Turkana County

Turkana County is a county in the former Rift Valley Province of Kenya. Turkana is the second largest (after Marsabit County)and also the north-western most county in Kenya. It is bordered by the countries of Uganda to the west; South Sudan and Ethiopia, including the disputed Ilemi Triangle, to the north and northeast; and Lake Turkana to the east. To the south and east, neighbouring counties in Kenya are West Pokot, Baringo and Samburu Counties, while Marsabit County is located on the opposite (i.e. eastern) shore of Lake Turkana.

Four sites of Stone Age cultures are situated upon tributaries along the west side of Lake Turkana in West Turkana; at Lokalalei, Kokiselei and Nadung, and became of interest to archaeology beginning sometime during 1988.[2][3][4]

The earliest late Stone age industries in prehistory were found in Turkana, at the site of Lomekwi, and date to 3,300,000 years.[5][6] At the archaeological site of Nataruk, in Southwest Turkana, scientists have discovered the oldest evidence of inter-group conflict in the past, establishing that warfare occur between groups of hunter-gatherers.[7]

Direct influence by colonial forces, in the form of pacification within the district began in 1900 and ended in 1918.[8]

During 1926, the entire Turkana people were subjugated to a body of the British military who subsequently restricted their movements to an area of Kenya, forcing these to settle in the area known now as the Turkana County.[9][10]

During 1958, the district experienced an influx of a number of people classified as belonging to the Turkana people expelled from the Kenyan settlement Isiolo town to be forcibly relocated to the Turkana district by persons of the then British colonial administration.[11]

The district maintained an all but complete isolation from influences of any other countries peoples until the time during 1976 when road-blocks on entering the district were ceased.[12]

The people of the north of the county were reported (2000) endangered by marauding Ethiopians and consequently forced to settle in southerly locations.[13]

Language[edit]

The land is known in the local language as Aturksven.[14]

Some place names in the country are attributed to the language of the Pokot and Samburu peoples, representing a tradition in the area of inhabitation by these peoples prior to displacement by the Turkana.[15]

With an area of nearly 77,000 km2, Turkana is the largest county in Kenya. Its capital and largest town is Lodwar. The county has a population of 855,399[1] (2009 census).

Turkana County is emerging to be a major source of electric power in Kenya. Kengen’s Turkwel Hydro Power Plant, situated on the southwest of Turkana County, produces hydroelectric power which is connected to the national power grid at Lessos. The county is current subject of crude oil exploration in Block 10BB and Block 13T and has potential for geothermal, solar and wind energy.

On 26 March 2012, Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki announced that oil had been discovered in Turkana County after exploratory drilling by Anglo-Irish firm Tullow Oil, and he further stated that

Uhuru Kenya had a spat with the governor

average estimated herd size of 15-20.[26]

In 2013 it was announced by UNESCO[27] that large reserves of groundwater had been discovered in Turkana County. The water was discovered using satellite exploration technology then confirmed by drilling.[28] The extraction of the water began in 2014 and it is being piped to provide water to Lodwar town for irrigation and water for the people.[29]

Government [Turkana County Government Website: http://www.turkana.go.ke/]

Lodwar Hq

Kaaling

Kainuk

Kakuma

Kalokol

Katilu

Kerio

Kibish

Lapur

Lokichar

Lokichogio

Lokitaung

Loima

Lokori

Lomelo

Oropol

Turkwel

Turkana North Constituency

Turkana Central Constituency

Turkana South Constituency

Turkana West Constituency

Turkana East Constituency

Loima Constituency

The counties have six sub counties

sub-county headquarters

Turkana Central Lodwar

Turkana North Lokitaung

Turkana South Lokichar

Turkana East Lokori

Turkana West Kakuma

Loima Lorugum