--- title: Kenya — English Wikipedia · full text with trees · page 3 description: Wikipedia's «Kenya», whole, every sentence with its dependency tree and pragmatics, CC BY-SA 4.0. It begins: Kenya, officially the Republic of Kenya, is a country located in East Africa. --- [Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/wikipedia/en/Kenya/page/3/) [home](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [corpora](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/) / [wikipedia](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/wikipedia/) / [en](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/wikipedia/en/) / Kenya # Kenya · page 3 From Wikipedia, [«Kenya»](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kenya), revision of the 2026-09-01 dump, [CC BY-SA 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). The trees and pragmatics of these pages, Mova's parse of that text, are CC BY-SA 4.0 too. [1](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/wikipedia/en/Kenya/) [2](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/wikipedia/en/Kenya/page/2/) **3** [4](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/wikipedia/en/Kenya/page/4/) [5](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/wikipedia/en/Kenya/page/5/) [6](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/wikipedia/en/Kenya/page/6/) ### President Kibaki and the road to a new constitution Further information: [Mwai Kibaki](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mwai_Kibaki), [Presidency of Mwai Kibaki](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Presidency_of_Mwai_Kibaki), [2002 Kenyan general election](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2002_Kenyan_general_election), [2007 Kenyan general election](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2007_Kenyan_general_election) Moi's plan to be replaced by Uhuru Kenyatta failed, and [Mwai Kibaki](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mwai_Kibaki), running for the opposition coalition "National Rainbow Coalition" ([NARC](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Rainbow_Coalition)), was elected president.[205](../../205/ "tree and pragmatics") David Anderson (2003) reports the elections were judged free and fair by local and international observers, and seemed to mark a turning point in Kenya's democratic evolution.[\[101\]](../../page/6/#ref-101 "note 101")[206](../../206/ "tree and pragmatics") In 2005, Kenyans rejected a plan to replace the 1963 independence constitution with a new one.[\[103\]](../../page/6/#ref-103 "note 103")[207](../../207/ "tree and pragmatics") As a result, the elections of 2007 took place following the procedure set by the old constitution.[208](../../208/ "tree and pragmatics") Kibaki was reelected in highly contested elections marred by [political and ethnic violence](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2007–08_Kenyan_crisis).[209](../../209/ "tree and pragmatics") The main opposition leader, Raila Odinga, claimed the election was rigged and that he was the rightfully elected president.[210](../../210/ "tree and pragmatics") In the ensuing violence, 1,500 people were killed and another 600,000 internally displaced, making it the worst post-election violence in Kenya.[211](../../211/ "tree and pragmatics") To stop the death and displacement of people, Kibaki and Odinga agreed to work together, with the latter taking the position of a prime minister.[\[104\]](../../page/6/#ref-104 "note 104")[212](../../212/ "tree and pragmatics") This made Odinga [the second prime minister of Kenya](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prime_Minister_of_Kenya).[213](../../213/ "tree and pragmatics") In July 2010, Kenya partnered with other East African countries to form the new East African Common Market within the [East African Community](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/East_African_Community).[\[105\]](../../page/6/#ref-105 "note 105")[214](../../214/ "tree and pragmatics") In 2011, [Kenya began sending troops](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Linda_Nchi) to Somalia to fight the terror group [Al-Shabaab](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al-Shabaab_%28militant_group%29).[\[106\]](../../page/6/#ref-106 "note 106")[215](../../215/ "tree and pragmatics") In mid-2011, two consecutive missed rainy seasons precipitated the worst [drought in East Africa](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2011_East_Africa_drought) in 60 years.[216](../../216/ "tree and pragmatics") The northwestern [Turkana region](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turkana_District) was especially affected,[\[107\]](../../page/6/#ref-107 "note 107") with local schools shut down as a result.[\[108\]](../../page/6/#ref-108 "note 108")[217](../../217/ "tree and pragmatics") The crisis was reportedly over by early 2012 because of coordinated relief efforts.[218](../../218/ "tree and pragmatics") Aid agencies subsequently shifted their emphasis to recovery initiatives, including digging irrigation canals and distributing plant seeds.[\[109\]](../../page/6/#ref-109 "note 109")[219](../../219/ "tree and pragmatics") In August 2010, Kenyans held a [referendum](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2010_Kenyan_constitutional_referendum) and passed [a new constitution](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constitution_of_Kenya), which limited [presidential](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Presidential_system) powers and devolved the central government.