Interesting Facts about Kenya

The term Kenya was borrowed from the Mount Kenya, which is the highest mountain in the country and the second highest in Africa, its highest peak teaching 5199m above sea level. The mountain, found in the central highlands region bears much significance since time immemorial. The Kikuyu community, which resides around the mountain, believed that their God lived on it, and so they considered it a holy place and would pray facing it. Well, with lots of tourist attractions, below are some interesting facts about this wonderful country that you might not have known.

• The main food in Kenya is corn, and it is consumed in different forms. It can be turned into flour and made into a firm cake known as Ugali or be used to prepare porridge. It can also be boiled together with beans to make Githeri. Mukimo can also be prepared by boiling corn and beans and then mashed together with potatoes or bananas. Nyama Choma, 'roast meat' also commonly accompanies ugali.

• Tea is the main hot beverage and is widely preferred than coffee. The beverages are taken warm or hot and never cold.
• World heritage sites in Kenya include Lake Turkana National Park, Mount Kenya national Park, Lamu old town, fort Jesus, sacred Mijikenda Kaya forest and Kenya’s Rift Valley Lake system.
• Kenya boasts one of the wonders of the world, the Wildebeest Migration in the Masai Mara game reserve.

• The American president Barrack Obama’s father was a Kenyan.
• Kenya boasts over 50 National parks and game reserves and is home to the big five, namely Elephant, Lion, leopard, rhino and buffalo.
• Some of the world’s best known archaeological sites are found in Kenya such as Koobi Fora, Hyrax hill, Lake Turkana, and Turkana basin
• English and Swahili are the official languages in Kenya. The indigenous languages are also spoken widely.
• Majority of the population comprises Christians, followed by Muslims, and Asians. Of the Christians, majority are Protestants, followed by Catholics.
• The Capital City of Kenya is Nairobi, located in the central region, and hosts the Jomo Kenyatta international Airport, the biggest in East Africa.

• Kenya’s main port is Mombasa, and boasts one of the deepest natural harbors in the world.
• There is also an inland port in Kisumu, along Lake Victoria, the biggest lake in Africa, and a source of River Nile, the longest river in the world.
• The Great Rift Valley runs through Kenya.
• The Late Professor Wangari Maathai became the first African woman to win a Nobel peace prize in the year 2004.
• Kenya boasts some of the best track athletes in world, and has won in major competitions such as long distance races at the Olympics.