Nakuru District
Encyclopedia
Nakuru District is a district
in the Rift Valley Province, Kenya
. The district capital is Nakuru
. With a population of 1,187,039 (1999 census), it is the second largest district in Kenya after Nairobi
. Nakuru District has an area of 7,242 km².
Nakuru is an agriculturally oriented area and is home to Lake Nakuru
(est. 1961), one of the Rift Valley soda lakes. Lake Nakuru is best known for its thousands, sometimes millions of flamingoes nesting along the shores. The surface of the shallow lake is often hardly recognizable due to the continually shifting mass of pink. The number of flamingoes on the lake varies with water and food conditions and the best vantage point is from Baboon cliff. Also of interest, an area of 188 km around the lake fenced off as a sanctuary to protect Rothschild giraffe and black rhinos.
Other sites of interest around Nakuru include Menengai
Crater, an extinct volcano 2,490m (8,167 ft) high. The views of the crater itself, as well as the surrounding countryside, are spectacular.
Hyrax Hill
Prehistoric Site, discovered by the Leakeys in 1926, is considered a major Neolithic
and Iron Age
site. The adjoining museum features finds from various nearby excavations.
The second largest surviving volcanic crater in the world, the Menengai Crater is 2,242 meters above sea level at its highest point. The crater plunges 483 m down from the rim and the summit is accessible by foot or vehicle 8 km from the main road. The mountain is also surrounded by a nature reserve.
Surrounding towns include Lanet, which lies approximately 10 km from Nakuru is predominantly a residential town and is home to an army base. Njoro
lies 20 km from Nakuru and is a small agricultural town with a local university aimed at promoting agricultural development in Kenya
, namely Egerton university
(est. 1934).
The district has six constituencies:
Districts of Kenya
The provinces of Kenya are subdivided into number of districts .- List of districts of Kenya :Following a High Court ruling in September 2009, there are 46 legal districts in Kenya :Coast Province:...
in the Rift Valley Province, Kenya
Rift Valley Province, Kenya
Rift Valley Province of Kenya, bordering Uganda, is one of Kenya's seven administrative provinces outside Nairobi.Rift Valley Province is the largest and one of the most economically important provinces in Kenya. It is dominated by the Great Rift Valley which passes through it and gives the...
. The district capital is Nakuru
Nakuru
Nakuru, the provincial capital of Kenya's Rift Valley province, with roughly 300,000 inhabitants, and currently the fourth largest urban centre in the country, lies about 1850 m above sea level...
. With a population of 1,187,039 (1999 census), it is the second largest district in Kenya after Nairobi
Nairobi
Nairobi is the capital and largest city of Kenya. The city and its surrounding area also forms the Nairobi County. The name "Nairobi" comes from the Maasai phrase Enkare Nyirobi, which translates to "the place of cool waters". However, it is popularly known as the "Green City in the Sun" and is...
. Nakuru District has an area of 7,242 km².
Nakuru is an agriculturally oriented area and is home to Lake Nakuru
Lake Nakuru
Lake Nakuru is one of the Rift Valley soda lakes at an elevation of 1754 m above sea level. It lies to the south of Nakuru, in the rift valley of Kenya and is protected by Lake Nakuru National Park....
(est. 1961), one of the Rift Valley soda lakes. Lake Nakuru is best known for its thousands, sometimes millions of flamingoes nesting along the shores. The surface of the shallow lake is often hardly recognizable due to the continually shifting mass of pink. The number of flamingoes on the lake varies with water and food conditions and the best vantage point is from Baboon cliff. Also of interest, an area of 188 km around the lake fenced off as a sanctuary to protect Rothschild giraffe and black rhinos.
Other sites of interest around Nakuru include Menengai
Menengai
Menengai Crater is a massive shield volcano inside one of the biggest calderas in the world, located in the Great Rift Valley, Kenya. Farmland occupies its flanks.Menengai is located north of Nakuru, the third-biggest city in Kenya....
