GENERAL OVERVIEW OF KENYA
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Geophysical Data
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Location: |
On East African Coast astride the equator
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Geographic coordinates |
1 00 N, 38 00 E
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Area: |
Total: 582,650 sq Km
Land: 569,250 sq Km
Water: 13,400 sq Km |
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Climate: |
Temperature is tropical to sub-tropical depending on altitude.
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Neighbours: |
Uganda,Sudan,Ethiopia,Somalia,Tanzania.
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Seas: |
Indian Ocean
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Lakes: |
Victoria, Turkana, Baringo, Naivasha
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Cities: |
Nairobi , Kisumu an Mombasa
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Major Towns: |
Nakuru, Eldoret, Nyeri
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Currency: |
Kenya shilling (KES)
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INFRASTRUCTURE:
Airport:
International airports are located in Nairobi , Mombasa , and Eldoret. There are more than 150 other airports and airstrips across the country
Airports' passenger and cargo traffic: 1999 - 2003
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1999
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2000
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2001
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2002
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2003
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Passengers (000 No.) |
4,002
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4,383
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4,329
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4,474
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4,747
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Cargo (tones) |
246,255
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272,721
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256,953
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222,540
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217,955
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Source: Economic Survey 2004
For more information consult www.kenyacivilaviation.or.ke , www.kenyaairports.co.ke
Seaports:
Mombasa is the principal seaport of Kenya and hosts one of the most modern ports in Africa . It has 21 berths, 2 bulk oil jetties and dry bulk wharves. The port can handle all sizes of ships and all types of cargo.
Container traffic went up by 15.3% to 438,597Twenty –Foot Equivalent Units (TEUs) in 2004 compared to 380,353 TEU s in 2003.
Container Traffic movement in TEUs by status: 2000 - 2004
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2000
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2001
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2002
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2003
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2004
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Imports |
112,346
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134,497
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143,359
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173,539
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203,918
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Exports |
106,915
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130,234
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134,700
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157,209
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200,434
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Transhipment |
17,667
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25,769
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27,368
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49,605
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34,245
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Total
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236,928
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290,500
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305,427
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380,353
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438,597
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Source. KPA Annual Review and Bulletin of Statistics, 2004
Composition of Port Traffic: 2000 – 2004 (000' DWT)
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2000
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2001
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2002
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2003
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2004
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Domestic |
7,476
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8,180
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8,009
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8,873
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9,620
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Transit |
1,454
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2,117
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2,215
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2,453
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2,891
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Transhipment |
196
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303
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340
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605
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409
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Total
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9,126
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10,600
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10,564
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11,931
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12,920
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Source. KPA Annual Review and Bulletin of Statistics, 2004
For more information consult www.kenya-ports.com
Roads :
Roads are primarily communication links to all sectors of the economy and the population. It is widely recognized that an efficient road infrastructure is a prerequisite for economic and social development.
There is an extensive road network connecting most parts of the country. All weather roads connect major commercial centers.
The size of Kenya 's Road Network is estimated at 177,500 Km comprising 63,000 Km classified roads and 114,500 Km of unclassified roads. The road network is administered by the various Government departments as shown below.
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Classification
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Administering Agency
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Network length (Km)
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National Roads (Class A,B,C) |
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14,000
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District Roads:
- Unclassified rural roads |
District Roads Committees
County Councils
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49,000
100,000
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Urban Roads |
City and Municipal Councils
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14,500
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Earnings from Road Traffic, 1999 – 2003 (Kshs million)
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1999
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2000
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2001
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2002
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2003
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Passenger |
9,764
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10,026
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13,394
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16,745
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17,614
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Freight |
8,788
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11,477
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12,265
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19,422
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20,677
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Total
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18,552
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21,503
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25,659
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36,167
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38,291
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Source. KPA Annual Review and Bulletin of Statistics, 2004
For more information consult www.kroadsboard.go.ke
Railways:
Kenya is served by a single-track railway system running from Mombasa through Nairobi to Uganda with branches to Nanyuki, Kitale and Kisumu
Railway Traffic: 1998/1999 - 2002/2003
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1998/1999
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1999/2000
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2000/2001
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2001/2002
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2002/2003
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Freight (tones) |
2,200
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2,400
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2,330
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2,227
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2,165
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Passenger (no.000) |
4,700
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4,200
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5,517
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4,794
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4,400
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Source: Economic Survey 2004
Telecommunications services
Kenya has a well-established telecommunication system. The country communication backbone is provided by Telkom Kenya , which is a government parastatal. Communication Commission of Kenya (CCK) is a regulator in this industry providing the license. There is also developed postal and courier services provided by government parastatal, postal Corporation of Kenya as well as other courier companies.
