Kitui County

Not to be confused with Kitui.

Kitui County
County
Sunset at Tsavo East National Park mostly located in Kitui County
Sunset at Tsavo East National Park mostly located in Kitui County
Flag of Kitui County
Flag
Coat of arms of Kitui County
Coat of arms
Motto(s): 
Kaunti Yiitu, Rasilimali Situ, Maisha Maseo (Our County, Our Resources, Good Life)
Location in Kenya
Location in Kenya
Coordinates: 1°29′S 38°23′E / 1.483°S 38.383°E / -1.483; 38.383
Country Kenya
Formed27 August 2010
CapitalKitui
Other townsMwingi, Mbitini, Kwa Vonza, Kyuso
Government
 • GovernorJulius Malombe
 • Deputy Governor of KituiKanani Augustine Wambua
 • SenatorEnoch Kiio Wambua
 • Woman RepresentativeKasalu Irene Muthoni
Area
 • Total
30,430 km2 (11,750 sq mi)
 • Water24,194 km2 (9,341 sq mi)
Population
 (2019)
 • Total
1,136,187
 • Density37/km2 (97/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+3 (EAT)
WebsiteOfficial website

Kitui County is one of the 47 counties of Kenya in the former Eastern Province of Kenya. Its capital and largest town is Kitui. Mwingi is also another major urban centre. The county has a population of about 1.2 million people (as of 2024)[1]: 8  and an area of 30,496 km2.[2] It lies between latitudes 0°10 South and 3°0 South and longitudes 37°50 East and 39°0 East.[3][4]

Kitui County shares its borders with seven counties; Tharaka-Nithi and Meru to the north, Embu to the northwest, Machakos and Makueni to the west, Tana River to the east and southeast, and Taita-Taveta to the south.[5]

Kitui County is "representative" of the fragile Arid and Semi-arid lands of Kenya that account for 80 percent of the land mass. These lands are characterized by high poverty levels, agro-pastoral livelihoods, high vulnerability to climate shocks, underdeveloped social infrastructure, low access to social services, and in extreme cases conflict over natural resources, especially during droughts".[1]: 8 

History

The name Kitui means 'a place where iron goods are made'.[6] The Kamba iron-smiths who settled in the county many years before the colonial period are the ones who named the area Kitui.[6][7]

Demographics

Kitui County has a total population of 1.2 million people (as of 2024).[1]: 8  In comparison, in 2009 the population was 1,136,187 people.[8]

Data from 2019 indicated that there are 262,942 households with an average household size of 4.3 persons per household, and a population density of 37 people per square kilometre.[9]

Distribution of Population by Sex and Sub-County[10]
Sub-County Male Female Intersex Total
Ikutha 39,986 42,976 2 82,964
Katulani 23,150 23,957 1 47,108
Kisasi 22,646 23,496 46,142
Kitui Central 52,123 53,863 5 105,991
Kitui West 33,887 36,983 1 70,871
Kyuso 36,789 40,077 1 76,867
Lower Yatta 31,701 31,628 63,329
Matinyani 23,362 24,448 1 47,811
Migwani 33,525 41,726 4 79,255
Mumoni 13,748 15,596 29,344
Mutitu 26,388 28,896 3 55,287
Mutitu North 10,337 10,877 1 21,215
Mutomo 54,819 58,531 6 113,356
Mwingi Central 52,339 56,174 108,713
Mwingi East 40,314 44,820 5 85,139
Nzambani 22,929 23,857 2 46,788
Thagicu 7,141 7,994 1 15,136
Tseikuru 19,619 21,252 40,871
Total 549,003 587,151 33 1,136,187

The population is mostly made up of people of the Akamba ethnicity. Tharaka people, a section of the Ameru, are also found in Kitui County mainly in Tharaka ward. There is also a growing Somali presence.[6]

Historical population
YearPop.±%
1979 464,283—    
1989 652,603+40.6%
1999 819,250+25.5%
2009 1,012,709+23.6%
2019 1,136,187[11]+12.2%
2024 1,200,000[1]+5.6%

Administration and Political Units

Administrative Units

There are eight sub counties, forty county assembly wards, one hundred and sixty seven locations and four hundred and eleven sub-locations.[12]

Further, the sub-counties are divided into smaller units called wards. There are 40 wards which are further divided into 247 villages.[13]

Administrative Sub-Counties

Source[12]

Electoral Constituencies

Source[14]

Political Leadership

Julius Makau Malombe is the governor of the county after being elected in the 2022 general elections.[15] He is deputised by Augustine Kanani Wambua.[16] Eoch Kiio Wambua is the senator who was re-elected in the 2022 general elections after unseating the first senator David Musila.[17][18] Irene Muthoni Kasalu is the second Women Representative after Winfred Nyiva Mwendwa. She was re-elected in 2022.

