ELGEYO MARAKWET COUNTY REVIEW

Elgeyo Marakwet County is located in the former Rift Valley province and covers a total area of 3,029.8 kilometres squared hence making it one of the smallest counties in the country. It borders Baringo, Uasin Gishu and Trans Nzoia Counties. It administrative centre is Kapsowar where most of the government offices are planned to be located.

POPULATION

According to the national census exercise that was carried out in 2009 by the government of Kenya, the total number of people living in Elgeyo Mrakwet County is projected to be 369,998 hence its among the lowly populated counties in the country. 14.4% of the total population reside in the urban areas in the county while the rest of the population reside in the rural areas.

CONSTITUENCIES

According to the National Boundaries Commission of Kenya, Elgeyo Marakwet County constitute of four constituencies namely:
• Marakwet East Constituency
• Marakwet West Constituency
• Keiyo North Constituency
• Keiyo South Constituency
Marakwet and Keiyo Districts are some of the districts that have being mapped in the county.

GEOGRAPHY AND CLIMATE

Elgeyo Marakwet County enjoys moderate climate that is attributed by the average altitude of the county. The higher you go the cooler it becomes the county experience a minimum rainfall of 14 degrees Celsius during the cold month of July and 24 degrees Celsius during the hottest month (January).

The average rainfall ranges between 400 millimetres in the lowlands and 1400 millimetres in the highlands per annum. The amount of rainfall received determines the kind of economic activity that takes place in the region. In the lowlands only crops that are well adapted to high temperatures and low rainfall are grown while in the highland residents are able to plant a wide range of crops due to the adequate rainfall and moderate temperatures experienced in the area.

The soils in some parts are very fertile especially in the high areas but in some parts the soil is not conducive for any agricultural activity. The soils lack humus and most of the plant nutrients. Due to the steep slopes and low ground cover highland areas soil erosion is experienced especially during the rainy season.
The high areas in Elgeyo Marakwet County have an average altitude of 2300 metres while the lowlands have an average of 1000 metres above the sea level. This explains the high temperatures in the lowlands and cool temperatures in the high areas.

AGRICULTURE

There are a number of constrains that hinder various agricultural activities from taking place in Elgeyo Marakwet County. This includes poor soils, unpredictable rainfall and temperature regimes that are aggrevated by the effects of global warming and climate change and the social cultural believes of the Pokot Community.
Livestock keeping is one of the major agricultural activities carried out in the region. Residents keep large herds of cattle, sheep, goats and camel that are usually grazed in the various community land pieces in the county. Some of the farmers have set up ranches that specialise in intensive livestock keeping that provide various animal products to the residents and nearby counties.

Traditional animal keepers usually move around with their animals in search of pastures and water for the animals as well as their own for domestic purposes. Wells have been drilled in the county so as to supplement the water sourced from the various seasonal rivers in the county.
Other agricultural products grown in the area include bananas, maize, beans, potatoes, peas and vegetables. Some of the produce is consumed locally while the surplus is sold in the various agricultural markets in the country.

ECONOMY

Elgeyo Marakwet County main economic activity is livestock keeping. Kenya Meat Commission regular purchases animals from the farmers and this in turn help them to meet their various financial obligations. Farmers also sell their various farm products and this in turn helps them to generate some income to keep them going especially in this era of high inflation rates.
There are a total of five commercial banks and one micro finance institution that provide the residents with affordable financial services. Businesses have being set up especially along the major roads and urban areas and this helps to ensure that residents get easy access to their basic needs.
Tourism helps to generate revenue that is used to foster development in Elgeyo Marakwet County. Some of the tourist attraction sites include Kerio Valley National Reserve and Cherang’any hills. Several lodges have being constructed in this ares to provide accommodation and caterings services to the residents.

HEALTH AND EDUCATION

There are a total of three hundred and seventy three primary schools and seventy five secondary schools. The government needs to build more schools so as to alienate illiteracy in the county.
Elgeyo Marakwet County has one 113 district hospitals and over 100 other health facilities providing quality health services to the residents. More VCT centres should be constructed to educate the people on the various sexually transmitted diseases that may affect some of them.

KITUI COUNTY REVIEW:

Kitui County is one of the counties located in the eastern parts of the county. It covers a total area of 30,496.5 kilometres squared making it one of the largest counties in the country. It borders Taita Taveta, Machakos, Embu and Tharaka Nithi Counties.

POPULATION

According to a national census exercise that was carried out in 2009, the total population of the county is approximated to be 1,012,709. Kitui County is amount the highly populated counties in the country. 13.8% of the total population reside in the urban areas and the rest reside in the rural areas.

CONSTITUENCIES

Kitui Constituency has a total of six constituencies according to the Kenya National Boundaries. They include:

• Kitui Central Constituency
• Kitui West Constituency
• Kitui South Constituency
• Mwingi North Constiuency
• Mwingi South Constituency
• Mutito Constituency

Districts mapped in the county include Kitui, Mutomo, Mwingi and Nyuso.

GEOGRAPGHY AND CLIMATE

Kitui County is located in the semi arid parts of the county and this explains the high temperatures and low rainfall amounts received in the county. The county lies in the lowland and has an average altitude of between 400 and 1800 metres above the sea level. Kitui County receives an average rainfall of between 500 and 1050 millimetres per annum which is not evenly distributed in the year. Some parts of the county receive very low amount of rainfall and this hinders farmers from carrying out certain agricultural activities such as tea or coffee growing.

Effects of soil erosion in Kitui County
January is the hottest month while July is the coldest. Temperatures range between 14 degrees Celsius during the cold month and 34 degrees Celsius during the hottest month. Scientists and Meteorologists however project that this weather patterns are subject to change in future is the necessary measures to control global warming and climate change are not implemented in time.
Soils in some parts of the county are very fertile and contain all the plant nutrients but in some areas the soils are very poor and contain low amounts of humus and have low water holding capacity. The suitability of the soils determines the kind of agricultural activities carried out in a particular region. In the flat regions, flooding is experienced especially during the long rains seasons.

AGRICULTURE

This is the main economic activity in Kitui County; crops grown in here are those that are well adapted to the soils and weather patterns of the area. Coffee is grown in the high parts of the county and this attributed to the fertile soils and high rainfall amounts received in the county. Other cash crops include cotton, tobacco and horticultural products.

