Kenneth Grainger, age 12, of Peoria, Ill., for his question:

How big is the country of Kenya?

Kenya is about the same size as Texas, which is the second largest of our states. The little country straddles the equator in the eastern part of Africa. Its capital city is nairobi, with a population more than a quarter of a million. The tropical sun shines down on Kenya's hills, and rivers run down its slopes and valleys. Its eastern border meets the indian ocean, and its southwest corner dips its toes in lake victoria.

In 1963, Kenya broke from the government of great britain and became an independent country, governed by its own constitution. It still, however, remains a member of the British Commonwealth, and in December of 1963, it became a member of the United Nations.