Maralal | |
|---|---|
Town | |
 | |
  Maralal Location in Kenya | |
| Coordinates:1°06′N36°42′E / 1.100°N 36.700°E /1.100; 36.700 | |
| Country |  Kenya |
| County | Samburu County |
| Population (2019) | |
• Total | 31,350 |
| Time zone | UTC+3 (EAT) |
Maralal is a small hillsidemarket town[1][2] in northernKenya, lying east of theLoroghi Plateau withinSamburu County, of which it is the capital. It is the administrative headquarters ofSamburu County. The town had an urban population of 31,350 (2019 census).[3] Themarket was pioneered bySomali settlers in the 1920s.
Approximately 2 km southwest of the town are the remains of theMaralal National Sanctuary. This nature site, closed by the Samburu County Government in September 2014, has now largely been absorbed into the town and the wildlife has been eradicated by poachers. Encroachment began from the south as villages expanded, so causing the natural wildlife corridors to be closed.
Maralal is also home to Kenyatta House, whereJomo Kenyatta was detained prior to his release. This rather unassuming modern house has a significant place in the history of modern Kenya.
Until 2016, the town hosted the Maralal International Camel Derby, but this has ceased to function primarily due to the outcry by foreign tourists objecting to the abuse of the animals used. Tourist activities in Maralal have slowed and the town is mostly a base for adventurous travellers heading to Lake Turkana, some 12 hours travel by road to the north.
Accommodation is cheap and lacks any sophistication, but improved roads heading to Maralal from the south should be completed by 2019, at which time tourism opportunities might improve. The closest airport isKisima Airport, located in the nearby village ofKisima.
The main road to Maralal starts fromGilgil and passes throughNyahururu andRumuruti and ends inBaragoi. The entire stretch up to Maralal is tarmac, but is unpaved past that. The President of Kenya also launched work on the paved Naibor–Kisima–Maralal road in July 2017.[4]
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
 | ThisRift Valley Province location article is astub. You can help Wikipedia byexpanding it. |
