Kitoko
Ki-Ki Federal Republic of the Mukidi Kitoko   | |
|---|---|
 Flag | |
 Map of West Kesh with Kitoko highlighted in orange | |
| Capital | Mbanza-Kitoko |
| Official languages | Tipsprek, Ki-Kongo |
| Demonym | Kiki |
| Government | Semi-Presidential Republic |
| Legislature | Parliament |
| Quorum | |
| Senate | |
| Area | |
• | 812 km2 (314 sq mi) |
| Population | |
• Estimate | 7.5 million (58) |
• Density | 9,240/km2 (23,931.5/sq mi) (1) |
| GDP (PPP) | 2020 estimate |
• Total | $811.072 billion (38) |
• Per capita | $108,048 (1) |
| GDP (nominal) | 2020 estimate |
• Total | $515.625 billion (38) |
• Per capita | $68,750 (1) |
| Gini (2018) |
50.8 high · 11 |
| HDI (2018) |
0.944 very high · 10 |
| Currency | Kiki Crown (K₢) (FMKC) |
| Date format | ad yyyy.mm.dd |
| Calling code | +55 |
| Internet TLD | .kk |
Kitoko, officially the Ki-Ki Federal Republic of the Mukidi Kitoko (Tipsprek: , tr. Ki-Ki Vundefridsteat fan de Mukidi Kitoko), is a sovereign city-state in northwestern Kesh. It lies about six degrees north of the equator. The bulk of the nation’s territory is composed of a narrow peninsula and several small islands at the mouth of the Bay of Kongowae, totaling approximately 812 square kilometers. It has the highest population density of any nation in the world. The country has 7.5 million residents, 58% of whom have Kiki citizenship. There are two official languages, Tipsprek and Ki-Kongo, with Tipsprek being the lingua franca. Several other regional languages are also spoken in Kitoko, though they are not used for official business.
Kitoko was established in 1488 as a trading post of the Holy Tiperyn Realm. Originally a rural region, the area is now one of the world’s largest centers of trade and commerce. It is consistently ranked among the world's most expensive places to live, but residents enjoy healthcare, housing, education, and internet speeds that are among the best in the world.
Kitoko is a semi-presidential republic with a unique system of bicameral legislature. Modern Kiki elections are generally considered to be free and fair, though the ability to vote and participate in government is limited to full Citizens.
Etymology
The colloquial name of “Kitoko” is derived from the name of the peninsula that makes up the majority of the territory, “Mukidi Kitoko”, which literally translates to “beautiful shores”.
History
Colonial Era
The first written records of the area come from Tiperyn merchant ships sailing to Avalonia in the early 1400s. Equatorial counter-currents would sometimes carry ships back towards Kesh, where they would trade with the native Bavili to obtain fresh provisions. This informal arrangement continued until the year 1473, when Sir Michael Branley obtained a Royal Charter authorizing him to establish a permanent trading outpost in the area. In 1488 the first settlers arrived on the shores of the peninsula, which was selected for its strategic location to aid in defense and access to a natural harbor. The land was not well suited to growing crops, however, forcing the colony to largely rely on trade with the Bavili for food. Merchant traffic increased in the following years as more and more ships stopped in Kitoko to resupply before crossing the Iapetus, prompting the outpost to quickly grow into a proper city.
At the start of the Grand Campaigns, Kitoko’s government initially declared it a neutral zone to secure its status as a free port. For the first few years ships from both sides of the conflict would occasionally stop in Kitoko to purchase fuel, make essential repairs, and allow their crews to unwind. This stopped with Tiperyn’s entry into the war in 1919, and shortly therafter a draft was established to support the war effort.
This draft was widely unpopular in the city thanks to its large immigrant populations and the perception that draftees were being sent to fight in a predominantly Artemian conflict. The draft also exacerbated latent raciial and class disparities since wealthier Artemian families could often obtain exemptions from the draft, though not always through legitimate means. These tensions came to a head in the summer of 1922 when several fights broke out in the vicinity of a draft center at the end of Navy Pier. Sailors and military policemen attempted to intervene, sparking a violent response that quickly escalated into a full-scale riot. The draft center was set on fire with petrol bombs but the rioters were held back by the Navy sailors, so the violence instead spilled over into the neighboring city blocks. The second day of riots saw the violence escalate along racial lines; ad-hoc “neighborhood watch” groups in majority-Tiperyn areas lynched and beat any outsiders they found, multiple newspaper offices were razed by Avalonian immigrants, and a Keshian mob ransacked the Ínzo-Sena. Martial law was imposed and the military attempted to enforce a curfew on the city, but order was only restored following a third day of riots and required the support of armored cars and aircraft.
