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Kenya Facts & Worksheets

The Republic of Kenya is the 27th most populous country in the world. Kenya is popular for the wildlife and scenery of the Savannah, often seen on TV shows, wildlife documentaries, books, movies, and advertisements.

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The Republic of Kenya is the 27th most populous country in the world. Kenya is popular for the wildlife and scenery of the Savannah, often seen on TV shows, wildlife documentaries, books, movies, and advertisements. It is what people commonly think of when they think of Africa.

See the fact file below for more information on the Kenya or alternatively, you can download our 23-page Kenya worksheet pack to utilise within the classroom or home environment.

Key Facts & Information

GENERAL FACTS

  • Kenya is officially known as the Republic of Kenya.
  • It is a country in the East of Africa with 47 semi-autonomous counties, each with its respective elected governors.
  • In terms of size, Kenya is the 48th largest country in the world.
  • In terms of population, Kenya is the 27th most populous country.
  • The capital city of Kenya is also its largest city, Nairobi.
  • Aside from English, the other spoken and official language in Kenya is Swahili.
  • In Swahili, the Republic of Kenya is known as Jamhuri Ya Kenya.
  • Swahili is also the national language of Kenya.
  • The oldest city in Kenya is Mombasa, which is Kenya’s former and first capital city.
  • Kisumu City is an important city in Kenya as it serves as an inland port to Lake Victoria.
  • The places bordering Kenya are:
    • South Sudan, which borders Kenya to the North West
    • Ethiopia, bordering Kenya to the North
    • Somalia borders Kenya to the East
    • Uganda borders Kenya to the West
    • Indian Ocean borders Kenya to the South-East

PEOPLE AND CULTURE

  • There are more than 40 ethnic groups residing in Kenya.
  • Due to the diversity of ethnic groups, there are also more than 60 languages spoken in Kenya.
  • This is why it is not surprising to know that almost everyone in Kenya is able to speak more than one African Language.
  • Despite the fact that education and school is free in Kenya, there are still few children who are able to attend classes, because in Kenya, children are more focused on helping their families by working the land, taking care of their cattle, cooking, or fetching water.
  • The people in Kenya have rich and distinct music, as well as stories.
  • Kenyan tribes are fond of storytelling accompanied by music as it was a way of passing their values from generation to generation.

WILDLIFE AND NATURE

  • Kenya is popular for its diverse wildlife and its seemingly endless savannah.
  • There are various animals inhabiting the savannah of Kenya, such as elephants, lions, cheetahs, giraffes, zebras, rhinos, hippos, and more.
  • The African wildlife nestling in Kenya are getting sufficient aid from its government as there are over 50 reserves and parks that have been set up by the Kenyan Government to protect the animals.

GOVERNMENT AND ECONOMY

  • Kenya was a colony of the United Kingdom from 1920 until 1963.
  • After it became independent, Kenya became a republic.
  • The Republic of Kenya consists of a president, a national assembly called the Bunge, and a legal system.
  • Kenya celebrates its day of independence on December 12 yearly, and it is called the Jamhuri Day.

BRIEF HISTORY

  • PRE-COLONIAL PERIOD
    • As early as 2000 BC, Cushitic-speaking people that came from northern Africa have settled in a portion of East Africa that is now Kenya.
    • Kenyan Coasts were often visited by Arab traders around 1st Century AD.
    • Since Kenya was easily accessible by Persians and Arabs as it was close to their peninsulas, Persians and Arab colonies were established.
    • Nilotic and Bantu people also settled in Kenya during the 1st Century.
  • EUROPEANS AND COLONIAL PERIOD
    • The Swahili Language have evolved from a mixture of Bantu and Arabic, and has developed as a lingua franca; a language that is widely used, mostly for trade.
    • In 1498, the Portuguese arrived in Kenya and crippled the Arabs’ dominance over the land.
    • The Portuguese ruled with the permit of the Islam from the Imam of Oman until the 16th Century.
    • In the 19th Century, another European influence arrived – the United Kingdom.
    • In accord with the Berlin Conference in 1885, East Africa was first divided to be taken over by European powers.
    • In 1895, the British Government had opened Kenya to white settlers.
    • It was officially declared a British colony in 1920.
  • RESISTANCE TO COLONIALISM
    • In 1942, the tribes of Kikuyu, Embu, Meru, and Kamba united in secrecy to fight against the British rule.
    • This was the beginning of the Mau Mau Movement.
    • Kenya was put under a state of emergency from October 1952 to December 1959 due to the Mau Mau rebellion.
  • INDEPENDENCE
    • Kenya gained independence on December 12, 1963.
    • Kenya’s first prime minister was Jomo Kenyatta, the man who also led and directed the Mau Mau movement.
    • Kenyatta was sentenced to 7 years imprisonment because of the Mau Mau Movement in 1953.
    • Kenyatta was freed in 1962 and became the prime minister the following year.

Kenya Worksheets

This is a fantastic bundle which includes everything you need to know about the Kenya across 23 in-depth pages. These are ready-to-use Kenya worksheets that are perfect for teaching students about the Republic of Kenya which is the 27th most populous country in the world. Kenya is popular for the wildlife and scenery of the Savannah, often seen on TV shows, wildlife documentaries, books, movies, and advertisements. It is what people commonly think of when they think of Africa.

Complete List Of Included Worksheets

  • Kenya Facts
  • Fast Facts
  • Kenya Guess It?
  • Around Kenya
  • History Keywords
  • Same and Different
  • Letter to Kenyans
  • Wondrous Wildlife
  • Cities Of Kenya
  • Picture Narrative
  • Happy Jamhuri Day!

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Kenya famously known for?

Kenya is known for the Big Five animals, the Great Wildebeest Migration, and world record-breaking athletes. Kenya also has a lot of different kinds of plants and animals, and great safari destinations. People from Kenya include Lupita Nyong’o and Barack Obama Sr. Popular foods in Kenya are Nyama Choma (barbecued meat) and Githeri (a stew made with maize and beans).

What is only found in Kenya?

There are some animals that you can only find in Kenya, such as the Tana River Mangabey and the Tana River Red Colobus. The Hirola is a kind of antelope that used to live in Somalia but doesn’t anymore. Some other unique mammals include the golden-rumped sengi and the boni giant sengi.

What was Kenya’s original name?

The Kikuyu people lived in the area where Mt. Kenya is now called “Kirinyaga” or “Kerenyaga”. This means “mountain of whiteness” because its peak was always covered in snow.

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Use With Any Curriculum

These worksheets have been specifically designed for use with any international curriculum. You can use these worksheets as-is, or edit them using Google Slides to make them more specific to your own student ability levels and curriculum standards.

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