For Kitui County, the County Executive Committee comprises:

County Executive Committee[19]
Number
The Governor 1
The Deputy Governor 1
The County Secretary 1
The CEC Members 10
Total 13

Members of Parliament 2017-2022 (Kitui County)

  • Hon. Mulu, Benson Makali[20] of Wiper Democratic Party Kenya Member of Parliament Kitui Central Constituency[21]
  • Hon. Mbai, Nimrod Mbithuka[22] of Jubilee Party Member of Parliament Kitui East Constituency[23]
  • Hon. Mboni, David Mwalika[24] of chama cha uma party Member of Parliament Kitui Rural Constituency[25]
  • Hon. Nyamai, Rachael Kaki[26] of Jubilee Party Member of Parliament Kitui South Constituency[27]
  • Hon. Nyenze, Edith[28] of Wiper Democratic Party Kenya Member of Parliament Kitui West Constituency[29]
  • Hon. Mulyungi, Gideon Mutemi[30] of Wiper Democratic Party Kenya Member of Parliament Mwingi Central Constituency[31]
  • Hon. Nzengu, Paul Musyimi[32] of Wiper Democratic Party of Kenya Member of Parliament Mwingi North Constituency[33]
  • Hon. Nguna, Charles Ngusya[34] of Wiper Democratic Party of Kenya Member of Parliament Mwingi West Constituency[35]

Religion

Christianity is the dominant religion in Kitui County. Roman Catholics make about 15% of the county's population. Other Christian denominations in the county include The Africa Brotherhood Church (ABC), the African Inland Church (AIC), Anglican Church of Kenya (ACK), Presbyterian Church of East Africa (PCEA), Independent Presbyterian Church (IPC), Redeemed Gospel Church and many others. Kitui county has a significant number of Muslims and several mosques can be spotted around the county's major urban centres.

Religion in Kitui County:

Religion (2019 Census) Number of people[36]
Catholicism 235,032
Protestant 500,806
Evangelical Churches 248,778
African instituted Churches 60,649
Orthodox 2,297
Other Cristian 30,867
Islam 8,898
Hindu 40
Traditionists 4,278
Other 12,332
No Religion/Atheists 23,778
Don't Know 2,273
Not Stated 106

Climate

Dry river bed in Kitui County.

The climate of Kitui County is arid and semi-arid.[1]: 8  It receives roughly 71 cm (28 inches) per year with a bi-modal rainfall pattern. This means that rainfall occurs practically only during the two rainy seasons (one long around March & April, and one short, around October, November and December). The terms Long and Short Rains has nothing to do with amount of rainfall received but rather on the length of the rainy seasons.[6]

Infrastructure

Urban centres

The number of city dwellers is relatively low as the majority of people (about 86% of the population) lives in rural areas.[1]: 8 

Major towns in the county include Kitui, Mwingi, Mutomo, Kwa Vonza, Mutitu, Ikutha, Kabati, Migwani, Mutonguni, Mbitini and Kyuso.

Urbanisation in South Eastern Kenya[37]
County
Urbanisation in South Eastern Kenya (Per cent)
Machakos County
52
Kitui County
13.8
Makueni County
11.8
 Kenya Average
32.3

Urbanisation by County in South Eastern Kenya

Education

In 2019, Kitui County had "1,742 public primary and secondary schools, representing a student population of slightly over 400,000 pupils and 17,000 teachers. In addition, there were up to 145 private education institutions across the various education levels."[1]: 8 

The county has also 5 teachers training colleges, 311 adult training institutions and one technical training institution.[38]

Education Institutions in County[39]
Category Public Private Total Enrolment
ECD Centres 1518 308 1826 90,731
Primary schools 1318 158 1476 346,022
Secondary schools 374 10 384 73,385
Teachers Training Colleges 3 2 5
Technical Training Institutes 1 0 1
Universities 1 0 1
University Campuses 5 0 5
Adult Education Centres 311 0 311 12,438


Kitui School and Muthale Girls are the only national schools in Kitui County.

