Kenya, The Nation

The Republic of Kenya, named after Mount Kenya, is located in East Africa. It is bordered by Ethiopia to the north, Somalia to the east, Tanzania to the south, Uganda to the west and Sudan to the northwest, with the Indian Ocean running along the southeast border. Kodera is located near Lake Victoria in the western part of Kenya. You will not see Kodera on the map as it is a very small community. However you can see Kisumu. Kisumu is the largest town near Kodera. This year due to earlier political unrest we will not be visiting Kodera. Rather we will stay in Nairobi at a guest house compound. Just a refresher, Nairobi is the capital city of Kenya.

Below is the Coat of Arms with Motto: "Harambee"(Swahili) meaning
"Let us all pull together" and the Kenyan Flag.


The Following is the Kenyan National Anthem: Ee Mungu Nguvu Yetu (Oh God of All Creation)


Kiswahili Lyrics (English Lyrics)
Ee Mungu nguvu yetu (O God of all creation)
Ilete baraka kwetu (Bless this our land and nation)
Haki iwe ngao na mlinzi (Justice be our shield and defender)
Natukae na undugu (May we dwell in unity)
Amani na uhuru (Peace and liberty)
Raha tupate na ustawi (Plenty be found within our borders)

Amkeni ndugu zetu (Let one and all arise)
Tufanye sote bidii (With hearts both strong and true)
Nasi tujitoe kwa nguvu (Service be our earnest endeavor)
Nchi yetu ya Kenya (And our Homeland of Kenya)
Tunayoipenda (Heritage of splendor)
Tuwe tayari kuilinda (Firm may we stand to defend)

Natujenge taifa letu (Let all with one accord)
Ee, ndio wajibu wetu (In common bond united)
Kenya istahili heshima (Build this our nation together)
Tuungane mikono (And the glory of Kenya)
Pamoja kazini (The fruit of our labor)
Kila siku tuwe na shukrani (Fill every heart with thanksgiving)

English Lyrics All Together
O God of all creation,
Bless this our land and nation.
Justice be our shield and defender,
May we dwell in unity,
Peace and liberty.
Plenty be found within our borders.

Let one and all arise,
With hearts both strong and true.
Service be our earnest endeavor,
And our Homeland of Kenya ,
Heritage of splendor,
Firm may we stand to defend.

Let all with one accord,
In common bond united,
Build this our nation together,
And the glory of Kenya ,
The fruit of our labor,
Fill every heart with thanksgiving.

And now, More on Kenya, the Nation
The Republic of Kenya, named after Mount Kenya, is located in East Africa. It is bordered by Ethiopia to the north, Somalia to the east, Tanzania to the south, Uganda to the west and Sudan to the northwest, with the Indian Ocean running along the southeast border.

Kenya is comprised of eight provinces, each headed by a Provincial Commissioner (centrally appointed by the president.) The provinces are: Central, Coast, Eastern, Nairobi, North Eastern, Nyanza, Rift Valley and Western.

The major cities within Kenya are Nairobi (pop = 2,510,800), Mombassa (pop = 707,400), Nakuru (pop = 337,200), Kisumu (pop = 273,400), Eldoret (pop = 249,100), Nyeri (pop = 213,000), Machakos (pop = 179,500) and Meru (pop = 140,900).

Kenya is the world’s forty-seventh largest country, after Madagascar, at 224,961 square miles (582,646km²). Starting at the coast in Mombassa, the low plains rise to the central highlands which are bisected by the Great Rift Valley; a fertile plateau in western Kenya. Mount Kenya is the highest peak in Kenya at 5,199 m (17,042 ft; second highest peak in all of Africa) and is the site of many glaciers.

Kenya enjoys a tropical climate. It is hot and humid at the coast, temperate inland and very dry in the north and northeast parts of the country. The long rain season occurs from April to June. The short rain season occurs from October to December. The rainfall is sometimes heavy and often falls in the afternoons and evenings. The hottest period is from February to March and coldest in July to August. The country receives a great deal of sunshine all the year round and summer clothes are worn throughout the year. However, it is usually cool at night and early in the morning.
Because of the varied climate, Kenya has considerable land area of wildlife habitat, including the very well known Masai Mara (this is where most TV programs are shot). The “Big Five” animals of Africa can also be found in this area, as well as other parts of Kenya. The lion, leopard, buffalo, rhinoceros and elephant make up the “Big Five”. A significant population of other wild animals, reptiles and birds can be found in the national parks and game reserves in the country. Unfortunately the environment of Kenya is threatened by high population growth and its side effects.

The Kenyan Highlands comprise one of the most successful agricultural production regions in Africa. Primary agricultural produce include tea, coffee, sugarcane, corn, wheat, rice, sisal, pineapples, pyrethrum, dairy products, meat and meat products, hides and skins. Industry production items include: petroleum products, grain and sugar milling, cement, beer production, soft drinks, textiles, vehicle assembly, paper and light manufacturing and tourism.

International trade also exists in Kenya. Primary exports include: tea, coffee, horticultural products, petroleum products, cement, pyrethrum, soda ash, sisal, hides, skins and fluorspar. The market countries for these items are: Uganda, Tanzania, United Kingdom, Germany, Netherlands, Ethiopia, Rwanda, Egypt, South Africa and the United States.

Major imports into Kenya come from the United Kingdom, Japan, South Africa, Germany, United Arab Emirates, Italy, India, France, United States and Saudi Arabia. The products imported include: machinery, vehicles, crude petroleum, iron, steel, resins, plastic materials, refined petroleum products, pharmaceuticals, paper, paper products, textiles, fertilizers and wheat.