Sisal plants used for weaving traditionally
In the lowland residents practise livestock farming, some of the animals kept include cattle, sheep and goats and chicken. This helps to meet the demand for animal products in the county such as meat, milk, eggs and other dairy products. The animals are kept on small scale and large scale depending on the available land, pastures and water.
Other crops grown mainly for subsistence farming include beans, sorghum, cassava, pigeon peas, millet and maize. Part of the produce is consumed at home while the surplus is sold in the agricultural markets that are mostly located in the urban centres.

ECONOMY

Agriculture is the main economic activity in Kitui County. Farmers are able to meet their various financial obligations from the sale of the farm products such as coffee, cotton and tobacco. There are many factories that process the respective products and this in turn provides alternative employment to the residents.
Tourism is another sector that contributes to the economy of the county. Some of the major tourist attractions include Mwingi National Reserve and Tsavo East National Park. Both local and tourist visit this areas and this in turn helps in generation of revenue that is used to improve certain sectors such as transport and sanitation.
One of the tourist hotels
Developers have constructed residential houses in the urban areas to provide affordable accommodation to the residents. Hotels and lodges have being set in and around the tourist attraction sites that provide quality catering and accommodation to the tourists.
There are a total of four commercial banks and over seven micro-finance institutions that provide financial services to the residents.

HEALTH AND EDUCATION

There are more than one thousand primary schools and over one hundred secondary schools that provide quality education to the scholars in the county. With over two hundred districts and more than 150 dispensaries, Kitui County residents have access to health services any time of the day.

TURKANA COUNTY REVIEW

Turkana County is located in the northern parts of Kenya and covers a total area of 68,680.3 kilometres squared. It borders Baringo, Samburu and West Pokot Counties that are also located in the region. Some of the districts that are mapped in the county include Turkana North, Turkana South and Central Turkana.

POPULATION

According to the national census exercise that was held in 2009, the total population of Turkna County is estimated to be 855,399. 14.2% of the total population is approximated to be living in the urban areas of the county while the other percentage resides in the rural areas. This numbers are projected to increase by the next national census by at least 2.3%.

CONSTITUENCIES

There are a total of three constituencies that are mapped in Turkana County namely:
• Turkana North
• Turkana Central
• Turkana South.

GEOGRAPGHY AND CLIMATE

Turkana County is one of the driest counties in the country; it receives perennial rainfall that is very unpredictable. The region at times receives no rain in a whole year and when it does rain the average amount received is approximated to range between 150 to 250mm annually. This in turn hinders the farmers from practising the various crop farming practises carried out in the highlands.

The soils are mostly sandy and lack most of the plant nutrients hence only crops that are adapted to the soils survive in Turkana County. Some of the characteristics include low water holding capacity, low humus content, salinity and high water infiltration rate. For residents to practise intensive farming they have to implement various intensive soil management practises that may be expensive and uneconomical in the long run.
The county lies on an altitude of 355 metres above the sea level and this explains the high temperatures experienced all year round. The area is generally hot, temperatures are very high during the day and very low at night. Average temperatures are approximated to be between 25 and 35 degrees Celsius.

AGRICULTURE

Turkana County is not one of the most favourable areas to carry out agricultural activities. However the government has started to implement various irrigation schemes in the region that can help in alienating poverty and improve food security in the region. Some of the crops grown include sorghum, millet and cassava because they are well adapted to growing uder high temperatures and do not require a lot of water. Specific maize species have also being introduced in the region, this one has been genetically developed to survive in the prevailing conditions of the county.
Livestock farming is the predominant form of agriculture carried out in Turkana County. Most of the residents are livestock keepers who own large herds of animals such as cattle, sheep, goats and camels. They are nomadic pastoralists who move around with their animals in search of water and pastures for their animals. The high numbers of animals kept has led to certain land degradation effects such as desertification and increased soil erosion due to removal of all the ground cover by the animals.

Most of the rivers in the area are seasonal and this in turn aggravates the problem of water shortage. Omo river that flows from Ethiopia and drain to Lake Turkana is one of the permanent rivers in the county that supply water for both domestic and agricultural purposes. Due to the flat nature of the county, during the rainy season it experiences flush floods that lead to loss of life and property since the residents are caught unaware.

ECONOMY

Livestock Farming if one of the major economic activities that residents depend on for their livelihood in term of meeting their various financial needs. Kenya Meat Commission often purchases livestock from the farmers for meat production especially during the dry season.
Surplus farm products are usually sold in the various agricultural markets in the county but this is not usually the case due to the harsh weather patterns that hinder farmers from growing many crops in their farms.
Lake Turkana National Park is one of the major tourist attraction sites in the county. Both local and international tourist visit the county and this in turn helps to promote economic growth in the county. There are several businesses that have being set up mostly in the urban areas. Examples are retail and whole sale shops, petrol stations and supermarkets.
There are a total of three commercial banks and 2 micro finances that provide Turkana County residents with affordable and reliable financial services such as loans.

HEALTH AND EDUCATION

Acccording to a survey that was carried out in 2007, the total number of primary schools in the county are 202 and 19 secondary school. Most of these schools are not well equipped hence the government need to ensure that the facilities are well able to provide quality education to the young generation in Turkana County.
There are three district hospitals and over 100 heath centres in the county. As compared to other counties the region requires more hospitals so as to meet the health needs of the population.

UASIN GISHU COUNTY REVIEW

Uashin Gishu County is located in the Rift valley and covers a total area of 3,345.2 kilometres squared. It borders Kericho, Marakwet, Baringo and Trans Nzoia Counties. Some of the districts mapped in the county include Eldoret West, Wareng and Eldoret East.

POPULATION

According to the national census that was carried out in 2009, the total number of people living in the Uasin Gishu County is approximated to be 894,179. 38.6 % of the total population reside in the urban areas while the rest of the population lives in the rural areas. The population density of the county is also documented as 267 persons per kilometre squared.