Kitoko remained under martial law for the duration of the conflict, and the military presence in the region gradually increased. A squadron of warships led by the battlecruiser TNV Exeter was tasked with defending the port, and the city’s first aerodromes were constructed to support the deployment of military aircraft. While Kitoko was never directly attacked over the course of the war, the city’s defensive squadron was engaged in several skirmishes with Republican and Goetic commerce raiders.
In the most famous of these skirmishes, a patrol force consisting of the Exeter and the destroyers Harwood and Parry was lured into a trap by a pack of Chezzetcooker submarines. The Harwood was split in two by a torpedo hit during the opening stages of the battle and sank with all hands. Exeter was struck by two torpedoes over the course of the battle and was heavily damaged, but managed to disengage with the aid of the Parry and land-based aircraft, which were able to sink two of the attacking submarines. The captain of the Exeter made the decision to beach the mortally wounded battlecruiser rather than risk sinking in the harbor and blocking the port. With local industry unable to repair the damage, the ship was cannibalized to support the construction of various shore emplacements and coastal defense vessels.
Kitoko was granted realm dominion status in 1926 in return for its contributions to the Grand Campaigns. It was also hoped that a form of home rule would ease tensions in the aftermath of the war as the city transitioned back to a civilian government. Kitoko was now free to govern its own affairs, with only foreign policy being dictated by Tiperyn. Little changed in practice, however, as the Artemian upper class maintained control over the levers of government in the city. This arrangement continued through the 1950s, with little changing until Tiperyn's decolonization period began in the 1960s.
Post-Independence
After achieving full independence from Tiperyn in 1960, the newly formed Republic of Kitoko continued to experience racial tensions exacerbated by the discriminatory policies established during the colonial era. The political climate became increasingly hostile throughout the 1960s, with the incumbent Demokrask Folkpartie (DF) defending the colonial-era restrictions imposed on racial minorities as necessary for law and order. The unpopularity of these policies was made clear when, in the Parliamentary Election of 1965, the DF won a narrow majority in Parliament’s upper house despite losing the popular vote by a wide margin. Over the next five years the DF used this majority to concentrate power in the upper house, bypassing the lower house and enacting stronger restrictions inspired by the apartheid in South Kesh. Protests and crackdowns were common during this period and continued to intensify as the decade wore on.
Tensions came to a head during the parliamentary elections of 1970, as violent clashes were a staple at campaign events as the DF and their supporters attempted to suppress civil rights activists and candidates. The attempted assassination of popular pro-civil rights candidate Kinsler Lowrie during a speech outside of the Tayari Plaza Hotel sparked the largest and most destructive riots in Kitoko’s history. The National Police were quickly overwhelmed and resorted to the use of deadly force in an effort to intimidate protestors. On the 5th day of protests President Wolffe Anders ordered the military to mobilize and quell the unrest. Military officers, untrained in riot control and law enforcement tactics, were unable to effectively disperse the demonstrations. Most conscripts also balked at the prospect of firing on their neighbors and coworkers, and either refused orders or broke ranks and deserted. The Naval Infantry Brigade fully turned on police after witnessing the Massacre at Kikowani Market, destroying several armored cars and helping protestors take over a local precinct. Fearful that this would inspire a wave of similar defections, military leadership convinced the government to stand down their forces and negotiate.
President Anders resigned rather than meet with protest leaders, as did several other government officials. Kinsler Lowrie played a major role in the negotiations in spite of his injuries, and brokered several important deals. These included the suspension of many of the discriminatory laws and policies and the restoration of the powers of the lower house of Parliament, which was controlled by a coalition of parties in favor of civil rights reform. Upon having their powers restored, the Lower House added a referendum to approve a new constitution to the ballot for the upcoming election. This constitution, drafted by Kinsler Lowrie’s Unypartie (UP), called for the abolition of the National Police, increased protections for all citizens, and a reformed governmental structure. This new constitution was approved by 86.7% of voters, and established the Ki-Ki Federal Republic of the Mudiki Kitoko that persists to this day.
