Kenya 2002

In 2002, Kenya was a newly independent nation in East Africa. It had an area of 582,646 square kilometers and a population of 33 million people. According to computerannals, the capital of Kenya was Nairobi, and its official language was English. Located on the equator, Kenya’s terrain is mostly high plateau with mountains in the west and low plains in the east. The climate is tropical with cool nights and hot days. Natural resources included coal, gold, limestone, soda ash and gemstones such as ruby and sapphire. The economy of Kenya relied heavily on agriculture; tea, coffee and horticulture were the major crops grown in the country. Furthermore Kenya also had a large tourism industry due to its wildlife reserves such as Masai Mara National Reserve. In 2002 there were still many challenges facing Kenya; poverty levels remained high due to a lack of economic diversification away from agriculture and low wages for workers in other industries such as manufacturing or services. Furthermore corruption remained a problem which hindered economic development. However despite these issues in 2002 Kenya had made significant progress since gaining independence from Britain in 1963; it had established a multi-party democracy with free elections and had joined international organizations such as the United Nations (UN) and African Union (AU).

Yearbook 2002

Kenya. In an effort to improve Kenya’s spotty reputation, President Daniel arap Moi hired British consultants to counter corruption. Two special courts for corruption cases were set up.

However, the critics held Moi himself responsible for the corruption that caused the lender to turn Kenya’s back. Before the coming general elections, the opposition gathered, whose fragmentation was the main reason for the president being able to remain. Five parties and two interest groups joined forces in Kenya’s National Alliance Party (NAK).

According to Countryaah website, national day of Kenya is every December 12. The National Development Party (NDP), which entered into a coalition with ruling Kenya’s African National Union (KANU) in 2001, dissolved in March and was fully incorporated into KANU. NDP leader Raila Odinga, formerly one of Moi’s foremost critics, became secretary general of KANU. Odinga had set his sights on the presidential post and reacted strongly when Moi said he wanted to succeed Uhuru Kenyatta, 42-year-old son of Kenya’s first president Jomo Kenyatta. Moi, who belongs to an ethnic minority group, was adopted with the help of Kenyatta to attract the majority of the people of Kikuyu to vote for continued KANU rule.

Kenya Border Countries Map

Two ministers who opposed Kenyatta were dismissed. Vice President George Saitoti was also dismissed when he announced his intention to challenge Kenyatta. However, when Kenyatta was named KANU’s presidential candidate, a large number of senior members with Odinga left the party and joined NAK, which was now transformed into the National Rainbow Coalition (NARC).

Former Vice President Mwai Kibaki was nominated as NARC presidential candidate, who in the end-December election defeated Uhuru Kenyatta by about 63% of the vote against 31. Even in the parliamentary elections, NARC gained a clear majority. As a result, 39 years of KANU rule was broken.

In an attack on a hotel outside Mombasa in November, nine Kenyans, three newly arrived Israeli tourists and probably three suicide bombers were killed. A few minutes after the attack on the hotel, the returning Israeli aircraft was close to being hit by two robots fired from the ground. The terror network al-Qaeda claimed to have been behind the attacks. The concrete suspicions were directed at Somali groups.

1991 Democratization

KANU convened the Party Council to discuss the implementation of democratic reforms which include: should allow more parties to operate at national level. Pressure groups such as the Forum for Restoration of Democracy (FORD) led by Oginga Odinga and the Moral Alliance for Peace (MAP) were immediately transformed into actual parties. But to keep the situation “under control”, the government continued to arrest members of the opposition. In early 92, lawyer James Orengo and environmentalist Wangari Maathai were arrested on allegations of “spreading malicious rumors” implicating President Moi in a plan to interrupt the democratization process that had been initiated in 91.

In February 92, the Democratic Party (DP) was formed. A new opposition party that advocated the development of a multi-party democratic system. Until then, the government had refused to determine the exact time for holding elections. At the same time, women’s groups demanded greater participation in political life as women made up 53% of the electorate and 80% of the labor force in agriculture – the country’s most important occupation.

The same month, FORD conducted a demonstration in Nairobi with the participation of over 100,000 people. The requirements included setting the suppression and press censorship as well as drawing up a precise timetable for the election. The demonstration was the first legal demonstration against the government during the country’s 22 years of independence.

In January, several ministers resigned to form new political parties. In March, the government campaigned against a general strike planned by wives of political prisoners. The government banned political meetings and censored the press, but the general strike nonetheless forced President Moi into retreat. In January 93, Moi began his fourth term after defeating the opposition in the December 92 elections. Despite the 7 opposition parties getting over 60% of the vote, they got only 88 seats in parliament.

In February, the government published a plan for privatization and liberalization of foreign trade, but the IMF criticized it for being inadequate. As a result, negotiations with the FX were suspended. Arap Moi declined to raise interest rates by 45% and reduce the number of government employees from 270,000 to 45,000. Negotiations later resumed, in April the currency was devalued by 23.47% and the World Bank released a $ 350 million loan. Liberalization continued in 94. Nairobi removed currency controls with the aim of attracting private Kenyan and foreign investment. That same year, a severe drought hit several provinces in especially the eastern part of the country and the Rift Valley. The government granted disaster relief to the affected areas.

