Capital: Nairobi.Major Cities: The country's largest cites are Nairobi, the capital and chief manufacturing center;Mombasa, the principal seaport; and Kisumu, the chief port on Lake Victoria. Smaller citiesinclude Nakuru, a commercial and manufacturing center in the Eastern Rift Valley; and Eldoret,an industrial center in western Kenya. The population of cities, according to the 1999 census,was Nairobi, 1,346,000; Mombasa, 465,000; Kisumu, 185,000; Nakuru, 163,000; and Eldoret,105,000.Independence: December 12, 1963, from the United Kingdom.Public Holidays: New Year's Day (January 1); Good Friday (movable date in March or April);Easter Monday (movable date in March or April); Labor Day (May 1); Madaraka Day, whichcelebrates self-government (June 1); Moi Day (October 10); Kenyatta Forces Day (October 20);Eid al Fitr (movable date according to the Islamic calendar); Jamhuri/Independence Day(December 12); Christmas Day (December 25); and Boxing Day (December 26)