The first election under the new constitution, in 1972, saw the UP gain 79 of the 108 seats in the Senate. Kinsler Lowrie was elected Lord Mayor by a similarly wide margin, 67.8%. Kinsler Lowrie and the UP used their mandate to enact sweeping political, social, and economic reforms that continue to shape Kitoko’s politics to the present day. The UP has remained in power ever since, though some have accused it of using anti-hate-speech laws to suppress political opposition and curtail individual liberties. The UP has remained popular in spite of these accusations thanks largely to its incredibly successful economic policies. Real GDP growth averaged at about 8% from 1975 to 1995, and the unemployment rate has not exceeded 3% since 1981. During the 1980s Kitoko’s government used the revenue from newly discovered petroleum deposits to invest in business and high-tech industry, transforming the small nation’s economy. The slums that had previously dotted the city were replaced with new housing and infrastructure developments, and The Port of Kitoko was for a time the busiest in the world.
Government and politics
Kitoko has a semi-presidential republican form of government. The Constitution of Kitoko establishes the structure, authority, and responsibility of the government. There are 27 boroughs subordinate to the central government, responsible for managing local affairs such as zoning rights and emergency services.
The central government is made up of three branches:
- Executive: The Lord Mayor is head of state and the military’s commander-in-chief. They hold the authority to veto laws and issue emergency proclamations, subject to legislative override. The Prime Minister is the head of government, and is responsible for the administration and enforcement of laws and policies issued by the legislature. They also hold similar veto and emergency powers to the Lord Mayor.
- Legislative: The unique bicameral legislature is responsible for establishing laws, approving budgets, and approving appointments of certain government officials like judges and police chiefs. The lower house, the Senate, has 108 members, with four being elected from each borough. The upper house, the Quorum, has exactly 99 members, all of whom are selected randomly from the pool of eligible Citizens.
- Judiciary: Originally, there was no centralized judiciary in Kitoko. Control of the central government was limited to the ability to approve or reject the appointments of judges. In 1987 a centralized court system was established, with a Supreme Court of Appeals that seats one member from every borough.
Lord Mayoral elections and most Senate elections are based on a first-past-the-post system, though 13 of the 27 boroughs use a ranked-choice voting system for local elections. The first such system was implemented in 2001, and calls for a similar system to be adopted nationally have increased in recent years.
Voting in elections is one of the many rights afforded to full Citizens. Citizenship can be attained by completing a contract of public service, either in the military or with a civil agency such as Ki-Mail or the Civil Construction Corps. Citizenship is also a requirement for holding elected office.
Geography
Kitoko is on the northwestern coast of Kesh, on the south side of the Bay of Kongowae. It is bordered to the south by the Iapetus Ocean and to the north by [unknown]. The majority of the territory’s 812 km² of land area consists of the Mukidi Kitoko peninsula, with the remaining 13% being Kongoway Island and over a hundred smaller islands. Jerimoth Hill is the highest point in the territory, standing 247 meters above sea level.
Land reclamation projects have significantly increased Kitoko’s land area, from 650 km² in the 1960s to 812 km² by 2020, an increase of approximately 25%. Shortages in the type of soil best suited for use in land reclamation projects have forced the Kiki government to switch to using polders for land reclamation, a more expensive and time-intensive process.
Economy
Kitoko has a highly developed mixed economy, historically dominated by entrepôt trade. The Kiki economy is widely regarded as being open and business-friendly. It is one of the largest export and import markets in the world, trading a larger value of goods than its gross domestic product. Its location makes it ideally suited for use as a transfer hub, with its cargo port and airport ranking among the busiest in the world.
In addition to trade, Kitoko has one of the region’s largest industrial economies. The petroleum, electronics, and shipbuilding industries are the three largest employers in this sector. The Kitoko Offshore Petroleum Exploration Corporation is a state-owned company responsible for the bulk of oil extraction and refinement, with foreign corporations and smaller entities making up about 10% of the market. Service sector fields such as telecommunications and banking also make up a sizable portion of the economy, and the overall unemployment rate is low thanks to various government initiatives.
