Geography & environment — Kenya
Location, land area, terrain, climate, and natural resources.
Profile updated 2026-06-02
⚡ Geography & environment at a glance
Location, land area, terrain, climate, and natural resources. Key figure for Kenya: Africa
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Location & size
- Geographic Location
Africa
- Geographic Coordinates
1 00 N, 38 00 E
- Total Area
224,080 Square Miles 580,367 Square Kilometers
- Land Area
219,745 Square Miles 569,140 Square Kilometers
- Water Area
4,335 Square Miles 11,227 Square Kilometers
- Land Boundaries
2,161 Miles 3,477 Kilometers
- Border Countries
Ethiopia 861 km, Somalia 682 km, Sudan 232 km, Tanzania 769 km, Uganda 933 km
- Coastline
333 Miles 536 Kilometers
Physical geography
- Terrain
low plains rise to central highlands bisected by Great Rift Valley; fertile plateau in west
- Highest Point
5,199 Meters
- Highest Point Location
Mount Kenya 5,199 m
- Lowest Point Location
Indian Ocean 0 m
- Natural Resources
gold, limestone, soda ash, salt, rubies, fluorspar, garnets, wildlife, hydropower
- Irrigated Land
398 Square Miles 1,032 Square Kilometers
Climate & time
- Time Zone
UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Climate
- Climate
Nairobi has four seasons, but overall temperature changes are moderate. Mid‑ December through March are mainly sunny and warm by day, cool at night, and generally dry. April and May constitute the principal rainy season with lower day temperatures. The months of June through September are mainly dry, but often cloudy and cool, with cool nights. October and November make up the short rainy season, with long sunny periods, warm days, and cool nights. Average annual rainfall in Nairobi is about 39 inches, but the actual amount varies widely in any year.
- Terrain
low plains rise to central highlands bisected by Great Rift Valley; fertile plateau in west
- Location
Eastern Africa, bordering the Indian Ocean, between Somalia and Tanzania
- Total Area
224,080 Square Miles 580,367 Square Kilometers
- Border Countries
Ethiopia 861 km, Somalia 682 km, Sudan 232 km, Tanzania 769 km, Uganda 933 km
Environment
- Environment - Current Issues
water pollution from urban and industrial wastes
degradation of water quality from increased use of pesticides and fertilizers
water hyacinth infestation in Lake Victoria
deforestation
soil erosion
desertification
poaching
- Environment - International Agreements
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements