Baringo County

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Baringo County
County
Sunset over Lake Baringo, Baringo County, Kenya
Location of Baringo County (Green)
Country  Kenya
Formed March 4th 2013
Capital Kabarnet
Government
 • Governor Cheboi Chesire
Area
 • Total 11,075.3 km2 (4,276.2 sq mi)
Population (2009)
 • Total 555,561[1]
Time zone EAT (UTC+3)

Baringo County is a county in midwestern Kenya. Its capital and largest town is Kabarnet. The county has a population of 555,561[1] (2009 census) and an area of 11,075.3 km2 (4,276.2 sq mi).

History

The county is named after local Lake Baringo.

A game reserve was established in 1900.[2]

The British government was present within the countries boundaries as a colonial administration beginning during 1902.[3]

Archaeological studies

Results of excavations at Ngenyn were reported in 1983.[4]

Kipsaraman sites contained fossil finds are dated to be within 15.8 and 15.5 Ma, and is one of only a few from the middle Miocene within the entirety of Africa.[5][6][7] During 2000 the Kenyan Palaeontology Expedition announced the discovery of the remains of what was at the time considered likely a new hominid species, and was stated as the oldest hominid remains found, dated from the surrounding rock as six million years old.[8][9] The find was named Orrorin tugenensis (Senut et al 2001).[10] Later finds were made in the village of Rondinin in the Tugen Hills.[11] Archaeological remains were recovered from Kipsaramon within the Tugen Hills during 2002.[12]

Chimpanzee fossils reported as the earliest found were reported found in the Kapthurin formation in 2005.[13]

Government

Daniel arap Moi was born in Baringo County during 1924[14] and the former Kenya president lives in Baringo County.

According to Bollig as a result of British colonising peaceful relations between tribes were improved.[3]

At a time nearing the independence of Kenya from colonial governance, the county became part of an amalgamated council including the Nakuru and Naivasha county councils.[15] Baringo County Governor is Benjamin Cheboi, and the Senator is Gideon Moi, from the 2013 March 4th elections.

Services/Urbanisation

Stats for Baringo County
County
Stats for the County (Percent)
Urbanisation
11
Literacy
67.3
Attending School (15-18 Yrs)
87.4
Paved Roads
15.7
Good Roads
54.6
Electricity Access
9.6
Poverty Rate
57.4

Stats for the County

Source: USAid Kenya

Language

The principal spoken language is Kalenjin.[16] The main groups of Kalenjin peoples are the Tugen, Nandi, Terik, Elgeyo, Elkony, Sabaot, Marakwet and the Kipsigis.[17]

The primary residents are the Tugen. The Tugen is further divided into three; the Samor, the Arror and the Lembus. Pottery from the county found through archaeology is recognized as having a distinct style,[18] an occurrence understood as necessitated to strengthen tribal differentiation.[19]

Athletics

Some of Kenya's famous runners come from the county, most notably Paul Tergat. Tergat started the Baringo Half Marathon in the area in 2004,[20] and it has been sponsored by Safaricom and featured athletes such as World Championship medallist Mubarak Hassan Shami.[21]

The Kituro athletics camp is located near to Kabarnet in the county.[22]

Economics

The county is estimated[23] to have had during

  • 1915 ; 178'814 cattle, 307'708 sheep
  • 1928 ; 190'968 cattle, 591'235 sheep, 736 camel, 6'673 donkeys
  • 1932 ; 333'584 cattle, 842'345 sheep,1'480 camel, 6'675 donkeys.

The Il Chamus farming area was changed from an efficient and productive grain-producing economy to being reliant on importing by competition from European settlers and other tribes.[24]

The prevalence of cattle raiding amongst the youth and (or) also classified as warrior groups was reported as greater due to the availability of a market for their purchase, and by the encouragement of some authorities (according an unnamed observer) to obtain the cattle specifically for profit and especially for the benefit of so-called cattle warlords.[3][25]

During the two decades beginning 1902 the British colonial administration collected taxes from the Pokot people. Also as a result of colonial influences trade in the county was improved.[3]

Geography

It is an area of geothermal activity.

