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.

NANDI COUNTY REVEIW :

Nandi County is located in the Rift Valley; some of the districts that are mapped in it includes Nandi North, Nandi Central, Tinderet and Nandi East districts. It covers an area of 2,884.2 kilometres and borders Uashin Gishu, Kisumu, Vihiga and Kakamega Counties.

POPULATION

According to the National Census exercise which was carried out in 2009 the number of people living in the county was estimated to be 752,965. 13.6% of the total population was found to be residing in the rural areas while the rest lives in the rural areas.

CONSTITUENCIES

 There are four constituencies that are mapped in Nandi County namely;

• Mosop Constituency
• Aldai Constituency
• Tinderet Constituency
• Emgwen Constituency

GEOGRAPGHY AND CLIMATE

Nandi hills are one of the major geographic features that have an effect on the climate and weather patterns of the county. The mean temperatures range between 12 degrees Celsius and 23 degrees Celsius but this is projected to change as a result of climate change and global warming. Soil erosion and flooding are not a major problem in Nandi County due to the well maintained ground cover that protects the soil from all erosion agents. The soils are also very rich in most of the plant nutrients and this enables the farmers to grow a wide range of crops in their farms for domestic and commercial purposes.

The average amounts of rainfall received ranges between 1200 and 2000mm annually hence most of the crops can be able to grow in this region.

AGRICULTURE

This is one of the main economic activities carried out by most of the residents in Nandi County. Some of the cash crops grown includes tea, coffee and pyrethrum and are mostly practised on large scale. Some of the farmers also practise Dairy farming and this helps in meet the demand for dairy products in the county as well as in the nearby towns and cities.

Other crops that are grown include maize, sorghum, potatoes, beans and millet. The produce is consumed locally while the surplus is transported to other towns or sold in the many markets located in the county.

Some of the contributing factors to livestock keeping are the numerous pastures and water supplies that promote economic growth in the county.

 ECONOMY

Zebra: Nandi County

The main economic activity in the region is agriculture which involves farmers cultivating cash crops and other crops for local and international markets. There are many tea and coffee processing factories that are located near the farms and this enables the farmers to easily transport the farm produce before it can go bad.

Other economic activities include retail and whole sale shops that sell various products and services to the residents. Most of these businesses are located in the urban areas and along the major roads and highways. Hotels and lodges have also being constructed and provide quality accommodation and catering services to the residents of the county.

There are eight commercial banks and seven micro finance institutions that provide financial services to the residents. This in turn helps to foster development and economic growth in the country.

There are number of tourist attraction sites in Nandi County that attracts both local and international tourists. Examples are Chepkiit Waterfall, Kingwai Swamp and Bonjoge Game Reserve. Lodges have being built in and around these sites so as to accommodate the large number of tourists who visit these sites.

HEALTH AND EDUCATION

These are the main factors that promote economic growth and development in the Nandi County. The government and other organisations have built many health facilities that are fully equipped to meet almost all the health services that may be required by the residents. There are a total of 138 district hospitals, 19 health centres, 3 medical clinics and 5 VCT centres that provide counselling and offer drugs to the affected persons.

According to the Ministry of Education there are a total of 744 primary schools and 155 secondary schools. There are also other higher learning institutions that seek to provide scholars with advanced and quality education services. The government however need to build more schools and health facilities in order to meet the needs of the increasing population in the county. Maintenance of the facilities also needs to be carried out so as to improve the quality of services in the long run.

MARSABIT COUNTY REVIEW :

Marsabit County is located in the Northern part of Kenya, it comprises of Chalbi, Moyale, Laisamis and Marsabit districts according to the Kenya National Boundaries Commission. Most of the government offices are located in Marsabit Town hence making it the administrative centre of the county.

POPULATION

According to the national census exercise that was carried out in 2009 the population of the county is approximated to be 291,166. The number of males in Marsabit County is estimated to be 151,112 while that of the female is 140,054. 22% of the total population reside in the urban areas in Marsabit County while the rest of the population reside in the rural areas.

CONSTITUENCY

Marsabit County is made of four constituencies namely:

• North Horr Constituency
• Saku Constituency
• Laisamis Constituency
• Moyale Constituency

GEOGRAPGHY AND CLIMATE

Crater in Marsabit : Marsabit County

Lake Turkana is one of the geographic features in Marsabit County which influences the weather and climate patterns of the county. The area is generally hot with an average of 26 degrees Celsius during the hot months and 8 degrees Celsius during the cold months. March is the hottest month in Marsabit County while July is the coldest. Due to the proximity of the County to Lake Turkana the average amount of humidity in the area is estimated to be 65% all year round.
The average precipitation received is 254mm making it one of the driest counties in the Kenya. Most of the rainfall is received in March and November however on average six days of the month the area experiences foggy conditions due to its proximity to the lake and other geographic features such as Marsabit Mountain. Due to the high temperatures and low rainfall amounts most of the plant species that survive under this conditions are Shrubs which have certain physiological features such as small leaves and deep roots.

