Turkana County
County
Flag of Turkana County
Flag
Coat of arms of Turkana County
Coat of arms
Location of Turkana County (red) including the disputed Elemi Triangle (diagonally striped red)
Location of Turkana County (red) including the disputed Elemi Triangle (diagonally striped red)
Coordinates: 3°09′N 35°21′E / 3.150°N 35.350°E / 3.150; 35.350
Country Kenya
Formed4 March 2013
CapitalLodwar
Government
 • GovernorJeremiah Lomorukai
Area
 • Total98,597.8 km2 (38,068.8 sq mi)
Elevation
1,138 m (3,734 ft)
Population
 (2019)
 • Total926,976
 • Density9.4/km2 (24/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+3 (EAT)
Websitewww.turkana.go.ke

Turkana County is a county in the former Rift Valley Province of Kenya. It is Kenya's largest county by land area of 98,597.8km2 followed by Marsabit County with an area of 71,597.8km2. It is bordered by the countries of Uganda to the west; South Sudan and Ethiopia, including the disputed Ilemi Triangle, to the north and northeast; and Lake Turkana to the east. To the south and east, neighbouring counties in Kenya are West Pokot, Baringo and Samburu Counties, while Marsabit County is on the opposite (i.e. eastern) shore of Lake Turkana. Turkana's capital and largest town is Lodwar. The county had a population of 926,976 at the 2019 census.[1]

History

Four sites of Stone Age cultures are situated upon tributaries along the west side of Lake Turkana in West Turkana; at Lokalalei, Kokiselei and Nadungu, and became of interest to archaeology beginning sometime during 1988.[2][3][4]

The earliest late Stone age industries in prehistory were found in Turkana, at the site of Lomekwi, and date to 3,300,000 years.[5][6] At the archaeological site of Nataruk, in Southwest Turkana, scientists have discovered the oldest evidence of inter-group conflict in the past, establishing that warfare occurred between groups of hunter-gatherers.[7]

From 1900 until 1926, the British colonial administration in Kenya gradually established control over the Turkana people.[8] and by 1926, the Turkana people were fully under the control of the British colonial administration, who subsequently forcibly restricted their movements to the Turkana region.[9][10]

During 1958, the district experienced an influx of a number of people classified as belonging to the Turkana people. These had been expelled from the Kenyan town of Isiolo, and forcibly relocated to the Turkana district by the colonial administration.[11]

The district maintained an all but complete isolation until 1976 when road-blocks leading to the district were lifted by the Kenyan government.[12]

In 2000, the people in the north of the county were reported as being harassed by marauding Ethiopians, and were consequently forced to relocate in southern areas.[13]

Population

Historical population
YearPop.±%
1979 142,702—    
1989 184,060+29.0%
1999 450,860+145.0%
2009 855,399+89.7%
2019 926,976+8.4%
source:[14]

Religion

Religion in Turkana County [15]

Religion (2019 Census) Number
Catholicism 406,439
Protestant 265,802
Evangelical Churches 87,298
African instituted Churches 22,498
Orthodox 2,806
Other Christian 17,210
Islam 30,776
Hindu 134
Traditionists 43,412
Other 8,773
Atheists 25,361
Don't Know 11,221
Not Stated 480

Language

Turkana is known in the local language as ng'turkana.[16] Some place names in the country are attributed to the language of the Pokot and Samburu peoples, representing a tradition in the area of inhabitation by these peoples prior to displacement by the Turkana.[17]

Geography

The county is within the boundaries of the former Rift Valley province.[18] According to data provided during 1991 the majority of the population at that time lived by way of farming.[19] With an area of nearly 77,000 km2, Turkana is the largest county, including the area covered by Lake Turkana, in Kenya.

Turkana County is emerging to be a major source of electric power in Kenya. Kengen's Turkwel Hydro Power Plant, situated on the southwest of Turkana County, produces hydroelectric power which is connected to the national power grid at Lessos. The county is current subject of crude oil exploration in Block 10BB and Block 13T and has potential for geothermal, solar and wind energy.

Kekarongole and Katilu had irrigation networks made commencing sometime during or after 1975.[20]

Rainfall measurements per annum (1982 data) is recorded as less than ten inches; with a range of between 115mm and 650mm.[21][22]

There were thirteen drought periods in a period of 50 years beginning 1938.[23]

Economics

Turkana is the poorest region in Kenya.[24] The county is, however, experiencing upward reviews due to ongoing mineral explorations and inventions, especially of oil and water resources. Turkana County residents are also enjoying the fruits of devolution. Devolution of power in Kenya is viewed as a blessing for the forgotten people of Turkana. It has been received in the sub- counties with much appreciation due to its direct benefits to the citizens. The current administration shares out these benefits equally to all sub counties in addition to enhancing citizen participation in development activities. [1]