With little in the way of arable land or natural resources, Kitoko is forced to import most food and raw materials. The territory does play host to a fairly large fishing industry, however, and recent initiatives in urban farming have slightly reduced the nation’s dependence on imported food.
Infrastructure
Kitoko has a comprehensive transportation network leveraging road, rail, and water infrastructure. Over ninety percent of commuters use public transportation, as personal vehicle ownership is heavily discouraged through a system of taxes and electronic tolls.
The state-run Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) operates the majority of transport services, either directly or via contractors. An extensive passenger rail system scours the territory, serving 42% of all public transit passengers in the city. It is the only subway in the world to use bi-level trains, which were introduced on the Yellow and Teal lines in the early 2000s. In addition to the rail network, the MTA also operates tram and bus services, and has partnerships with private taxicab and ferry companies.
With a dense population and few natural sources of freshwater, Kitoko is forced to import water from neighboring countries. The central government considers water to be an issue of national importance, and began implementing a water independence plan that is scheduled to be complete by 2040. To this end the government has emphasized the importance of water conservation, with steep penalties for over-use and tax credits for rainwater collection.
Nearly every home in Kitoko has broadband internet access, with a slim majority being connected fully or in part by fiber-optic connections. Electricity is mostly generated locally from natural gas and fossil fuel plants, though these plants are increasingly being replaced by renewable sources like the Kitoko Offshore Wind Project.
Demographics
Owing to its history as a global crossroads, Kitoko is a diverse and cosmopolitan metropolis. The city-state has a long history of international immigration and approximately a third of its population is foreign-born. Historically several of the boroughs have been dominated by one particular ethnic group, but government housing policies have led to a more even distribution in the modern era.
Education
Education in Kitoko is managed by the Agency for Public Education, which operates the city’s public schools and manages the accreditation of private institutions. All children are required to attend school from age six, with completion of secondary education being required to complete the public service necessary to achieve full Citizenship.
Unusually, the territory’s native language is not the primary language taught in schools. Instruction instead focuses on Tipsprek, the language used for most business and trade, with Ki-Kongo being taught as part of a secondary “mother tongue” curriculum. Completion of this curriculum is not necessary to graduate but is highly encouraged, as demonstrating proficiency in Ki-Kongo is a requirement for earning full Citizenship.
Kitoko is home to over a hundred institutions of higher learning. All schools are registered with the APE. Instead of operating public universities, the APE fully subsidizes 32% of students enrolled in higher learning institutions, with 85% of students receiving some degree of scholarship support.
Public health and safety
The Kitoko Public Health Corporation (PHC) is responsible for operating the territory’s healthcare system. Primarily funded by its stake in OPEC, the PHC offers subsidized healthcare to the majority of residents, with Citizens receiving fully subsidized care at no out-of-pocket cost. The PHC operates 81 public hospitals and outpatient clinics, and has contracts with several private nursing homes and specialist facilities.
Each borough has its own law enforcement, firefighting, and EMS departments, with inter-department coordination being managed by the Agency for Public Safety. The APS also operates several of its own assets, including the Special Assault Service, the Marine Safety Squadron, and the Air Rescue Brigade.
Culture
Kitoko has a culture that is commonly described as a "Melting pot" of global influences. Due to its extremely diverse population, of which the native Kiki make up less than half, Kitoko has developed an identity distinct from the rest of the region. Traditional values emphasizing family and religion are blended with concepts of common law and individual rights inherited from Tiperyn.
The territory plays host to a number of sports and recreation clubs as well as several major international events. Association football, rowing, and hockey are the three most popular sports in Kitoko. Kitoko has been a member of the Anterran International Football Association since 1956, and the semi annual Kiki Grand Prix held on Kongoway Island draws participants from around the world.
Kitoko’s culture has also been influenced by its nature as a trade hub, with foreign workers bringing influences from their homelands to the cosmopolitan city-state. This is especially obvious when looking at the territory’s cuisine, which features local spins of common staples from around the world. Influences from Avalonia, Tiperyn, and South Kesh are especially prominent, and the territory’s largest flaubyt chain specializes in cuisine from the Hummingbird Isles.
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