Over 40 Internet service providers have been licensed to operate in Kenya . They provide leased line, dial up, wireless and other modern available technologies.
Telecommunication services: 1999 - 2003
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Unit
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1999
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2000
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2001
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2002
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2003
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Telephone exchange capacity |
No. (000)
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707
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748
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772
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839
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869
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Telephone exchange connections |
No. (000)
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411
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444
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446
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508
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544
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Public Call boxes |
No. (000)
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296
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304
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326
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332
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326
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Tele density |
No. (000)
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3,500
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3,861
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5,412
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3,098
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1,395
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Source: Economic Survey 2004
For more information consult www.cck.go.ke, www.telkom.co.ke
Power
Electricity is the main source of power in Kenya . It is supplied at 240 volts, 50 cycles single-phase and at 415 volts, 50 cycles three-phase. Generation of electricity is undertaken by Kenya Electricity Generation Company (KenGen) while the transmission and distribution is done by Kenya Power and Light Company (KPLC). Power generation s undertaken by both public and private companies.
Electricity Regulatory Board is a Government regulator charged with setting up tariff rates and licensing.
For more information consult www.erb.go.ke , www.kengen.co.ke, www.kplc.co.ke
SOCIAL DATA
Education:
Kenya has abundant, skilled and educated labour. The Kenya education system consists primarily of 8 years primary education, 4 years secondary education, and 4 years university education. In addition to university level course in engineering, medicine, computer science, law, architecture, arts education, dentistry, agriculture, etc.; there are also numerous technical courses such as tailoring,, accountancy, secretarial, masonry, engineering, draughtsmanship, computer programming, carpentry, insurance, banking, language, hospitality trades, which provide diploma courses. Other internationally recognized education systems are also offered. The national literacy rate is 78%.
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Tertiary Education
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No of Public Universities |
6
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No of Private Universities |
17, but 6 accredited
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Public University Enrollment |
58,017(2003/2004)
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Private University Enrollment |
9,541 (2003/2004)
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% Female Enrollment at Public University |
31.6%
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% Female Enrollment at Private University |
53.7%
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Basic and Secondary Education
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Pre-Primary School Enrollment: |
1.204 million (2003)
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Primary School Enrollment: |
7.208 million (2003)
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Secondary School Enrollment: |
0.863 million (2003)
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Technical Education Enrollment at Polytechnics and Institutes of Technology |
32,718 (2003)
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Other Education Institutions
International Schools in Kenya : Japanese, Korean, Norwegian, German, UK , US, Canadians, French, Swedish.
Health
Kenya has a variety if medical institutions including Nairobi Hospital, Aga Khan, Kenya National, Mater Hospital etc. There are also public and private hospitals covering the entire country.
Selected medical personnel, 2002 - 2003
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2002
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2003
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Type of medical personnel |
No. |
No. per 100,000 population |
No. |
No. per 100,000 population |
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Doctors
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4,740
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15.1
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4,813
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15.3
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Dentist
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761
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2.6
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772
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2.7
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Registered Nurses
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9,753
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31.0
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9,869
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33.1
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Enrolled Nurses
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29,094
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94.2
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30,212
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100.2
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Foreign Relations
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International land Regional Memberships: |
COMESA, East Africa Community, UN, Non-aligned Movements, ACP, WTO, New Economic Partnership for Africa Development, Africa Union
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Key Diplomatic Missions abroad: |
Malaysia, Japan, China, India, Australia, Germany, U.A.E, Italy, Switzerland (WTO/ITC), USA, Canada, UK, France, Belgium, Sweden, Russia, Uganda, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Tanzania.
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Key Diplomatic Missions in Kenya : |
China, Japan, Korea, Germany, Canada, Colombia, Australia, France, US, UK, Switzerland, Netherlands, Thailand, Indonesia, Italy, Mexico, Saudi Arabia, South Africa.
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