Elgeyo-Marakwet County

Elgeyo-Marakwet County
County

Flag

Location in Kenya
Country Kenya
Founded March 4th 2013
Capital Iten
Government
 • Governor Alex Tolgos
Area
 • Total 3,049.7 km2 (1,177.5 sq mi)
Population (2009)
 • Total 369,998 [1]
Time zone EAT (UTC+3)

Elgeyo-Marakwet County is one of Kenya's 47 counties. Elgeyo Marakwet County is located in the former Rift Valley Province. Its capital and largest town is Iten. It borders the counties of West Pokot to the north, Baringo County to the east, southeast and south, Uasin Gishu to the southwest and west, and Trans Nzoia to the northwest.

Demographics

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

[2]

Geography, geology and topography

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

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

Climate

Temperatures range from a minimum of 14 °C to a maximum of 24 °C. Rainfall ranges annually from 400 to 1,400 mm.

Religion and ethnicity

Marakwet Dancers
Marakwet Traditional Dancers

The county is mainly occupied by Keiyo, Sengwer also called Cherangany and Marakwet are part of the larger ethnic grouping of eight culturally and linguistically related ethnic groups known as the Kalenjin.
Marakwet is a sub-tribe of the Kalenjin. It is made up of the sub-dialects Almoo, Endoow, Markweta (the sub-dialect giving rise to the common name), Sombirir (Borokot) and Kiptaani who presently predominantly live in Marakwet District in the North Rift Valley Province. Some now live in Trans Nzoia East and Uasin Gishu North districts and in other towns.
The name Keiyo or Elgeyo has been used interchangeably to describe the Keiyo people. The latter name is disputed as a corruption of the true name, which was coined by the Uasin-Gishu Maasai, who were the Keiyo's neighbours in the mid-9th century at the western side of Eldoret.

County government

As of 2015, the County Governor was Alex Tolgos, the Senator was Onesmus Kipchumba Murkomen, and County Women Representative was Susan Kipketer Chebet, all of the United Republican Party, an affiliate of the Jubilee Alliance. The County has four constituencies in the National Assembly, and twenty ward seats in its County Assembly. The Speaker was Albert Kochei.

County Executive Committee

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

County Ward Representatives

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

[3][4]

Economy

Economic activity in the county is characterized by mixed farming, which consists mainly of livestock and subsistence farming. Other activities include small business, tourism and fluorspar mining in Kerio Valley. Oil Prospecting by Tullow Oil Company is ongoing in Kerio Valley.

Tourism

Major Tourist Attractions are

Education

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

[2]

Health

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

[2]

Sports

Major sports activity

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

Kenyan and foreign athletes train at Iten Elgeyo Marakwet County

Notable sport personalities

Notable Athletes hailing from this county include;

Important towns

EMC Towns

  • Arror
  • Chebiemit
  • Chebororwa
  • Cheptongei
  • Chesoi
  • Chesongoch
  • Chugor
  • Iten
  • Kapchebau
  • Kapcherop
  • Kapsait
  • Kapsowar
  • Kaptalamwa
  • Kapyego[5]
  • Katumoi
  • Kipmwarer
  • Kocholwo
  • Kondabilet
  • Tenden
  • Tot
  • Kabulwo
  • Kapchelal
  • Tambach

Notable people

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

Services and urbanisation

Stats for Elgeyo-Marakwet County[6]
County
Stats for the County (Percent)
Urbanisation
14.4
Literacy
77.6
Attending School (15-18 Yrs)
84.8
Paved Roads
5.7
Good Roads
50.8
Electricity Access
7.2
Poverty Rate
55.5

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Kenya Census 2009". Scribd.com. Retrieved 2014-07-22.
  2. 1 2 3 "Elgeyo Marakwet". Crakenya.org. Retrieved 2014-07-22.
  3. ↑ "SUMMARY OF RESULTS FOR MEMBER OF COUNTY ASSEMBLY WARD REPRESENTATIVE. [MARCH 4TH 2013 - GENERAL ELECTION&*93;". Iebc.or.ke. Retrieved 2014-07-22.
  4. ↑ "Members Nominated To County Assembly Wards". Iebc.or.ke. 2013-07-18. Retrieved 2014-07-22.
  5. ↑ Chebororwa
  6. ↑ USAid Kenya

External links

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

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