Prior to the 15th century, Swahili had built the city of Mombasa into a major port city and established a major trade hub with Arabia, Persia, and India. It continued to be one until the 17th century when the Swahili coast was conquered by the Omani Arabs. The Omani Arabs expanded the slave trade and sold them not only to plantations in Oman and Zanzibar but also to Portuguese slavers.
In the 19th central, the Imperial British East Africa Company showed up in Kenya and in 1920, it officially became a British colony. This holiday marks the end of the British colonial era and the day it became the Republic of Kenya on December 12, 1963.
- Kenya has over 333 miles of coastline. Some of the more popular beach destinations are Diani Beach and Malinda Beach.
- Kenyan men can have more than one wife.
- The first African woman to win a Nobel Peace Prize was Wangari Maathai and she was from Kenya.
- Most Kenyans speak Swahili as their native language. Swahili is one of the most spoken languages in the world.
- Jambo is a common greeting among Kenyans.
- People in Kenya drive on the left-hand side of the road, just like motorists in the UK.
- In Kenya, there are over 60 languages spoken besides the two official languages: English and Swahili.
- Kenya has two seasons. The first season is the rainy season and the second season is the dry season.
- In Kenya, primary education is compulsory and free. Secondary education is also free, but it’s not mandatory.
- A maize porridge known as Ugali is served as a side dish in Kenya.
- Kenya is home to more than 1,132 species of birds.
- Kenya has a population of over 49 million people.
- Kenya’s largest lake is Lake Turkana.