[\[99\]](../../page/6/#ref-99 "note 99")[220](../../220/ "tree and pragmatics") Following the passage of the new constitution, Kenya became a presidential [representative democratic](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Representative_democracy) republic, whereby the [President of Kenya](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/President_of_Kenya) is both [head of state](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Head_of_state) and [head of government](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Head_of_government), and of a [multi-party system](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Multi-party_system).[221](../../221/ "tree and pragmatics") The new constitution also states that [executive powers](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Executive_power) are exercised by the executive branch of government, headed by the president, who chairs a cabinet composed of people chosen from outside parliament.[222](../../222/ "tree and pragmatics") [Legislative power](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legislative_power) is vested exclusively in the [Parliament of Kenya](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parliament_of_Kenya).[223](../../223/ "tree and pragmatics") The [judiciary](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Judiciary) is independent of the executive and the legislature.[224](../../224/ "tree and pragmatics") ### Kenyatta and Ruto presidencies Main article: [Presidency of Uhuru Kenyatta](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Presidency_of_Uhuru_Kenyatta), [Presidency of William Ruto](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Presidency_of_William_Ruto) In 2013, Kenya held its [first general elections](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2013_Kenyan_general_election) under the 2010 constitution.[225](../../225/ "tree and pragmatics") [Uhuru Kenyatta](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uhuru_Kenyatta) won, though the result was [unsuccessfully challenged](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2013_Kenyan_presidential_election_petition) at the [Supreme Court](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Supreme_Court_of_Kenya) by opposition leader [Raila Odinga](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raila_Odinga).[\[110\]](../../page/6/#ref-110 "note 110")[226](../../226/ "tree and pragmatics") Kenyatta was re-elected in 2017 in [another disputed election](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2017_Kenyan_general_election).[227](../../227/ "tree and pragmatics") Odinga accused the [Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Independent_Electoral_and_Boundaries_Commission) of mismanaging the election and Kenyatta and his party of rigging.[228](../../228/ "tree and pragmatics") The Supreme Court overturned the results in a landmark ruling that established its position as an independent check on the president.[\[111\]](../../page/6/#ref-111 "note 111")[\[112\]](../../page/6/#ref-112 "note 112")[229](../../229/ "tree and pragmatics") In the repeated election, Kenyatta won after Odinga refused to participate, citing irregularities.[\[113\]](../../page/6/#ref-113 "note 113")[\[114\]](../../page/6/#ref-114 "note 114")[230](../../230/ "tree and pragmatics") In March 2018, a historic [handshake](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2018_Kenya_handshake) between Kenyatta and Odinga signalled a period of reconciliation followed by economic growth and increased stability.[\[115\]](../../page/6/#ref-115 "note 115")[\[116\]](../../page/6/#ref-116 "note 116")[231](../../231/ "tree and pragmatics") Between 2019 and 2021, the two combined efforts to promote major changes to the Kenyan constitution, labelled the "Building Bridges Initiative" (BBI).[232](../../232/ "tree and pragmatics") They said their efforts were to improve inclusion and overcome the country's election system that often resulted in post-election violence.[\[117\]](../../page/6/#ref-117 "note 117")[\[118\]](../../page/6/#ref-118 "note 118")[233](../../233/ "tree and pragmatics") The BBI proposal called for broad expansion of the legislative and executive branches, including the creation of a prime minister with two deputies and an official leader of the opposition, reverting to selecting cabinet ministers from among the elected members of parliament, establishing up to 70 new [constituencies](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constituencies), and adding up to 300 unelected members of Parliament (under an "[affirmative action](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Affirmative_action)" plan).[\[117\]](../../page/6/#ref-117 "note 117")[\[118\]](../../page/6/#ref-118 "note 118")[234](../../234/ "tree and pragmatics") Critics saw this as an attempt to reward political dynasties and blunt Deputy President [William Ruto](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Ruto)'s efforts to seek the presidency, and bloat the government at a high cost to the debt-laded country.