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1.MajorGeographical Regions
Kenya’s geography is highly diverse and can be divided into several major regions:
a. The Coastal Region
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Lies along the Indian Ocean.
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Characterized by sandy beaches, coral reefs, and mangrove forests.
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Major towns include Mombasa, Lamu, and Malindi.
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The climate is hot and humid, suitable for tourism, fishing, and coconut farming.
b. The Coastal Lowlands
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Stretch inland from the coast for about 50–100 km.
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The land is generally low-lying with fertile soils in some areas.
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Agriculture includes the growing of cashew nuts, coconuts, sisal, and sugarcane.
c. The Eastern Plateau and Plains
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Covers much of eastern and northeastern Kenya.
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Mostly semi-arid and arid, receiving little rainfall.
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Occupied mainly by pastoral communities such as the Somali and Orma.
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Contains game reserves like Tsavo National Park.
d. The Central Highlands
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The most fertile and densely populated part of Kenya.
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Divided by the Great Rift Valley, which runs north to south.
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Home to Mount Kenya (5,199 m), Africa’s second-highest mountain.
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Known for coffee, tea, and horticultural farming.
e. The Rift Valley
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A spectacular geographical feature formed by tectonic movements.
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Contains lakes such as Lake Naivasha, Lake Nakuru, and Lake Bogoria.
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Has volcanic mountains like Mount Longonot and Menengai Crater.
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Fertile soils support agriculture, while escarpments and landscapes attract tourism.
f. The Western Region
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Lies around Lake Victoria, the world’s second-largest freshwater lake.
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Has a wet climate with fertile soils.
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Main economic activities include fishing, sugarcane farming, and tea growing.
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Major towns include Kisumu, Kakamega, and Bungoma.
g. The Northern Frontier
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Covers vast arid and semi-arid lands.
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Sparse population due to harsh climatic conditions.
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Dominated by savannah and desert landscapes such as Chalbi Desert.
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Inhabited by pastoralist communities like the Turkana, Rendille, and Samburu.
2. Major Physical Features
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Mount Kenya – the highest mountain in Kenya and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
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The Great Rift Valley – cuts through Kenya from north to south, featuring escarpments and volcanic formations.
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Lake Victoria – shared with Uganda and Tanzania; an important source of fish and water.
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Lake Turkana – the world’s largest desert lake.
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Tana River – the longest river in Kenya, providing hydroelectric power and irrigation water.
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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:
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Coastal areas: hot and humid.
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Highlands: cool and temperate.
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Northern and eastern regions: hot and dry (semi-arid to arid).
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Rainfall: Bimodal pattern – long rains (March–May) and short rains (October–December).
4. Natural Resources
Kenya is rich in natural resources such as:
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Fertile agricultural land in the highlands.
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Forests (e.g., Mau and Aberdare) providing timber and water catchments.
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Minerals including soda ash (Lake Magadi), limestone, fluorspar, titanium, and gold.
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Wildlife – Kenya is world-famous for its national parks and reserves like Maasai Mara, Amboseli, and Tsavo.
5. Human Geography
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Kenya has a population of over 55 million people (as of 2025).
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The main urban centers include Nairobi (the capital), Mombasa, Kisumu, Nakuru, and Eldoret.
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Ethnic diversity includes groups such as the Kikuyu, Luo, Luhya, Kalenjin, Maasai, and Somali.
6. Significance of Kenya’s Geography
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The varied landscapes support agriculture, tourism, energy generation, and trade.
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The Indian Ocean coast facilitates international trade through Mombasa Port.
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The Rift Valley and highlands provide scenic beauty and fertile soils for farming.
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National parks and reserves attract millions of tourists annually, contributing greatly to Kenya’s economy.
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