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10 things you didn’t know about Kenya
Highlights
Although Kenya’s safaris and wildlife are one country’s most popular assets of the country, Kenya has many other sides which are not so well known.
Although Kenya’s safaris and wildlife are one country’s most popular assets of the country, Kenya has many other sides which are not so well known. Ahead of Kenya’s Independence Day, known as Jamhuri Day, on 12th December, here are 10 interesting facts you might not know about Kenya.
1. Kenya’s name origin: It is believed that the country’s name was taken from the majestic Mount Kenya. It was originally known as Kirinyaga (named by the Kikuyu community), which translates to “place of brightness”. It is said that when the British were colonising the country, they could not pronounce this and used an abbreviation which eventually became ‘Kenya’.
2. Kenyan flag: On Kenya’s Independence Day in 1963, the symbolic flag was adopted. The colours are all representative of different elements of Kenya’s independence; black represents the indigenous Kenyan population, red represents the blood shed in the lead up to independence and green represents the country’s rich agriculture and land. Following independence, the white stripes and Maasai shield were included to represent peace and the independence Kenya fought so hard for.
3. Beaches: Kenya is home to some of the most beautiful beaches in the world and its coastal line stretches across a huge 1,420km – more than classic coastal destinations such as the Seychelles and Barbados. With white sands and turquoise blue water, the beach regions such as Diani and Baburi are the perfect hot spot for beach lovers.
4. Producer of the freshest cut flowers: Almost half of the cut flowers in Europe originate from Kenya. The country offers year-round conditions to keep the flower-growing industry thriving - securing it as one of the largest exporters of flowers in the world.
5. White Rhino: Kenya is home to the last three remaining white rhinos. The three rhinos (Najin, Fatu and Sudan) reside at the Ol Pejeta Conservancy in Nanyuki. The centre is currently appearing to the public to support an IVF initiative to avoid extinction - http://olpejetaconservancy.org
6. Hakuna Matata: Famed by the Walt Disney company’s, ‘The Lion King’, the phrase Hakuna Matata is actually widely spoken in Kenya. It is Swahili and translates to ‘no worries’ as communicated by Timon and Pumba in the classic film.
7. Nobel Peace prize winner: Kenya was home to Wangari Maathai, the first African woman to win a Nobel prize. Wangari was awarded with the Nobel Peace Prize in 2004 for her contribution to sustainable development, democracy and peace.
8. Princess to a Queen: Princess Elizabeth was staying at the Treetops Hotel in Kenya when her father, the King had passed away. Unofficially she became a queen while in Kenya and it is known that she went into the trees as a princess and came down as a queen.
9. Bird species: Kenya set the world record in 1986 for the greatest number of bird species spotted in just 24 hours. A huge 342 birds were seen out of the 1,132 bird species which can be found in Kenya.
10. Wedding dowries: Unlike many cultures that expect the bride’s family to pay a dowry to the groom’s family, it works the other way around in Kenya ahead of the wedding. The groom’s family is expected to offer a starting dowry of ten cows.
About the Ministry of East Africa Affairs, Commerce & Tourism
The Ministry East Africa Affairs Commerce & Tourism is responsible for driving regional integration, the development of international trade and export, and the promotion of Kenya as a world-class tourist destination.
The Ministry is divided in to two departments:
- The State Department of East Africa Community, which is responsible for East African community affairs and the coordination and implementation of community projects
- The State Department of Commerce and Tourism, which is structured into two Directorates: the Directorate of Commerce, which is responsible for international trade and export promotion, and the Directorate of Tourism, which is responsible for the development of Kenya’s tourism industry
Launched in September 2015, Make it Kenya is a new international brand campaign for the country showcasing tourism, commerce and investment opportunities to the world. The launch saw the unveiling of MakeItKenya.com, a digital portal for tourists, investors and the global media, aiming to provide rich and shareable content worldwide.
For more information please visit www.makeitkenya.com
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