[\[117\]](../../page/6/#ref-117 "note 117")[\[118\]](../../page/6/#ref-118 "note 118")[235](../../235/ "tree and pragmatics") Ultimately, in May 2021, the [Kenyan High Court](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High_Court_%28Kenya%29) ruled the BBI unconstitutional, because it was an effort of the government rather than a [popular initiative](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Popular_initiative).[\[117\]](../../page/6/#ref-117 "note 117")[\[118\]](../../page/6/#ref-118 "note 118")[236](../../236/ "tree and pragmatics") The court sharply criticised Kenyatta, laying out grounds for his being sued or even [impeached](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Impeachment).[237](../../237/ "tree and pragmatics") The ruling was seen as a major defeat for both Kenyatta and Odinga, but a boon to Odinga's future presidential-election rival, Ruto.[\[117\]](../../page/6/#ref-117 "note 117")[\[118\]](../../page/6/#ref-118 "note 118")[238](../../238/ "tree and pragmatics") In August 2021, Kenya's [Court of Appeal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Court_of_Appeal_of_Kenya) upheld the High Court's judgement in an appeal from the BBI Secretariat.[\[119\]](../../page/6/#ref-119 "note 119")[239](../../239/ "tree and pragmatics") Ruto narrowly won the [2022 presidential election](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2022_Kenyan_general_election), defeating Odinga to become Kenya's fifth president.[\[120\]](../../page/6/#ref-120 "note 120")[\[121\]](../../page/6/#ref-121 "note 121")[240](../../240/ "tree and pragmatics") In 2024, Ruto and the [Kenya Kwanza](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kenya_Kwanza) coalition faced [popular protests](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kenya_Protests_%282024%29) over the [Kenyan Finance Bill 2024](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kenya_Finance_Bill_2024).[\[122\]](../../page/6/#ref-122 "note 122")[241](../../241/ "tree and pragmatics") ## Geography Main article: [Geography of Kenya](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geography_of_Kenya) At 580367 km2,[\[123\]](../../page/6/#ref-123 "note 123") Kenya is the world's 47th-largest country (after Madagascar).[242](../../242/ "tree and pragmatics") It lies between latitudes [5°N](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/5th_parallel_north) and [5°S](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/5th_parallel_south), and longitudes [34°](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/34th_meridian_east) and [42°E](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/42nd_meridian_east). From the coast on the Indian Ocean, the low plains rise to central highlands which are bisected by the [Great Rift Valley](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kenyan_Rift_Valley), and fertile plateaus lie on either side, around [Lake Victoria](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lake_Victoria) and to the east.[\[124\]](../../page/6/#ref-124 "note 124")[\[125\]](../../page/6/#ref-125 "note 125")[243](../../243/ "tree and pragmatics") The Kenyan Highlands are one of the most successful agricultural production regions in Africa.[\[126\]](../../page/6/#ref-126 "note 126")[244](../../244/ "tree and pragmatics") The highlands are the site of the highest point in Kenya and the second highest peak on the continent: [Mount Kenya](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Kenya), which reaches a height of 5199 m and is the site of glaciers.[245](../../245/ "tree and pragmatics") [Mount Kilimanjaro](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Kilimanjaro) (5895 m) can be seen from Kenya to the south of the Tanzanian border.[246](../../246/ "tree and pragmatics") ### Climate Kenya's climate varies from tropical along the coast, to temperate inland, to [arid](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arid) in the north and northeast parts of the country.[247](../../247/ "tree and pragmatics") The area receives a great deal of sunshine every month.[248](../../248/ "tree and pragmatics") It is usually cool at night and early in the morning inland at higher elevations.[\[127\]](../../page/6/#ref-127 "note 127")[249](../../249/ "tree and pragmatics") The "long rains" season occurs from March/April to May/June.[250](../../250/ "tree and pragmatics") The "short rains" season occurs from October to November/December.[251](../../251/ "tree and pragmatics") The rainfall is sometimes heavy and often falls in the afternoons and evenings.[252](../../252/ "tree and pragmatics") Climate change is altering the natural pattern of the rainfall period, causing an extension of the short rains – which has led to floods –[\[128\]](../../page/6/#ref-128 "note 128") and reducing the drought cycle from every ten years to annual events, producing strong droughts such as the [2008–09 Kenya Drought](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2008–09_Kenya_Drought).[\[129\]](../../page/6/#ref-129 "note 129")[253](../../253/ "tree and pragmatics") The temperature remains high throughout these months of tropical rain.[254](../../254/ "tree and pragmatics") The hottest period is February and March, leading into the season of the long rains, and the coldest is in July, until mid-August.