31,806,000 (1995).

54.8 per sq km.

Nairobi.

1,346,000 (1989).

Kenya shares borders with Ethiopia in the north, Sudan in the northwest, Uganda in the west, Tanzania in the south, and Somalia in the northeast. To the east lies the Indian Ocean. The country is divided into four regions: the arid deserts of the north, the savannah lands of the south, the fertile lowlands along the coast and around the shores of Lake Victoria, and highlands in the west, where the capital Nairobi is situated. Northwest of Nairobi runs the Rift Valley, containing the town of Nakuru and Aberdare National Park, overlooked by Mount Kenya (5200m/17,000ft), which also has a national park. In the far northwest is Lake Turkana (formerly Lake Rudolph). Kenya is a multi-cultural society; in the north live Somalis and the nomadic Hamitic peoples (Turkana, Rendille and Samburu), in the south and eastern lowlands are Kamba and Masai and the Luo live around Lake Victoria. The largest group is the Kikuyu who live in the central highlands and have traditionally been dominant in commerce and politics, although this is now changing. There are many other smaller groups and although Kenya emphasises nationalism, tribal and cultural identity is a factor. A small European settler population remains in the highlands, involved in farming and commerce.

Republic. Gained independence from the UK in 1963. Head of State and Government: President Daniel arap Moi since 1978; last re-elected in 1997.

Swahili is the official language and English is widely spoken. Many local languages are also spoken including Kikuyu and Luo.

Mostly traditional but there is a sizeable Christian population and a small Muslim community.

GMT + 3.

220/240 volts AC, 50Hz. Plugs are UK-type round 2-pin or flat 3-pin. Bayonet-type light sockets exist in Kenya.

Telephone: IDD service is available to the main cities. Country code: 254 (followed by 2 for Nairobi, 11 for Mombasa and 37 for Nakuru). Outgoing international code: 000. International calls can sometimes be made direct or operator-assisted by dialling 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% more. For local calls, it is useful to have plenty of small change available. Fax: This service is available to the public at the Main Post Office and the Kenyatta International Conference Centre 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. Post: Post Offices are identified by the letters KP&TC (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 offices are open 0800-1700 Monday to Friday; 0900-1200 Saturday (main post offices). Press: The main dailies (all published in English) include Daily Nation, Kenya Times and The Standard. Nairobi is the main publishing centre.