Everything you need to know about Kenya: news, reviews, in-depth analysis, opinion and more
Kenya: African Equatorial Country and Wild Safari Hotspot
In the 700s, Arab seafarers established settlements along the coast of Kenya later on in the early 1500s Portuguese took control over this area. More than 40 ethnic groups reside in Kenya. The Kikuyu is the largest ethnic group that migrated to Kenya in the beginning of the 18th century. In 1890 the British took over Kenya from the Portuguese and renamed it British East Africa in 1920. Kenyans launched an independence struggle called the Mau Mau movements in the 1940’s, which finally succeeded in 1963. Jomo Kenyatta, the prominent nationalist leader during the independence struggle became the first president of Kenya. From 1964 to 1992, the country was ruled as a one-party state by the Kenya African National Union (KANU), first under Kenyatta and then under Daniel Arap Moi. Demonstrations and riots pressured Moi to allow for multiparty elections in 1992.
Kenya Profile: Overview of Facts and Figures
Tourist Attractions of Kenya:
Kenya is a preferred African tourist destination and offers a heady mix of miles stretched silvery beaches, astounding wildlife and bird sanctuaries, gigantic mountains with lush green jungles and coral reefs. The Kenyan tourist attractions cater to a variety of tourist tastes and it has something for all.
Nairobi the capital city of Kenya has a big metropolitan set-up with the beautiful backdrop of Nairobi National Park. Mombasa is among Africa’s finest beaches and famous for its fascinating historical sites such as Fort Jesus that was built by the Portuguese.
Masai Mara National Reserve in Kenya is known for its lion population and is world famous as a natural lion habitat. The wild natural beauty attracts tourists as well as researchers from the world. Masai Mara National Reserve also known for its fantastic annual wildebeest migration and paradise for bird watchers.
Major Sight-seeing Places in Kenya include:Chennai, May 23 (IANS) German automobile major Daimler AG will start exports of FUSO range of trucks - belonging to Japanese Mitsubishi FUSO Truck and Bus Corporation (MFTBC) - to Sri Lanka out of its plant near here from June, said a senior official near here Thursday.
Nairobi, May 23 (IANS) Kenya's Vivian Cheruiyot will not be able to defend her 5,000 metres and 10,000 metres titles at this year's Moscow World championships as she is expecting her first child.
Abu Dhabi, May 23 (IANS/WAM) Leaders of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have met senior officials of the US, the Czech Republic and Kenya and held talks on enhancing ties.
Hyderabad, May 22 (IANS) Netxcell Limited, a leading telecom technology services provider, Wednesday announced its association with Funmobile, a leader in the mobile content domain in west Africa.
Beijing, May 22 (IANS) With the absence of Chinese star Liu Xiang, American David Oliver topped the men's 110-metre hurdles at the 2013 IAAF World Challenge Beijing here, while China's Li Jinzhe continued his good form and grabbed a second win in the men's long jump.
Mumbai, May 19 (IANS) Actress Pooja Gupta, who is gearing up for her next film "Shortcut Romeo", says as an actress she doesn't have any limitations.
Beijing, May 18 (Xinhua-ANI): The UN World Health Organization (WHO) said on Friday that 30 countries in Africa with a total population of 508 million are considered to be at different levels of risk for yellow fever.
Addis Ababa, May 16 (IANS) Indian-owned firms in Ethiopia are making flowers the country's third-largest export earner after coffee and khat, a kind of chewable cannabis.
Lusaka (Zambia), May 14 (IANS) The Zambia Cricket Union (ZCU) named a 14-member squad for the ICC Africa U-19 World Cup Qualifiers (CWCQ) Division 1 tournament Tuesday.
Washington, May 11 (ANI): Baylor University researchers have found the earliest archaeological evidence of human hunting and scavenging.
Nairobi, May 10 (IANS) Floods caused by heavy rains in Kenya since March have claimed the lives of at least 90 people and displaced more than 100,000 others, the Kenya Red Cross Society (KRCS) said Friday.
Nairobi, May 9 (IANS) A fortnight before the London Olympics men's 1500m final, Kenya's Asbel Kiprop was literally on top of the world and was the man to beat at the quadrennial global showpiece in his speciality.