[\[130\]](../../page/6/#ref-130 "note 130")[255](../../255/ "tree and pragmatics") ### Wildlife Main article: [Wildlife of Kenya](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wildlife_of_Kenya), [Environmental issues in Kenya](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Environmental_issues_in_Kenya) Kenya has extensive land area devoted to [wildlife](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wildlife) habitats, including the [Tsavo game park](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tsavo) and [Masai Mara](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Masai_Mara), where [Blue Wildebeest](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Wildebeest) and other [bovids](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bovid) participate in a large-scale [annual migration](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikt:migration).[256](../../256/ "tree and pragmatics") More than one million wildebeest and 200,000 zebras participate in the migration across the [Mara River](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mara_River).[\[131\]](../../page/6/#ref-131 "note 131")[257](../../257/ "tree and pragmatics") The ["Big Five"](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_Five_Game) game animals of Africa, that is the lion, [leopard](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leopard), [buffalo](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/African_buffalo), [rhinoceros](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhinoceros), and [elephant](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/African_elephant), can be found in Kenya and in the Masai Mara in particular.[258](../../258/ "tree and pragmatics") A significant population of other wild animals, reptiles, and birds can be found in the [national parks](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_national_parks_of_Kenya) and game reserves in the country.[259](../../259/ "tree and pragmatics") The annual animal migration occurs between June and September, with millions of animals taking part, attracting valuable foreign tourism.[260](../../260/ "tree and pragmatics") Two million wildebeest migrate a distance of 2900 km from the [Serengeti](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serengeti) in neighbouring Tanzania to the Masai Mara[\[132\]](../../page/6/#ref-132 "note 132") in Kenya, in a constant clockwise fashion, searching for food and water supplies.[261](../../261/ "tree and pragmatics") This Serengeti Migration of the wildebeest is listed among the [Seven Natural Wonders of Africa](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seven_Natural_Wonders_of_Africa).[\[133\]](../../page/6/#ref-133 "note 133")[262](../../262/ "tree and pragmatics") ### Conservation Kenya had a 2019 [Forest Landscape Integrity Index](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forest_Landscape_Integrity_Index) mean score of 4.2/10, ranking it 133rd globally out of 172 countries.[\[134\]](../../page/6/#ref-134 "note 134")[263](../../263/ "tree and pragmatics") Conservation International operates in Kenya through [Conservation International Kenya](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conservation_International_Kenya), a country programme founded in 2014 that reports work spanning nearly 4.9 million hectares, including forest and rangeland conservation and restoration, ecotourism, and climate-mitigation activities such as [REDD+](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/REDD+).[\[135\]](../../page/6/#ref-135 "note 135")[264](../../264/ "tree and pragmatics") ## Government and politics Main article: [Politics of Kenya](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Politics_of_Kenya) Kenya is a [presidential](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Presidential_system) [representative democratic](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Representative_democracy) republic with a [multi-party system](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Multi-party_system).[265](../../265/ "tree and pragmatics") The president is [head of state](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Head_of_state) and [head of government](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Head_of_government).[266](../../266/ "tree and pragmatics") [Executive power](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Executive_power) is exercised by the government.[267](../../267/ "tree and pragmatics") [Legislative power](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legislative_power) is vested in the government, the [National Assembly](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Assembly_of_Kenya) and the [Senate](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Senate_of_Kenya).[268](../../268/ "tree and pragmatics") The [Judiciary](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Judiciary) is independent of the executive and the legislature.[269](../../269/ "tree and pragmatics") There has been growing concern, especially during former president Daniel arap Moi's tenure, that the executive was increasingly meddling with the affairs of the judiciary.[\[136\]](../../page/6/#ref-136 "note 136")[270](../../270/ "tree and pragmatics") Kenya has high levels of corruption according to [Transparency International](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transparency_International)'s [Corruption Perceptions Index](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corruption_Perceptions_Index) (CPI), a metric which attempts to gauge the prevalence of [public-sector](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_sector) corruption in various countries.