WHAT ARE 10 INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT KENYA?

WHAT ARE 10 INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT KENYA?

These are the 10 most interesting facts about Kenya.

1. Kenya is the most famous African country for its wildlife
2. Kenya is named after a mountain
3. Kenya is among the countries with the largest economies in Africa
4. Kenya is home to the most successful athletes and Olympic medalists
5. Kenya has the fastest and highest internet connectivity rates in Africa
6. Kenya is a business hub and Africa’s financial center
7. Kenya is a global leader in mobile money transfer and banking
8. Kenya is home to the Maasai tribe.
9. Kenya has the highest number of lakes in Africa
10. Kenya has the best beaches in Africa

Kenya is an East African country and it is also the most famous country in Africa. Kenya is bordered by Ethiopia and South Sudan in the north, Uganda in the west, Somalia in the North East and Tanzania to the south. The Kenyan coastline is flanked by the Indian Ocean.

1. Kenya has the highest Number of Lakes in Africa

Kenya is beholden to many lakes and rivers. Actually, the exact number of lakes in Kenya is 64. This is the second largest number of lakes after Uganda in Africa. Some of the most famous lakes found in Kenya are:

1. Lake Victoria. This is the largest lake in Africa and the third-largest lake in the world.
2. Lake Turkana. It is the third-largest desert lake in the world.

2. Kenya Is the Most Famous African Country for its Wildlife

When people who live outside the African continent think of safari, the first image to click in their mind is Kenya. This why:

• Kenya has some of the most amazing and famous national parks in the world. Some of the national parks are; Masai Mara national park, Nakuru national park, and Tsavo national park. There is just but to name a few.
• The Kenyan national parks have a wide variety of wild animals including all the big 5 animals. These are the lion, rhinoceros, buffalo, leopard, and elephant.
• Wildebeest’s migration. Every year a phenomenon that has been christened the 8^th wonder in the world happens here in Kenya. Wildebeests migrate from Serengeti national park in Tanzania to Masai Mara national park here in Kenya. This usually happens from July to November. Therefore tourists arrive in large numbers in the country to observe this great migration. River crossings are the most sought moments of this great migration.

3. Kenya is named After a Mountain

Kenya is named after Mt. Kenya which is the highest mountain in Kenya and also the second highest mountain in Africa after Mt Kilimanjaro in Tanzania.

According to the Kikuyu which is a major tribe in Kenya, the word Kenya means ‘God’s resting place’. It is almost hard to refute the claims that it is the gods resting place since the country has breathtaking scenery and an amazing atmosphere.

4. Kenya is among the Countries with the largest economies in Africa

The significant political and economic reforms made by the country’s leaders have contributed to sustained social development, economic growth, and political stability over the past 20 years.

Kenya has a Gross Domestic Product of $264 billion. This makes Kenya the third largest economy in sub-Saharan Africa after Nigeria and South Africa.

The Kenyan economy is market-based with a few state-owned enterprises. The major economic industries include:

Due to the sound economic policies and location several global brands have invested heavily in Kenya with the goal of tapping into the African market. This has created more jobs for Kenyans and improved the quality of living.

5. Kenya is Home to the Most Successful Athletes and Olympic Medalists

As per the statistics before the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo, Kenya had a total of 103 medals. This is the highest number in Africa. Some of these medals are; 34 bronze medals, 38 silver medals, and 31 gold medals.

In addition to that, Kenya is a dominant figure in long-distance races. The races Kenya dominates the most are the 800 meters and the marathons.

Some of the notable athletes in Kenya are:

• Kipchoge Keino who is a decorated long-distance runner
• Eliud Kipchoge is a marathon runner. This one has even broken his own record several times.

6. Kenya Has the Fastest and Highest Internet Connectivity Rate in Africa

With over 80% of Kenyans having access to internet connectivity this is the highest internet connectivity rate in the continent.

The fast internet connectivity has made Kenya an e-commerce, software developer, and e-commerce hub. Recently Google launched an African Development Centre in Nairobi.

7. Kenya is a Business Hub and Africa’s Financial Center

Nairobi which is the capital of Kenya has a huge concentration of financial institutions like both local and global banks. This makes Kenya a major financial center in Africa. The reason for this is Kenya has a friendly business environment for investors.

Kenya has been ranked fourth on the ease of doing business here in Africa. This is according to Atlas magazine. The Kenyan government has a notoriety of welcoming companies that are willing to advance the interest of Kenyans. They do this by offering generous tax rebates to investors.

Kenya has no limitation of investment opportunities in tourism, Agricultural processing, healthcare, manufacturing, mining, energy, and real estate. The most interesting thing is that Kenyans are the most welcoming people on earth and most of them can speak English.

8. Kenya has Asserted Herself as a Global Leader in Mobile Money Banking

In Kenya, it is easy as A B C to receive money on your mobile phone and spend it there too. This is what mobile money transfer and banking entail. Safaricom, the biggest telecommunications service provider in Kenya offers this service through Mpesa. Safaricom subscribers who are enrolled in the Mpesa service can send, receive and save money on their mobile phones just by dialing a code on their mobile gadget.

The origin of mobile money banking is Kenya. With over 50% of Kenyans using mobile money on a daily basis, this makes Kenya a global leader in the mobile money sector.

9. Kenya is home to Famous Maasai Tribe.

The Maasai people of Kenya live in the central part of Kenya. They are famous for their unique way of life, culture and love for their cattle.

With a population of 2.1 million people. A good portion of them lives here in Kenya while the rest live in Tanzania.

The most unique thing about the Maasai is their warrior jumping dancing style. They are also one of the few warrior tribes left in Africa. In addition to that they have a fascinating relationship with wild animals since they usually live nearby or along parks.

10. Kenya has the Best Beaches in Africa

Though mostly celebrated for its safari, Kenya has an idyllic coastline in the east where it is bordered by the Indian Ocean. The most famous beaches are Shela and Diani beaches.

Along the beach are small fishing villages, luxury resorts, and other entertainment spots. Tourists come to the beach for sand bathing, fishing, collecting sea shells, scuba diving, and other activities.

“What I loved most about Nairobi, Kenya is the matatu culture and the local cuisine like ‘mutura’”. Emoke Thorne.

“Kenya is an amazing country with beautiful beaches and breathe taking landscapes sprawling across the country.” Joseph Mitch

Frequently Asked Questions

What are 5 interesting facts about Kenya?

1. The first woman to win a Nobel Peace prize was a Kenyan. Her name was Wangari Maathai and she was awarded the prize for her environmental efforts. Through her green belt foundation, she had gone ahead to plant over one million trees in Kenya.
2. Kenya has over 40 tribes speaking over 60 different languages
3. Kenya is home to the second-highest mountain in the continent. The mountain is known as Mt Kenya
4. Kenya has over 50 national parks hosting the big five animals which are the lion, buffalo, rhinoceros, elephant, and leopard.
5. Kenya is among the largest exporters of coffee and tea to Great Britain

What is the most interesting thing about Kenya?

Kenya is home to the world’s most famous and dominant athletes and gold medalists in the world. Some of the most notable athletic figures are Eliud Kipchoge and Kipchoge Keino.

What are 2 historical facts about Kenya?

1. It was colonized by the British. It was given independence in 1963 after an armed struggle for independence.
2. The late queen of England ascended to the throne while on a visit to Kenya