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Elgeyo-Marakwet County

Coordinates: 0°48′N 35°34′E / 0.800°N 35.567°E / 0.800; 35.567
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Elgeyo-Marakwet County
County
Flag of Elgeyo-Marakwet County
Flag
Location of Elgeyo-Marakwet County (Green)
Location of Elgeyo-Marakwet County (Green)
CountryKenya
FoundedMarch 4th 2013
CapitalIten
Government
 • GovernorAlex Tolgos
Area
 • Total3,049.7 km2 (1,177.5 sq mi)
Population
 (2009)
 • Total369,998 [1]
Time zoneUTC+3 (EAT)

Elgeyo-Marakwet County is one of the 47 Counties of Kenya. Elgeyo Marakwet County is located in the former Rift Valley Province. Its capital and largest town is Iten.
It borders the counties of West Pokot to the north, Baringo County to the east, southeast and south, Uasin Gishu to the southwest and west, and Trans Nzoia to the northwest.
Area (Km 2) 3,029.8 km squared
Climate/Weather Temperatures range from a minimum of 14 °C to a maximum of 24 °C. The rainfall ranges annually between 400mm and 1,400mm.

Demographics

Indicator Statistics
Population : 369,998 (Male – 50%, Female – 50%)
Population Density: 122 people per Km 2
National Percentage: 0.96%
Annual Growth Rate: 2.8%
Age Distribution: 0–14 years (46.4%), 15–64 years (49.6%), 65+ years (4.0%)
Number of Households: 77,555

[2]

Geography, geology and topography

Elgeyo Escarpment panorama viewed from Kipkaa Village, Tambach Ward, Keiyo North

The Kerio River binds the county on the eastern side. From its alluvial plain the topography gradually rises towards the west. The Elgeyo Escarpment stands out distinctly and causes relief differences of up to 1 500 m. In the northern and southern part of the county the topography is rugged, giving way to more subdued relief differences going westwards. The underlying geology mainly consists of gneisses from the Basement System.
The Cherangany Hills are made up of a series of gently rolling hills that form the western half of the Great Rift Valley and extend northwest in a broken chain to Mount Moroto in Uganda. Non-volcanic in origin, the Cherangany Hills resulted from faulting in the Rift Valley. The range is approximately 30 miles (48 km) long and 25 miles (40 km) wide and averages 9,000 feet (2,700 metres) in height; its highest point reaches more than 11,000 feet (3,370 metres). Many of the summits are covered with huge groundsels and lobelias. Some of the hills that make up Cherangany include Kameleogon (3581 m), Chebon (3375 m), Chepkotet (3370 m), Alaleigelat (3350 m) and Sodang (3211 m).

Religion and ethnicity

Marakwet Dancers
Marakwet Traditional Dancers

The County is mainly occupied by The Keiyo,Sengwer also called Cherangany and Marakwet which are part of the larger ethnic grouping of eight culturally and linguistically related ethnic groups known as the Kalenjin
Marakwet is a sub-tribe of the larger Kalenjin group. It is made up of the sub-dialects Almoo, Endoow, Markweta (the sub-dialect giving rise to the common name), Sombirir (Borokot) and Kiptaani who presently predominantly live in Marakwet District in the North Rift Valley Province of Kenya. Some now live in Trans Nzoia East and Uasin Gishu North districts and indeed in other towns in Kenya.
The name Keiyo or Elgeyo has been used interchangeably to describe the Keiyo people. The latter name being disputed as a corruption of the former true name, which resulted from the Uasin-Gishu Maasai who were the neighbours of the Keiyo in the mid 19th century at the western side of Eldoret, being a word coined by them.

County government

The County Governor is Alex Tolgos, the Senator is Onesmus Kipchumba Murkomen, and County Women Representative is Susan Kipketer Chebet, all of the United Republican Party, an affiliate of the Jubilee Alliance. The County has four constituencies in the National Assembly of Kenya, and twenty ward seats in its County Assembly.