CONSTITUENCIES

Uasin Gishu County comprises of three constituencies namely:
• Eldoret North
• Eldoret East
• Eldoret South

GEOGRAPGHY AND CLIMATE

Uashin Gishu County is one of the regions that have favourable climatic conditions that favour growth of a wide variety of crops and livestock keeping. The region has a high altitude of 2400 meters above the sea level. Some areas however have a low altitude of 1800 metres above the sea level like Sergoit plateau, Soy and Turbo. Other regions that have a high altitude of above 2400 metres include Timboroa, Ainabkoi and Kipkabus.
Due to the high altitude the region has moderate temperatures of between 8.4 degrees Celsius during the cold months and 27 degrees Celsius during the hot month. The coldest month is July while the hottest month is usually January. However this pattern is expected to change due to climate change and global warming.
The county receives an average rainfall of between 900mm and 1200mm, it falls in two seasons and this in turn enables the farmers to grow a wide variety of crops. The soils are red volcanic loam soils that contain all the major plant nutrients required by the crops. Due to the high ground cover in almost all parts of the county, soil erosion and landslides are not experienced in the county.

AGRICULTURE

Agriculture is one of the major economic activities carried out in Uasin Gishu County. Most of the agricultural activities are carried out on large scale and this in turn helps to boost the economy and food security of the county. The region is best known for the high production of maize that is used to feed a large proportion of the population in the country.
Maize is grown in plantations that are distributed all over the county especially in the lowlands. Farmers use tractors and other farm machineries to prepare and harvest the produce from their farms. There are a number of flour processing factories in the county that buy the maize from the farmers and use it to process flour and other products such as animal feed.
Livestock keeping is also practised in the county, farmers keep dairy and beef cattle and this ensures that the high demand for animal products is satisfied effectively. There are a number of dairy farms that are known for the high production of milk that is processed and packed for dale in the neighbouring towns such as Nairobi and Kericho.
Other crops that are grown include wheat, vegetables and certain fruits. Some of the produce is consumed locally while the surplus is sold in the various agricultural markets in the county.

ECONOMY

Agriculture is the major economic activity in Uasin Gishu County; farmers produce a wide range of farm produce that is purchased by the various factories and other traders that transport the product such as maize to different parts of the country. There are a total of nineteen commercial banks and eleven micro finance institutions that provide affordable and reliable financial services to the residents.

Large scale maize farming and intensive production of wheat are some of the major agricultural activities carried out in the region. Dairy farming also provides farmers with lucrative source of income for their various agricultural purposes.
Sports tourism is one of the tourism attractions in Uashin Gishu County, various athletics events that attract a large number of both local and international tourists are held in Uashin Gishu County.

HEALTH AND EDUCATION

There are a total of seven hundred and seventy one primary schools and over one hundred secondary schools. This helps to ensure that all young persons in the region get access to quality and affordable basic education. There are also fourteen tertiary institutions that offer scholars higher education in the various fields.
Uasin Gishu County has many health facilities, they include eighty dispensaries and twenty three health centres hence residents have easy access to health services.

VIHIGA COUNTY REVIEW.

Vihiga County is located in the western parts of Kenya. It borders Kisumu, Siaya and Nandi Counties. Acccording to a land survey carried out in 2010, the total area covered by the county is approximated to be 530.9 kilometres squared making it one of the smallest counties in the country. Some of the districts that are mapped in the county include Hamisi, Emuhaya and Vihiga.

POPULATION

In 2009, the Government of Kenya carried out a national census exercise. During the exercise the total population in Vihiga County was approximated to be 554,622. 31.4% of the total population was estimated to be living in the urban areas while the rest of the population reside in the rural areas.

CONSTITUENCIES

There are a total of four constituencies namely;
• Emuhaya Constituency
• Sabatia Constituency
• Vihiga Constituency
• Hamisi Constituency

GEOGRAPGHY AND CLIMATE

Vihiga County experiences tropical rainfall due to the high altitude in the region. The average altitude of the county is estimated to range between 1750 and 2000 metres. This in turn influences the climatic components such as temperatures and rainfall. The annual rainfall received in the county ranges between 1800 and 2000 millimetres and this enables the residents to grow a wide range of crops in their farms.

The higher you go the cooler it becomes, areas that have a high altitude experience cool temperatures that range between 15 and 18 degrees Celsius while the lowlands experience relatively high temperatures that range between 20 and 25 degrees Celsius. In general the average temperature of  Vihiga County is 24 degrees Celsius. These ranges are very conducive for the growth of many of the subsistence and cash crops that are grown in the area.
Soils in Vihiga County are very fertile and exhibit characteristics that favour most of the agricultural activities carried out by most of the residents. This includes high humus content, high water holding capacity, high nutrient availability and ideal plant root depth.
Most parts of the county have gentle slopes that are covered by vegetation that helps to prevent loss of soil and soil nutrients through soil erosion and landslides.

AGRICULTURE

This is one of the major economic activities carried out in the Vihiga County. Most of the residents in the rural areas are farmers who grow both cash crops such as tea and other crops that are consumed locally and surplus sold in the various agricultural markets in the county.
Tea is the main cash crop grown; it is usually cultivated in plantations that are located in the highlands. There are a number of tea processing factories in the county that process the tea for local and international markets. Most of this factories are located near the farms in order to prevent the produce from going bad before its processed.
Some of the farmers also practise dairy farming that provide the various dairy products such as milk and butter. Others also keep beef cattle that provide meat to both rural and urban areas in the county.
Other crops that are grown in the county include millet, cassava, vegetables, beans, potatoes and peas. However this are mainly produced for domestic consumption but the surplus is sold locally.

ECONOMY

Agriculture is the economic activity carried out in the region; residents depend of the capital generated from the farm produce to meet their different financial needs such as education and health services. One of the major sources of income is tea which is the main cash crop as earlier noted.
There are a total of four commercial banks and two micro-finance institutions that provide affordable and reliable financial services such as loans and advise on the various capital planning tips.
Other resources that help to promote the economy in Vihiga County through provision of employment include Stone Quarry, retail and whole sale shops and petrol stations that are located in the urban areas and along the major roads in the county.
Hill of Vision is one of the major tourist attractions in the county that generates revenue to the local government. Various lodges and hotels have being constructed near this site so as to provide quality accommodation and catering services to the tourists.

HEALTH AND EDUCATION

According to a survey that was carried out in 2007 by the government, Vihiga County was found to have a total of 396 primary schools and 117 secondary schools. These facilities help to alienate illiteracy by ensuring that all persons in the county get access to affordable and quality education.
There is only one district hospital and over fifty dispensaries and health centres that are well equipped to provide quality health services to the residents. However VCT Centres need to be constructed so as to educate the residents on the various sexually transmitted diseases.