Gaborone (Bostwana), May 8 (IANS) Botswana's national team coach Stanley Tshosane says he is aiming for glory at the Confederation of Southern Africa Football Association's (COSAFA) regional tournament to be hosted by Zambia from July 6-20.
Nairobi, May 8 (IANS) Four players were dropped from Kenya's squad preparing for the 2014 World Cup qualifier against Nigeria here June 5.
Nairobi, May 4 (IANS) Kenya's former Olympic champion Pamela Jelimo is keen to bury the disappointment of finishing fourth in her 800m title defence in London as she targets to make the finals of the World Championships for the first time in Moscow.
Nairobi, May 2 (IANS) Having kept the Danish coaster -- M/V Leopard -- in their custody for two years, Somali pirates have released it along with six crew members, a Kenyan maritime official said Wednesday.
Nairobi, April 30 (IANS) Olympics 800m champion David Rudisha and the World Indoor winner Pamela Jelimo have put their opponents on notice as they prepare to launch their season campaign here Friday.
Nairobi, April 29 (IANS) Pakistan has become a leading importer of Kenya's goods in Asia region, reports Xinhua.
Sydney, Apr 23 (ANI): Come August, and the new poster car for the electric vehicle Venturi VBB-3 will take to the famous Bonneville salt flats, with the aim of shattering its own record.
Vancouver, April 22 (IANS) In an event where the spirit of the Boston Marathon bombing victims weighed heavily, Kenya's Paul Kimugul won the Vancouver Sun Run Sunday, while Natasha Fraser successfully defended her women's crown.
London, April 21 (IANS) Ethiopian Tsegaye Kebede overtook 2011 champion Emmanuel Mutai in the closing stages to win his second title at the London Marathon here Sunday.
Nairobi, April 19 (IANS) Kenyan marathon runners Friday left for London buoyant about staging an excellent show during Sunday's race.
In an another initiative to enhance the availability of banking facility, Vodafone India and ICICI Bank have launched a mobile-based money transfer and payment service that will allow access to mobile-banking to near 700 million people across the country who are still "unbanked" with no access to conventional banking.
Washington, Apr 19 (ANI): Vodafone India and ICICI Bank have launched a mobile-based money transfer and payment service, which will give mobile-banking access to some 700 million people who are currently "unbanked," people with no access to conventional banking.
Nairobi, April 17 (IANS) Kenya will get a chance to gauge its preparedness ahead of the ICC Intercontinental Cup tournament when it competes at the International Twenty20 Quadrangular Series in Windhoek, Namibia Saturday.
Boston, April 16 (IANS) Lelisa Desisa of Ethiophia and Japanese Rita Jeptoo won the Boston Marathon in their respective categories.
The Hague, April 14 (IANS) Ethiopian Tilahun Regassa and Kenyan Jemina Jalagat won the men's and the women's titles, respectively, at the 33rd edition of the Rotterdam Marathon Sunday.
Washington, April 12(ANI): The way our hands look today has been shaped by our behaviour over millions of years, say scientists.
Nairobi, April 10 (IANS) At least 32 people have died and 18,600 others displaced by flash floods caused by heavy rains in Kenya, the East African nation's Red Cross Society (or KRCS) said Wednesday.
Nairobi, April 10 (IANS) The National Olympic Committee of Kenya (NOC-K) is building a rotating museum and a Hall of Fame here to commemorate the achievements of its Olympic heroes.
Nairobi, April 10 (IANS) Lucy Kabuu, one of Kenya's favourites for the women's race at the April 21 London Marathon, has pulled out of the World Marathon Majors event.
Nairobi, April 10 (IANS) Kenya's David Rudisha, the Olympic and World 800m champion, will not be attempting to run under the 1:41-minute mark when he competes at the World Championships in Moscow in August.
Nairobi, April 6 (IANS) Kenya will face former African champions Ghana in an international friendly June 1, which coincides with the country's Independence Day.
New Delhi, April 6 (IANS) Indian firms should work to cash in on the demographic dividends on offer in the African continent, an Africa-based Indian corporate leader said here.
Washington, April 5 (IANS) Al Velshi, noted Canadian TV journalist of Indian descent, is leaving CNN after 12 years to join Al Jazeera America to host an as-yet-unnamed primetime business show.
