Located in East Africa, the Republic of Kenya is bordered on the north by Sudan and Ethiopia, on the east by Somalia and the Indian Ocean, on the south by Tanzania, and on the west by Lake Victoria and Uganda. The largest city is the capital, Nairobi, with Nakuru, Mombasa, and Kisumu as other major cities. It has an area 580,370 sq. km (224,082 sq. miles) and falls into several well-defined topographical zones extending from the Indian Ocean coast up to lofty mountain ranges that reach elevations of more than 3,048 metres (more than 10,000 feet). The Equator divides Kenya into two almost equal parts. The region north of the Equator is hot and receives comparatively little rain, while the southern region falls into three meteorological zones: the coast is humid, the highlands are relatively temperate, and the Lake Victoria region is tropical. The rainy seasons occur from October to December and April to June, although the weather phenomenon El Nino recently complicated this pattern.

Population
Although 99 per cent of the population is African, it is divided into at least 47 distinct ethnic groups that developed largely along linguistic lines. The largest of these groups are the Kikuyu (21 per cent), Luo (15 per cent), Luhya (14 per cent), Kalenjin (11 per cent), Kamba (11 per cent), Kisii (6 per cent), and Meru (6 per cent), and while all are proud to be Kenyan ethnic tensions endure. The country's official languages are English and Kiswahili, the former being that of Kenya's colonists, the latter a major East African trading language which shares linguistic roots with other Bantu languages spoken in Kenya. Kikuyu, Luo and numerous other indigenous languages are also spoken, and primary school lessons are conducted in the children's tribal tongue. In terms of religion the majority of the Kenyans are either Protestant (40%) or Catholic (30%), with a Muslim majority in coastal regions (6% overall).

At present, Kenya has a population of 28.3 million and a population growth rate of 3.6 per cent, with most of the population is concentrated in the central and western parts of the country. 27.7% of the population live in urban areas and 72.3% in rural areas. Medical facilities are inadequate, particularly in rural areas, but there have been improvements resulting in better sanitation, and with other social services, the infant mortality rate has dropped to 72 deaths per 1,000 live births and average life expectancy has risen to between 54 and 57 years. Most households continue to be male dominated, but women make up 23 per cent of labour force (1991), one-third of college students, and up to half of all graduate students.

Economy
The gross domestic product (GDP) of Kenya is US$6.96 billion, and the GDP per capita is US$339. Official figures show services making up 52% of GDP, but given that most of the population is not employed and hence has no measurable wage these statistics probably do not give an accurate portrayal of most Kenyans' activities.

Agriculture accounts for 28% of GDP and 65% of exports: cash crops include coffee, tea and pyrethrum; food products include maize, sorghum, rice and sugarcane; livestock and livestock products include beef, pork, poultry, dairy products, eggs. Unfortunately however, food output is not keeping pace with population growth and crop production has been extended into marginal land.

Industries (13% GDP) include the production of small-scale consumer goods - furniture, textiles, ceramics, flour - food processing, manufacture of electrical and transport equipment, and tourism, particularly in the informal jua kali ("hot sun") sector.

Education
Despite substantial improvements in the last decade, only about half of all pupils complete primary education and only half of those go on to secondary school, but literacy is relatively high at a rate of 78% (women 70%, men 86%). All students pay fees, but state schools receive some government assistance (such as paid teachers) and perhaps some from an affiliated Church. Harambee (self-help) schools are common in rural areas, drawing on the talents of members of the community to offer hands-on agricultural training, academic education, and instruction in practical subjects such as health and various occupational skills. Complete education to university level is available to competent students and to those who are able to pay tuition, while teacher-training colleges are free, but teachers are required to work for the government for at least three years after graduation.