Kitui County is a county in the former Eastern Province of Kenya with its capital and largest town being Kitui, although Mwingi is also another major urban centre. The county has a population of 1,136,187 (2019 census).[1] 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 | |
|---|---|
 Sunset at Tsavo East National Park mostly located in Kitui County | |
 Flag  Coat of arms | |
| Motto(s): Kaunti Yiitu, Rasilimali Situ, Maisha Maseo (Our County, Our Resources, Good Life) | |
 Location in Kenya | |
| Coordinates: 1°29′S 38°23′E / 1.483°S 38.383°E | |
| Country |  Kenya |
| Formed | 27 August 2010 |
| Capital | Kitui |
| Government | |
| • Governor | Julius Malombe |
| • Deputy Governor of Kitui | Kanani Augustine Wambua |
| • Senator | Enoch Kiio Wambua |
| • Woman Representative | Kasalu Irene Muthoni |
| Area | |
| • Total | 30,430 km2 (11,750 sq mi) |
| • Water | 24,194 km2 (9,341 sq mi) |
| Population (2019) | |
| • Total | 1,136,187 |
| • Density | 37/km2 (97/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+3 (EAT) |
| Website | Official website |
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]
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 1,136,187 of which 549,003 are males, 587,151 females and 33 intersex persons. 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.[8]
| 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 |
Source [9]
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]
| Year | Pop. | ±% |
|---|---|---|
| 1979 | 464,283 | — |
| 1989 | 652,603 | +40.6% |
| 1999 | 819,250 | +25.5% |
| 2009 | 1,012,709 | +23.6% |
| 2019 | 1,136,187 | +12.2% |
| source:[10] | ||
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.[11]
Further, the sub-counties are divided into smaller units called wards. There are 40 wards which are further divided into 247 villages.[12]
Administrative Sub-Counties
- Ikutha sub county
- Katulani sub county
- Kisasi sub county
- Kitui central sub county
- Kitui west sub county
- Kyuso sub county
- Lower yatta sub county
- Matinyani sub county
- Migwani sub county
- Mumoni sub county
- Mutitu sub county
- Mutitu north sub county
- Mutomo sub county
- Mwingi central sub county
- Mwingi east sub county
- Nzambani sub county
- Thagicu sub county
- Tseikuru sub county
Source[11]
Electoral Constituencies
- Kitui Central Constituency
- Kitui East Constituency
- Kitui Rural Constituency
- Kitui South Constituency
- Kitui West Constituency
- Mwingi Central Constituency
- Mwingi North Constituency
- Mwingi West Constituency
Source[13]
Political Leadership
Julius Makau Malombe is the governor of the county after being elected in the 2022 general elections.[14] He is deputised by Augustine Kanani Wambua[15] .Eoch Kiio Wambua is the senator who was re-elected in the 2022 general elections after unseating the first senator David Musila.[16][17] Judith Wanza is the women representative and second holder of this office after Irene Muthoni Kasalu.
For Kitui County, the County Executive Committee comprises:-
| Number | |
|---|---|
| The Governor | 1 |
| The Deputy Governor | 1 |
| The County Secretary | 1 |
| The CEC Members | 10 |
| Total | 13 |
kSource[18]
Members of Parliament 2017-2022 (Kitui County)
- Hon. Mulu, Benson Makali[19] of Wiper Democratic Party Kenya Member of Parliament Kitui Central Constituency[20]
- Hon. Mbai, Nimrod Mbithuka[21] of Jubilee Party Member of Parliament Kitui East Constituency[22]
- Hon. Mboni, David Mwalika[23] of chama cha uma party Member of Parliament Kitui Rural Constituency[24]
- Hon. Nyamai, Rachael Kaki[25] of Jubilee Party Member of Parliament Kitui South Constituency[26]
- Hon. Nyenze, Edith[27] of Wiper Democratic Party Kenya Member of Parliament Kitui West Constituency[28]
- Hon. Mulyungi, Gideon Mutemi[29] of Wiper Democratic Party Kenya Member of Parliament Mwingi Central Constituency[30]
- Hon. Nzengu, Paul Musyimi[31] of Wiper Democratic Party of Kenya Member of Parliament Mwingi North Constituency[32]
- Hon. Nguna, Charles Ngusya[33] of Wiper Democratic Party of Kenya Member of Parliament Mwingi West Constituency[34]
Religion
Religion in Kitui County [35]
| Religion (2019 Census) | Number |
|---|---|
| Catholicismy | 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 ReligionAtheists | 23.778 |
| Don't Know | 2,273 |
| Not Stated | 106 |
Education
There are 1826 ECD centres 1099 primary schools and 384 secondary schools. The county has also 5 teachers training colleges, 311 adult training institutions and 1 technical training institutions.[36]
| Category | Public | Private | Total | Enrolment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ECD Centres | 1518 | 308 | 1826 | 90,731 |
| Primary schools | 941 | 158 | 1099 | 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 |
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.[39]
HIV prevalence is at 4.2% below the national 5.9%.[40]
| Government | *FBO | Private | TOTAL | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hospitals | 11 | 2 | 1 | 14 |
| Health centres | 38 | 2 | 40 | |
| Dispensaries | 183 | 10 | 18 | 201 |
| Clinics | 3 | 1 |
Source[36]
Major towns
Major towns in the county include Kitui, Mwingi, Mutomo, Kwa Vonza, Mutitu, Ikutha, Kabati, Migwani, Mutonguni, Mbitini and Kyuso.
