Elgeyo-Marakwet County is one of Kenya's 47 counties. Located in the former Rift Valley Province, the 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 The total population of Elgeyo-Marakwet County is 454,480 persons, 227,317 are females, 227,151 males, and 12 intersex persons. There are 99,861 households in the county with an average size of 4.5 persons per household with a population density of 150 persons per square km.

Religion Religion in Elgeyo-Marakwe County

Religion (2019 Census)NumberCatholicism231,873Protestant 144,885Evangelical Churches 46,334African instituted Churches 12,461Orthodox256Other Christian7,394Islam1,142Hindu 14Traditionists491Other2,933Atheists5,210Don't Know395Not Stated46

Geography, geology and topography

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 with elevation differences of up to 1,500 metres. In the northern and southern parts of the county the topography is rugged, giving way to more subdued relief differences going westwards. The underlying geology 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 subsequent erosion of the raised western ridge of the Eastern Rift Valley. The range is approximately long and wide and averages in height; the highest point is more than . Many of the summits are covered with huge groundsels and lobelias. Some of the hills include Kamologon (3581 m), Chebon (3375 m), Chepkotit (3370 m), Karelachgelat (3350 m) and Sondany (3211 m).

Climate Temperatures range from a minimum of 12 °C—relatively cool, with mists and occasionally even frost—to a maximum of 22 °C. Rainfall ranges annually from 800 to 2300 mm.

Religion and ethnicity

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), and Sombirir (Borokot) 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.

Administrative and Political Units Elgeyo - Marakwet is divided into 4 sub-counties, 20 county assemblies wards, 68 locations and 199 sub-locations. Below is the distribution of the county assemblies wards. +Political UnitsConstituency No. of Wards Marakwet East4Marakwet West6Keiyo North 4Keiyo South 6TOTAL20 Source

County government Wisley Rotich who succeeded Alex Tolgos is currently serving his first term as the county's Governor. William Kisang is the current senator replacing Kipchumba Murkomen who was appointed as Cabinet Secretary for Roads. The County Women Representative is Caroline Jeptoo Ng'elechei, all of the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) Party, an affiliate of the Kenya Kwanza Alliance. The county has four constituencies in the National Assembly, and twenty ward seats in its County Assembly. The County Assembly Speaker is Mr. Lawi Kibire.

County Executive Committee Person Docket Alphaeus Tanui Finance and Economic Planning Thomas Maiyo Lands, Physical Planning, Housing and Urban Development Edwin Kibor Education and Technical Training Robert Kangogo Co-operatives, Trade, Industrialization, Tourism and Widlife Emmy Kosgei Roads, Public Works and Transport Michael Kibiwott Health Services Jason Lagat Water, Environment and Climate Change Purity Koima Sports, Youth Affairs, Culture, Children and Social Services Monica Rotich Public Service, Devolution, Administration, Communications, ICT and E-Governance Edwin Seroney Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Irrigation Source

County Ward Representatives Constituency Ward Representative Marakwet East Kapyego Hon. Chebet Joseph Kipkorir Marakwet East Sambirir Hon. Suter Paul KipkemoiMarakwet East Endo Hon. Kibiwott Jeremiah Kiptum Marakwet East Embobut/Embulot Hon. Kipyatich Paul Kipchumba Marakwet West Lelan Hon. Kurgat Pricillah Jepkoech Marakwet West Sengwer Hon. Kiptoo Asbel Kisang Marakwet West Cherang'any/Chebororwa Hon. Kosgei Evans Kimutai Marakwet West Moiben/Kuserwo Hon. Kiplagat Hillary Kipchirchir Marakwet West Kapsowar Hon. Kipruto Joshua Marakwet West Arror Hon. Mutwol Justine kosgei Keiyo North Kamariny Hon. Cheptiony Benjamin Kipkemboi Keiyo North Emsoo Hon. Cheboiboch Christopher Kangogo Keiyo North Tambach Hon. Chesire Dominic Keiyo North Kapchemutwa Hon. Cheruiyot Stephen Kemboi Keiyo South Kaptarakwa Hon. Kimutai Mathew Cheruiyot Keiyo South Chepkorio Hon. Koima John Kimeli Keiyo South Soy North Hon. Chepseba Simeon Kibet Keiyo South Soy South Hon. Tanui Jonah Kipkorir Keiyo South Kabiemit Hon. Barsulai Alfred Kipkoech Keiyo South Metkei Hon. Kibire Lawi Kipng’etich Nominated Kaptarakwa Hon. Kimutai Mathew Cheruiyot NominatedGender Hon. Kiptoo Evalyne Jepchumba Nominated Gender Hon. Kiptoo Peris Jelagat Nominated Gender Hon. Kimitto Salina Jemosop Nominated Gender Hon. Rotich Jebet Eddah Nominated Gender Hon. Karen Jelagat Koech Nominated Gender Hon. Kimoning Tabitha Jepkirui Nominated Gender Hon. Kosgei Sally Jebet Nominated Youth Hon. Nge'tich Gilbert Kipkosgei Nominated Youth Hon. Bowen Stella Nominated Gender Hon. Cherop Rosa Nominated PWD Hon. Lai victoria Jemutai Nominated PWD Hon. Biwott Davies Kimutai