  • Alex Tolgos
    Alex Tolgos
  • Onesmus Kipchumba Murkomen
    Onesmus Kipchumba Murkomen
  • Susan Kipketer Chebet
    Susan Kipketer Chebet

County Executive Committee

Person Docket
Morris Rotich Education and Technical Training
Anne Kibosia Trade, Co-operatives, Energy and Tourism
Eng.Simion Kiplagat Public Works and Transport
Stephen Biwott Health Services
Thomas Rutto Water, Physical Planning and Natural Resources
Shadrack Yatich Youth, Sports, Women and Social Services
Dr.Stella Chelagat Agriculture,Livestock and Fisheries

Speaker

Albert Kochei

County Ward Representatives

Constituency Ward Representative
Marakwet East Kapyego Kiptire Benson Kibet
Marakwet East Sambirir Suter Paul Kipkemoi
Marakwet East Endo Kirop Festus Korir
Marakwet East Embobut/Embulot Chebii Simion
Marakwet West Lelan Cherono Charles Chemase
Marakwet West Sengwer Kiprono Kipketer David
Marakwet West Cherang'any/Chebororwa Koech Philemon Kiptoo
Marakwet West Moiben/Kuserwo Chesingany William Cheruiyot
Marakwet West Kapsowar Yego David
Marakwet West Arror Christopher Kibor Kimutai
Keiyo North Kamariny Lagat Kenneth Kibet
Keiyo North Emsoo Cheboiboch Christopher Kangogo
Keiyo North Tambach Keitany Vincent Kiptoo
Keiyo North Kapchemutwa Cherop Rosa
Keiyo South Kaptarakwa Kigen Thomas Kipkorir
Keiyo South Chepkorio Kibet Tecla Jerotich
Keiyo South Soy North Kipchumba Vincent Kipruto
Keiyo South Soy South Cheruiyot Gilbert Kaptugen
Keiyo South Kabiemit Boit Wilson Kipketer
Keiyo South Metkei Chirchir Daniel
Nominated
Nominated
Nominated
Nominated
Nominated

[3] [4]

Economy

Economic activities in the county is characterized by mixed farming which mainly comprise of Livestock and Subsistence farming, Small Business,Tourism and Fluorspar mining in Kerio Valley.Oil Prospecting by Tullow Oil Company is ongoing in Kerio Valley.

Agriculture

[5]

Agro-Ecological zone

Agro-ecological zone of the county, according to the agricultural potential

Tourism

Major Tourist Attractions are

  1. Kerio Valley National Reserve
  2. Elgeyo Escarpment
  3. Sports Tourism
  4. Cherang'any Hills
  5. River Kerio
  6. Rimoi National Reserve
  7. Torok waterfalls
  8. Chebara Dam
  9. Sergoit Hill
  10. Lake Kapnorok
  11. Cheploch Gorge
  12. Kipteber Meteorite Historical Mountain
  13. Kureswo Hotsprings
  • Kerio river
    Kerio river
  • Chebloch gorge
    Chebloch gorge
  • Elgeyo escapment
    Elgeyo escapment
  • Elgeyo marakwet valley
    Elgeyo marakwet valley
  • Torok waterfall
    Torok waterfall
  • Paraglading in elgeyo marakwet
    Paraglading in elgeyo marakwet
  • Rimoi National Park
    Rimoi National Park
  • Sergoit hill
    Sergoit hill

Education

Indicator Statistics
Number of Institutions (2007) Primary (373), Secondary (75)
Primary Enrolment (110,399)
Teacher to Pupil Ratio 1: 36 (Public Schools)
Secondary Enrolment (20,887)
Teacher to Pupil Ratio 1:30 (Public Schools)
Tertiary 1 Teacher Training College, 3 Youth Polytechnics
Adult Literacy Classes Enrolment (Data Not available)
Notable Secondary Schools
  • St Patrick High School
  • Singore Girls Secondary School

[2]

