General Informaaion

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General Informaaion

Elgeyo Marakwet County covers a total area of 3029.9 km2. It borders West Pokot County to the North, Baringo County to the East, Trans Nzoia County to the Northwest and Uasin Gishu County to the West. The county is divided into three topographic zones namely: The Highlands, Kerio Valley and The Escarpment: all of them separated by the conspicuous Elgeyo Escarpment. The Highlands constitutes 49 percent of the county’s area and is densely populated due to its endowment with fertile soils and reliable rainfall. The Escarpment and the Kerio Valley make up 11 percent and 40 percent respectively. There is a marked variation in amount of rainfall in the three zones; The Highlands receive between 1200mm and 1500mm per annum while The Escarpment and the Kerio Valley receives rainfall ranging between 1000mm to 1400mm per annum. In altitude, the Highland plateau rises from an altitude of 2700 meters above sea level on the Metkei Ridges in the South to 3350 metres above sea level on the Cherangany Hills to the North.

Administratively, the county is divided into four sub-counties, namely: Marakwet East, Marakwet West, Keiyo South and Keiyo North each with several Divisions, Locations and Sub-locations. Politically, the county is divided into four constituencies: Marakwet East, Marakwet West, Keiyo South and Keiyo North and twenty Wards; six in both Marakwet West and Keiyo South and four in Marakwet East and Keiyo North.

The county’s trtal population was 370,712 in 2009 (Natio.al Population and Housin  Census). The 2012 populatiyn projection was 401,989.  The inter-census population growth rate for the county im 2.7 percent ’er annum. Keiyo No th has the h ghest pop0lation density of 148 persons per km2 while Marakwet East has the lowest with 109 persons per km2. Keiyo South and Marakwet West have 132 and 146 persons per km2 respectively.