WEST POKOT COUNTY REVIEW

West Pokot County is located in the former Rift Valley Province covering a total area of 9,169.4 kilometres squared. It borders Baringo, Trans Nzoia, and Turkana Counties. Kapenguris Town is the administrative centre and most of the government offices are located in this town.

POPULATION

According to the national census that was carried out in 2009, the total population of West Pokot County is estimated to be around 512,690 making is one of the lowly populated counties in the country. A proportion of 8.3% of the total population is approximated to be living in the urban areas while the rest of the population reside in the rural areas in the county.

CONSTITUENCIES

West Pokot County comprises of three constituencies namely;
• Kacheliba Constituency
• Kapenguria Constituency
• Sigor Constituency
Some of the districts mapped in the county include Pokot Central, North and West according to the National Boundaries Commission.

GEOGRAPGHY AND CLIMATE

West Pokot County experiences moderate climatic and weather patterns due to the average altitude of the county. The average altitude ranges between 1150 and 2000 metres and this in turn explains the difference in temperatures between the lowlands and highlands. In the lowlands temperatures rise up to a high of 30 degrees Celsius while the high regions experience 10 degrees Celsius during the cold months.
Average rainfall received varies between 400 millimetres and 1500 millimetres. The highlands experience more rainfall than the lowlands and this in turn determines the economic activities carried out in the region.

Soils in the lowlands are not very fertile and lack some of the major plant nutrients. However in the highlands the soils are very fertile and have almost all the plant nutrients and have high humus content. Despite the high rainfall received in the highlands the soils have some characteristics that hinder growth of cash crops such as coffee and tea.
There are several natural forests and escarpments that influence the climate as well as enhance the overall beauty of West Pokot County. Most of the rivers are permanent but a few are seasonal. In some parts of the county, resident drill boreholes and wells so as to meet their water requirements especially during the dry season.

AGRICULTURE

Despite the low rainfall and high temperatures experienced in most parts of West Pokot County, agriculture is carried out through implementation of various agricultural practises such as irrigation.
Livestock farming is the major agricultural activity in the county; residents keep large herds of cattle, sheep, goats and camel. This sector helps to meet the demand for animal products in the country and county as a whole. Some of the animal products include milk, meat, hides and eggs.
Bee keeping is also practised in the county and this in turn helps to increase the total amount of honey produced in the county as well as promote financial status of the farmers.

ECONOMY

The major economic activities in West Pokot County are in one way or another related to agriculture. This is because most of the residents depend on the practise for their livelihood. The main agricultural activity that is very lucrative in the area is livestock farming. Kenya Meat Commission regularly purchases animals from the farmers especially during the dry season.
Farmers also get some income from sale of surplus farm produce such as beans, maize and vegetables that are usually grown on small scale. Commercial businesses such as shops have been set up in the urban areas of West Pokot County and this helps in ensuring that the residents have access to all their basic needs.
Real Estate developers have also built residential houses in the urban areas as well as lodges and hotels near and in tourist attraction sites in the county. Some of the tourist attractions include Kapenguria Museum and escarpments in the area.
There are two commercial banks and three micro finance institutions that provide affordable and quality financial services to the residents.

HEALTH AND EDUCATION

There are a total of three hundred and eighteen primary schools and thirty secondary schools in West Pokot County. There government needs to build more education facilities so as to completely alienate illiteracy in the county.

Learning session for the elderly
In total there are thirty one district hospitals and over thirty dispensaries and health centres in the county.

WAJIR COUNTY REVIEW

Wajir County is located in the former North Eastern province and covers a total of 56,685.8 kilometres squared. It borders somalia on the eastern side. It also borders Isiolo, Garissa and Marsabit Counties.

POPULATION

According to the national census exercise that was carried out in 2009, the total population of the county is approximated to be 661,941 making it one of the lowly populated counties in the country. 14.6% of the total population reside in the urban areas while the rest of the population reside in the rural areas. Settlements are widely distributed with homesteads far from each other. Most of the land in Wajir County is considered under community land since most of the residents are livestock keepers.

CONSTITUENCIES

Wajir County has four constituencies namely:

• Wajir East Constituency
• Wajir West Constituency
• Wajir North Constituency
• Wajir South Constituency

Some of the districts that are mapped in the county include Wajir (West, South, North and East)

GEOGRAPGHY AND CLIMATE

Wajir County is one of the driest counties in the country and this hinders the residents from carrying out most of the agricultural activities carried out in other parts of the country that receive high rainfall and moderate temperatures.

Sandy soils
The topography of the county is generally flat and this contributes to the regular flush floods that damage property and cause loss of life during the rainy season. Most of these floods originate from Ethiopian highlands where rainfall is very high. The county has an average altitude of 460 metres above the sea level and this explains the high temperatures and low rainfall received in the region.
Average rainfall received range between 250 millimetres and 700 millimetres annually hence most crops are not grown since most of them require large amounts of water. The soils are sandy and lack most of the plant nutrients such as calcium and magnesium. Some of the characteristics include low water holding capacity and low humus content.

Residents travel long distances in search of water
Scrubs and other herbaceous plants are the major vegetation cover in the county. This is because of their physiological features such as small leaves and deep roots that enable them to survive under low water availability conditions.

AGRICULTURE

Wajir County is not one of the most favourable regions to practise agriculture unless one plans to implement various soil management practises that are very expensive and uneconomical if they are not implemented right. Some of the crops grown include millet, cassava, arrow roots and sorghum because these crops do not require a lot of water to grow.
Some parts of the county are covered with rocks that hinder implementation of various agricultural projects. However the government aims at introducing agricultural projects that depend on irrigation in the area so as to promote economy and crop production in the county.

One of the many boreholes drilled in the county
Livestock keeping is the main agricultural practise carried out in the county. Residents own large herds of cattle, sheep, goats and camel that are normally grazed in the little pastures available. Due to lack of water and pastures, most of them are nomadic pastoralists who move around with their animals in search of pastures and water for the animals for domestic purposes and for the animals.

