The Government of Kenya - The World Countries

Kenya - Government

Based on the etymolgy of Kenya, it was named for Mount Kenya; the meaning of the name is unclear but may derive from the Kikuyu, Embu, and Kamba words "kirinyaga," "kirenyaa," and "kiinyaa" - all of which mean "God's resting place". The Government system in this country is the presidential republic type and the different Administrative divisions includes: 47 counties; Baringo, Bomet, Bungoma, Busia, Elgeyo/Marakwet, Embu, Garissa, Homa Bay, Isiolo, Kajiado, Kakamega, Kericho, Kiambu, Kilifi, Kirinyaga, Kisii, Kisumu, Kitui, Kwale, Laikipia, Lamu, Machakos, Makueni, Mandera, Marsabit, Meru, Migori, Mombasa, Murang'a, Nairobi City, Nakuru, Nandi, Narok, Nyamira, Nyandarua, Nyeri, Samburu, Siaya, Taita/Taveta, Tana River, Tharaka-Nithi, Trans Nzoia, Turkana, Uasin Gishu, Vihiga, Wajir, West Pokot

National symbols

Lion; national colors: black, red, green, white.

The flag

The National flag of Kenya has three equal horizontal bands of black (top), red, and green; the red band is edged in white; a large Maasai warrior's shield covering crossed spears is superimposed at the center; black symbolizes the majority population, red the blood shed in the struggle for freedom, green stands for natural wealth, and white for peace; the shield and crossed spears symbolize the defense of freedom.

The National Anthem

Title	"Ee Mungu Nguvu Yetu" (Oh God of All Creation)
Lyric/music	Graham HYSLOP, Thomas KALUME, Peter KIBUKOSYA, Washington OMONDI, and George W. SENOGA-ZAKE/traditional, adapted by Graham HYSLOP, Thomas KALUME, Peter KIBUKOSYA, Washington OMONDI, and George W. SENOGA-ZAKE

note: adopted 1963; based on a traditional Kenyan folk song

More about the government of Kenya

Constitution
Date of Independence	12 December 1963 (from the UK)
National holiday	Jamhuri Day (Independence Day), 12 December (1963); note - Madaraka Day, 1 June (1963) marks the day Kenya attained internal self-rule
Legal system	mixed legal system of English common law, Islamic law, and customary law; judicial review in the new Supreme Court established by the new constitution
International law organization participation	accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
History	Current constitution passed by referendum on 4 August 2010
Amendments	Amendments can be proposed by either house of Parliament or by petition of at least one million eligible voters; passage of amendments by Parliament requires approval by at least two-thirds majority vote of both houses in each of two readings, approval in a referendum by majority of votes cast by at least 20% of eligible voters in at least one half of Kenya’s counties, and approval by the president; passage of amendments introduced by petition requires approval by a majority of county assemblies, approval by majority vote of both houses, and approval by the president
Citizenship
Citizenship by birth	no
Citizenship by descent only	at least one parent must be a citizen of Kenya
Dual citizenship recognized	yes
Residency requirement for naturalization	4 out of the previous 7 years
Executive Branch
Chief of state	President William RUTO (since 13 September 2022)
Head of government	President William RUTO (since 13 September 2022)
Cabinet	Cabinet appointed by the president, subject to confirmation by the National Assembly
Elections/appointments	president and deputy president directly elected on the same ballot by majority vote nationwide and at least 25% of the votes cast in at least 24 of the 47 counties; failure to meet these thresholds requires a runoff between the top two candidates; election last held on 9 August 2022 (next to be held on 10 August 2027)
Election results	2022: William RUTO elected president in first round; percent of vote - William RUTO (UDA) 50.5%, Raila ODINGA (ODM) 48.9%, other 0.6% 2017: Uhuru KENYATTA reelected president; percent of vote - Uhuru KENYATTA (JP) 98.3%, Raila ODINGA (ODM) 1%, other 0.7%; note - Kenya held a previous presidential election on 8 August 2017, but Kenya's Supreme Court on 1 September 2017 nullified the results, citing irregularities; the political opposition boycotted the October vote
Legislative branch
Description	Bicameral Parliament consists of: Senate (68 seats; 47 members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote and 20 directly elected by proportional representation vote - 16 women, 2 representing youth, 2 representing the disabled, and one Senate speaker; members serve 5-year terms) National Assembly (350 seats; 290 members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote, 47 women in single-seat constituencies elected by simple majority vote, and 12 members nominated by the National Assembly - 6 representing youth and 6 representing the disabled, and one Assembly speaker; members serve 5-year terms)
Elections	Senate - last held on 9 August 2022 (next to be held on 10 August 2027) National Assembly - last held on 9 August 2022 (next to be held on 10 August 2027)
Election results	Senate - percent of vote by party/coalition - NA; seats by party/coalition - Kenya Kwanza 33, Azimio La Umoja 32, independent 2, other 1; composition - men 46, women 21, percentage women is 31.3% National Assembly - percent of vote by party/coalition - NA; seats by party/coalition - Kenya Kwanza alliance 176, Azimio La Umoja alliance 161, independent 12, other 1; composition - men 267, women 81, percentage women 24.6%
Judicial branch
Highest court(s)	Supreme Court (consists of chief and deputy chief justices and 5 judges)
Judge selection and term of office	Chief and deputy chief justices nominated by Judicial Service Commission (JSC) and appointed by the president with approval of the National Assembly; other judges nominated by the JSC and appointed by president; chief justice serves a nonrenewable 10-year term or until age 70, whichever comes first; other judges serve until age 70
Subordinate courts	High Court; Court of Appeal; military courts; magistrates' courts; religious courts
Diplomatic representation in the US
Chief of mission	Ambassador David Kipkorir Kiplagat KERICH (since 18 September 2024)
Chancery	2249 R St NW, Washington, DC 20008
Telephone	[1] (202) 387-6101
FAX	[1] (202) 462-3829
Email address and website	[email protected] https://kenyaembassydc.org/#
Consulate(s)	New York
Diplomatic representation from the US
Chief of mission	Ambassador Margaret "Meg" WHITMAN (since 5 August 2022)
Embassy	P.O. Box 606 Village Market, 00621 Nairobi
Mailing address	8900 Nairobi Place, Washington, DC 20521-8900
Telephone	[254] (20) 363-6000
FAX	[254] (20) 363-6157
Email address and website	[email protected] https://ke.usembassy.gov/
National heritage
Total World Heritage Sites	7 (4 cultural, 3 natural)
Selected World Heritage Site locales	Lake Turkana National Parks (n); Mount Kenya National Park (n); Lamu Old Town (c); Sacred Mijikenda Kaya Forests (c); Fort Jesus, Mombasa (c); Kenya Lake System in the Great Rift Valley (n); Thimlich Ohinga Archaeological Site (c)