The soils are generally not fertile in most parts of the county with low amounts of basic plant nutrients. However farmers have incorporated certain measures that improve the status of the soil for agricultural activities. Marsabit County has an altitude of 1138 metres above the sea level and this again affects the climatic certain weather components such as the temperatures and humidity.

AGRICULTURE

High temperatures and low rainfall are some of the factors that limit farmers from carrying out certain agricultural activities such as tea or coffee farming. Livestock keeping is one of the agricultural activities carried widely in the county with farmers keeping large herds of cattle, sheep and goats as well as camels. Bee keeping one of the new agricultural activities that have being introduced in the area in a bid to increase honey and other bee products in the country as well as alienate poverty.

 
The government of Kenya has introduced certain strains of maize plants that are well adapted to growing in the county. Other crops grown in the area includes Sorghum, Wheat, onions, tomatoes and potatoes. Some of these crops are grown in the high area of the county such as areas around Mount Marsabit and Kulal.
Livestock farmers normally practise nomadic livestock keeping method whereby the keep moving from one are to another in search of pastures and water for their livestock as well as for other domestic purposes. The residents have also drilled boreholes and wells in an effort to increase the amount of water available. Due to climate change and global warming the County is adversely affected by the effects which includes frequent drought in any given year.

ECONOMY

The main source of income for most of the people is agriculture. This is achieved through the sale of food products which are sold in some of the markets in the county. The surplus is also transported to other towns such as Nairobi and Kisumu. Kenya Meat Commission also buys animals from the residents especially during the dry season and this helps the Marsabit County residents to meet their various financial needs.
Some of the businesses in Marsabit County include whole sale and retail shops, supermarkets and even petrol stations. Entrepreneurs have also started building residential houses that offer affordable housing to person living in the rural areas.
Some of the tourism attractions in the county include Marsabit National Park. There are a number of lodges and provide quality accommodation to the tourists.
There are a number of banks and micro finance institutions that offer affordable financial services to the residents.

HEALTH AND EDUCATION

The government and other organisations have build hospitals and small health centres all over the county in a bid to ensure that residents get easy access to affordable health services. Marsabit District Hospital is one of the fully equipped hospitals in the area that provides almost all the health services that may be required.
High schools and primary schools have being built in the area that provides education services to the residents. The government however needs to build more education facilities in order to alienate illiteracy completely in Marsabit County.

Kisii High school : Kisii County

Kisii County Review

Kisii County is located in the South- East SIDE OF Lake Victoria. It covers an area of 1,317.4 kilometres squared; it borders narok county to the South, kisumu county to the North and Homa bay County to North West.

POPULATION

The total population of the county according to the census exercise that was carried out in 2009 is approximately 1,263,559. About 21.5% of the population reside in the urban areas of the county while the rest live in the rural areas.

CONSTITUENCIES

Kisii county is made up of six constituencies namely:

• Bonchari
• Bomachoge
• South Migirango
• Nyaribari Masaba
• Nyaribari Chache
• Kitutu Chache

Some of the districts that are mapped in Kisii county include Kisii South, Gucha, Gucha South, Masaba and Kisii Central.

GEOGRAPGHY AND CLIMATE

Kisii county receives high rainfall that is well distributed throughout the year. The long rains are received between February and June while the Short rains are between September and November. However this pattern is likely to change as a result of climate change and global warming. The average rainfall received is 1500mm per annum.

Due to the high altitude of the region, it is usually cooler than most of the other counties in the country. During the cold months temperatures drop up to 16 degrees Celsius and 27 degrees Celsius during the hot months of the year.

Soils are rich in almost all the plant nutrients and this in turn enables the farmers to grow a wide range of crops on the land. Some parts of the county are very steep and very susceptible to soil erosion and landslides during the rainy season.

There are many seasonal and perennial rivers that supply water for domestic, industrial and agricultural use. Gucha River is one of the largest rivers in the county that flows to Lake Victoria.

The geography of the area is dominated with hills, valleys and ridges which make this region one of the most beautiful areas in the country.

AGRICUTURE

This is one of the major economic activities in Kisii county that is favoured by the optimal temperatures and high rainfall received in the county. The area has sandstones and basalt that mix with the soils hence preventing degradation of the environment through soil erosion.

Tea and coffee are some of the major cash crops grown in here; this form of farming is carried out both on small scale and large scale. Other crops that are grown in the area include bananas, vegetables, sugarcane, pineapples and potatoes. The wide range of crops grown enables the county to be one of the areas that hardly experience drought.

