Official name

Republic of Kenya

Form of state

Unitary republic

Legal system

Based on English common law and the 1963 constitution; new draft constitutions were published in 2002 and 2005 (the latter was rejected in a referendum)

National legislature

Unicameral National Assembly of 210 elected members plus 12 nominated members, the attorney-general and the speaker; a multiparty system was introduced in December 1991

National elections

December 2007; next presidential and legislative elections are to be held in December 2012

Head of state

President, directly elected by simple majority and at least 25% of the vote in five of Kenya's eight provinces

National government

The president and his cabinet, comprising a grand coalition between the Party of National Unity (PNU) and the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), and allied parties

Political parties in parliament

Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), Party of National Unity (PNU), ODM-Kenya (ODM-K), Kenya African National Union (KANU), Safina, National Rainbow Coalition-Kenya (NARC-Kenya), National Rainbow Coalition (NARC), Democratic Party, Forum for the Restoration of Democracy-Kenya (Ford-Kenya), New Ford-Kenya, Ford-People, Ford-Asili, Sisi Kwa Sisi, Mazingira

President & commander-in-chief: Emilio Mwai Kibaki (PNU)

Vice-president & home affairs: Kalonzo Musyoka (ODM-K)

Prime minister: Raila Odinga (ODM)

Deputy prime minister & finance: Uhuru Kenyatta (PNU)

Deputy prime minister & local government: Musalia Mudavadi (ODM)

Key ministers

Agriculture: Sally Kosgei (ODM)

Co-operative development: Joseph Nyaga (ODM)

Defence: Yusuf Mohamed Haji (PNU)

Education: Sam Ongeri (PNU)

Energy: Kiraitu Murungi (PNU)

Environment & mineral resources: John Michuki (PNU)

Foreign affairs: George Saitoti (PNU); acting

Higher education, science & technology: Hellen Sambili (ODM); acting

Information & communication: Samuel Lesuron Poghisio (PNU)

Internal security: George Saitoti (PNU)

Justice & constitutional affairs: Mutula Kilonzo (PNU)

Labour: John Munyes (PNU)

Land: James Orengo (ODM)

Medical services: Anyang Nyong'o (ODM)

Planning, national development & Vision 2030: Wycliffe Ambetsa Oparanya (ODM)

Roads: Franklin Bett (ODM)

Tourism: Najib Balala (ODM)

Trade: Chirau Ali Mwakwere (PNU)

Transport: Amos Kimunya (PNU)

Water & irrigation: Charity Ngilu (ODM)

Central Bank governor

Njuguna Ndung'u