Kathungi Secondary School, which is also found in Kitui County, is famous for its football championship in the country. Kathungi were the 2013 national silver medalists. Alongside the national champions Upper Hill, they represented Kenya in East Africa Secondary School games held in Lira, Uganda.[40]

South Eastern Kenya University is a public university located in Kitui with the Main Campus at Kwa Vonza and other campuses at Mwingi and Kitui towns. Kenyatta University has a campus at Kwa Vonza while Moi University has a campus at Kyuso in Mwingi North sub-county.[13] University of Nairobi also has a campus in Kitui town. Kenya Medical Training College has campuses in Kitui and Mwingi.[13]

Additional funds are required to improve the water supply situation for schools. These investments would pay for new or upgraded water facilities in schools, and a professional operation and maintenance service. With regards to water infrastructure, schools would benefit from rainwater harvesting systems and piped water schemes and handpump sources if they do not already have these facilities.[1]: 10–11 

Health

There are a total of 256 health facilities in the county with one county referral hospital. County has 2,084 health personnel of different cadre.[38][41]

HIV prevalence is at 4.2% below the national 5.9%.[42]

Health Facilities by Ownership[41]
Government *FBO Private NGO TOTAL
Hospitals 11 2 1 14
Health centres 38 2 40
Dispensaries 183 10 18 201
Clinics 3 1

Kitui County has several hospitals and health centres to meet the health needs of residents, among them Kitui County Referral Hospital, Mwingi Sub-County General Hospital, Kitui Nursing Home, Neema Hospital, Jordan Hospital, mission-run hospitals such as Muthale Mission hospital and some private health centres.[6]

Water supply and sanitation

This section is an excerpt from Water supply and sanitation in Kenya § Kitui County.[edit]

Kitui County is about 160 kilometers east of Nairobi City and has about 1,221,000 people.[43]: 8  The two water service providers (WSPs) in the county are Kitui Water and Sanitation Company (KITWASCO) and Kiambere-Mwingi Water and Sanitation Company (KIMWASCO).[43]: 8  They served only 32 percent of the county's population in 2017 and mainly only in urban areas, not so much in rural areas. Only about 42 percent of the population in Kitui County have access to at least a basic water service.[43]: 8  In 2017, there were "3,126 equipped and non-equipped water sources spread across Kitui County". Equipped sources include hand pumps and piped schemes. Non-equipped sources include sand dams, earth dams, shallow wells and others. However, in a water audit carried out in 2017, only 60 percent of the water sources were fully functional.[43]: 8 

About 400,000 people in Kitui rely on surface water as their main drinking water source and many people practice rainwater harvesting via roofs and gutters, rock catchments and sand dams.[44] For these people, the extended dry period (June to October) creates water supply challenges. Groundwater resources, lifted by hand pumps or pumped to piped systems and water kiosks, offer a buffer against drought for many Kitui county residents. However there are issues with quality (natural salinity), infrastructure maintenance and functionality for these groundwater schemes.[44]

Piped water schemes have fewer or no customers during the wet season because "users shift to using free surface and groundwater alternatives". The customers tend to shift to shallow wells during the wet season even though this exposes them to health risks.[43]: 11 

The majority of schools in Kitui County have no handwashing facilities (53%).[45]: 42  This causes a range of disadvantages for students, one of them being for adolescent girls to have to manage menstrual hygiene needs without access to handwashing facilities.[45]: 43 

Economy

The vast majority of the economy is based on sustenance farming, despite the fact that the agriculture is an extremely challenging endeavor giving the sporadic rainfall. A logical move therefore would be a transition to non-agricultural industries.[6]

During a recent, informal survey of the businesses in the town of Ikutha in southern Kitui County, the following businesses were identified:

  • Butcheries
  • Food Staples (rice, corn meal)
  • Mini-markets (sells things like Coca-Cola, potato chips, bread, long-shelf milk)
  • Mechanics
  • Pubs
  • Hotels and restaurants

Industries

Situated in Kitui town is a cotton ginnery where cotton farmers from around the county can deliver their harvest. It is the only major industry in the region, and was set up way back in 1935. Kitui is a semi-arid region and not many crops fare well there apart from cotton, hence the ginnery plays a major role creating income for the many cotton farmers in the region.[46]