[271](../../271/ "tree and pragmatics") In 2019, the nation placed 137th out of 180 countries in the index, with a score of 28 out of 100.[\[137\]](../../page/6/#ref-137 "note 137")[272](../../272/ "tree and pragmatics") But there are several rather significant developments with regard to curbing corruption from the Kenyan government, for instance the establishment of a new and independent [Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethics_and_Anti-Corruption_Commission).[\[138\]](../../page/6/#ref-138 "note 138")[273](../../273/ "tree and pragmatics") Following general elections held in 1997, the Constitution of Kenya Review Act, designed to pave the way for more comprehensive amendments to the Kenyan constitution, was passed by the national parliament.[\[139\]](../../page/6/#ref-139 "note 139")[274](../../274/ "tree and pragmatics") In December 2002, Kenya held democratic and open elections, which were judged free and fair by most international observers.[\[140\]](../../page/6/#ref-140 "note 140")[275](../../275/ "tree and pragmatics") The 2002 elections marked an important turning point in Kenya's democratic evolution in that power was transferred peacefully from the [Kenya African National Union](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kenya_African_National_Union) (KANU), which had ruled the country since independence, to the [National Rainbow Coalition](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Rainbow_Coalition) (NARC), a coalition of political parties.[276](../../276/ "tree and pragmatics") Under the presidency of [Mwai Kibaki](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mwai_Kibaki), the new ruling coalition promised to focus its efforts on generating economic growth, combating corruption, improving education, and rewriting its constitution.[277](../../277/ "tree and pragmatics") A few of these promises have been met.[278](../../278/ "tree and pragmatics") There is free primary education.[\[141\]](../../page/6/#ref-141 "note 141")[279](../../279/ "tree and pragmatics") In 2007, the government issued a statement declaring that from 2008, secondary education would be heavily subsidised, with the government footing all tuition fees.[\[142\]](../../page/6/#ref-142 "note 142")[280](../../280/ "tree and pragmatics") ### 2013 elections and new government Main article: [Kenyan general election, 2013](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kenyan_general_election,_2013), [Kenyan local elections, 2013](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kenyan_local_elections,_2013) Under the new constitution and with President Kibaki prohibited by term limits from running for a third term, Deputy Prime Minister [Uhuru Kenyatta](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uhuru_Kenyatta) ran for office.[281](../../281/ "tree and pragmatics") He won with 50.51% of the vote in March 2013.[282](../../282/ "tree and pragmatics") In December 2014, President Kenyatta signed a Security Laws Amendment Bill, which supporters of the law suggested was necessary to guard against armed groups.[283](../../283/ "tree and pragmatics") Opposition politicians, human rights groups, and nine Western countries criticised the security bill, arguing that it infringed on democratic freedoms.[284](../../284/ "tree and pragmatics") The governments of the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, and France also collectively issued a press statement cautioning about the law's potential impact.[285](../../285/ "tree and pragmatics") Through the Jubilee Coalition, the Bill was later passed on 19 December in the National Assembly under acrimonious circumstances.[\[143\]](../../page/6/#ref-143 "note 143")[286](../../286/ "tree and pragmatics") ### Foreign relations Main article: [Foreign relations of Kenya](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foreign_relations_of_Kenya) Relations with Somalia have historically been tense, although there has been some military co-ordination against Islamist insurgents.[287](../../287/ "tree and pragmatics") Kenya has good relations with the United Kingdom.[\[144\]](../../page/6/#ref-144 "note 144")[288](../../288/ "tree and pragmatics") Kenya is one of the most [pro-American](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pro-American) nations in Africa, and the wider world.[\[145\]](../../page/6/#ref-145 "note 145")[289](../../289/ "tree and pragmatics") With [International Criminal Court](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Criminal_Court) trial dates scheduled in 2013 for both President Kenyatta and Deputy President [William Ruto](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Ruto) related to the 2007 election aftermath, US president [Barack Obama](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barack_Obama), who is half-Kenyan, chose not to visit the country during his [mid-2013 African trip](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_presidential_visits_to_Sub-Saharan_Africa#Table_of_visits).