Laikipia County is one of the 47 counties of Kenya, located on the Equator in the former Rift Valley Province of the country. Laikipia is a cosmopolitan county and is county number 31. The county has two major urban centres: Nanyuki to the southeast, and Nyahururu to the southwest. Its capital is Rumuruti.[2] The County lies between latitudes 0° 18” South and 0° 51” North and between longitude 36° 11” and 37° 24’ East. It borders Samburu County to the North, Isiolo County to the North East, Meru County to the East, Nyeri County to the South East, Nyandarua County to the South, Nakuru County to the South West and Baringo County to the West.
Economic activity in the county consists mainly of tourism and agriculture, chiefly grain crops, ranching and greenhouse horticulture.
The county encompasses the high, dry Laikipia Plateau, and has a cool, temperate climate with both rainy and dry seasons. The county borders Nyandarua, Nyeri, Samburu and Baringo counties.
Demographics
Laikipia county has a total population of 518,560 of which 259,440 are males, 259,102 females and 18 intersex persons. There are 149,271 household with an average household size of 3.4 persons per household and a population density 54 people per square kilometre.[5]
Administrative and Political units
Administrative Units
There are five sub counties, fifteen county assembly wards, fifty two locations.[6]
Sub-Counties
- Laikipia Central
- Laikipia East
- Laikipia North
- Laikipia West
- Nyahururu (previously mistaken to Nyandarua county)
Source
Electoral constituencies
Source
Political Leadership
Ndiritu Muriithi governor and replaced the first governor Joshua Irungu,[9][10] He is deputised by John Mwaniki Mathenge. John Kinyua Nderitu is the senator and joined office in 2017 after replacing the first senator Godfrey Gitahi Kariuki.[11][12] Catherine Wanjiku Waruguru is the second women representative to hold office after Jane Machira Appolos who was first elected in 2013.[13][14]
For Laikipia County, the County Executive Committee comprises:-
| Number | |
|---|---|
| The Governor | 1 |
| The Deputy Governor | 1 |
| The County Secretary | 1 |
| The CEC Members | 10 |
| Total | 13 |
Source[15]
Members of Parliament 2017-2022 (Laikipia County)
- Hon. Ali, Amin Deddy Mohamed[16] of Jubilee Party Member of Parliament Laikipia East Constituency[17]
- Hon. Mariru, Patrick Kariuki[18] of Jubilee Party Member of Parliament Laikipia West Constituency[19]
- Hon. Korere, Sarah Paulata[20] of Jubilee Party Member of Parliament Laikipia North Constituency.[21]
Education
There are 600 ECD centres 304 primary schools and 99 secondary schools. The county has also 4 teachers training colleges, 9 Youth Polytechnics, 94 adult training institutions and 2 universities.
Health
There are a total of 100 health facilities in the county with one county referral hospital. County has 883 health personnel of different cadre
The HIV prevalence rate stands at 3.2 per cent.
Transport and Communication
The county is covered by 202.2 km of road network. of this 77.0 km is covered by earth surface, 105.5 km is murram surface and 19.7 km is covered by bitumen.
There are 19 Post Offices with 2,299 installed letter boxes, 2,079 rented letter boxes and 220 vacant letter boxes.[7]
Administrative divisions
| Urban Areas | ||
| Authority | Type | Population* |
|---|---|---|
| Nanyuki | Municipality | 56,421 |
| Nyahururu | Municipality | 58,943 |
| Rumuruti | Town | 37,810 |
| Kinamba | County | 2,658 |
| Total | – | 155,832 |
| * Laikipia CIDP 2015 projections. Source: |
| Administrative divisions | |||
| Division | Population* | Urban pop.* | Headquarters |
|---|---|---|---|
| Central | 77,478 | 28,489 | Nanyuki |
| Lamuria | 38,517 | 0 | Lamuria |
| Mukogondo | 13,176 | 624 | Dol Dol |
| Ngarua | 65,545 | 2,813 | Kinamba |
| Nyahururu | 37,412 | 22,459 | Nyahururu |
| Olmoran | 11,069 | 0 | |
| Rumuruti | 78,894 | 4,061 | Rumuruti |
| Total | 322,187 | 58,466 | – |
| * 1999 census. Sources: |
The county has three constituencies:
Population
| Year | Pop. | ±% |
|---|---|---|
| 1979 | 134,524 | — |
| 1989 | 218,957 | +62.8% |
| 1999 | 322,187 | +47.1% |
| 2009 | 399,227 | +23.9% |
| 2019 | 518,560 | +29.9% |
| source:[28] |