Health The county has over 130 public and private health facilities with an average of 3.7 km access distance from one health centre to another. The county has 626 medical personnels across the fields of medical profession.

Transport and Communication The region is covered with 292.1 km of earth, 1,415.3 km of murram and 92.2 km of bitumen. As at 2014 there were 8 postal offices across the county with 1,600 installed letter boxes, 1,112 rented letter boxes and 488 vacant letter boxes.

Economy The main economic activity carried out in the county is 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.

As at 2014 county had 62,190,000 cattle, 7,220,000 goats and 10,232,000 sheep.

Tourism Major Tourist Attractions are

Education systems There are a total of 554 ECD centres, 418 primary schools and 112 secondary schools, 4 public technical and vocational colleges and 1 teacher training college in the county. +Schools in CountyCategoryNo. of Public No. of PrivateTotal ECD Centres427 127 554 Primary Schools367 51 418 Secondary Schools111 1113

Source

Indicator StatisticsNumber 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 Vocational Training Centers Adult Literacy Classes Enrolment (Data Not available) Notable Secondary Schools KEIYO NORTH St.Patrick's High School (Iten, Kenya) Chebara Boys High School Singore Girls Secondary School Tambach Boys High School Kipsoen Boys Secondary School AIC Kessup Girls Secondary School St. Alphonsus Mutei St. Peters Kapkoi Day Secondary School St Francis Kimuron Boys Secondary School Anin Mixed Secondary Chebonet Secondary School Chepsigot Mixed Secondary School KEIYO SOUTH Maria Soti Educational Centre Simotwo Boys High School Kipsaos Boys Secondary School Kapkenda Girls High School Metkei Girls High School Our Lady of Victory Kaptagat Girls Secondary School St. Agatha Mokwo Girls Secondary School St. Marys Kitany Boys Secondary School St. Joseph Kipsaina Girls Secondary School Koptega Girls Secondary School Lelboinet Boys Secondary School Biwott Mixed Day Secondary School Kiptulos Mixed Secondary School

Health Indicator Statistics Health Facilities: 113 - Referral Hospitals (1), District Hospital (1), 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 infectionsNotable Hospitals: Africa Inland Church Kapsowar Hospital. Iten Referral Hospital. Chebiemit District Hospital Kocholwo Sub-County Hospital Kaptarakwa Sub-County Hospital Tot Sub-County Hospital Chesongoch Mission Hospital Kamwosor Sub County hospital Field Marsham Medical Center KamuJohn Medical Clinic

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. In 2019, Iten town was awarded the World Athletics Heritage Plaque due to its contribution as a major global athletics training center.

Notable sport personalities Notable Athletes hailing from this county include;

Important towns EMC Towns

Eminent people List Achievements The late Nicholas Biwott Former Powerful Cabinet Minister in Government of President Daniel Toroitich arap Moi. Also known as 'TOTAL MAN aka KARNET' Kipchumba Murkomen Elgeyo Marakwet County Senator 2013 to 2022 First deputy Majority leader of the Kenyan Senate 2nd Majority Leader of the Kenyan Senate Philip Kiptoo Tunoi Judge of Supreme Court of Kenya from 2012 to 2017

Services and urbanisation

See also Kabarak West Pokot County Baringo County Uasin Gishu County Trans Nzoia County

References

External links Kenya Open Data County Data Sheet