Nakuru County

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Not to be confused with Nakuru.

Nakuru County
County
Flamingos at Lake Nakuru
Flamingos at Lake Nakuru
Location of Nakuru County in Kenya
Location of Nakuru County in Kenya
Coordinates: 0°30′S 36°0′E / 0.500°S 36.000°E / -0.500; 36.000Coordinates: 0°30′S 36°0′E / 0.500°S 36.000°E / -0.500; 36.000
Country Kenya
Formed4 March 2013
Capital and largest townNakuru
Other townsNaivasha
Government
 • GovernorLee Kinyanjui
Area
 • Total7,509.5 km2 (2,899.4 sq mi)
Population
 (2019)
 • Total2,162,202[1]
Time zoneUTC+3 (EAT)
Websitenakuru.go.ke

Nakuru County is a county in Kenya. It is County number 32 out of the 47 Kenyan Counties. The capital and largest town is Nakuru, with Naivasha being another major significant urban centre. With a population of 2,162,202[1] (2019 census), it is the third most populous county in Kenya after Nairobi County and Kiambu County, in that order. With an area of 7,496.5 km²,  it is Kenya's 19th largest county in size. Until August 21, 2010, it formed part of Rift Valley Province.

Population[]

Historical population
YearPop.±%
1979 522,709—    
1989 849,096+62.4%
1999 1,187,039+39.8%
2009 1,603,325+35.1%
2019 2,162,202+34.9%
source:[2]

Sites of interest[]

Nakuru County is home to Lake Nakuru, Lake Elmenteita and Lake Naivasha some of the Rift Valley soda lakes. Lake Nakuru is best known for its thousands, sometimes millions of flamingoes nesting along the shores. The surface of the shallow lake is often hardly recognisable due to the continually shifting mass of pink. The number of flamingos on the lake varies with water and food conditions and the best vantage point is from Baboon Cliff. Also of interest, an area of 188 km around the lake fenced off as a sanctuary to protect Rothschild giraffe and black rhinos.

Other sites of interest around Nakuru include Menengai Crater, an extinct volcano 2,490 m (8,167 ft) high and the Nakuru National Park with wildlife. The views of the crater itself, as well as the surrounding countryside, are spectacular.

Hyrax Hill Prehistoric Site, discovered by the Leakeys in 1926, is considered a major Neolithic and Iron Age site. The adjoining museum features finds from various nearby excavations.

The second-largest surviving volcanic crater in the world, the Menengai Crater is 2,242 meters above sea level at its highest point. The crater plunges 483 m down from the rim and the summit is accessible by foot or vehicle 8 km from the main road. The mountain is also surrounded by a nature reserve.

The Rift Valley Institute of Science and Technology is a tourist attraction. It is a giant institute established in 1979 by the leaders and people of Rift Valley.

Urban areas[]

Surrounding towns include Lanet, which lies approximately 10 km from Nakuru is predominantly a residential town and is home to an army base. Njoro lies 20 km from Nakuru and is a small agricultural town with a local university aimed at promoting agricultural development in Kenya, namely Egerton University (est. 1934).

Urban centres[]

Town Type Population (2009) Rank in Kenya (Population Size)
Nakuru Municipality 307,990 4
Naivasha Municipality 169,142 9
Molo Town 40,651 60
Gilgil Town 35,293 69
Njoro Town 23,551 82
Mai Mahiu Town 11,230 112
Town 7,309 139
Dundori Town 5,221 166
Town 4,740 174
Mau Narok Town 4,357 178
Town 3,833 184
Rongai Town 2,215 213
Town 2,119 214

* 2009 census. Source:[3]