Malaria and kala-azar is present within the county.[26][27]

Farming

European farmers at sometime during the 20th century occupy farming land in Nakuru previously used by Tugen and Il Chamus herders.[24][28]

The Baringo lowlands were reported during 1992 as an area of land unavailable to farming due to an environmental situation (reported 1992). There are only a few places to obtain water in south Baringo.[24]

During 1921 almost the entire county's land for arable farming was taken by millet and sorgham. This situation changed until 1945 by the replacement of millet by maize as a crop in certain areas caused by promotion of the crop by the then government.[24]

Structure

The county has five constituencies: Baringo Central, Baringo East, Baringo North, Eldama Ravine and Mogotio

Local authorities (councils)
Authority Type Population* Urban pop.*
Kabarnet Municipality 24,661 9,583
Baringo County 240,317 6,430
Total - 264,978 16,013
1999 census.[29]
Administrative divisions
Division Population* Urban pop.* Headquarters
Bartabwa 10,815 0 Bartabwa
Barwesa 9,568 0
Kabarnet 43,283 8,891 Kabarnet
Kabartonjo 33,470 748 Kabartonjo
Kipsaraman 18,427 0
Kollowa 14,990 0 Kollowa
Marigat 26,923 4,428 Marigat
Mochongoi 11,091 0
Mukutani 7,520 0 Mukutani
Nginyang 29,164 0 Nginyang
Sacho 11,856 0 Sacho
Salawa 8,258 0
Tangulbei 19,505 29 Tangulbei
Tenges 10,302 0 Tenges
Total 264,978 14,096 -
1999 census.[30][31]

