Kenya is a country in East Africa, lying along the Indian Ocean, at the equator. Kenya is bordered by Ethiopia to the north, Somalia to the northeast, Tanzania to the south, Uganda plus Lake Victoria to the west and Sudan to the northwest. Its total area is 224,080 square miles and the capital and largest city is Nairobi. Kenya is divided in to eight provinces , then subdivided into 69 districts. The provinces are named as Swahili.
Kenya is a presidential representative democratic republic, whereby the President is both the head of state and head of government, and of a multi-party system. The last general elections were held in 2007, after the elections dismissed the election committee Kibaki as the winner. Odinga accused Kibaki of electoral fraud and a in few places in Kenya escalated into violence and destruction of property. Kenyan lawmakers unanimously approved a power-sharing deal in 2008, aimed at salvaging a country usually seen as one of the most stable and prosperous in Africa. The deal brought Kibaki’s PNU and Odinga’s ODM together and heralded the formation of the grand coalition, in which the two political parties would share power equally.
Kenya has no one culture that identifies it, there are about 42 different ethnic groupings in Kenya – each of these with its own unique culture. The Masai culture owes its widespread identification to the tourist industry which has exploited them for purely commercial purposes. The weekly Masai market in Nairobi is the most colorful in Kenya. As historically nomadic people, the Masai have traditionally relied on local, readily available materials and techniques to construct their housing. These Inkajijik are either star-shaped or circular, the structural framework is formed of timber poles and interwoven with a lattice of smaller branches, which is then plastered with a mix of mud, sticks, grass, cow dung and human urine, and ash. The cow dung ensures the roof is water-proof. Villages are enclosed in a circular fence, at night all cows, goats and sheep are placed in an enclosure in the center, safe from wild animals.
The national dish is sukumu wiki, a spinach-like vegetable and Ugali, a sort of porridge of maize flour with a little meat and gravy, which is traditionally eaten with the hands.
Embu is located in the middle of Kenya and is the capital of the province Mashariki. The city is famous for its Jacaranda trees, with the beautiful purple flowers. There is also one of the largest churches in Africa, the Diocese of Mount Kenya East, it has a unique African-inspired design. The oldest church in Africa is in the coastal town Malindi. In Gedi, a village near Malindi are the unique remains of a Swahili town, the Ruins of Gedi.
Kenya has great white beaches, azure sea and inland an overwhelming nature, wildlife parks filled with exotic animals and luxury lodges and cozy tented camps. Between Mombasa, Malindi and Lamu is possible to sail with a dhow, a traditional fishing boat and everywhere you see locals travel by matatus, painted vans.
You need a visa for Kenya, a tourist visa is valid for three months. You can buy on arrival at the airport, or picked up in advance at the embassy or consulate. Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months upon departure from Kenya.