Crater, an extinct volcano 2,490m (8,167 ft) high. The views of the crater itself, as well as the surrounding countryside, are spectacular.
Hyrax Hill
Hyrax Hill
Hyrax Hill is a prehistoric site near Nakuru in the Rift Valley province of Kenya. It is considered one of the country's most important neolithic excavation sites. Hyrax Hill dates from 1500 B.C. and was discovered by Louis and Mary Leakey in 1926....
Prehistoric Site, discovered by the Leakeys in 1926, is considered a major Neolithic
Neolithic
The Neolithic Age, Era, or Period, or New Stone Age, was a period in the development of human technology, beginning about 9500 BC in some parts of the Middle East, and later in other parts of the world. It is traditionally considered as the last part of the Stone Age...
and Iron Age
Iron Age
The Iron Age is the archaeological period generally occurring after the Bronze Age, marked by the prevalent use of iron. The early period of the age is characterized by the widespread use of iron or steel. The adoption of such material coincided with other changes in society, including differing...
site. The adjoining museum features finds from various nearby excavations.
The second largest surviving volcanic crater in the world, the Menengai Crater is 2,242 meters above sea level at its highest point. The crater plunges 483 m down from the rim and the summit is accessible by foot or vehicle 8 km from the main road. The mountain is also surrounded by a nature reserve.
Surrounding towns include Lanet, which lies approximately 10 km from Nakuru is predominantly a residential town and is home to an army base. Njoro
Njoro
Njoro is an agricultural town 18 km west south west of Nakuru, Kenya. Njoro is the divisional headquarters of Njoro Division of Nakuru District. It houses the divisional headquarters of the provincial administration and the police.- Brief history :...
lies 20 km from Nakuru and is a small agricultural town with a local university aimed at promoting agricultural development in Kenya
Kenya
Kenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east...
, namely Egerton university
Egerton University
Egerton University is a public university; the main campus is in Njoro, near the city of Nakuru, Kenya. The chancellor is Ambassador Bethuel K Kiplagat and the vice chancellor is Professor J. K. Tuitoek.-History:...
(est. 1934).
District subdivisions
| Local authorities (councils) | |||
| Authority | Type | Population* | Urban pop.* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nakuru Nakuru Nakuru, the provincial capital of Kenya's Rift Valley province, with roughly 300,000 inhabitants, and currently the fourth largest urban centre in the country, lies about 1850 m above sea level... |
Municipality | 230,515 | 219,366 |
| Naivasha Naivasha Naivasha is a market town in Rift Valley Province, Kenya, lying north west of Nairobi. It is located on the shore of Lake Naivasha and along the Nairobi - Nakuru highway and Uganda Railway.Naivasha is part of the Nakuru District... |
Municipality | 115,670 | 32,222 |
| Molo Molo, Kenya Molo is a town in western Kenya. It is served by a branch of Kenya Railways, formerly the Uganda Railway, East African Railways Corporation until 1977. Molo hosts a town council and an administrative division in the Nakuru District of Rift Valley Province... |
Town | 89,594 | 20,944 |
| Nakuru County Nakuru County Council Nakuru County Council is one of the largest counties in the Republic of Kenya, East Africa. It is home to a population of around 1,6 million, living on some 5,000 square kilometers in the central part of the country. The Nakuru area has a rich and fascinating history, with human settlements dating... |
County | 751,260 | 80,475 |
| Total | - | 1 ,187,039 | 353,007 |
| Administrative divisions | |||
| Division | Population* | Urban pop.* | Headquarters |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bahati | 143,714 | 6,018 | Dundori Dundori Dundori is a settlement in Kenya's Central Province.... |
