Reviews: Atlas of Kenya

Summary

This paper provides a critical review of the first Atlas of Kenya, produced by the Survey of Kenya. The atlas contains 40 fully coloured plates illustrating the country’s physical geography, principal towns, political and administrative divisions, and the distribution of economic assets alongside selected pests and diseases. Supplementary elements include notes on the spelling and pronunciation of place names, five black‑and‑white historical maps, and a gazetteer. Six provincial maps are drawn at 1:1,000,000, while the majority of national thematic maps (except two meteorological charts) employ a scale of 1:3,000,000. The review evaluates cartographic design, commending the excellent colour registration and generally harmonious colour choices, though the strong colour juxtapositions on Plates 10, 12, and 16 are noted as visually jarring. The 1:1,000,000 sheets are praised for clarity, yet the excessive use of vivid red lines for roads—especially on the Nairobi Extra‑Provincial District and Environs map—creates visual clutter. The compilation required extensive research and meticulous editing, reflected in thematic coverage of drainage, geology, soils, tribal and ethnographic patterns, communications, police organization, and exploration. The Exploration map (Plate 34) is highlighted for its exceptional historical research, recording 28 early explorers such as Krapf, Stanley, Thomson, Teleki, Lugard, and Delamere, and serving as a gracious tribute to their legacy. Overall, the atlas represents a remarkable cartographic achievement, balancing rich informational content with considered design, and stands as both a practical reference work and a historical document.