Minerals

Kitui county has large deposits of coal in Mui Basin,[13] having low energy content/calorific value, meaning it produces less heat when burned. It also has sulphur. The coal could potentially supply the 1,000 MW Lamu Coal Power Station, and the 960-megawatt (MW) Kitui coal plant.[47]

Mutomo/Ikutha district contains limestone.[13]

Wealth/Poverty Level

Wealth/Poverty Level in South Eastern Kenya (source: [48][49])
County
Poverty Level in South Eastern Kenya (Per cent)
Machakos County
59.6
Kitui County
63.1
Makueni County
64.1
 Kenya Average
45.9
Statistics for Kitui County (Per cent)[50]
County Population
Literacy
74.7
Attending School (15-18 Yrs)
77.8
Paved Roads
2.4
Good Roads
39.9
Electricity Access
4.8

Tourism

Nzambani Rock is one of the tourist attractions in Kitui County

Nzambani Rock

Also in Kitui county is one of the largest Rock outcrops in Kenya which is locally known as "Ivia ya Nzambani". Situated past Kitui Town, about 1 km from Chuluni Market is the Nzambani Rock which is famous for the tales and myths of its origin. Activities here include hiking and rock climbing.[53]

Notable people

Dr. Willy Munyoki Mutunga, the former Chief Justice, hails from Kitui County

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h Nyaga, C., Hope, R., Charles, K.J., Nowicki, S., Katuva, J., Mugo, P., Hoque, S., Olago, D., Thomas, M.K., and Mumma, A. (2024). Guaranteeing safe drinking water services for public schools in Kenya: A costed professional service delivery model for Kitui County. REACH Working Paper 14. University of Oxford, UK.
  2. ^ "About Kitui".
  3. ^ Kitui County Integrated Development Plan CIDP 2018-2022. Kitui County Government. 2018. p. 16.
  4. ^ "About Kitui – Kitui County Government". Retrieved 29 May 2020.
  5. ^ "::.The County Government of Kitui .:: - The County Government of Kitui". www.kitui.go.ke. Retrieved 29 March 2018.
  6. ^ a b c d e f "About Kitui County in Kenya". kenya-information-guide.com. Retrieved 29 March 2018.
  7. ^ Ambler, Charles H. (1985). "Population Movement, Social Formation and Exchange: Central Kenya in the Nineteenth Century". The International Journal of African Historical Studies. 18 (2): 201–222. doi:10.2307/217740. ISSN 0361-7882. JSTOR 217740.
  8. ^ "Kenya Census 2009 - Census - Kenya". Scribd. Retrieved 29 March 2018.
  9. ^ 2019 Kenya Population and House Census: Volume 1- Population by County and Sub-county. Kenya National Bureau of Statistics. 2019. pp. 17, 19, 20, 24. ISBN 9789966102096.
  10. ^ Munene, Evans (4 November 2019). "2019 Kenya Population and Housing Census Results". Kenya National Bureau of Statistics. Retrieved 29 May 2020.
  11. ^ Kenya: Administrative Division population statistics
  12. ^ a b interior_admin. "Ministry of Interior and Coordination of National Government". interior.go.ke. Retrieved 29 May 2020.
  13. ^ a b c d e "The County - Visitkitui". www.visitkitui.com. Retrieved 29 March 2018.
  14. ^ "The Report of the Interim Independent Boundaries Review Commission (IIBRC): Delimitation of Constituencies and Recommendations on Local Authority Electoral Units and Administrative Boundaries for Districts and Other Units" (PDF). IEBC. 2010. Retrieved 20 May 2020.
  15. ^ "Governor".
  16. ^ "Deputy Governor".
  17. ^ "Enoch Kiio Wambua". Mzalendo. Retrieved 29 May 2020.
  18. ^ "Members of the Senate | The Kenyan Parliament Website". www.parliament.go.ke. Retrieved 29 May 2020.
  19. ^ "179. County executive committees - Kenya Law Reform Commission (KLRC)". www.klrc.go.ke. Retrieved 29 May 2020.
  20. ^ "Benson Makali Mulu". Mzalendo. Retrieved 30 May 2020.
  21. ^ "Hon. Mulu, Benson Makali | The Kenyan Parliament Website". www.parliament.go.ke. Retrieved 30 May 2020.
