Country name:
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conventional long form: Republic of Kenya
conventional short form:
Kenya
local long form:
Republic of Kenya/Jamhuri ya Kenya
local short form:
Kenya
former:
British East Africa
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Government type:
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republic
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Capital:
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name: Nairobi
geographic coordinates:
1 17 S, 36 49 E
time difference:
UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
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Administrative divisions:
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7 provinces and 1 area*; Central, Coast, Eastern, Nairobi Area*, North Eastern, Nyanza, Rift Valley, Western; note - the constitution promulgated in August 2010 designates 47 yet-to-be-defined counties as first-order administrative units
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Independence:
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12 December 1963 (from the UK)
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National holiday:
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Independence Day, 12 December (1963); Madaraka Day, 1 June (1963); Mashujaa Day, 20 October (2010)
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Constitution:
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27 August 2010; note - the new constitution introduced major institutional, electoral, and structural reforms, including devolution of power to 47 counties and establishment of a bicameral legislature; Implementation of all elements of the constitution is scheduled to take five years and requires significant legislative action, much of which has been taken
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Legal system:
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mixed legal system of English common law, Islamic law, and customary law; judicial review in a new Supreme Court established pursuant to the new constitution
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International law organization participation:
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accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
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Suffrage:
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18 years of age; universal
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Executive branch:
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chief of state: President Uhuru KENYATTA (since 9 April 2013); Vice President Stephen Kalonzo MUSYOKA (since 10 January 2008); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government:
President Uhuru KENYATTA (since 9 April 2013); Vice President Stephen Kalonzo MUSYOKA (since 10 January 2008); note - according to the 2008 power sharing agreement the role of prime minister was created though not well defined, following the new constitution the position was abolished after the March 2013 elections
cabinet:
Cabinet appointed by the president and chaired by the prime minister, who is the leader of the largest party in parliament
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections:
president elected by popular vote for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); in addition to receiving a simple majority of votes, the presidential candidate must also win 25% or more of the vote in at least five of Kenya's seven provinces and one area to avoid a runoff; election last held on 4 March 2013 (next to be held in 2018); vice president appointed by the president; note - the new constitution had set elections for August 2011 but elections were delayed to 2013
election results:
President Uhuru KENYATTA elected in first round; percent of vote - Uhuru KENYATTA 50.5%, Raila ODINGA 43.7%, Musalia MUDAVADI 4.0%, other 1.8%
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Legislative branch:
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unicameral National Assembly or Bunge usually referred to as Parliament (224 seats; 210 members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms, 12 nominated members appointed by the president but selected by the parties in proportion to their parliamentary vote totals, 2 ex-officio members); note - the constitution promulgated in August 2010 changes the legislature to a bicameral parliament consisting of a 349 member National Assembly and a 67 member Senate; parliament members will serve five year terms
elections:
last held on 4 March 2013 (next to be held in 2018)
election results:
percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - ODM 99, PNU 46, ODM-K 16, KANU 14 other 35; ex-officio 2; seats appointed by the president - ODM 6, PNU 3, ODM-K 2, KANU 1; note - results from 2007 election, official 2013 results have not yet been posted
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Judicial branch:
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Court of Appeal (chief justice is appointed by the president); High Court; note - the constitution promulgated in August 2010 specifies three superior courts consisting of a Supreme Court, Court of Appeals, and High Court, and three subordinate courts consisting of Magistrate courts, Kadhis courts (sentences according to Muslim law), and Courts Martial
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Political parties and leaders:
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Kenya African National Union or KANU [Gideon MOI]; The National Party Alliance or TNA [Uhuru KENYATTA]; National Rainbow Coalition-Kenya or NARC-Kenya [Martha KARUA]; Orange Democratic Movement-Kenya or ODM-K [Kalonzo MUSYOKA]; Party of National Unity or PNU [Mwai KIBAKI]; United Democratic Forum Party or UDF [Musalia Mudavadi]; United Republican Party or URP [William Ruto]; Wiper Democratic Movement or WDM [Kalonzo MUSYOKA]
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Political pressure groups and leaders:
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Council of Islamic Preachers of Kenya or CIPK [Sheikh Idris MOHAMMED]; Kenya Human Rights Commission [L. Muthoni WANYEKI]; Muslim Human Rights Forum [Ali-Amin KIMATHI]; National Muslim Leaders Forum or NAMLEF [Abdullahi ABDI]; Protestant National Council of Churches of Kenya or NCCK [Canon Peter Karanja MWANGI]; Roman Catholic and other Christian churches; Supreme Council of Kenya Muslims or SUPKEM [Shaykh Abdul Gafur al-BUSAIDY]
other:
labor unions, Kenya Association of Manufacturers, Kenya Private Sector Alliance
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International organization participation:
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ACP, AfDB, AU, C, CD, COMESA, EAC, EADB, FAO, G-15, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGAD, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MONUSCO, NAM, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNMISS, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
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Diplomatic representation in the US:
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chief of mission: Ambassador Elkanah ODEMBO Absalom
chancery:
2249 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone:
[1] (202) 387-6101
FAX:
[1] (202) 462-3829
consulate(s) general:
Los Angeles
consulate(s):
New York
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Diplomatic representation from the US:
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chief of mission: Ambassador Robert F. GODEC
embassy:
US Embassy, United Nations Avenue, Nairobi; P. O. Box 606 Village Market, Nairobi 00621
mailing address:
Box 21A, Unit 64100, APO AE 09831
telephone:
[254] (20) 363-6000
FAX:
[254] (20) 363-6157
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Flag description:
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three equal horizontal bands of black (top), red, and green; the red band is edged in white; a large Maasai warrior's shield covering crossed spears is superimposed at the center; black symbolizes the majority population, red the blood shed in the struggle for freedom, green stands for natural wealth, and white for peace; the shield and crossed spears symbolize the defense of freedom
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National symbol(s):
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lion
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National anthem:
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name: "Ee Mungu Nguvu Yetu" (Oh God of All Creation)
lyrics/music:
Graham HYSLOP, Thomas KALUME, Peter KIBUKOSYA, Washington OMONDI, and George W. SENOGA-ZAKE/traditional, adapted by Graham HYSLOP, Thomas KALUME, Peter KIBUKOSYA, Washington OMONDI, and George W. SENOGA-ZAKE
note:
adopted 1963; the anthem is based on a traditional Kenyan folk song
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