4 April 1960 (from France); note - complete independence achieved upon dissolution of federation with Mali on 20 August 1960
Religions
Protestant 45%, Roman Catholic 33%, Muslim 10%, indigenous beliefs 10%, other 2% note: a large majority of Kenyans are Christian, but estimates for the percentage of the population that adheres to Islam or indigenous beliefs vary widely
Muslim 94%, Christian 5% (mostly Roman Catholic), indigenous beliefs 1%
Languages
English (official), Kiswahili (official), numerous indigenous languages
Kenyan shillings (KES) per US dollar - 68.358 (2008 est.), 68.309 (2007), 72.101 (2006), 75.554 (2005), 79.174 (2004)
Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XOF) per US dollar 438.77 (2008 est.), 481.83 (2007), 522.89 (2006), 527.47 (2005), 528.29 (2004) note: since 1 January 1999, the XOF franc has been pegged to the euro at a rate of 655.957 XOF francs per euro
Military Budget as percentage of GDP
2.800%
1.400%
Beijing Olympics Medal Count
14
0
Location
Eastern Africa, bordering the Indian Ocean, between Somalia and Tanzania
Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Guinea-Bissau and Mauritania
Area
580,367 km sq
196,722 km sq
Coastline
536 km
531 km
Climate
varies from tropical along coast to arid in interior
tropical; hot, humid; rainy season (May to November) has strong southeast winds; dry season (December to April) dominated by hot, dry, harmattan wind