ECONOMY

The main economic activity in Wajir County is livestock keeping. Kenya Meat Commission usually purchase animals from the farmers especially during the dry season and this in turn helps to prevent loses that could be incurred by the farmers due to loss of animals in the drought. The beef cattle are also slaughtered locally so as to meet the demand for the products in the urban areas of the county.
Beekeeping is also practised in the county and this helps to increase the countries production of honey and other products such as wax. However this is usually practised on small scale.
There are two commercial banks and three micro-finance institutions in the county that provide the residents with the required financial services. There are commercial businesses established especially in the urban areas and along the major roads. This includes retails and wholesale shops as well as petrol stations.

HEALTH AND EDUCATION

There are a total of eighty eight health facilities in Wajir County. This includes dispensaries, district hospitals and health centres. Most of them are not fully equipped to provide quality health services hence the government and other organisations need to improve their status.
There are one hundred and twenty five primary schools and seventeen secondary schools in the County.

TRANS NZOIA COUNTY REVIEW

Trans Nzoia County is located in the former Rift Valley Province and covers an area of 2,495.5 kilometres squared. Some of the bordering counties include Uashin Gishu, Kakamega, Bungoma ans Elgeyo Marakwet.

POPULATION

According to the national census exercise that was carried out 2009, the total number of people living in Trans Nzoia County is approximated to be 818,757 making it one of the highly populated counties in the country. 20.4% of the total population live in the urban areas while the rest of the population reside in the rural areas.

CONSTITUENCIES

Trans Nzoia County has three constituencies namely;

• Kwanza Constituency
• Saboti Constituency
• Cherangany Constituency

GEOGRAPGHY AND CLIMATE

Trans Nzoia County has a high altitude of 1400m above the sea level in the highlands and 1000 metres in the low lands. This have an adverse effect on the temperature experienced in the county. As one goes higher the cooler it becomes, during the cold months the temperatures falls up to 10 degrees Celsius and 37 degrees Celsius during the hottest months. July is the coldest month while August and January are the hottest months.

The average amount of rainfall received in Trans Nzoia County ranges between 1200 and 1500mm per annum. This enables the residents to plant a wide range of crops on the land. The soils are very fertile and have all the essential nutrients for plant growth. The good ground cover helps to prevent soil erosion that leads to loss of plant nutrients and vegetations. Most parts of the county have gentle slopes and this helps the farmers to grow a wide range of crops without fear of landslides and soil erosion.

AGRICULTURE

This is one of the main economic activities carried out by most of the residents in Trans Nzoia County. Some of the crops grown in the county in the county include tea, coffee, maize, beans, wheat and horticulture. These crops are usually grown on large scale and small scale depending on the available land available for the farmers.

Dairy farming is also practised widely in Trans Nzoia County and this has enabled the county to be self sufficient in relation to dairy products such as milk and meat. Beef farming is also practised in the county in small scale due to lack of enough land to set up ranches. Some of the horticultural crops grown in Trans Nzoia include tomatoes, mangoes and vegetables. Most of these products are consumed locally while the surplus is sold in the nearby towns and counties such as Nairobi and Nakuru.

ECONOMY

Agriculture is the main economic activity carried out in Trans Nzoia. The activities are usually carried out in large tracts of land and this helps in ensuring that the county and the country attain the right level of food security. Maize is grown in large scale and stored in silos that are managed by the National Cereals Board. Some of the maize is consumed locally while the surplus is sold to the various towns and factories located in the county. This factories offer employment opportunities to the residents and this in turn helps to foster economic growth and alienate poverty in the county.

Various businesses have being set up in the urban areas and this has enables the residents to get easy access to the various basic needs. Examples of these businesses include retail and whole sale shops, supermarkets and petrol stations. There are a total of eight commercial banks and two micro finance institutions that provide affordable and reliable financial service to residents of the county. These facilities help to foster economic growth through offering loans to farmers and business personnel who wish to expand their various businesses.

Real estate entrepreneurs have also constructed apartments, hotels and lodges in the urban area and near the various tourist attraction sites. Some of the tourist attraction sites include:

Kitale Meuseum

Mt Elgon National Park

Saiswa Swamp National Park

Kitale Nature Conservancy

HEALTH AND EDUCATION

Trans Nzoia has 471 primary schools and over 100 secondary schools that provide free and quality basic education to the young generation in the county. There are also over twenty tertiary learning facilities that provide quality and affordable higher learning education to scholars from all over the world.

There are over seventy district hospitals and 33 dispensaries that provide health services to the residents. Other health facilities in the county include VCT centres, Nursing homes and Maternity homes. This helps in ensuring that all residents of Trans Nzoia County get access to health services at any time of the day.

THARAKA NITHI COUNTY REVIEW :

Tharaka Nithi County is located in the eastern sides of Kenya in the former Eastern Province. Some of the counties that border it include Embu, Kitui and Meru. It covers a total area of 2,638.8 kilometres squared hence it is among the smallest counties in the country.

POPULATION

According to the National Census exercise that was carried out in 2009, the total number of people living in the county is estimated to be 130,098. 6.6% of the total population resides in the urban areas of the county while the rest live in the rural areas. Tharaka Nithi County is one of the counties that have the lowest population in the country. Population density in the region is approximated to be around 138 person per kilometre squared.

CONSTITUENCIES

Tharaka Nithi County has only two constituencies namely:

• Nithi Constituency
• Tharaka Constituency

Tharaka District is the only county that has being mapped as part of the county.

GEOGRAPGHY AND CLIMATE

The average altitude of Tharaka Nithi County is approximated to be around 1200 meters above the sea level and this explains the temperature regimes in different parts of the county. The coldest month in the county is July when the temperatures fall up to 11 degrees Celsius and 25.9 degrees Celsius during the hottest period.

The average rainfall received in the county ranges between 200 and 800mm per year but these figures are expected to change if the necessary measures of curbing climate change and global warming are not implemented in time. The soils in Tharaka Nithi County is very fertile, has high water holding capacity and high organic matter content. This enables the farmers to grow a wide range of crops under irrigation and natural conditions.

AGRICULTURE

This is one of the major economic activities carried out by the residents of the county. Some of the crops grown include tea, horticulture, maize, millet, beans, cowpeas, cassava, cotton and cassava. Some of these crops are able to grow even in harsh condition and this turn helps to alienate hunger and poverty in the county especially during the dry season.

