Kenya

American  

[ken-yuh, keen-] / ˈkɛn jə, ˈkin- /

noun

1. a republic in E Africa: member of the Commonwealth of Nations; formerly a British crown colony and protectorate. 223,478 sq. mi. (578,808 sq. km). Nairobi.

2. Mount, an extinct volcano in central Kenya. 17,040 feet (5,194 meters).

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Kenya British  

/ ˈkɛnjə, ˈkiːnjə /

noun

1. a republic in E Africa, on the Indian Ocean: became a British protectorate in 1895 and a colony in 1920; gained independence in 1963 and is a member of the Commonwealth. Tea and coffee constitute about a third of the total exports. Official languages: Swahili and English. Religions: Christian majority, animist minority. Currency: shilling. Capital: Nairobi. Pop: 44 037 656 (2013 est). Area: 582 647 sq km (224 960 sq miles)

2. Local name: Kirinyaga.  an extinct volcano in central Kenya: the second highest mountain in Africa; girth at 2400 m (8000 ft) is about 150 km (95 miles). The regions above 3200 m (10 500 ft) constitute Mount Kenya National Park . Height: 5199 m (17 058 ft)

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Kenya Cultural  

1. Republic in eastern Africa bordered by Sudan and Ethiopia to the north, Somalia to the east, the Indian Ocean to the southeast, Tanzania to the southwest, and Uganda to the west. Its capital and largest city is Nairobi.

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Discover More

The Great Rift Valley in Kenya is the site of some major archaeological discoveries, including remains of the earliest known humans.

Other Word Forms

• Kenyan
  adjective

Example Sentences

Lukwago has been representing Besigye, who has been jailed on treason charges since being abducted in neighbouring Kenya and forcibly returned to Uganda in late 2024.

From BBC • Jun. 18, 2026

On Tuesday, the US embassy in Kenya issued a warning for its citizens in Nanyuki over the protests.

From Barron's • Jun. 9, 2026

I’ve seen community health workers in action in Kenya, Ethiopia, Ghana, and Malawi, among many others, as well as in Congo’s Ituri province, not far from the town where this current outbreak occurred.

From Slate • Jun. 9, 2026

A US official told the BBC that Kenya was selected due to "proximity, airports in the region having limited capability, and to ensure Americans can be treated in a timely manner".

From BBC • Jun. 9, 2026

At that time, our village was really far away from the school, near the northern border of Kenya.

From "Facing the Lion" by Joseph Lemasolai Lekuton and Herman Viola