Kenya Country Overview

Visas

Finnish citizens need a visa when traveling to Kenya. An electronic visa must be obtained before traveling at http://evisa.go.ke/. The information required for an e-visa is listed on the above-mentioned website. The price of the visa is 50 USD and the service fee is 1 USD, the payment is made by credit card. If necessary, we will assist you in applying for an e-visa. In this case, we charge a processing fee for obtaining an e-visa in accordance with the service price list.

Be prepared to prove the following documents before your first flight:

  1. Passport valid for at least 6 months after the end of the journey and with at least one blank page.
    2. Copy of flight tickets
    3. Confirmed itinerary or hotel
    (4. Printed approved e-Visa.)

Note! Visa policies and rates are subject to change without notice due to local authorities.

Insurance
Every person participating in the trip must have a valid travel insurance that covers medical expenses in the event of illness or other similar need. Please check the validity of your own insurance and the terms and conditions of the insurance cancellation cover.

Please take into account the possible special nature of your trip and check the coverage of the insurance in that respect as well. In many locations, the insurance must also be valid when moving at an altitude of more than 3,000 meters, in which case it also covers mountain sickness.

Many hiking or diving trips require more extensive insurance, which covers, for example, diving or moving on a glacier. Please check the contents of your insurance with your insurance company.

Vaccinations and health
Check that your basic vaccinations according to the national vaccination program are valid. In addition, hepatitis A and B vaccination is recommended.
In Kenya, yellow fever occurs in places. When yellow fever is reached in Kenya from an area of ​​occurrence (eg Uganda), it must be possible to present an international vaccination card with the yellow fever vaccination mark as proof of yellow fever vaccination. According to the World Health Organization, a single dose of yellow fever vaccine provides lifelong protection against yellow fever. However, in order to avoid possible ambiguities upon arrival in the country, we recommend that a medical certificate in English be sought for a yellow fever vaccination certificate that is more than 10 years old, stating that vaccination provides lifelong protection.
If you are traveling to Kenya from a destination that does not belong to the yellow fever area, a vaccination certificate is not required. However, there may be discrepancies in the practices of border guards and, for example, there may be unexpected changes in flight routes, which may also affect vaccination requirements. In addition, vaccination requirements are subject to change without notice. Due to such situations, we recommend that you have a valid vaccination certificate with you on the trip. The passenger should also check, for example, any certificates and regulations required for the coronavirus. We will not be held responsible if access is denied due to a missing vaccination certificate or other missing document.
Malaria is common in Kenya, so prophylaxis is recommended.
Always check the vaccination requirements at the health center or the Vaccination Advice of the Tourist Clinic

Currency
The Kenyan currency is the Kenyan Shilling (KES). Currency can be obtained from Finland by booking in advance. Check availability and course at www.forex.fi. Shillings are the primary payment currency. The best cash is US dollars in cash. Banknotes must be printed after 2006, as parents will not be accepted or exchanged.
In major cities, as well as in heavily traveled areas and safari lodges, credit card payments are usually successful. However, the functionality of credit cards cannot be relied upon in all cases, and trading, for example, takes place mainly in cash.

Tips A
tip is given for good service. Waiters and restaurant staff expect 5-10% tips on the final invoice unless a service charge is included in the invoice price.

It is recommended that bag carriers in hotels and lodge be given about $ 0.5 per bag. It is recommended for our safari drivers to give 3-6 USD / day / person at the end of the trip when there are 4-6 people in the car. If you have a custom so-called with a private safari and a guide / driver for only 1-3 people we recommend a tip of 8-15 USD / day / person.

Time difference
Kenya’s time difference to Finland is +1 hour in winter and in summer Kenya has the same time as Finland.

Electrical current
The electrical current in Kenya is 240 V. The socket is similar to that in the United Kingdom, so an adapter is required for devices used in Finnish sockets.

Mobile phones
Please check the coverage and prices of your mobile phone with your operator. Kenya’s area code is +254.

Religion: 45% of Kenyans are Protestants and 33% are Roman Catholics. Muslims and local religions 20% of the population.

Maastapoistumismaksu
Kenya leaving not have to pay maastapoistumismaksua.

Food and drink
Traditional food in Kenya is based on rice, spices and vegetables. Nyama Choma is a local specialty; this is a grilled meat made over charcoal and served with a vegetable side dish. The food hygiene in the hotels and lodge is of a high standard. In addition to traditional dishes, there is always a Western option. We also recommend tasting the various fruit juices on offer. Kenya grows some of the world’s finest types of tea and coffee, which are well worth buying as gifts. Kenya has traditionally brewed beer for decades. Local beers include Tusker, White Cap and Pilsner. Kenya’s tap water is not potable. All water and beverages must be industrially bottled. Salads and vegetables should also be rinsed with bottled water. Heated or tablet-purified water can be drunk.