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Kenya Travel Guide
"Here you will find the most important information about Kenya"
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Kenya served as an important mediator in brokering Sudan's north-south separation in February 2005; Kenya provides shelter to approximately a quarter of a million refugees including Ugandans who flee across the border periodically to seek protection from Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) rebels; Kenya's administrative limits extend beyond the treaty border into the Sudan, creating the Ilemi Triangle.
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Founding president and liberation struggle icon Jomo KENYATTA led Kenya from independence until his death in 1978, when President Daniel Toroitich arap MOI took power in a constitutional succession. The country was a de facto one-party state from 1969 until 1982 when the ruling Kenya African National Union (KANU) made itself the sole legal party in Kenya. MOI acceded to internal and external pressure for political liberalization in late 1991.
The ethnically fractured opposition failed to dislodge KANU from power in elections in 1992 and 1997, which were marred by violence and fraud, but are viewed as having generally reflected the will of the Kenyan people. President MOI stepped down in December of 2002 following fair and peaceful elections. Mwai KIBAKI, running as the candidate of the multiethnic, united opposition group, the National Rainbow Coalition, defeated KANU candidate Uhuru KENYATTA and assumed the presidency following a campaign centered on an anticorruption platform.
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| GENERAL INFORMATION |
Area
580,367 sq km (224,081 sq miles).
Population
30,493,792 (official estimate 2001).
Population Density
52.5 per sq km.
Capital
Nairobi.
Population: 2,143,020 (1999).
Government
Republic. Gained independence from the UK in 1963. Head of State and Government: President Emilio Mwai Kibaki since December 2002.
Language
Swahili is the national language and English is the official language. There are over 42 ethnic languages spoken, including Kikuyu and Luo.
Religion
Mostly traditional
but there is a sizeable Christian population (both Catholic and Protestant) and a small Muslim community.
Time
GMT + 3 (Winter), GMT + 2 (Summer).
Electricity
220/240 volts AC, 50Hz. Plugs are UK-type square three-pin. Bayonet-type light sockets exist in Kenya.
Communications
Telephone
IDD service is available to the main cities. Country code: 254 (followed by 20 for Nairobi, 41 for Mombasa and 51 for Nakuru). Outgoing international code: 000. International calls can sometimes be made direct or operator-assisted by dialing 0196. Public telephones work with coins or with phone cards (which may be purchased from post offices or from international call services in major towns); coin-operated phone booths are painted red, card-operated booths are painted blue. Major hotels also offer a phone service, but they usually charge up to 100 per cent more. For local calls, it is useful to have plenty of small change available.
Mobile telephone
GSM 900. The main network providers are Celtel.
Fax
This service is available to the public at the Main Post Office, the Kenyatta International Conference Center in Nairobi, and at major hotels.
Telegram
Overseas telegrams can be sent from all post and telegraphic offices and private telephones. Nairobi GPO is open 24 hours.
Internet
There are over 30 ISPs in Kenya: JamboNet and 19 of the other ISPs belong to The East African Internet Association. There are Internet cafes in major cities and hotels.
Post
Post offices are identified by Telkom Kenya (Kenya Posts & Telecommunications Corporation). Post boxes are red. Stamps can usually be bought at post offices, stationers, souvenir shops and hotels. Airmail to Western Europe takes up to four days, and the service is generally reliable. Post office hours: Mon-Fri 0800-1700, Sat 0900-1200 (main post offices).
Press
The main dailies (all published in English) include Daily Nation, The East African Standard, Kenya Times and The People. Nairobi is the main publishing center.
Radio
BBC World Service can be received. From time to time the frequencies change and the most up-to-date can be found online.
Public Holidays
Jan 1 2005: New Year’s Day.
Mar 25: Good Friday.
Mar 28: Easter Monday.
May 1: Labor Day.
Jun 1: Madaraka Day.
Oct 10: Moi Day.
Oct 20: Kenyatta Day.
Nov 3-5: Eid al-Fitr (End of Ramadan).
Dec 12: Independence Day.
Dec 25-26: Christmas.
Jan 1 2006: New Year’s Day.
Apr 14: Good Friday.
Apr 17: Easter Monday.
May 1: Labor Day.
Jun 1: Madaraka Day.
Oct 10: Moi Day.
Oct 20: Kenyatta Day.
Oct 22-24: Eid al-Fitr (End of Ramadan).
Dec 12: Independence Day.
Dec 25-26: Christmas.
Note
(a) Holidays falling on a Sunday are observed the following Monday. (b) Muslim festivals are timed according to local sightings of various phases of the moon and the dates given above are approximations. During the lunar month of Ramadan that precedes Eid al-Fitr, Muslims fast during the day and feast at night and normal business patterns may be interrupted. Many restaurants are closed during the day and there may be restrictions on smoking and drinking. Some disruption may continue into Eid al-Fitr itself. Eid al-Fitr may last anything from two to 10 days, depending on the region.
Special Events
For a complete list of special events, contact the Kenya National Tourist Office (see General Info). The following is a selection of special events occurring in Kenya in 2005:
Feb 16-Mar 6: Kijani Kenya International Festival.
May: The Dugong Festival and the Lamu Donkey Racing.
Jun: Maulidi Festival.
Jun 26: Safaricom Marathon.
Jul: Ferodo Councours d'Elegance.
Jul-Oct: Wildebeest Migration to the Masai Mara.
Aug 7: 15th Annual Maralal Camel Derby.
Oct 20: Kenyatta Day.
Nov: Mombasa Carnival.
Dec 1-10: East African Safari Rally.
Contact Information:
Note
On December 26th 2004 a massive earthquake registering 9.0 on the Richter scale struck off the west coast of Indonesia. The quake created a tsunami – a series of huge waves that spread destruction across many parts of Asia and reached as far as the east coast of Africa. The damage was far less severe in Kenya than in Asian countries and travel has been unaffected.
Location
East Africa.
Country dialing code
254. |
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