Download Geography Of Kenya Exam Past Papers

DownloadGeography-Of-Kenya-Exam-Past-Papers-Mpya-News.

1.MajorGeographical Regions

Kenya’s geography is highly diverse and can be divided into several major regions:

a. The Coastal Region

  • Lies along the Indian Ocean.

  • Characterized by sandy beaches, coral reefs, and mangrove forests.

  • Major towns include Mombasa, Lamu, and Malindi.

  • The climate is hot and humid, suitable for tourism, fishing, and coconut farming.

b. The Coastal Lowlands

  • Stretch inland from the coast for about 50–100 km.

  • The land is generally low-lying with fertile soils in some areas.

  • Agriculture includes the growing of cashew nuts, coconuts, sisal, and sugarcane.

c. The Eastern Plateau and Plains

  • Covers much of eastern and northeastern Kenya.

  • Mostly semi-arid and arid, receiving little rainfall.

  • Occupied mainly by pastoral communities such as the Somali and Orma.

  • Contains game reserves like Tsavo National Park.

d. The Central Highlands

  • The most fertile and densely populated part of Kenya.

  • Divided by the Great Rift Valley, which runs north to south.

  • Home to Mount Kenya (5,199 m), Africa’s second-highest mountain.

  • Known for coffee, tea, and horticultural farming.

e. The Rift Valley

  • A spectacular geographical feature formed by tectonic movements.

  • Contains lakes such as Lake Naivasha, Lake Nakuru, and Lake Bogoria.

  • Has volcanic mountains like Mount Longonot and Menengai Crater.

  • Fertile soils support agriculture, while escarpments and landscapes attract tourism.

f. The Western Region

  • Lies around Lake Victoria, the world’s second-largest freshwater lake.

  • Has a wet climate with fertile soils.

  • Main economic activities include fishing, sugarcane farming, and tea growing.

  • Major towns include Kisumu, Kakamega, and Bungoma.

g. The Northern Frontier

  • Covers vast arid and semi-arid lands.

  • Sparse population due to harsh climatic conditions.

  • Dominated by savannah and desert landscapes such as Chalbi Desert.

  • Inhabited by pastoralist communities like the Turkana, Rendille, and Samburu.


2. Major Physical Features

  • Mount Kenya – the highest mountain in Kenya and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

  • The Great Rift Valley – cuts through Kenya from north to south, featuring escarpments and volcanic formations.

  • Lake Victoria – shared with Uganda and Tanzania; an important source of fish and water.

  • Lake Turkana – the world’s largest desert lake.

  • Tana River – the longest river in Kenya, providing hydroelectric power and irrigation water.

  • Ewaso Nyiro River, Athi-Galana-Sabaki River, and Mara River are also important waterways.


3. Climate

Kenya’s climate varies due to differences in altitude and location:

  • Coastal areas: hot and humid.

  • Highlands: cool and temperate.

  • Northern and eastern regions: hot and dry (semi-arid to arid).

  • Rainfall: Bimodal pattern – long rains (March–May) and short rains (October–December).


4. Natural Resources

Kenya is rich in natural resources such as:

  • Fertile agricultural land in the highlands.

  • Forests (e.g., Mau and Aberdare) providing timber and water catchments.

  • Minerals including soda ash (Lake Magadi), limestone, fluorspar, titanium, and gold.

  • Wildlife – Kenya is world-famous for its national parks and reserves like Maasai Mara, Amboseli, and Tsavo.


5. Human Geography

  • Kenya has a population of over 55 million people (as of 2025).

  • The main urban centers include Nairobi (the capital), Mombasa, Kisumu, Nakuru, and Eldoret.

  • Ethnic diversity includes groups such as the Kikuyu, Luo, Luhya, Kalenjin, Maasai, and Somali.


6. Significance of Kenya’s Geography

  • The varied landscapes support agriculture, tourism, energy generation, and trade.

  • The Indian Ocean coast facilitates international trade through Mombasa Port.

  • The Rift Valley and highlands provide scenic beauty and fertile soils for farming.

  • National parks and reserves attract millions of tourists annually, contributing greatly to Kenya’s economy.

  • Download Link

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Scroll to Top