New Delhi, April 1 (IANS) Two-wheeler major Hero MotoCorp Monday reported a decline of 11.35 percent in its sales for March, which stood at 468,283 units from 528,290 units sold in the corresponding month of 2012.
London, Mar. 31 (ANI): Defeated Kenyan presidential candidate Raila Odinga has said he will seek peaceful ways to end a row over poll results, which gave a narrow first round victory to rival Uhuru Kenyatta.
Nairobi, March 28 (IANS) Kenya's tourism earnings dropped marginally to $1.12 billion in 2012 from the previous year when it recorded $1.14 billion, an official said.
New Delhi, March 23 (IANS) Loss, exile, fear, war, longing for home, memories and redemption colour the soul of diplomat and poet Williams Nkurunziza's sonnets that are chronicles of the journey of his native Rwanda from its difficult days of ethnic strife to a modern nation in quest of prosperity in the last century.
Nairobi, March 22 (IANS) The US has offered a five-million-dollar reward each for any information leading to the arrest or conviction of two Americans-turned-Al-Shabaab militants, Xinhua reported.
Washington, Mar 21 (ANI): A study by researchers from KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programme and Oxford University in Kenya has shown that the efficacy of a malaria vaccine candidate, RTS,S, wanes over time and varies with exposure to the malaria parasite.
Johannesburg, Mar 19 (ANI): South African batsman Hashim Alma has claimed he enjoys batting with captain AB de Villiers as they both compliment each other very well after both of them were involved in a world-record stand on Sunday against Pakistan in the third one-day at Johannesburg.
Chicago, Mar. 14 (ANI): The recent discovery of an ancient Chinese coin on the Kenyan island of Manda shows trade existed trade relations between East Africa and China is much older than previously believed.
Dubai, March 9 (IANS) Afghanistan is on course for a place in the ICC World Cup 2015 after winning both its fifth round One-Day Internationals (ODI) in the ICC World Cricket League (WCL) Championship against Scotland at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium.
Nairobi, March 9 (IANS) Kenyan presidential candidate Uhuru Kenyatta was Saturday declared elected after gaining 50.07 percent of the votes cast, chairman of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) Isaack Hassan announced.
London, Mar 9 (ANI): Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta, who faces international charges of crimes against humanity, has won the presidential race in Kenya, according to Kenya's electoral commission.
Washington, Mar. 8 (ANI): President Barack Obama's half-brother Malik Obama has lost bid to be a governor in Kenya.
Nairobi, March 4 (IANS) Kenya is hanging on to hope it will be able to turn around the tide and clinch their first victory in the International Cricket Council (ICC) World Cricket League Championship and Intercontinental Cup in Dubai next week.
Nairobi, March 3 (IANS) Kenya's electoral body said Saturday it has registered 22,600 local and international observers to monitor Monday's general elections in this east African nation, Xinhua reported.
Dubai, Feb 25 (IANS/WAM) The UAE and Kenya have held discussions on ways to enhance cooperation between the two countries in livestock development.
Hong Kong, Feb 24 (IANS) Julius Maisei of Kenya took his first Hong Kong Marathon title here Sunday while the women's crown went to defender Misiker Demissie of Ethiopia.
Gaborone, Feb 21 (IANS) Botswana's cricket national team will depart for Uganda Thursday to compete in the International Cricket Council (ICC) - Africa Cricket Association (ACA) Twenty 20 Division One tournament that starts Sunday.
London, February 21 (ANI): A new study has challenged a long-held theory that our ancestors evolved to walk on two legs to help them see farther on Africa's vast open grasslands.
Washington, February 20 (ANI): Penn State researchers have found that identifying areas of malarial infection risk depends more on daily temperature variation than on the average monthly temperatures.
Nairobi, Feb 20 (IANS) Kenya's football federation confirmed that the search of a successor to the departed Frenchman Henri Michel was over with four candidates short-listed and the final choice is expected to be announced Wednesday.
Kampala (Uganda), Feb 19 (IANS) Uganda has named an 18-man squad that will defend its title when the International Cricket Council (ICC) Africa T20 tournament kicks off here Feb 23.