| Elburgon | 65,314 | 23,881 | Elburgon Elburgon Elburgon is a small town in Nakuru District, Rift Valley Province, Kenya. It is located 30 kilometres west of the capital city of Nakuru, the provincial capital. Nearest towns include Molo, Njoro and Rongai . Elevation 2423m.... |
| Gilgil | 91,929 | 18,805 | Gilgil Gilgil Gilgil, Kenya is a town in the Rift Valley Province of Kenya. The town is located between Naivasha and Nakuru and along the Nairobi - Nakuru highway. Gilgil has a population of 18,805 . Gilgil is also the centre of the Gilgil division in Nakuru District.- History :During the 1920s - 1940s, some... |
| Kamara | 42,281 | 1,452 | Mau Summit |
| Keringet | 59,863 | 953 | Keringet Keringet Keringet is a settlement in Kenya's Rift Valley Province.... |
| Kuresoi | 40,924 | 0 | |
| Lare | 27,727 | 0 | |
| Mauche | 15,391 | 0 | |
| Mau Narok | 29,916 | 3,321 | Mau Narok Mau Narok Mau Narok is a settlement in Kenya's Rift Valley Province.... |
| Mbogoini | 59,510 | 228 | Subukia |
| Molo | 31,935 | 17,188 | Molo Molo, Kenya Molo is a town in western Kenya. It is served by a branch of Kenya Railways, formerly the Uganda Railway, East African Railways Corporation until 1977. Molo hosts a town council and an administrative division in the Nakuru District of Rift Valley Province... |
| Naivasha | 158,679 | 36,023 | Naivasha Naivasha Naivasha is a market town in Rift Valley Province, Kenya, lying north west of Nairobi. It is located on the shore of Lake Naivasha and along the Nairobi - Nakuru highway and Uganda Railway.Naivasha is part of the Nakuru District... |
| Nakuru Municipal | 231,262 | 212,162 | Nakuru Nakuru Nakuru, the provincial capital of Kenya's Rift Valley province, with roughly 300,000 inhabitants, and currently the fourth largest urban centre in the country, lies about 1850 m above sea level... |
| Njoro | 79,123 | 15,635 | Njoro Njoro Njoro is an agricultural town 18 km west south west of Nakuru, Kenya. Njoro is the divisional headquarters of Njoro Division of Nakuru District. It houses the divisional headquarters of the provincial administration and the police.- Brief history :... |
| Olenguruone | 32,030 | 509 | Olenguruone |
| Rongai | 77,441 | 2,163 | Rongai Rongai Rongai is a town in Nakuru District, Rift Valley Province, Kenya. It lies 30 km west of Nakuru, along the A104 Road and the railway line between Nakuru and Uganda. It is about 10 kilometres north of Elburgon and 15 kilometres east of Molo . The town lies 1912 m above sea level and has a... |
| Total | 1,187,039 | 338,338 | - |
The district has six constituencies:
- Naivasha ConstituencyNaivasha ConstituencyNaivasha Constituency is an electoral constituency in Kenya. It is one of six constituencies in Nakuru District. The constituency was established for the 1997 elections.- Members of Parliament :- Locations and wards :- External links :*...
- Nakuru Town ConstituencyNakuru Town ConstituencyNakuru Town Constituency is an electoral constituency in Kenya. It is one of six constituencies in Nakuru District. The constituency was established for the 1963 elections. The entire constituency is located within Nakuru municipality....
- Kuresoi ConstituencyKuresoi ConstituencyKuresoi Constituency is an electoral constituency in Kenya. It is one of six constituencies in Nakuru District. The constituency was established for the 1997 elections....
- Molo ConstituencyMolo ConstituencyMolo Constituency is an electoral constituency in Kenya. It is one of six constituencies in Nakuru District. The constituency was established for the 1988 elections.- Members of Parliament :- Locations and wards :- External links :*...
- Rongai ConstituencyRongai ConstituencyRongai Constituency is an electoral constituency in Kenya. It is one of six constituencies in Nakuru District. The constituency has eight wards, all electing councillors for the Nakuru County Council...
- Subukia ConstituencySubukia ConstituencySubukia Constituency is an electoral constituency in Kenya. It is one of six constituencies in Nakuru District. The constituency has five wards, all of which elect councillors for the Nakuru County Council. The constituency was formerly known as Nakuru North Constituency...