Climate
The climate is semi-arid; it receives roughly 71 cm (28 inches). A significant point however is that rainfall occurs practically only during the 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]
Urbanisation
| 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 | |||||||||
Source: OpenDataKenya
Education
There are 1826 ECD centres 1476 primary schools and 384 secondary schools. The county has also 5 teachers training colleges, 311 adult training institutions and 1 technical training institutions.[36]
| 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 |
Source[37]
Kitui School and Muthale Girls are the only national schools in Kitui County. Other major secondary schools are St. Charles Lwanga Secondary School, Kyuso Boys Sec, St. Joseph's Seminary at Mwingi, St, Benedict Ikutha Boys' high school, Kisasi Boys' Secondary School, Matinyani Boys' Secondary, Mutonguni Secondary School, St. Luke's Yatta Boys' Secondary School, Katheka boys high school (St Aquinas) Mutito Boys' Secondary School and Mwingi Boys' Secondary School. Major girls' schools include Mulango Girls' High School, St. Angela's High School, Mbitini Girls' Secondary School, Chuluni Girls' Secondary School, Mutito Girls' Secondary School and Mutomo Girls' Secondary School. Other notable secondary schools are St.Ursula Girls-Tungutu, St. Aquinas Kyangwithya Boys, Nzambani Boys, Maliku Girls, Thitani Girls, Zombe Girls, Migwani Boys, Katheka Boys, Kabaa secondary school and St. Lawrence Kaluva Secondary School
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.[41]
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.[12] University of Nairobi also has a campus in Kitui town. Kenya Medical Training College has campuses in Kitui and Mwingi.[12]
Statistics
| County | Statistics for the County (Per cent) | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Literacy | 74.7 | ||||||||
| Attending School (15-18 Yrs) | 77.8 | ||||||||
| Paved Roads | 2.4 | ||||||||
| Good Roads | 39.9 | ||||||||
| Electricity Access | 4.8 | ||||||||
Statistics for the County | |||||||||
Source: USAid Kenya
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.[36][42]
HIV prevalence is at 4.2% below the national 5.9%.[43]
| Government | *FBO | Private | NGO | TOTAL | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hospitals | 11 | 2 | 1 | 14 | |
| Health centres | 38 | 2 | 40 | ||
| Dispensaries | 183 | 10 | 18 | 201 | |
| Clinics | 3 | 1 |
Source [42]
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]
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.[44]
Minerals
Kitui county has large deposits of coal in Mui Basin,[12] 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.[45]
Mutomo/Ikutha district contains limestone.[12]
Wealth/Poverty Level
| 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 | ||||||||
Poverty level by County | |||||||||
Source: OpenDataKenya Worldbank
Tourism
- Tsavo East National Park[46]
- South Kitui National Reserve[46]
- Mwingi National Reserve[46]
- Ikoo Valley[46]
- Ngomeni Rock Catchment.[47]
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.[48]
Religion and traditional culture
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.
Notable people
- Willy Mutunga, Former Chief Justice of Kenya
- Kalonzo Musyoka, 10th Vice-President of Kenya
- Julius Malombe, The first Governor of Kitui County
- Makau W. Mutua, Former dean of the University of Buffalo Law School
- Charity Ngilu, Former MP Kitui Central (The former Governor of Kitui County)
- David Musila, Former Member of Parliament of Kitui West Constituency
- Nzamba Kitonga, Former president of the East Africa Law Society and COMESA Court of Justice
- Kiema Kilonzo, Kenyan ambassador to Turkey
- Eric Mutua, Former chairman of the Law Society of Kenya and Treasurer of the East Africa Law Society
- Onesmus Kimweli Mutungi, Former Chancellor of Kenyatta University and the first Kenyan to get Doctor of Law degree
- Ngala Mwendwa, Former Minister of Labour in the first Kenyan post-independence cabinet
- Nyiva Mwendwa, The first Kitui County Woman Representative and first Kenyan woman to serve as a cabinet minister
- Kitili Maluki Mwendwa, First black Chief Justice of Kenya
- Benson Masya, Kenyan long distance runner and marathon serial winner and the winner of the inaugural IAAF World Half Marathon Championships in 1992
- Benjamin Nzimbi, Retired Archbishop and Primate of the Anglican Church of Kenya
- Musili Wambua, Associate Dean of the University of Nairobi School of Law and the first Chancellor of University of Embu
- John Nzau Mwangangi, Kenyan long distance runner and the gold medalist at the 2011 African Cross Country Championships
See also
References
External links
