Country Profile

Kenya
Capital:	Nairobi
2004 Population:	32,418,000
Pop. Growth Rate:	2.56%
Life Expectancy:	47.99 yrs
Literacy:	85.1%
Area – Sq. KM:	582,650
Languages:	39 Total – English & Swahili (official), Kikuyu, Luo, Luyia. Gusii, Meru, Kamba, numerous African languages
Languages with Scriptures:	16 Bible, 6 New Testament
Ethnic Groups:	109 Total – Major groups: Kikuyu; Luo; Luhya; Kamba; Gusii; Meru; Kalenjin
Major Religions:	Christian 78.6%, Animist 11.5%, Muslim 8%, Bahai 1.1%, Hindu .03%

Kenya, a republic in east Africa, shares boundaries with five countries and the Indian Ocean. Slightly more than twice the size of Nevada, the terrain is mostly low plains, which rise to central highlands bisected by the Great Rift Valley, and a fertile plateau in the west. The Kenyan Highlands comprise one of the most successful agricultural production regions in Africa. The costal beaches and varied wild life in Kenya attract many tourists to the region, but the environment is constantly threatened with pollution, deforestation, poaching and desertification.

Development assistance to Kenya has decreased because of accusations of corruption and mismanagement of public resources. A severe drought from 1999 to 2000 compounded Kenya’s problems, causing water and energy rationing and reducing agricultural output. Economic development in the country is stagnating with 50% of the population living below poverty level, while many of the remaining can barely afford their daily basic needs of food, education and medical health.

Sadly, despite rapid advances in medical science, Kenya’s widespread poverty and extremely high unemployment (currently 40%) have conspired to keep the country among the world’s 20 poorest nations. The rising incidence of HIV/AIDS and vulnerability to epidemic diseases such as cholera, malaria and tuberculosis, combined with extremely poor sanitation and high malnutrition rates, have contributed to the continuing deterioration of life in Kenya over the past 20 years. Infant and child mortality rates, often cited as primary indicators of a country’s socio-economic well-being, both rose by 30% between 1989 and 2003. At the present rate, one in nine Kenyan children does not reach their fifth birthday.

A former British colony for over 50 years, Kenya became independent in June 1963. Founding president, Jumo Kenyatta, led Kenya from independence until his death in 1978. Daniel Toroitich arap Moi then took power in a constitutional succession. Kenya remained a single party state until 1992, when President Moi acceded to internal and external pressure for political liberalization. President Moi stepped down in December of 2002 following fair and peaceful elections. Mwai Kibaki assumed the presidency following a campaign centered on an anticorruption platform.

Kenya is a truly multiracial nation, with 109 different people groups living in a remarkable degree of harmony and peace. The largest tribe, the Kikuyu, occupy the central highlands around the Rift Valley and the capital city, the western regions are dominated by the Luo and Luhya, the east by the Kamba, and the coastal areas by the Giriama and other Swahili peoples. Most Kenyans are fluent in Swahili as well as their own tribal dialect, while those living in the cities and towns also often speak English.

Of the 109 people groups, only seven are more than 3% evangelical despite full freedom of religion. Tribal customs has caused many divisions and multiple independent churches, many of which are not very far removed from the old ethnic religions. It has been concluded that the church in this country will play a major role in improving the spiritual and moral well being of the people with effective evangelism and good discipleship ministries. Kenya is truly "ripe unto harvest" and Operation Harvest is sending labors into the harvest field.

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