On 26 March 2012, Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki announced that oil had been discovered in Turkana County after exploratory drilling by Anglo-Irish firm Tullow Oil, and he further stated that:

It is... the beginning of a long journey to make our country an oil producer, which typically takes in excess of three years. We shall be giving the nation more information as the oil exploration process continues.[25]

Gold panning was reported (2005) as occurring at Lochoremoit, Namoruputh, Lokiriama and Ng' akoriyiek.[26]

According to Barrett (2001) cited in Watson the wealth of a person is kept in the form of cattle.[27]

Figures stated as of 1998 stated an average estimated herd size of 15–20.[28]

In 2013 it was announced by UNESCO[29] that large reserves of groundwater had been discovered in Turkana County. The water was discovered using satellite exploration technology then confirmed by drilling.[30] The extraction of the water began in 2014 and it is being piped to provide water to Lodwar town for irrigation and water for the people.[31] However, this project was later abandoned when it was found that the water in the aquifer was too salty to be treated or to be used for other purposes. [32]

Government [Turkana County Government Website: http://www.turkana.go.ke/]

Promulgation of the Constitution of Kenya 2010 marked a momentous point in the country's history. The Constitution provided for, among others, enhanced checks and balances within the government, an enhanced role of Parliament and citizens, an independent judiciary, and a most progressive Bill of Rights. [2]. Turkana County is one of the 47 counties of Kenya. The county is led by H.E. Governor Jeremiah Lomorukai, [33] and Turkana County has 10 Ministries. [3]

Travel

The county is connected to Nairobi through regular commercial flights to Lodwar airport.[34][35] The World Food Programme runs a special UN Humanitarian Air Service for UN and INGO staff.[36]

County subdivisions

Local authorities (councils)
Authority Type Population* Urban pop.*
Lodwar Municipality 1,000,000 16,981
Turkana County 414,963 26,563
Total – 450,860 43,544
* 1999 census. Source: [4]
Administrative divisions
Division Population* Population
density 		Headquarters
Central 35,919 45 Lodwar
Kaaling 24,053 3
Kainuk 11,799 7 Kainuk
Kakuma 97,114 26 Kakuma
Kalokol 28,735 5 Kalokol
Katilu 12,548 10 katilu
Kerio 15,409 6
Kibish 6,056 –
Lapur 12,780 6
Lokichar 21,791 5 Lokichar
Lokichogio 36,187 5 Lokichogio
Lokitaung 22,586 12 Lokitaung
Loima 33,979 10 Lorugum
Lokori 17,915 3
Lomelo 6,088 1 Kapedo
Oropol 18,020 3 Oropol
Turkwel 49,881 9
Total 450,860 7 (average) -
* 1999 census. Sources: [5]

The county has six constituencies:

The counties have six sub counties

sub-county headquarters
Turkana Central Lodwar
Turkana North Lokitaung
Turkana South Lokichar
Turkana East Lokori
Turkana West Kakuma
Loima Lorugum

