According to ehistorylib, in 2005, Kenya had a population of around 34.6 million people and a GDP of $37 billion, making it one of the larger economies in East Africa. The economy was largely reliant on agriculture and tourism, with the main exports being tea and coffee. Unemployment rates were quite high at around 21%, while poverty levels remained quite high with an estimated 45% of the population living below the poverty line.
Foreign relations in 2005 were generally positive with Kenya being a member of various international organizations such as the United Nations (UN). In addition, it maintained diplomatic ties with many countries in North America, Europe, Asia and Africa. It was also an important ally to the United States and had close trade ties to Ethiopia and other East African countries.
Politically, Kenya was a multi-party democracy during this time period with executive power vested in both the President who had absolute authority over foreign policy decisions and could veto any legislation passed by Parliament. Furthermore, there were three branches of government: Executive (President), Legislative (Parliament) and Judicial (Supreme Court). These branches worked together to ensure that laws were properly enforced throughout the country.
Yearbook 2005
Kenya. After several years of debate, the government presented a proposal for a new constitution in July. However, the restriction of the president’s power that the current government went to elections in 2002 had been significantly watered down, triggering riots in Nairobi. The bill also divided the broadly composed government, where several ministers for years demanded that a large part of the president’s powers be transferred to a prime minister. After a violent election campaign, 57% of voters surprisingly refused the constitutional proposal in a referendum in November. The result was a severe setback for President Mwai Kibaki, who until now closed the parliament and reformed the government. All ministers who opposed the constitutional changes were dismissed, but also several ministers and deputy ministers who were offered seats in the new government refused. The election results gave new wind to the former KANU government party, which earlier this year elected Uhuru Kenyatta, son of Kenya’s first president, as new chairman. The referendum was also widely seen as a vote of confidence in the president’s efforts since 2002. For both Kenyans and the outside world, his government has been disappointing. According to The World Bank has increased corruption under the Kibaki government. The equivalent of at least SEK 7 billion is believed to have been wasted since Kibaki took office. An April meeting between the World Bank and a number of key aid countries resulted in no promises of new aid being given until the government implemented a series of reforms and dramatically reduced corruption. In December, the EU approved the payment of EUR 125 million as budget support.
According to countryaah, Nairobi is the capital and one of the major cities within the country of Kenya. Kenya has long been plagued by ethnic conflicts, often fueled by politicians for short-term gain. But poverty and competition for natural resources are also the most significant factors behind ethnic contradictions, as revealed in January when at least 15 people were killed and thousands fled in a conflict between massagers and kikuyu over water rights and pastures. Even worse riots occurred in July in northern K. when the borane and gabra groups clashed for the same reasons. At least 76 people were killed and the government sent a few thousand elite soldiers to restore peace.
- Also see abbreviationfinder.org for how the acronym KE stands for the country of Kenya and other meanings of this two-letter abbreviation.
Kenya – Nairobi
Nairobi
Nairobi, capital of Kenya; 3. 3 million residents (2010). Nairobi, located on the Athi Highlands in central Kenya, is the largest city in East Africa.
It is Kenya’s most important industrial center with, for example, the food industry and the manufacture of cigarettes, textiles, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, paints and rubber and paper products. Nairobi is also the seat of the Kenyan government administration and of the country’s most important health care and educational institutions, including Kenyatta Hospital, The University of Nairobi (founded 1956), Kenyatta University College (founded 1972), Kenya Polytechnic (founded 1961) and Kenya Institute of Administration (founded 1961).
Among the more prominent buildings in the city center is the Kenyatta Conference Center.
To the east of Nairobi is Jomo Kenyatta Airport, which is one of the busiest airports in Africa.
Nairobi was built on the railroad between Mombasa on the coast and Uganda in 1899 and became the capital of British East Africa in 1905. At Kenya’s independence in 1963, Nairobi became the nation’s capital.