See also

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 http://www.scribd.com/doc/36672705/Kenya-Census-2009
  2. ↑ EI Steinhart - Black Poachers, White Hunters: A Social History of Hunting in Colonial Kenya James Currey Publishers, 2006 Retrieved 2009-07-08 ISBN 0852559607
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 M Bollig - Risk Management in a Hazardous Environment: A Comparative Study of Two Pastoral Societies (Volume 2 of Studies in Human Ecology And Adaptation) Birkhäuser, 2006 Retrieved 2009-07-08 ISBN 0387275819
  4. ↑ Hivernel, F. (1983). "Excavations at Ngenyn (Baringo District, Kenya)". Azania: Archaeological Research in Africa 18: 45. doi:10.1080/00672708309511314. 
  5. ↑ Behrensmeyer, Anna K.; Deino, Alan L.; Hill, Andrew; Kingston, John D.; Saunders, Jeffrey J. (2002). "Geology and geochronology of the middle Miocene Kipsaramon site complex, Muruyur Beds, Tugen Hills, Kenya". Journal of Human Evolution 42 (1–2): 11–38. doi:10.1006/jhev.2001.0519. PMID 11795966. 
  6. ↑ Winkler, Alisa J. (1992). "Systematics and Biogeography of Middle Miocene Rodents from the Muruyur Beds, Baringo District, Kenya". Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 12 (2): 236–49. doi:10.1080/02724634.1992.10011453. JSTOR 4523444. 
  7. ↑ B Wood - Wiley-Blackwell Encyclopedia of Human Evolution John Wiley & Sons, 21 Mar 2011 Retrieved 2009-07-08 ISBN 1444342460
  8. ↑ A Wright, G Gynn - Left in the Dark Lulu.com, 30 Mar 2008 Retrieved 2009-07-08 ISBN 0955678404
  9. ↑ BBC-4 December, 2000 Retrieved 2009-07-08 sourced originally in abc news report
  10. ↑ Wood, Bernard; Lonergan, Nicholas (2008). "The hominin fossil record: Taxa, grades and clades". Journal of Anatomy 212 (4): 354–76. doi:10.1111/j.1469-7580.2008.00871.x. PMC 2409102. PMID 18380861. 
  11. ↑ D Hussain - MIT 2001 Retrieved 2009-07-08
  12. ↑ Kelley, Jay; Ward, Steve; Brown, Barbara; Hill, Andrew; Duren, Dana L. (2002). "Dental remains of Equatorius africanus from Kipsaraman, Tugen Hills, Baringo District, Kenya". Journal of Human Evolution 42 (1–2): 39–62. doi:10.1006/jhev.2001.0504. PMID 11795967. 
  13. ↑ McBrearty, Sally; Jablonski, Nina G. (2005). "First fossil chimpanzee". Nature 437 (7055): 105–8. doi:10.1038/nature04008. PMID 16136135. 
  14. ↑ TO Ranger - Evangelical Christianity And Democracy in Africa Oxford University Press, 22 Apr 2008 Retrieved 2012-07-08 ISBN 0195308026
  15. ↑ B. E. Kipkorir, F Burkewood Welbourn - The Marakwet of Kenya: A Preliminary Study, Page 4 East African Publishers, 29 Dec 2008 Retrieved 2009-07-08 ISBN 996625532X
  16. ↑ MR Lipschutz, R Kent Rasmussen - Dictionary of African Historical Biography University of California Press, 15 Jun 1989 Retrieved 2012-07-08 ISBN 0520066111
  17. ↑ R Trillo, M (CON) Brown, A (CON) Trillo - The Rough Guide to Kenya Dorling Kindersley Ltd, 3 May 2010 Retrieved 2012-07-08 ISBN 1848361378
  18. ↑ C Ehret, M Posnansky - The Archaeological and Linguistic Reconstruction of African History University of California Press, 1982 Retrieved 2009-07-08 ISBN 0520045939
  19. ↑ F Curta - The Making of the Slavs: History and Archaeology of the Lower Danube Region, C. 500-700, Volume 20001 Cambridge University Press, 12 Jul 2001 Retrieved 2009-07-08 ISBN 0521802024
  20. ↑ Kenyan New Year road races provide few surprises. IAAF (2004-01-05). Retrieved on 2009-12-23.
  21. ↑ Macharia, David (2009-12-20). Teenager Ndiema surprises with Baringo Half Marathon victory. IAAF. Retrieved 2009-12-22
  22. ↑ kongasiscamp.org Retrieved 2012-07-09
  23. ↑ W R Ochieng, R M Maxon - An Economic History of Kenya East African Publishers, 1992 Retrieved 2012-07-08 ISBN 996646963X
  24. ↑ 24.0 24.1 24.2 24.3 PD Little - The Elusive Granary: Herder, Farmer, and State in Northern Kenya Cambridge University Press, 28 Feb 1992 Retrieved 2012-07-08 ISBN 0521405521
  25. ↑ D Eaton (A Burton, H Charton-Bigot eds.) - Generations Past: Youth in East African History Ohio University Press, 19 Oct 2010 Retrieved 2012-07-08 ISBN 0821419242
  26. ↑ Munguti, KJ (1998). "Community perceptions and treatment seeking for malaria in Baringo district, Kenya: Implications for disease control". East African medical journal 75 (12): 687–91. PMID 10065206. 
  27. ↑ Jahn, A; Lelmett, JM; Diesfeld, HJ (1986). "Seroepidemiological study on kala-azar in Baringo District, Kenya". The Journal of tropical medicine and hygiene 89 (2): 91–104. PMID 3021967. 
  28. ↑ D Hamilton Johnson, DM Anderson - The Ecology of Survival: Case Studies from Northeast African History I.B.Tauris, 1988 Retrieved 2012-07-08 ISBN 1870915003
  29. ↑ http://treasury.go.ke/cbs.go.ke/pdf/authority.pdf[]
  30. ↑ http://www.cck.go.ke/html/final_annex1_cover_status.pdf[]
  31. ↑ http://www.ilri.cgiar.org/html/Urban%20Poverty%20all%20Kenya%20Province%20through%20Location%20Final.xls[]

External links

Kenya First- and second-level administrative divisions of Kenya
47 Counties
(since March 2013)
Principal cities
and towns

Coordinates: 0°40′N 36°00′E / 0.667°N 36.000°E / 0.667; 36.000

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