Some of the farmers also keep livestock for domestic and commercial purposes. Some of the animal kept includes cattle, goats, sheep, chicken and rabbits. Dairy farming is very popular in Tharaka Nithi County, farmers keep indigenous and exotic breed of dairy cattle and this in turn helps to increase the yields generated from the sector. In the recent past some of the farmers have started fish farming in order to supplement the other food sources. This has helped to promote food security in the county.

ECONOMY

Agriculture is the main economic activity carried out in the region. Some of the cash crops grown in plantations and small scale include tea, cotton and coffee. There are several factories that buy and process tea and coffee from the farmers. This factories offer employment to very many people who work in the farms and factories.

Other farm products such as maize, sorghum, millet, cassava and cowpeas are consumed locally while the surplus is transported to the various agricultural markets in the county and nearby counties. The sale of these products provides the farmers with some capital to cater for the various financial needs.

Retail and wholesale businesses have also being set up in the urban areas of Tharaka Nithi County. These businesses help to promote development and economic growth in the county. Real estate entrepreneurs have built apartment, hotels and entertainment joints that provide quality services especially in the urban areas. There are several hotel and lodges that provide quality accommodation and catering services to tourist who visit the tourist attraction sites. One of the main tourist attraction sites is Mutejwa National Reserve which has a wide variety of wild animals and almost all bird species in the world.

HEALTH AND EDUCATION

According to a research that was carried out in 2007 the total number of primary schools in Tharaka Nithi County was found to be 168 while the secondary schools are 24. These learning facilities ensure that all persons in the county get access to affordable and quality basic education. Chuka University College is one of the higher learning facilities in the county.

One of the learning institutions in the county

There are eighty eight district hospitals and over 40 dispensaries that provide quality health services to the residents of the county.

tana river county REVIEW

Tana River County is located in the Eastern parts of Kenya and covers a total area of 38,436.9 kilometres squared. This is one of the largest counties in the country and it borders Isiolo, Kilifi and Taita Taveta Counties.

POPULATION

According to the national census exercise that was carried out in 2009, the total population of the county is estimated to be 240,075. 15% of the total population resides in the urban areas while the rest of the population live in the rural areas. The population is sparsely distributed whereby settlements are far away from each other. The population density of Tana River County is approximated to be around 6.2 person per kilometre squared.

CONSTITUENCIES

Tana River County has a total of three constituencies namely:
• Bura Constituency
• Galole Constituency
• Garsen Constituency
Tharaka District is the only district that has being mapped under this county.

GEOGRAPGHY AND CLIMATE

Tana River County has is located in the semi arid parts of the Kenya. This means that it receives low rainfall and high temperatures that hinder the growth of most of the cash crops that grow in other regions in the country. The average amount of rainfall range between 400 and 750 mm. Temperatures ranges between 30 degrees Celsius and 33 degrees Celsius. The county is generally hot all year round due to its proximity to the equator.

 The county is generally flat and this results in flush floods from higher parts of the country especially during the rainy season. Tana River is the main permanent source of water in the county. The water is used both for agriculture and domestic purposes. Some of the farmers also practise fishing in this river in order to supplement other food products produced in the area.
The soils are sandy loam and have the low water holding capacity. They also lack some of the major plant nutrients such as calcium, magnesium and organic matter. The average height above sea level in most parts of the county is 200 meters.

AGRICULTURE

This is one of the activities carried out by the residents of Tana River County. Crop farming is mostly practised along river Tana due to the fertile soils and availability of water in the area. Most of the agricultural activities are carried out under irrigation due to the low and variant rainfall patterns that are subject to change as a result of climate change and global warming. Most of the farmers practise mixed farming in order to enhance their food security especially during the dry season. Some of the crops grown include maize, beans and some horticultural products such as mangoes that grow very well in high temperature areas.
Livestock farming is also practised in some parts of the county on large scale and small scale. Some of the animals kept include cattle, sheep, goats, donkeys and rabbits. Bee keeping is also practised in the area so as to supplement other food products as well as provide some extra income to the farmers.

ECONOMY

Fishing is one of the economic activities carried out in Tana River County. This activity is carried out in small scale using small boats fitted with nets. The fish is sold locally while the surplus is transported to other towns and cities in the country.
Farmers are also able to get some income after the sale of the horticultural products to traders in the agricultural markets in the county. Kenya Meat Commission usually purchases animals from the residents and this in turn helps to promote economic growth through alienation of poverty.

 
There is one commercial bank and a micro finance institution that provide financial services to the residents. Tana River County has over five village banks that enable persons living far away from the urban centres to access banking services around their homes.

HEALTH AND EDUCATION

These are the main factors that promote economic growth and development in any given area. There are a total of 137 primary schools and 10 secondary schools in the county. There is need to construct more learning institutions so as to meet the education needs of the ever increasing population.
There are also two district hospitals and forty seven dispensaries that provide health services to the residents. The government should build more health facilities so as to meet all the health needs of the population in Tana River County.

TAITA TAVETA COUNTY REVIEW :

Taita Taveta County is located in the former coastal province. It covers a total area of 17,084.1 kilometres squared and this makes it one of the largest counties in the county. Some of the neighbouring counties include Kilifi and Kwale.

POPULATION

According to the national census population exercise that was carried out in the region, the total number of people in the area is estimated to be 284,657. 64,289 of the total population reside in the urban areas while the rest reside in the rural areas of Taita Taveta County.

CONSTITUENCIES

Taita Taveta County has a total of four constituencies namely:

• Taveta constituency
• Voi Constituency
• Mwatate Constituency
• Wundanyi Constituency

Taveta and Taita Disticts are some of the districts that have being mapped under this county.

GEOGRAPGHY AND CLIMATE

Taita Hills are some of the geographic features in Taita Taveta County. This includes hills such as Kasigau, Sagalla and Dabida. The tallest of these hills is Dabida which has an altitude of 2,228 metres above the sea level. The county has an average altitude of 418metres in the low lands and 2,200 meters in the highlands. Temperatures range between 18 degrees Celsius and 24.6 degrees Celsius in the lowlands. The total average temperature of the county is estimated to be 23 degrees Celsius.

60% of the total land covered by Taita Taveta County is not suitable for agriculture due to various factors such as high temperatures and low rainfall. The soils in this region have low water holding capacity and lack some of the essential nutrients required for plant growth. This in turn hinders resident from growing certain crops on the land.

