Turkana County | |
|---|---|
 Flag  Coat of arms | |
 Location of Turkana County (red) including the disputedElemi Triangle (diagonally striped red) | |
| Coordinates:3°09′N35°21′E / 3.150°N 35.350°E /3.150; 35.350 | |
| Country |  Kenya |
| Formed | 4 March 2013 |
| Capital | Lodwar |
| Government | |
| • Governor | Jeremiah Ekamais Lomorukai Napotikan |
| Area | |
• Total | 70,512 km2 (27,225 sq mi) |
| • Land | 68,232.9 km2 (26,344.9 sq mi) |
| • Water | 2,279 km2 (880 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 1,138 m (3,734 ft) |
| Population (2024) | |
• Total | 997,976 |
| • Density | 14/km2 (37/sq mi) |
| GDP (PPP) | |
| • Total |  $2.996 billion (30th)(2022)[1] |
| • Per Capita | $3,005 (2022) (38th) |
| GDP (NOMINAL) | |
| • Total | $1.100 billion (2022) (30th) |
| • Per Capita | 1,103 (2022) (38th) |
| Time zone | UTC+3 (EAT) |
| Website | www |
Turkana County is acounty in the formerRift Valley Province ofKenya. It is home to theTurkana people. It is Kenya'slargest county by land area of 77,597.8 km2 followed byMarsabit County with an area of 66,923.1 km2. It is bordered by the countries ofUganda to the west;South Sudan andEthiopia, including the disputedIlemi Triangle, to the north and northeast; andLake Turkana to the east. To the south and east, neighbouring counties in Kenya areWest Pokot,Baringo andSamburuCounties, whileMarsabit County is on the opposite (i.e. eastern) shore ofLake Turkana. Turkana's capital and largest town isLodwar. The county had a population of 926,976 according to the 2019 census report. It is Projected to reach 1.048M people in 2024[2][3]
Four sites of Stone Age cultures are situated upon tributaries along the west side ofLake Turkana in West Turkana; at Lokalalei, Kokiselei and Nadungu, and became of interest to archaeology beginning sometime during 1988.[4][5][6]
The earliest late Stone Age industries in prehistory were found in Turkana, at the site of Lomekwi, and date to 3,300,000 years.[7][8] 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.[9]
From 1900 until 1926, theBritish colonial administration in Kenya gradually established control over theTurkana people.[10] 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.[11][12]
In 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.[13]
The district maintained an all but complete isolation until 1976 when road-blocks leading to the district were lifted by the Kenyan government.[14]
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.[15]
| Year | Pop. | ±% |
|---|---|---|
| 1979 | 142,702 | — |
| 1989 | 184,060 | +29.0% |
| 1999 | 450,860 | +145.0% |
| 2009 | 855,399 | +89.7% |
| 2019 | 926,976 | +8.4% |
| source:[16] | ||
Religion in Turkana County[17]Christianity is the largest Religion in Turkana County representing 86% of the population .Catholicism is the largest denomination with 44% of the Population being Catholics and 28% being Protestants.
| Religion inTurkana County (2019 Census) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Religion | Percentage | |||
| Christianity | 86.97% | |||
| Catholicism | 44.07% | |||
| Protestantism | 28.82% | |||
| Evangelical Churches | 9.47% | |||
| African Instituted Churches | 2.44% | |||
| Orthodoxy | 0.30% | |||
| Other Christian | 1.87% | |||
| Islam | 3.34% | |||
| Hindu | 0.01% | |||
| Traditionalists | 4.71% | |||
| Other | 0.95% | |||
| Atheists | 2.75% | |||
| Don't Know | 1.22% | |||
| Not Stated | 0.05% | |||
| 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 |
Turkana is known inthe local language as ng'turkana.[18] Some place names in the country are attributed to the language of thePokot andSamburu peoples, representing a tradition in the area of inhabitation by these peoples prior to displacement by the Turkana.[19]
The county is within the boundaries of the former Rift Valley province.[20] According to data provided during 1991 the majority of the population at that time lived by way of farming.[21] 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 inKenya.Kengen'sTurkwel Hydro Power Plant, situated on the southwest of Turkana County, produces hydroelectric power which is connected to the national power grid atLessos. The county is current subject of crude oil exploration inBlock 10BB andBlock 13T and has potential for geothermal, solar and wind energy.
Kekarongole and Katilu had irrigation networks made commencing sometime during or after 1975.[22]
Rainfall measurements per annum (1982 data) is recorded as less than ten inches; with a range of between 115mm and 650mm.[23][24]
There were thirteen drought periods in a period of 50 years beginning 1938.[25]
Turkana is the poorest region inKenya.[26] 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 PresidentMwai Kibaki announced that oil had been discovered in Turkana County after exploratory drilling by Anglo-Irish firmTullow 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.[27]
Gold panning was reported (2005) as occurring atLochoremoit,Namoruputh,Lokiriama andNg' akoriyiek.[28]
According to Barrett (2001) cited inWatson the wealth of a person is kept in the form of cattle.[29]
Figures stated as of 1998 stated an average estimated herd size of 15–20.[30]
In 2013 it was announced byUNESCO[31] that large reserves ofgroundwater had been discovered in Turkana County which was discovered using satellite exploration technology then confirmed by drilling.[32] 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.[33] 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.[34]
Government [Turkana County Government Website:http://www.turkana.go.ke/]
Promulgation of theConstitution 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 47counties of Kenya. The county is led by H.E. Governor Jeremiah Lomorukai,[35] and Turkana County has 10 Ministries.[3]
The county is connected toNairobi through regular commercial flights toLodwar airport.[36][37] TheWorld Food Programme runs a specialUN Humanitarian Air Service for UN and INGO staff.[38]
| 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 |
