14 Facts about Kenya

Kenya

Kenya: a country in Africa, with 42 million residents plus a large Kenyan expat community around the globe. With its sunny and warm weather, Kenya is one of the most popular tourist destinations. Here are some facts about Kenya you should know.

  1. The world's fastest marathon runner is from Kenya. The Ineos 1:59:55 is the current world record for the fastest marathon ever run. Eliud Kipchoge, a long-distance runner from Kenya, is the man behind this new record set during the Nike Breaking 2 marathon in Italy. Kipchoge, who started running in 2003, took his first steps into professional running in 2009 and has since gone on to win many races including Berlin Marathon three times and London Marathon twice.
  2. Kenya is home to the first-ever recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize. The history of Kenya is as rich as that of its people and many Kenyan achievements are now global. The first recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize is still honored in Kenya, Prof Wangari Maathai. This Kenyan woman, who was born in Nyeri and has a Ph. D. from the University of Pittsburgh, was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in October 2004. She is also well known for her years of work fighting for gender equality and women's rights in Kenya.
  3. She also served as an elected Member of Parliament from 1997 to 2013. In addition to her political career, Maathai has worked as a consultant for many international organizations such as UNDP, UNFPA, and UNIFEM. She died in Nairobi on the 25th of November, 2011.
  4. The second largest Mountain in Africa is in Kenya. The second largest mountain on the African continent is Mount Kenya. This mountain has an elevation of over 5,200m (17,000ft) making it the highest peak in Africa. Although this mountain is miles away from its nearest neighbor, Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, it is said that trees grow on its slopes as if they were planted there by an invisible gardener.
  5. Kenya is one of the fastest-growing countries in Africa. Kenya is one of the fastest-growing economies in Africa and has been for many years. On the African continent, Kenya has one of the highest rates of growth. It is currently ranked number four as a source of income, tourism, and foreign investment in Africa. The country's promising future stems from its natural resources including vast deposits of oil and gas, gold, and diamonds. Kenya can also boast of being an agricultural powerhouse with increasing exports such as tea, coffee, and flowers each year.
  6. There are over 50 national parks and reserves in Kenya. Kenya has over 50 national parks and reserves, different attractions, and breathtaking views. There are all sorts of the park - from Maasai Mara National Reserve to the Tsavo West National Park where you can see cheetahs, lions, and numerous other animals. Another fun park to visit is Amboseli National Park which follows the wide open plains with beautiful grasses and trees.
  7. The Masai Mara National Reserve is an excellent place to see the Great Migration - when thousands of wildebeest and their young come to Kenya from Tanzania hoping for water and food during the dry season.
  8. The largest desert lake is in Kenya Lake Turkana, located in Kenya's northern desert, is one of the largest desert lakes in the world. The lake, which is about 300 miles long, is about 620 feet deep and holds 138 billion gallons of water.
  9. Lake Turkana National Park was established in 1949 as a natural reserve for Birds. In 2001 it was renamed after an ancient lake that was used by early man and was once surveyed by members of the British Royal Geographic Society (BRS) during 1868-1871.
  10. The Great Wildebeest Migration is the largest in the world. The Great Wildebeest Migration is one of the most spectacular sights in Africa. It is one of the five most important African wildlife migrations and has been described as a must-see when visiting Kenya. The Great Wildebeest Migration happens every year in July and November when wildebeest and zebras move from Tanzania's Serengeti plains to Kenya's Masai Mara National Reserve.
  11. Over 1 million wildebeest, giraffe, and antelopes migrate at a time that just keeps on increasing. The migration starts in the plains of Serengeti National Park and follows the rest of Kenya's plains, finally coming to an end in Masai Mara National Reserve.
  12. The country's most valuable export is Coffee. Kenya is one of the world's largest coffee exporters. It is also a significant producer of tea and flowers. The export earnings from these two crops combined make up a substantial portion of Kenya's economy. Coffee is one of Kenya's main exports and has been so since the colonial era when it was first planted in Kiambu Province. Kenya produces only 10 percent of the world's coffee. The total coffee production in Kenya is around 250,000 tons per year. The top Kenyan coffee-growing regions are Mount Elgon, Kericho, Central Province, Nyeri, and Kakamega.
  13. Cars are driven on the right-handed side. Unlike most countries in Europe and Asia, Kenya drives on the right-hand side of the road. This is also the case in most countries in South-Eastern Asia and Europe. The reason for this is that during the colonial era, the British drove on the right-hand side of the road even though most Europeans drive on the left-hand side of their cars. This was done to avoid collisions with oncoming traffic. In the past, this was also the case in Africa. However, car manufacturers have changed this to make it easier for drivers to change sides of the road.
  14. Kenya was a British Colony between 1895 and 1963. Kenya was a British Colony between 1895 and 1963. However, the British were not the first to colonize Kenya. Having formed a successful empire in southern Africa, the Portuguese had arrived in the area in 1498 but were driven out by the British by 1894. This is why it was only the British who established a long-term presence and eventually controlled the country. They ruled through a series of treaties with local chiefs, set up tribal councils, and established public schools. The system of governance changed slightly after independence from Britain in 1963 when Kenya became a fully independent republic.