Situated on the equator on Africa's east coast, Kenya has been described as "the cradle of humanity".

In areas of the Great Rift Valley, palaeontologists have discovered some of the earliest evidence of man's ancestors.

In the present day, Kenya's ethnic diversity has produced a vibrant culture, but is also a source of conflict.

OVERVIEW

After independence from Britain in 1963, politics was dominated by the charismatic Jomo Kenyatta. He was succeeded in 1978 by Daniel arap Moi, who remained in power for 24 years. The ruling Kenya African National Union was the country's only legal political party for much of the 1980s.

Violent unrest - and international pressure - led to the restoration of multiparty politics in the early 1990s. But it was to be another decade before opposition candidate Mwai Kibaki ended nearly 40 years of Kanu rule with his landslide victory in 2002's general election.

With its scenic beauty and abundant wildlife, Kenya is one of Africa's major safari destinations. But the lucrative tourist industry has been hit by fears of terrorism; flight cancellations and travel warnings issued by some foreign governments have had a severe impact on the sector.

Kenya has featured prominently on international corruption tables, and key donors have been unwilling to release much-needed aid. President Kibaki has pledged to tackle the problem.

Other pressing challenges include high unemployment, crime and poverty; most Kenyans live below the poverty level of $1 a day.

One of Africa's more politically-stable countries, Kenya has been a leading light in the Somali and Sudanese peace processes.

FACTS

Population: 32 million (UN, 2003)
Capital: Nairobi
Area: 582,646 sq km (224,961 sq miles)
Major languages: Swahili, English
Major religion: Christianity
Life expectancy: 43 years (men), 46 years (women) (UN)
Monetary unit: 1 Kenya shilling = 100 cents
Main exports: Tea, coffee, horticultural products, petroleum products
GNI per capita: US $360 (World Bank, 2002)
Internet domain: .ke
International dialling code: +254

LEADERS

President: Mwai Kibaki

Political veteran Mwai Kibaki won a landslide victory in the December 2002 elections. The constitution barred his predecessor, Daniel arap Moi, from standing for re-election. Mr Kibaki's National Rainbow Coalition won a parliamentary majority.

President Mwai Kibaki
Mr Kibaki said he would make the fight against corruption a priority and promised to tackle Kenya's economic decline.

He has also pledged to introduce a new constitution, but drafts of the proposed document have split the ruling coalition. Plans to curb the president's powers have proved to be particularly contentious.

A respected economist, Mr Kibaki served as finance minister and vice president in the 1970s and 1980s. He left Kanu in 1991 and founded the Democratic Party.

His victory marked the end of almost 40 years of uninterrupted rule by Kanu, and it was third time lucky for Mr Kibaki, who lost two elections in the 1990s.

Mr Kibaki was born in 1931 and hails from Kenya's largest tribe, the Kikuyu. He studied in Uganda and Britain, before joining the push for Kenya's independence in the 1960s. He became an MP in 1963.

Vice president: Moody Awori
Foreign minister: Kalonzo Musyoka
Finance minister: David Mwiraria

MEDIA

The Kenyan media scene is the most diverse in east Africa, with a large middle class providing a base for substantial advertising revenue.

Liberalisation of broadcasting has had a profound effect in Nairobi, but outside the main urban centres state-run KBC provides the only domestic radio and TV for many listeners and viewers. Most Kenyans rely on the broadcast media, particularly radio, for news.

Journalism in the private media is lively and informed and the era of self-censorship has largely passed. The climate of media freedom has improved although incidents continue to be reported in which journalists are arrested and harassed.

A media bill passed in May 2002 was criticised by rights groups who said it would muzzle the press, especially in the run-up to presidential elections. The bill significantly raised publishing fees and gave the government more control over the distribution of papers and magazines.

FM relays of the BBC World Service are on the air in Nairobi, Mombasa and Kisumu, and the Voice of America has an FM relay in Nairobi.

The press

Daily Nation - published by the Nation Media Group, the paper claims to have three quarters of the Kenyan newspaper market. It is widely regarded as being independent and balanced

East African Standard - privately-owned daily, and Kenya's oldest newspaper

East African - English-language weekly published by the Nation Media Group

Taifa Leo - Kenya's only Swahili-language daily, published by the Nation Media Group

Kenya Times - Kanu party paper, daily

The People Daily - owned by veteran politician Kenneth Matiba

Television

Kenya Broadcasting Corporation (KBC) - state-owned, channels in English and Swahili

Metro TV - KBC-operated Nairobi station targeting younger viewers

Kenya Television Network - the first TV station to break the state broadcasting monopoly; available in Nairobi, Mombasa, Nakuru, Eldoret, Kisumu

Nation TV - Nairobi-based station operated by the Nation Media Group

Citizen TV - privately-owned Nairobi-based station

Stella TV (STV) - privately-owned station

Family TV - Christian station

Radio

Kenya Broadcasting Corporation (KBC) - state-owned, with language-based networks in English, Swahili and 15 other indigenous languages

Metro FM - national music-based station operated by KBC

Coro FM - KBC-operated Kikuyu-language station in Nairobi

Capital FM - privately-owned music station

East FM - privately-owned station targeting Nairobi's Asian listeners

Nation FM - operated by Nation Media Group, relays in Nairobi, Mombasa, Nyeri

Kiss FM - widely listened-to pop music station

Kameme FM - privately-run station for Kikuyu speakers in Nairobi and central highlands

Radio Citizen - privately-run station operating in Nairobi, Nyeri and Nakuru

Rehema Radio - Eldoret-based privately-run station broadcasting in Kalenjin

News agency

Kenya News Agency - state-owned, English-language

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The State Department Profile on Kenya