Nakuru Municipality panorama with Lake Nakuru in the background
Sunset at Lake Naivasha
Dusk at Lake Naivasha
Administrative divisions
Division Population* Urban pop.* Headquarters
Bahati 143,714 6,018 Dundori
Elburgon 65,314 23,881 Elburgon
Gilgil 91,929 18,805 Gilgil
Kamara 42,281 1,452 Mau Summit
Keringet 59,863 953 Keringet
Kuresoi 40,924 0
Lare 27,727 0
Mauche 15,391 0
Mau Narok 29,916 3,321 Mau Narok
Mbogoini 59,510 228
Molo 31,935 17,188 Molo
Naivasha 158,679 36,023 Naivasha
Nakuru Municipal 231,262 212,162 Nakuru
Njoro 79,123 15,635 Njoro
Olenguruone 32,030 509
Rongai 77,441 2,163 Rongai
Total 1,187,039 338,338 -
* 1999 census. Sources:[4][5]

The county has eleven constituencies:

  • Naivasha Constituency represented by Hon. John Kihagi, The National Alliance Party (TNA) a member of Jubilee Coalition
  • Nakuru Town West Constituency represented by Hon. Samuel Arama, The National Alliance Party (TNA) a member of Jubilee Coalition
  • Nakuru Town East Constituency represented by Hon. David Gikaria, The National Alliance Party (TNA) a member of Jubilee Coalition
  • Kuresoi South Constituency Hon. Zakayo Cheruiyot, United Republican Party (URP) a member of Jubilee Coalition
  • Kuresoi North Constituency Hon. Moses Cheboi, United Republican Party (URP) a member of Jubilee Coalition
  • Molo Constituency represented by Hon. Jacob Waweru Macharia, The National Alliance Party (TNA) a member of Jubilee Coalition
  • Rongai Constituency represented by Hon. Raymond Kipruto Moi, Kenya African National Union (KANU), a member of Amani coalition
  • Subukia Constituency represented by Hon. Nelson Gachuiya, The National Alliance Party (TNA), a member of Jubilee Coalition
  • Njoro Constituency represented by Hon. Joseph Nganga Tiuna, The National Alliance Party (TNA), A member of Jubilee Coalition
  • Gilgil Constituency represented by Hon. Nderitu Mathenge, The National Alliance Party (TNA) a member of Jubilee Coalition
  • Bahati Constituency represented by Hon. Onessmus Kimani Ngunjiri, The National Alliance Party (TNA) a member of Jubilee Coalition

Nakuru County was seen as the epicenter of violence in the aftermath of the disputed 2007 Presidential Elections which left over 1,100 people dead and over 350,000 displaced nationwide

Nakuru County Peace Accord[]

The Nakuru County Peace Accord (or “Rift Valley Peace Accord”) refers to the peace agreement signed on 19 August 2012 between elders of the Agikuyu (see also Kikuyu) and Kalenjin communities as well as other ethnic groups of Kenya.[6]

The agreement was designed to address sources of ethnic conflict and a history of violence in the rift valley region of Kenya.[7] It was signed following a 16 month-long peace process led by the National Cohesion and Integration Commission and the National Steering Committee on Peace Building and Conflict Management

Notable residents[]

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ a b "Kenya Census 2009 - Census - Kenya". Scribd.
  2. ^ Kenya: Administrative Division population statistics
  3. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 February 2013. Retrieved 24 February 2013.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  4. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 28 September 2007. Retrieved 28 September 2007.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  5. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 18 July 2011. Retrieved 18 July 2011.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  6. ^ "Media Breakfast Meeting on Nakuru Peace Accord - Speech by NCIC Chairman, Dr. Mzalendo Kibunjia". National Cohesion and Integration Commission. 7 June 2012. Archived from the original on 20 December 2014. Retrieved 20 December 2012.
  7. ^ Wairimu Nderitu, Alice (2014). From the Nakuru County Peace Accord to Lasting Peace (PDF). Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue.
  8. ^ KEPSA (18 November 2017). "Carole Kariuki, Chief Executive Officer, Kenya Private Sector Alliance: Short Biography". Nairobi: Kenya Private Sector Alliance (KEPSA). Retrieved 18 November 2017.

External links[]

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