Kenya - Society

Population:38,550,000 (2008), 85% lives in the south-west, 22% in urban areas and 9% in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million people; growth 3.6% p.a. 1970–90 and 2.8% p.a. 1990–2006; birth rate (2006) 39 per 1,000 people (52 in 1970); life expectancy 53 years.

The ethnic composition of the population is estimated as: Kikuyu 22%, Luhya 14%, Luo 13%, Kalenjin 12%, Kamba 11%, Kisii 6% and Meru 6%. There are Masai, Arab, Asian and European minorities.

Religion:Christians 78% (mainly Protestants and Roman Catholics), Muslims 10%, and most of the rest hold traditional beliefs.

Language:Kiswahili is the national and English the official language. Each of the ethnic groups has its own language.

Media:Kenyans rely heavily on their media for news, and radio is especially favoured. The BBC World Service is available on FM relays.

Newspapers from Uganda and United Republic of Tanzania are widely circulated in the country. English-language daily newspapers are Daily Nation, Kenya Times (owned by Kenya African National Union), East African Standard and The People Daily. Taifa Leo is published daily in Kiswahili. Weeklies include The EastAfrican (for an international audience).

There are 48 TV sets (2003), 14 personal computers (2004) and 80 internet users (2007) per 1,000 people.

Education:Public spending on education was 6.9% of GDP in 2005. There are eight years of compulsory education starting at age six. Net enrolment ratios are 76% for primary and 42% for secondary (2006). The pupil–teacher ratio for primary is 40:1 and for secondary 32:1 (2005). The school year starts in January.

About 3% of the relevant age group is enrolled in tertiary education (2005). Among the many higher education institutions are the University of Nairobi, Kenyatta University, Moi University (in Eldoret since 1984), Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (in Juju since 1994), Egerton University (Njoro, Nakuru), polytechnics, and a growing number of private universities. Illiteracy among people age 15–24 is 19.7% (2006).

Health:57% of the population uses an improved drinking water source and 42% in urban areas use adequate sanitation facilities (2006). Infant mortality was 79 per 1,000 live births in 2006 (122 in 1960). Malaria is the main endemic health problem, and AIDS is a severe problem. At the end of 2005, 6.1% of people age 15 and over were HIV positive.

Communications: Country code 254, followed by 20 for Nairobi and 41 for Mombasa. International calls can usually be made directly except in some rural areas. Public phones work with coins or phonecards (card booths are blue, coin-operated booths are red).

Roaming agreements exist with major mobile phone companies. Celtel and Safaricom are the network providers that give widest coverage in Kenya. Local SIM cards are available everywhere.

Internet cafes can be found in most towns and cities. There are post office branches all over the country.

There are seven main telephone lines and 302 mobile phone subscriptions per 1,000 people (2007).

Public holidays: New Year’s Day, Labour Day (1 May), Madaraka Day (1 June), Moi Day (10 October), Kenyatta Day (20 October), Jamhuri Day (Independence Day, 12 December), Christmas Day and Boxing Day.

Religious and other festivals whose dates vary from year to year include Good Friday, Easter Monday and Eid al-Fitr (End of Ramadan, three days).