  22. ^ "Nimrod Mbithuka Mbai". Mzalendo. Retrieved 30 May 2020.
  23. ^ "Hon. Mbai, Nimrod Mbithuka | The Kenyan Parliament Website". www.parliament.go.ke. Retrieved 30 May 2020.
  24. ^ "David Mwalika Mboni". Mzalendo. Retrieved 30 May 2020.
  25. ^ "Hon. Mboni, David Mwalika | The Kenyan Parliament Website". www.parliament.go.ke. Retrieved 30 May 2020.
  26. ^ "Rachael Kaki Nyamai". Mzalendo. Retrieved 30 May 2020.
  27. ^ "Hon. Nyamai, Rachael Kaki | The Kenyan Parliament Website". www.parliament.go.ke. Retrieved 30 May 2020.
  28. ^ "Edith Nyenze". Mzalendo. Retrieved 30 May 2020.
  29. ^ "Hon. Nyenze, Edith | The Kenyan Parliament Website". www.parliament.go.ke. Retrieved 30 May 2020.
  30. ^ "Gideon Mutemi Mulyungi". Mzalendo. Retrieved 30 May 2020.
  31. ^ "Hon. Mulyungi, Gideon Mutemi | The Kenyan Parliament Website". www.parliament.go.ke. Retrieved 30 May 2020.
  32. ^ "Paul Musyimi Nzengu". Mzalendo. Retrieved 30 May 2020.
  33. ^ "Hon. Nzengu, Paul Musyimi | The Kenyan Parliament Website". www.parliament.go.ke. Retrieved 30 May 2020.
  34. ^ "Charles Ngusya Nguna". Mzalendo. Retrieved 30 May 2020.
  35. ^ "Hon. Nguna, Charles Ngusya | The Kenyan Parliament Website". www.parliament.go.ke. Retrieved 30 May 2020.
  36. ^ "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.
  37. ^ "County Urbanization: Kitui | Open Kenya | Transparent Africa". 11 May 2013. Archived from the original on 11 May 2013. Retrieved 17 October 2024.
  38. ^ a b "Publications". Kenya National Bureau of Statistics. Retrieved 29 May 2020.
  39. ^ "Ministry of Education, ICT & Youth Development – Kitui County Government". Retrieved 29 May 2020.
  40. ^ Futaa. "ARS: Upper Hill see off Kathungi to clinch KSSSA title". www.futaa.com. Retrieved 29 March 2018.[permanent dead link‍]
  41. ^ a b "Ministry of Health and Sanitation – Kitui County Government". Retrieved 29 May 2020.
  42. ^ "HIV Estimates Report Kenya 2018" (PDF). National AIDS Control Council. 2018. Retrieved 29 May 2020.
  43. ^ a b c d e Nyaga, C. 2019. A water infrastructure audit of Kitui County. Sustainable WASH Systems, USAID
  44. ^ a b Koehler, Johanna; Nyaga, Cliff; Hope, Rob; Kiamba, Pauline; Gladstone, Nancy; Thomas, Mike; Mumma, Albert; Trevett, Andrew (2022). "Water policy, politics, and practice: The case of Kitui County, Kenya". Frontiers in Water. 4. doi:10.3389/frwa.2022.1022730. ISSN 2624-9375. Text was copied from this source, which is available under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License
  45. ^ a b Hope, R., Katuva, J., Nyaga, C., Koehler, J., Charles, K., Nowicki, S., Dyer, E., Olago, D., Tanui, F., Trevett, A., Thomas, M., and Gladstone, N. (2021). Delivering safely-managed water to schools in Kenya. REACH Working Paper 8, University of Oxford, UK. ISBN 978-1-874370-82-6
  46. ^ [1][dead link‍]
  47. ^ "Kitui coal mining to displace 30,000 households". Energy Siren. 18 December 2018. Retrieved 19 March 2019.
  48. ^ "Kenya | Data". 11 December 2013. Archived from the original on 11 December 2013. Retrieved 17 October 2024.
  49. ^ "Poverty Rate, by District | Open Kenya | Transparent Africa". 12 December 2013. Archived from the original on 12 December 2013. Retrieved 17 October 2024.
  50. ^ USAID: Kenya County Factsheets
  51. ^ a b c d "Tourism and tourist attractions in Kitui County". kenyacountyguide.com. Archived from the original on 25 January 2016.
  52. ^ "How a rock solved water shortage problem in a Kenyan village". next.blue. 17 September 2020. Retrieved 29 April 2021.
  53. ^ "Nzambani rock offers more than just the intriguing tales about". Daily Nation. Retrieved 9 August 2019.
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