AGRICULTURE

Taita Taveta County is divided into three ecological zones, lower, upper and volcanic foot hills.  Horticulture is practised in the upper ecological zones due to the favourable soils and temperatures in the region. In the lower ecological regions the area is generally dry and the only plants that can be grown here are the drought resistant such as sorghum, millet, certain maize species and cashew nuts. These crops have an advantage over the other species due to their fast maturing rate and adaptability to the harsh climatic conditions.

Some of the farmers also keep livestock for production of beef and other dairy products that are mostly consumed locally. This is activity is mainly carried out in lowlands due to the abundant pastures that are very nutritious.

Other crops that are grown in the high land include maize, beans and horticultural crops such as fruits. Sisal farming is also practised on small scale and large scale especially in the rural areas.

ECONOMY

There are a number of economic activities carried out in the county. This includes crop farming which is mostly practised in the upper ecological zones of the county. The agricultural products are consumed locally while the surplus is sold in the various agricultural markets in Taita Taveta County.

Tourism also contributes to the economy of the county. One of the tourist attraction sites includes Tsavo Game Reserve and national park which has a rich biodiversity of wild animals and birds. Real Estate developers have built a number of hotels and lodges in and near this tourist attraction sites and this in turn offer employment to some of the residents of the county.

There are six commercial banks and eight micro finance institutions that help to foster economic growth and development in Taita Taveta County. This is achieved through loans that are offered to the residents for business and agricultural purposes. Other businesses in the county include retail and wholesale shops as well as supermarkets and petrol stations. Most of these businesses are located in the urban areas and along the major roads in the county.

HEALTH AND EDUCATION

The government has built a number of health facilities in the county that are fully equipped and maintained properly so as to offer quality health services to the residents. In total there are three district hospitals, forty seven dispensaries and more than 20 other health facilities such as maternity homes and nursing homes.

There are a total of 206 primary schools and over fifty secondary schools that offer free basic education to the young generation in the county. However it may be necessary for the government to invest in building more learning institutions and health facilities in order to meet the needs of the ever increasing population.

 

SIAYA COUNTY REVIEW

Siaya County is located in the western parts of the country and covers a total area of 2530.5 Kilometres Squared. It borders Busia, Kakamega, Vihiga and Kisumu Counties. Some of the districts that have being mapped in the county include Rarieda and Siaya Bondo.

POPULATION

As a result of the national census exercise that was carried out in 2009, the total number of people living in the county was estimated to be 842, 304 making it one of counties with low number of people. 10.8% of the total population was found to be living in the urban areas while the rest reside in the rural areas. The population density of the Siaya County was found to be approximately 332 persons per every kilometre squared.

CONSTITUENCIES

There are five constituencies that have being mapped in Siaya County namely:
• Ugenya Constituency
• Gem Constituency
• Alego Constituency
• Bondo Constiruency
• Rarieda Constituency

GEOGRAPGHY AND CLIMATE

The average altitude of the county is 1140 meters in the lowlands and over 1400 meters in the high areas. The difference in altitude results in different temperatures in the parts of Siaya County. The average temperature during the hottest months is 30 degrees Celsius and 21.75 degrees Celsius in the cold months. The rainfall pattern is bimodal meaning there are short rains and long rains which give an average of between 1700 and 1450 mm per annum.
The soils are very fertile, has high humus content and high water holding capacity. This characteristic helps in preventing soil erosion and leaching of plant nutrients. Siaya County has some hills that attracts tourist as well as determine the weather patterns experienced. Examples of these hills include Mbaga, Nyambare, Regea and Akala.
Rivers in the county are both seasonal and permanent; they provide water for various domestic purposes as well as agricultural activities that are carried out under irrigation. Some of the rivers are Nzoia and Yala which later drain into the Lake Victoria.

AGRICULTURE

This is one of the main economic activities carried out in Siaya County on large scale and small scale magnitude. Most of the farmers practise subsistence farming where they grow maize, beans, ground nuts, peas, wheat and millet for their own consumption. However some farmers also cultivate these crops for commercial purposes. Rice farming is widely practised in the Siaya County under irrigation. The rice harvested is sold in the urban areas while the surplus is transported to the neighbouring towns such as Kisii and Nairobi.
Livestock keeping is also practised in the county; some of the animals kept include cattle, goats, sheep, chicken and donkeys that are used as a source of labour. The animal products are mostly consumed in the county due to the high demand and high prices that it fetches in the market.

ECONOMY

There are a number of economic activities carried out in Siaya County. This includes fishing, rice growing and livestock farming. All this activities produce products which are sold in the agricultural markets in the county and this in turn enables the residents to meet their various financial needs such as educating their children.

 
There are also small scale traders who have established retail shops and hotels that provide quality services and products to the residents. Real estate developers have also built tourist lodges and hotels that offer quality accommodation and catering services to tourist who visit the area. Some of the tourist attractions in Siaya County include Lake Victoria, Ndanu Falls, Yala Swamp and Lake Kanyaboli.
Most of these businesses are located along the major roads and urban areas. There are a total of six commercial banks and eight micro finance institutions that provide financial services to the residents.

 HEALTH AND EDUCATION

These are the main factors that determine the rate at which an area develops economically. The local government in Siaya County has constructed over eighty dispensaries and two district hospitals. There are also VCT centres whose main objective is to provide guidance and counselling on the various sexually transmitted diseases.
There are 656 primary schools and over 148 secondary schools and this number has helped in alienating illiteracy and poverty in the county. The government however needs to build more schools in order to cater for the ever rising population.

SAMBURU COUNTY REVIEW :

Samburu County is located in the northern parts of the country in the former Rift Valley province. It borders Isiolo, Turkana, Marsabit and Baringo counties. Some of the districts that are mapped in the county include Samburu North, Samburu East and Samburu Central according to the national boundaries commission.

POPULATION

According to the national census exercise that was carried out in 2009, the total number of people living in Samburu County was estimated to be around 223,947. The settlements are sparsely distributed with homesteads very far from each other. It is one of the low populated counties in the country with at least 17.3% of the total population living in the urban areas of the county.