Villages and settlements

See also

References

  1. ^ "2019 Kenya Population and Housing Census Volume I: Population by County and Sub-County". Kenya National Bureau of Statistics. Retrieved 6 November 2019.
  2. ^ B S Blades, B Adams – Lithic Materials and Paleolithic Societies John Wiley & Sons, 12 May 2009 Retrieved 2012-07-08 ISBN 1405168374
  3. ^ C R Ewen -Artifacts Rowman Altamira, 1 April 2003 Retrieved 2012-07-08 ISBN 0759100225
  4. ^ (secondary) D Waugh – Geography: An Integrated Approach ISBN 017444706X Retrieved 1994
  5. ^ Harmand, Sonia; Lewis, Jason E.; Feibel, Craig S.; Lepre, Christopher J.; Prat, Sandrine; Lenoble, Arnaud; Boës, Xavier; Quinn, Rhonda L.; Brenet, Michel (2015). "3.3-million-year-old stone tools from Lomekwi 3, West Turkana, Kenya". Nature. 521 (7552): 310–315. Bibcode:2015Natur.521..310H. doi:10.1038/nature14464. PMID 25993961. S2CID 1207285.
  6. ^ C Ehret, M Posnansky – The Archaeological and Linguistic Reconstruction of African History University of California Press, 1982 Retrieved 2012-07-08 ISBN 0520045939
  7. ^ Lahr, M. Mirazón; Rivera, F.; Power, R. K.; Mounier, A.; Copsey, B.; Crivellaro, F.; Edung, J. E.; Fernandez, J. M. Maillo; Kiarie, C. (2016). "Inter-group violence among early Holocene hunter-gatherers of West Turkana, Kenya". Nature. 529 (7586): 394–398. Bibcode:2016Natur.529..394L. doi:10.1038/nature16477. PMID 26791728. S2CID 4462435.
  8. ^ T G Grenham – The Unknown God: Religious And Theological Interculturation Peter Lang, 2005 Retrieved 2012-07-08 ISBN 3039102613
  9. ^ S Williams – Ian Hodder (ed) – The Archaeology of Contextual Meanings Cambridge University Press, 6 August 1987 Retrieved 2012-07-08 ISBN 0521329248
  10. ^ Merriam-Webster dictionary online
  11. ^ V Broch-Due, R A Schroeder – Producing Nature and Poverty in Africa Nordic Africa Institute, 2000 Retrieved 2012-07-08 ISBN 9171064524
  12. ^ D McNeill, S D Duncan, J Cassell, E T Levy – Gesture and the Dynamic Dimension of Language: Essays in Honor of David McNeill John Benjamins Publishing Company, 2007 Retrieved 2012-07-08 ISBN 9027228418
  13. ^ Traditional Occupations of Indigenous and Tribal Peoples: Emerging Trends International Labour Organization, 2000 Retrieved 2012-07-08
  14. ^ Kenya: Administrative Division population statistics
  15. ^ "2019 Kenya Population and Housing Census Volume IV: Distribution of Population by Socio-Economic Characteristics" (PDF). Kenya National Bureau of Statistics. Retrieved 2 May 2021.
  16. ^ P. H. Gulliver – The Family Herds: A Study of Two Pastoral Tribes in East Africa, the Jie and Turkana Routledge, 31 January 2003 Retrieved 2012-07-08 ISBN 0415176468
  17. ^ NC Dorian – Investigating Obsolescence: Studies in Language Contraction and Death Cambridge University Press, 3 Sep 1992 Retrieved 2012-07-08 ISBN 0521437571
  18. ^ N Middleton, P O'Keefe – Disaster And Development: The Politics of Humanitarian Aid Pluto Press, 20 November 1997 Retrieved 2012-07-08 ISBN 0745312241
  19. ^ W Critchley – Looking After Our Land: Soil and Water Conservation in Dryland Africa p.45- Oxfam, 1991 Retrieved 2012-07-08 ISBN 0855981709
  20. ^ B Calas, CA Mumma Martinon – Shared Waters, Shared Opportunities: Hydropolitics in East Africa African Books Collective, 30 November 2010 Retrieved 2012-07-08 ISBN 9987080928
  21. ^ C Ehret, M Posnansky -
  22. ^ W Critchley
  23. ^ S Boinski, P A Garber – On the Move: How and Why Animals Travel in Groups University of Chicago Press, 15 May 2000 Retrieved 2012-07-08 ISBN 0226063399
  24. ^ "Oil in the cradle of mankind: A glimpse of Africa's future". The Economist. Retrieved 11 July 2015.
  25. ^ "Kenya oil discovery after Tullow Oil drilling". BBC. 26 March 2012. Retrieved 26 March 2012.
  26. ^ Watson, D.J., Binsbergen, J. van – Review of VSF-Belgium's 'Turkana emergency livestock off-take' intervention 2005 ILRI (aka ILCA and ILRAD), 2008 Retrieved 2012-07-08 ISBN 9291462098
  27. ^ Watson, D.J. – Community farmer field school animal health facilitators: hybridizing private animal health care and capacity building in remote pastoralist areas ILRI (aka ILCA and ILRAD) Retrieved 2012-07-08 ISBN 9291462276
  28. ^ P Bonnet – Dromadaires et chameaux, animaux laitiers / Dromedaries and Camels, Milking Animals Editions Quae, 1 January 1998 Retrieved 2012-07-08 ISBN 2876143070
  29. ^ "Strategic groundwater reserves found in Northern Kenya" (news release). UNESCO Media Services. 11 September 2013. Retrieved 12 September 2013.
  30. ^ Nicholas Kulish (11 September 2013). "Huge Aquifers Are Discovered in North Kenya". The New York Times. Retrieved 12 September 2013.
  31. ^ naibuzz.com/2014/05/18/mining-of-water-begins-in-turkana-Kenya/
  32. ^ "Kenya abandons exploration of unviable Turkana water aquifer". 6 February 2022.
  33. ^ "Office of the governor – Turkana County Government". Retrieved 10 November 2022.
  34. ^ "Cheap flights to Lodwar | Fly540". fly540.com. Retrieved 4 February 2022.
  35. ^ "Lodwar". skywardexpress.co.ke. Retrieved 4 February 2022.
  36. ^ "ECHO Humanitarian Implementation Plan (HIP)" (PDF). European Commission. Retrieved 4 February 2022.

External links

First- and second-level administrative divisions of Kenya
Turkana Basin
Categories