Nairobi, Feb 19 (IANS) Athletics Kenya (AK) president Isaiah Kiplagat posed a pertinent question at the recently concluded International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) Permit Meeting here. "How did people expect Kenya to post good results at the 2012 Olympics when we trained the entire team consisting of 47 athletes on a total budget of $470,000 while Jamaica invested $1.2 million on Usain Bolt only," he asked.
Nairobi, Feb 19 (IANS) The Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) has said it has granted authority to the Central Bank of India (CBI) to open a representative office in Kenya, the sixth foreign bank to be authorized to operate in the east Africa nation.
Nairobi, Feb 17 (IANS) Football Kenya Federation (FKF) and the Kenyan government are in the process of submitting a bid to host the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) and the 2015 Africa Youth Championships.
Nairobi, Feb 15 (IANS) Over 260,000 primary and secondary teachers in Kenya vowed Thursday to go on strike starting next week due to non-implementation of the salary agreement their union reached with the government last September.
Kampala, Feb 8 (IANS) Hosts Uganda are set to face arch rivals Kenya in their first game when the World T20 qualifying tournament takes place here Feb 23-March 1.
Kampala, Feb 8 (IANS) Sri Lankan player Niluka Karunaratne will defend his men's singles title at the Uganda International Badminton Open Championship scheduled Feb 21-24 here.
Washington, Feb 1 (ANI): A new analysis of the past 12 million years of vegetation change in the cradle of humanity is challenging long-held beliefs about the world in which our ancestors took shape - and, by extension, the impact it had on them.
Nairobi, Jan 31 (IANS) Kenya will play Libya in Tunis next week minus their midfield maestro McDonald Mariga of Inter Milan.
New Delhi, Jan 28 (IANS) In a scientific breakthrough that promises improved grain yields, greater drought tolerance and disease resistance, a global research team, including Indian scientists, has completed sequencing of chickpea (black gram).
Kolkata, Jan 23 (IANS) Founding member countries of newly-constituted International Tea Producers' Forum (ITPF) have agreed to work together to stimulate demands for tea globally, according to Tea Board of India.
Nairobi, Jan 23 (IANS) The curtains came down on a rewarding 2012 season for David Rudisha when he proudly stepped up to receive from Kenya's president Mwai Kibaki a cheque for minting Olympics gold.
Nairobi, Jan 21 (IANS) Nigeria and South Africa qualified to represent Africa in the men's and women's category during the forthcoming World Wheelchair Tennis Championships scheduled for May in Turkey.
Mumbai, Jan 20 (IANS) African men and women athletes made a clean sweep of the top slots in the 10th Standard Chartered Mumbai Marathon, besides creating new course records in the keenly contested disciplines among around 40,000 participants here Sunday.
Mumbai, Jan 18 (IANS) Two days before Sunday's 10th Standard Chartered Mumbai Marathon, its brand ambassador Haile Gebrselassie motivated Mumbaikars here Friday, saying it was imperative "to get up daily and run to win over themselves".
Nairobi, Jan 16 (IANS) The US has issued a travel advisory to all Americans wishing to travel to Kenya and those living in the country to exercise caution due to increased terror threats and violent crime in most parts of the East African nation.
Washington, Jan 16 (ANI): If you got a pesky cough and it hasn't gone away in a week, you shouldn't fret as a new study has found that the average cough lasts 18 days.
Washington, Jan. 16 (ANI): Malik Obama, President Barack Obama's oldest half-brother, has announced that he will run for governor in the Kenyan county of Siaya.
Washington, Jan. 14 (ANI): Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff is set to announce plans to launch the nation's first bookless public library system.
Nairobi, Jan 9 (IANS) Football Kenya Federation (FKF) has started its search for a new head coach as the country once again seeks a route back to winning ways after being knocked out of the 2014 Africa Nations Championships (CHAN) last weekend.
London, January 4 (ANI): Billionaire Flavio Bratore and his family held hands as they enjoyed a walk along a beach in Kenya.
Nairobi, Jan 2 (IANS) Having dominated the women's volleyball scene in Africa for over two decades, Kenya are seeking the chance to extend their reign by qualifying for the 2014 world championships.