[\[146\]](../../page/6/#ref-146 "note 146")[290](../../290/ "tree and pragmatics") Later in the summer, Kenyatta visited China at the invitation of President [Xi Jinping](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xi_Jinping) after a stop in Russia and not having visited the United States as president.[\[147\]](../../page/6/#ref-147 "note 147")[291](../../291/ "tree and pragmatics") In July 2015, Obama visited Kenya, the first American president to visit the country while in office.[\[148\]](../../page/6/#ref-148 "note 148")[292](../../292/ "tree and pragmatics") The [British Army Training Unit Kenya](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Army_Training_Unit_Kenya) (BATUK) is used for the training of [British](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Army) infantry battalions in the arid and rugged terrain of the [Great Rift Valley](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Rift_Valley).[\[149\]](../../page/6/#ref-149 "note 149")[\[150\]](../../page/6/#ref-150 "note 150")[293](../../293/ "tree and pragmatics") ### Armed forces Main article: [Kenya Defence Forces](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kenya_Defence_Forces) The Kenya Defence Forces are the armed forces of Kenya.[294](../../294/ "tree and pragmatics") The [Kenya Army](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kenya_Army), [Kenya Navy](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kenya_Navy), and [Kenya Air Force](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kenya_Air_Force) compose the National Defence Forces.[295](../../295/ "tree and pragmatics") The current Kenya Defence Forces were established, and its composition laid out, in Article 241 of the 2010 [Constitution of Kenya](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constitution_of_Kenya); the KDF is governed by the Kenya Defence Forces Act of 2012.[\[151\]](../../page/6/#ref-151 "note 151")[296](../../296/ "tree and pragmatics") The [President of Kenya](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/President_of_Kenya) is the [commander-in-chief](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Commander-in-chief) of all the armed forces.[297](../../297/ "tree and pragmatics") The armed forces are regularly deployed in peacekeeping missions around the world.[298](../../298/ "tree and pragmatics") Further, in the aftermath of the national elections of December 2007 and the violence that subsequently engulfed the country, a commission of inquiry, the [Waki Commission](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waki_Commission), commended its readiness and adjudged it to "have performed its duty well."[\[152\]](../../page/6/#ref-152 "note 152")[299](../../299/ "tree and pragmatics") Nevertheless, there have been serious allegations of human rights violations, most recently while conducting counter-insurgency operations in the [Mt Elgon](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mt_Elgon) area[\[153\]](../../page/6/#ref-153 "note 153") and also in the district of [Mandera](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mandera) central.[\[154\]](../../page/6/#ref-154 "note 154")[300](../../300/ "tree and pragmatics") Kenya's armed forces, like many government institutions in the country, have been tainted by [corruption](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corruption_in_Kenya) allegations.[301](../../301/ "tree and pragmatics") Because the operations of the armed forces have been traditionally cloaked by the ubiquitous blanket of "state security", the corruption has been hidden from public view, and thus less subject to public scrutiny and notoriety.[302](../../302/ "tree and pragmatics") This has changed recently.[303](../../303/ "tree and pragmatics") In what are by Kenyan standards unprecedented revelations, in 2010, credible claims of corruption were made with regard to recruitment[\[155\]](../../page/6/#ref-155 "note 155") and procurement of armoured personnel carriers.[\[156\]](../../page/6/#ref-156 "note 156")[304](../../304/ "tree and pragmatics") Further, the wisdom and prudence of certain decisions of procurement have been publicly questioned.[\[157\]](../../page/6/#ref-157 "note 157")[305](../../305/ "tree and pragmatics") ### Administrative divisions Main article: [Counties of Kenya](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Counties_of_Kenya), [Divisions of Kenya](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Divisions_of_Kenya) Kenya is divided into [47 semi-autonomous counties](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Counties_of_Kenya) that are headed by governors.[306](../../306/ "tree and pragmatics") These 47 counties form the first-order divisions of Kenya.[307](../../307/ "tree and pragmatics") [1](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/wikipedia/en/Kenya/) [2](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/wikipedia/en/Kenya/page/2/) **3** [4](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/wikipedia/en/Kenya/page/4/) [5](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/wikipedia/en/Kenya/page/5/) [6](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/wikipedia/en/Kenya/page/6/) - ← previous: [page 2](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/wikipedia/en/Kenya/page/2/) - next →: [page 4](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/wikipedia/en/Kenya/page/4/) - ↑ back to [English Wikipedia](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/wikipedia/en/)