Kenema
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| Kenema, Sierra Leone | |
  Kenema, Sierra Leone
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| Coordinates: 7°53′N 11°11′W / 7.883°N 11.183°W | |
| Country |  Sierra Leone |
|---|---|
| Province | Eastern Province |
| District | Kenema District |
| Government | |
| - Mayor | Evans Brima Gbemeh (SLPP) |
| Population (2006 estimate) | |
| - Total | 164,125 [1]. |
| Time zone | GMT (UTC-5) |
Kenema is the third largest city in Sierra Leone (after the capital Freetown and Bo) and the largest city in the [[Eastern Province, Sierra Leone|Eastern Province, with a population of 128,402 in the 2004 census, and a 2006 estimate of 164,125 [2]. The city is located in Kenema District. The city is a major diamond trade center and serves as the economic and financial center of Eastern Sierra Leone, along with Koidu Town. Kenema is an ethnically diverse city and is home to a significant numbers of virtually all of the country's ethnic group. The city is the primary home of the Eastern Polytechnic College, one of Sierra Leone's major colleges that offer degree and certificate. The Krio language is the most widely spoken language in the city and is used as the primary language of communication among the residents.
The city grew along with a now-closed railway, around the logging and carpentry industries, and recently with diamond mines first discovered in 1931. Kenema lies about 185 miles (298 km) east-south-east of the nation's capital Freetown. Like in virtually all parts of Sierra Leone, the Krio language is widely spoken throughout the city of Kenema.
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[edit] Government
The city of Kenema is governed with a city council form of government, which is headed by a mayor, in whom executive authority is vested. The mayor is responsible for the general management of the city and for seeing that all local and national laws are enforced. The mayor is elected directly by the residents of Kenema. The current mayor of Kenema is Evans Brima Gbemeh, a member of the Sierra Leone People's Party (SLPP), currently an opposition party and one of the three major political parties in Sierra Leone.
[edit] Demographics
Kenema is one of the most ethnically diverse cities in Sierra Leone, although the Mende people make up the majority of the population. The city is home to all of the country's ethnic groups. Kenema has the second largest Sierra Leonean-Lebanese population in the country and is also home to many Liberians.
[edit] Sport
As in the rest of the country, football is by far the most popular sport in Kenema. The city two popular football clubs, the Kamboi Eagles and Gem Stars are currently playing in the Sierra Leone National Premier League, the top football league in country.
[edit] Education
As in the rest of Sierra Leone, Kenema has an education system with six years of primary school (Class 1-6), and six years of secondary school (Form 1-6); secondary schools are further divided into Junior secondary school (Form 1-3) and Senior secondary school (Form 4-6). Primary schools usually start from ages 6 to 12, and secondary schools usually start from ages 13 to 18. Primary Education is free and compulsory in government-sponsored public schools.
[edit] Notable colleges in Kenema
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This section requires expansion. |
[edit] Health
Kenema and Bo are endemic areas for a highly contagious tropical hemorragic fever known as Lassa fever, and Kenema hospital is the centre of an international effort to combat the disease with support from the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNAMSIL. New laboratories to improve rapid diagnosis are being installed at the hospital, which admits between 250 and 500 suspected cases per year.
[edit] Media
The two main radio stations in Kenema are Eastern Radio 101.9 and Radio Nongowa - SPIN FM 101.3. Sierra Leone's national radio and television stations, SLBS TV, and SLBS Radio are on the air in Kenema. The BBC World Service, CNN International, and several other international stations are on the air in Kenema on satellite only.
[edit] Notable people from Kenema
- Mohamed Kallon, football star
- Paul Kpaka, football star
- Alpha Lansana, football star
- Kei Kamara, football star
- Brima Sesay, football star
- Kemokai Kallon, football star
- Musa Kallon, football manager
- Sandy Moijueh, Ahmadiyya Sec. School Principal and Chairman of Read Cross
[edit] Namesakes
There are a number of places in Sierra Leone with this name.
[edit] External links
Coordinates: 7°53′N 11°11′W / 7.883°N 11.183°W