CONSTITUENCIES

Samburu County has two constituencies namely:

• Samburu West Constituency
• Samburu East Constituency

GEOGRAPGHY AND CLIMATE

Samburu County is located near the equator and this contributes to the high temperatures in the region. Research shows that areas that are close to the equator experience more solar radiation that other regions that are far away from the equator. Most parts of the county are very hot and dry, temperatures ranges between 25 degrees Celsius and 33 degrees Celsius in the hottest months. The plants that grow in the county are mostly scrubs which are well adapted to growing in the region. Some of the physiological features that the plants have developed in order to survive in the harsh climatic conditions include small leaves, deep roots and water storage features that are mostly located in the stem and roots.

The soils are mostly sandy, have low humus and lack most of the essential plant nutrients. The average annual rainfall received ranges between 200 and 250mm annually hence most of the crops grown in the highlands cannot grow here. The terrain is mostly flat hence flush floods are very frequent especially during the rainy seasons. Most of the rivers are seasonal hence residents usually drill boreholes and wells in search of water for their livestock.

AGRICULTURE

This is not of the most suitable activity to be carried out in the region due to the low precipitation and high temperatures experienced at all times of the year. Livestock keeping is the predominant agricultural activity carried out in the area. Most of the people are nomadic pastoralists who move from one place to another in search of pastures and water for the animals and human consumption. Examples of animals that are kept by the farmers include cattle, goats, sheep, camel and dogs which are usually used for hunting and security.

Some of the crops grown in the area for subsistence purposes include sorghum and millet which are drought resistant. The Ministry of Agriculture in conjunction with other non-governmental organisations have introduced certain strains of maize that can grow in this area. This has helped to improve food security in the county and the country as a whole.

ECONOMY

The main economic activity that takes place in Samburu County is livestock keeping; farmers keep large herds of animals that are usually kept in ranches. The Kenya Meat Commission and other slaughter houses purchase animals from the farmers especially during the dry season. This particularly helps the farmers to avoid incurring losses due to death of the animals as a result of lack of food and water. Beekeeping is also practised in some parts of the county and this helps to supplement the capital generated from other economic activities.

Samburu National Reserve and Shaba Reserve are some of the main tourist attraction sites in Samburu County. Tourism promotes the economy of the county in that developers build hotels and lodges that offer employment to some of the residents as tourist guides and workers in the lodges. Revenue generated from this sector s used to develop the county so as to promote economic growth.

HEALTH AND EDUCATION

There is very few health facilities in the county hence the government needs to seek funding from donors to build quality and fully equipped health centres in the county. The hospitals available in the county are not well managed and do not have the capacity to offer quality health service to the residents. Most of the residents result in using traditional medicines which have proved not to be very effective in treating some of the deadly diseases.

Education in Samburu County is not as per the expectations. Most of the schools are very far from the human settlements and do not have the necessary facilities. This is issue also needs to be addressed urgently in order to alienate poverty and illiteracy in the area.

 

NYERI COUNTY REVIEW

Nyeri County is located in the central parts of Kenya. Some of the districts that have being mapped in this region include Nyeri South and Nyeri North according to the National Boundaries Commission. Total area covered by the county is approximately 3,337.1 kilometres squared.

POPULATION

According to the national census exercise that was initiated by the government in 2009, the total population of Nyeri County is 693,558. It is also estimated that 24.5% of the total population reside in the urban areas in the county while the rest of the population resides in the rural areas in Nyeri County.

CONSTITUENCIES

In total there are six constituencies that are mapped under Nyeri County namely:

• Tetu Constituency
• Kieni Constituency
• Othaya Constituency
• Nyeri Town Constituency
• Mukurwe-ini Constituency

GEOGRAPGHY AND CLIMATE

Mt Kenya is one of the geographic features that determine the climate and weather patterns in different parts of Nyeri County. Some of the aspects that are affected by this geographic feature include rainfall, temperature and humidity.

Temperature ranges between 12 degrees Celsius during the cold months and 27 degrees Celsius in the hottest months. However as climate change and global warming advances this range is expected to change. Annual rainfall received in Nyeri county ranges between 550mm in the lowland and 1500mm in the highlands. Most parts of the County are above 1500 meters above the sea level and this explains the cool temperatures in the area.

The soils are very rich in plant nutrients and contain high organic matter content. This helps residents to plant a wide range of crops on the land. Due to the good soil cover in the county soil erosion and landslides are not a frequent occurrence. However during the heavy rainy seasons some parts that are much degraded experience adverse soil erosion and landslides.

AGRICULTURE

Due to the favorable temperature and high rainfall received in Nyeri County, most of the farmers practice agriculture as the main economic activity. Some of the cash crops grown include tea and coffee which are cultivated in small scale and large scale levels. Dairy farming is also practiced widely in the county and this helps to meet the high demand of dairy products in the country. There are many dairy processing plants in the county that collect and process the milk from the farmers. The dairy cattle are high breed and this helps the farmers to maximize their yields and profits from the activity.

Other activities carried out include beans, maize, vegetables, potatoes and peas. The main purpose of growing these crops is consumption at home but some of the farmers sell the surplus in the various agricultural markets in the county.

ECONOMY

Agriculture is the main economic activity carried out in Nyeri County. Farmers cultivate various crops that are processed and sold in local and international markets. Tea and coffee are the main cash crops grown in the county. There are number of factories that process this products and this in turn offers employment to some of the residents. The cash derived from sale of the products enables the farmers to meet their various financial needs.

Other businesses have also emerged especially along the urban areas of Nyeri County. This includes petrol stations, hotels, retail and wholesale shops as well as supermarkets. All this developments helps to boost the economy of the county and the country as a whole.

Entrepreneurs have built various apartments and lodges that provide affordable and quality accommodation and catering services to local and international tourists who visit the county’s tourist attraction sites. Examples of these sites include Mt Kenya, Aberdare National park and Mt Kenya National park that are very rich in almost all the wildlife species.

HEALTH AND EDUCATION

The government and other non-governmental organizations have built over 300 major hospitals and over 200 other health facilities such as dispensaries, clinic and VCT centers.  This helps in promoting the health status of  Nyeri County through increased access to the health facilities. Good infrastructure is one of the contributing factors to the good health and easy accessibility of these facilities.

There are many primary and secondary schools that provide basic education to the young generation of Nyeri County. Other learning institutions include two medical training colleges and three Satellite campuses.