The minority, Asians, Arabs and Europeans live mainly in urban centres. This ethnic diversity has produced a harmonious mixture of people with rich cultural heritage.
The National language, Kiswahili is widely spoken by most Kenyans. English is the official language and as such it is spoken at all levels.

Political Background
Kenya was declared a British Protectorate in 1895 and remainted as such until 1920 when it became a colony of the British Empire. Kenya became independent on 12th December, 1963 and a republic a year later. Kenya is a multiparty democracy with a unicameral type of government where the roles of the Executive, the Legislature and the Judiciary are clearly defined. Elections are held every five years. Hon. President Mwai Kibaki is the Head of State.