Rome, Dec 26 (IANS) Pope Benedict XVI, in his Christmas message, called for ending the violence in Syria and urged for showing greater respect for religious communities in China, which does not allow Catholics to respect papal authority.
Dubai, Dec. 23 (ANI): Jackie Janmohammed, who created history by becoming the first woman to head a national cricket board in the world, has said she believes that she could "make a difference".
Mombasa (Kenya), Dec 21 (IANS) At least 28 people have been killed in a clash between two communities in Kenya's Tana river region, an official said.
Warning: If you need to visit Japan in the near future, GO TO THE TOILET first. The fiendishly clever inhabitants have now invented the Intelligent Potty.
Nairobi (Kenya), Dec.12 (ANI): The Sudanese government's indiscriminate aerial bombardment and shelling in Blue Nile and Southern Kordofan states has killed and injured scores of civilians since the conflict began more than a year ago, Human Rights Watch said in a report released today.
Nairobi, Dec 7 (IANS) Kenya will bid to host the 2019 Africa Nations Cup with the country eyeing the 2015 Africa Under-17 football championships as the event to showcase the nation's capability of staging a world class tournament.
New Delhi, Dec 4 (IANS) Targeting exclusion and poverty, an Indian NGO is aiming to motivate 100,000 volunteers and one million citizens in the next five years to ensure inclusion and equality for all in the areas of health, education, livelihood and disability.
Macau, Dec 2 (IANS) Ethiopia's Heile Haja Gemeda and Ehitu Kiros Reda became the winners of Macau Galaxy Entertainment International Marathon here Sunday.
Islamabad, Nov 30 (IANS) Considering their current form, Asian champions Pakistan showed optimism and confidence to win the upcoming 2012 Kabaddi World Cup to be held in India from Dec 1.
Nairobi, Nov 29 (IANS) The Kenyan government has signed $3.5 million agreement with Tanzania?based Investment Climate Facility (ICF) for Africa for the implementation of an electronic platform that will facilitate import and export of goods at Kenya's points of entry.
Chandigarh, Nov 28 (IANS) Kenya has sought the assistance of the Punjab government and its agencies for automation of their road transport sector, an official said Wednesday.
Nairobi, Nov 21 (IANS) Thirty?seven poachers have been arrested in Kenya as part of a countrywide operation over the past one week, police said.
Nairobi, Nov 21 (IANS) Kenya's wildlife authorities said they have seized 48 kg of ivory, and nabbed 46 suspected poachers from across the country in anti?poaching operations in the past week.
Malindi (Kenya), Nov 18 (IANS) At least five football players from Kola Beach Football Club died on the spot and dozens were injured after their vehicle was involved in a grisly accident near the Kenyan coastal resort town of Malindi Sunday, officials said.
Nairobi, Nov 16 (IANS) World record holder and Olympic champion David Rudisha and Celtic FC star Victor Wanyama are among the seven nominees who will vie for the Overall Sports Personality of the Year during the Dec 6 Safaricom Sports Personality of the Year Awards here.
Kampala, Nov 14 (IANS) The Federation of Uganda Football Associations (FUFA) Wednesday said it plans to garner regional support to jointly host the coveted Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
Nairobi, Nov 14 (IANS) France and Kenya have inked an 8.4-million euro (about $10 million) deal to support radio network and coffee development in this African nation.
Agra, Nov 9 (IANS) Athletes from Kenya and Ethiopia are expected to participate in an international half marathon to be held in this Taj city in February 2013 with a winners' purse of Rs.2 crore, an official said Friday. It's envisaged as an annual event.
Moscow, Nov 8 (IANS/RIA Novosti) Russian race walker Elena Lashmanova has had her world record set at the London Olympic ratified by the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF).
London, Nov 8 (ANI): A Kenyan woman has named her new-born twins after US President Barack Obama and his Republican rival Mitt Romney.
Kogelo (Kenya), Nov 7 (Xinhua) After a nightlong silence marked with anxiety, the Kenyan village of Kogelo, the home of US President Barrack Obama's father, burst into life early Wednesday following his victory in the US presidential polls.
Kingston (Jamaica), Nov 7 (IANS/CMC) Jamaica's Usain Bolt has inched within sight of capturing the IAAF's Male Athlete of the Year award for the fourth time.