Health

Indicator Statistics
Health Facilities: 113 - District Hospitals (2), Sub-District Hospitals (5), Dispensaries (89), Health Centres (15), Medical Clinics (1), Others (1)
Doctor to Population Ratio: 1:50,000 (Marakwet), 1:156,471 (Keiyo)
Infant Mortality Rates: 57/1000 (Keiyo)
Under Five Mortality Rates: 9.7/1000 (Keiyo)
Prevalent Diseases: Malaria, Diarrhoea, Bronchopneumonia and respiratory tract infections, urinary tract infections
Notable Hospitals:
  • Africa Inland Church Kapsowar Hospital.
  • Iten District Hospital.
  • Chebiemit District Hospital

kocholwo sub district hospital

[2]

Transportation

Sports

Major sports activity

The county is most notable for its long-standing tradition of producing top athletes who have represented Kenya in many international athletics events.

Kenyan and foreign athletes train at Iten Elgeyo Marakwet County

Sports facilities

Notable sport personalities

Notable Athletes hailing from this county include;

  1. Ezekiel Kemboi
  2. Lorna Kiplagat
  3. Moses Kiptanui
  4. Evans Ruto
  5. Richard Chelimo
  6. Sally Barsosio
  7. Wilson Kipsang Kiprotich
  8. Vivian Cheruiyot
  9. Viola Kibiwot
  10. Hilda Kibet
  11. Abraham Cherono
  12. Brimin Kipruto
  13. Frankline Ngelel
  14. Edna Ngeringwony Kiplagat

Important towns

EMC Towns
Iten
chebiemit
Kapsowar
Chesongoch
Chesoi
Chugor
Tot
Kapyego
Kipmwarer
Cheptongei
Arror
katumoi
kocholwo
Kapchebau

Notable people

List Achievements
Nicholas Biwoot Former Powerful Cabinet Minister in Government of President Daniel Toroitich arap Moi
Amb.Tabitha Seii Kenya’s High Commissioner to South Africa from 2003 to 2007
Julius Kipngetich Former CEO of Kenya Wildlife Service, Currently Equity Bank Chief Operations Officer
Philip Kiptoo Tunoi Judge of Supreme Court of Kenya between 2012 - to Date
Philip Kipchirchir Murgor lawyer and Former Director Of Public Prosecution
Brother Colm O'Connell Irish missionary and retired teacher. Successful Athletics Coach
Gladys Boss Shollei Former Chief Registrar of Kenya Judiciary
William Chebor Murgor a member of pre-independence legislative council-Legco, and former MP of Keiyo North
Lieutenant General Lazaro Kipkurui Sumbeiywo Former Commandant of the Defence Staff College and Army Commander. Kenya special envoy to the Sudan and south Sudan peace process William kiprono Directorkenya wildlife service
Constituency Wards
Marakwet East Kapyego · Sambirir · Endo · Embobut/Embulot
Marakwet West Lelan · Sengwer · Cherang'any/Chebororwa · Moiben/Kuserwo · Kapsowar · Arror
Keiyo North Kamariny · Emsoo · Tambach · Kapchemutwa
Keiyo South Kaptarakwa · Chepkorio · Soy North · Soy South · Kabiemit · Metkei

Services and urbanisation

Stats for Elgeyo-Marakwet County
County
Stats for the County (Percent)
Urbanisation
14.4
Literacy
77.6
Attending School (15-18 Yrs)
84.8
Paved Roads
5.7
Good Roads
50.8
Electricity Access
7.2
Poverty Rate
55.5

Stats for the County

Source: USAid Kenya

See also

References

  1. ^ "Kenya Census 2009". Scribd.com. Retrieved 22 July 2014.
  2. ^ a b c "Elgeyo Marakwet". Crakenya.org. Retrieved 22 July 2014.
  3. ^ "SUMMARY OF RESULTS FOR MEMBER OF COUNTY ASSEMBLY WARD REPRESENTATIVE. [MARCH 4TH 2013 - GENERAL ELECTION]". Iebc.or.ke. Retrieved 22 July 2014.
  4. ^ "Members Nominated To County Assembly Wards". Iebc.or.ke. 18 July 2013. Retrieved 22 July 2014.
  5. ^ [1][dead link]

0°48′N 35°34′E / 0.800°N 35.567°E / 0.800; 35.567

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