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Kitale

Coordinates: 1°01′N 35°00′E / 1.017°N 35.000°E / 1.017; 35.000
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Kitale
Municipality
Nickname: 
KTL
Country Kenya
CountyTrans-Nzoia County
Elevation
1,900 m (6,200 ft)
Population
 (2009)
 • Total107,806 [1]
Time zoneUTC+3 (EAT)

Kitale is an agricultural town in western Kenya situated between Mount Elgon and the Cherangani Hills at an elevation of around 1,900 metres (6,200 ft).[2] Its population is 106,187 as of 2009.[1]

It is the administrative centre of Trans-Nzoia County. The main cash crops grown in the area are sunflower, tea, coffee, Pyrethrum, seed beans and seed maize. Kitale is a market town for the local agricultural area and is known for the Kitale Museum and an agroforestry centre. Saiwa Swamp National Park lies near the town.

The town was founded in 1908 by white settlers. A branch line of the Uganda Railway from Eldoret reached Kitale in 1926 which promoted growth of the town. Kitale is among the most diverse towns in the country.

Bondeni, Tuwan, Site and Service, Machinjoni, Mitume, Government Quarters, Matano, Lessos, Kibomet, Bidii are some of the well known centres and estates in Kitale.St Anthony's Boys High School, St. Joseph's Boys high School, St. Brigid's Girls High School, Kitale Academy and St. Monicas Girls High School comprise the oldest and best known High Schools within this Rift Valley Town.

The National Museum of Western Kenya is located at Kitale. It is a natural history museum and was originally created by Lt Col. Hugh Stoneham in 1926.

Kitale lies 395 Km (5 hrs. 25 mins.) from the capital Nairobi, via A 104 [3]

Climate

Climate data for Kitale
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 27
(81) 		28
(82) 		27
(81) 		27
(80) 		24
(76) 		24
(75) 		23
(73) 		23
(74) 		24
(76) 		25
(77) 		25
(77) 		26
(78) 		25
(78)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) 11
(52) 		12
(54) 		13
(55) 		13
(56) 		13
(55) 		12
(54) 		12
(53) 		12
(53) 		12
(53) 		12
(53) 		12
(53) 		12
(53) 		12
(54)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 15
(0.6) 		46
(1.8) 		79
(3.1) 		140
(5.4) 		170
(6.5) 		120
(4.6) 		150
(5.8) 		160
(6.4) 		100
(4.1) 		84
(3.3) 		56
(2.2) 		28
(1.1) 		1,148
(44.9)
Source: Weatherbase [4]

Urbanization


British White settlers hold account of the urbanization of Kitale. Prior to the 19th century, Kitale must have been largely occupied by Pokot, Luhya and Sabaot communities and trade must have take place across the boundaries of these communities.

Economy

Kitale's economy has largely been attributed to agriculture, with the growing and production of maize, as a major food crop in this region, being almost solely the primary economic activity by majority of its settlers. In fact, Kitale produces the largest portion of Kenya's total maize quantities. A significant portion of the economy is also manufacturing-based. As of 2014, serviced-based economic drivers such as transportation, with the proliferation of Boda Boda commuting means, employs many dwellers.

Transportation

Majorly, road transport is used in Kitale, with more than 90% of residents travelling by road, ether by private cars, or public means such as Bodaboda (bicycle-chauffered or motorcycle-chauffered travelling), tuk tuk, eleven or fourteen seater matatus,and buses. Up to the late 20th century, railway transport was a major element in the transportation activities here. Kitale is northern-most railway terminal in Kenya, having been completed in early 1900's. Air travel is significant too, and the presence of the Kitale airstrip, 336 kilometres (209 mi), Northwest of Nairobi International Airport serves as a destination here and in surrounding areas. A very small percentage (less than 1%) of residents travel by air.

References

  1. ^ a b https://www.opendata.go.ke/Population/2009-Census-Vol-1-Table-3-Rural-and-Urban-Populati/e7c7-w67t/1
  2. ^ http://www.africapedia.com/THE-40-HIGHEST-TOWNS-AND-CITIES-IN-AFRICA
  3. ^ About Kenyan Museums
  4. ^ "Weatherbase: Historical Weather for Kitale, Kenya". Weatherbase Retrieved on November 24, 2011. 2011. {{cite web}}: line feed character in |publisher= at position 12 (help)

1°01′N 35°00′E / 1.017°N 35.000°E / 1.017; 35.000

Famous Parsonalities from Kitale, Wamalwa Kijana - Former Vice President of Kenya, Patrick Shim, Sammy Sholei - Player and currently Football Kenya Federation Senior. Vice Chairman, Maxim Itur - Fifa Referee

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