In the recent past farmers have started fish farming which is practised on fish ponds. This helps to supplement the other food sources. Farmers also practise dairy farming that provides dairy products to both rural and urban areas.

ECONOMY

One of the major sectors that contribute to the economy of the county is agriculture. Tea and coffee farming provide farmers with a source of income to meet their financial needs. Most of the people are either employed in the various tea and coffee factories or are self employed in their own farms.

There are many markets in the Kisii County where farmers are able to sell the surplus food products. Products marketed include tomatoes, bananas, pineapples, sugarcane and many more. Some of the produce is transported to other markets in the nearby towns such as Narok and Nairobi.

Soapstone quarrying is another economic activity that is carried out in Tabaka. This also provides the residents with a reliable source of income.

Kisii county has many financial institutions which include: Equity, Barclays, National Bank, K-Rep BANK, Kenya Commercial Bank and many more micro-financial institutions. Some of the commercial businesses that are established in the county include Supermarkets, wholesale and retail shops.

EDUCATION AND HEALTH OF THE COUNTY

These are the key factors that promote economic growth in any given area. In Kisii County there are four district hospitals, 80 dispensaries and more than 20 health centres that provide affordable and accessible health services the residents.

There are also many primary and secondary schools in Kisii county that are known nationwide for their good performance. There are a total of 8 secondary schools and six primary schools. High learning institutions located in this region includes:

• University of Nairobi Campus
• Egerton University
• Masinde Muliro University

Busia County

Busia County is located in the Western parts of Kenya. It covers an area of 431kn making it one of the smallest counties in the country. There are two border points to Uganda that are located in the county.

CONSTITUENCIES

There are 5 constituencies in Busia County namely

• Bundalangi Constituency
• Amagoro Constituency
• Butula Constituency
• Funyula Constituency
• Nambale Constituency

POPULATION

The population in Busia County is estimated to be 743,946 with an average of 122,190 people living in the urban areas in the county. The largest proportion of population in Busia County is above 40 years old.

GEOGRAPGHY AND CLIMATE

The rainfall received in the area is moderate and well distributed all round the year and this enables famers to practise multi-cropping of cash crops and subsistence farming. Annual rainfall experienced in Busia County is 1775mm while the temperatures ranges between a low of 16 degree Celsius and a high of 28 degrees Celsius. The hottest months are January to March during which the temperatures rise up to 29 degrees Celsius.
The county has two rainy seasons during which farmers plant most of their crops. The first season is between March- May and August and December. This pattern is however subject to change in the future due to the effects of climate change. Most parts of Busia County have gentle sloping lands hence the region is not very susceptible to soil erosion.
The climate received in the county is tropical and varies depending on the altitude. Busia is one of the warmest locations in the area due to its low altitude while Vihiga District is cold due to the high altitude. The proximity of Busia County to Lake Victoria also affects the rainfall patterns in the county.

AGRICULTURE

The abundant amount of rainfall received in the region helps to promote growth of various crops in the region. The crops are grown both on small scale and large scale and under irrigation in some parts of the county such as Busia Irrigation Scheme. Sugarcane one of the cash grown that is favoured by the climate in the county. The sugar is processed in Nzoia and Mumias Sugar processing factories.
Farmers also grow maize but the produce is mainly used for subsistence and not commercial purposes.
Some farmers also grow a specific variety of trees that are used to manufacture paper in the Pan Paper Mills that is located in Webuye. Tea is the main cash crop in Busia County, is planted in large plantations in Vihiga district. Some farmers also keep dairy cattle for domestic and commercial purposes. Other crops that are grown in the county include sorghum and pearl millet.

ECONOMY

One of the sectors that contribute greatly to the economy of Busia County is farming. Most of the residents are farmers and depend on the various farm produce for food and income. Pan Paper Mills factory that is locate in the Webuye provide employment for very many people in the region. Other factories in the region include Nzoia and Mumias Sugar Factories that produce sugar for both domestic and commercial purposes. The sugar is transported to other cities in the country such as Nairobi and Mombasa.
These factories have led to developments in the county such as provision of social amenities like electricity and water to the residents of the area. People from different parts of the country relocate to this place in search of jobs in these factories.
People living near Lake Victoria also practise fishing as their main economic activity. The fish is consumed locally and in other parts of the region. One of the benefits that the residents if the area enjoy is the good infrastructure since the area is accessible by both rail and road means of transport. This in turn helps to promote economy of Busia County due to increased accessibility to major markets around the area.

TOURISM

There are various tourist attraction sites in Busia County that attracts both local and international tourists who visit the area. One of the favourite sites that one can visit is Busia Beach. The beach has gentle slopes that are maintained by the local authorities of the county. This is one of the cleanest and safest beaches around Lake Victoria.