Kabarnet Museum

Regional Museums in Baringo

Kabarnet Regional Museum

Museums often play an essential role in preserving and showcasing the cultural, historical, and natural heritage of a region, so exploring local museums can be a valuable experience for those interested in learning more about a community’s history and traditions. The overarching goal is to educate and inspire visitors by providing access to knowledge, cultural heritage, and links to various subjects.

Established in 1996, the Kabarnet Museum was principally instituted to exhibit Kenya’s hard-and-fast cultural mix, especially on the communities of the Keiyo, Marakwet, Kipsigis, Samburu, Tugen, Pokot and Nandi who are indigenous to Baringo. It also exhibits, in nostalgic pictographs, the detailed chapters of the pre-colonial, colonial, and post-independence history of Baringo County.

Just outside the central museum is the snake house, originally founded by Jonathan Leakey, which houses a generation of transfixing snakes and reptiles extant in the region. One of the foundational functions of the snake house is to harvest venom used to produce antibodies that counteract the fatal effects of the toxins dispensed by the spine-tingling collection of death-dealing reptiles. 

Jonathan Leakey, over many years, trained snake handlers – including those at the National Museum of Nairobi – to work with pits of venomous snakes. He now operates a Nakuru-based company (Jonathan Leakey Ltd) which supplies East African snake venom and medicinal plants for antivenom manufacturers.

Located within Kabarnet town, near Baringo County Assembly, Kabarnet Museum contribute significantly to the cultural enrichment of the local tribes and offer valuable resources for learning. Its convenient location at the nexus of Baringo’s touring circuit warrants a visit by one and all visiting the region.


The regional museums in Kenya offer a fascinating journey through the country’s history and heritage. They look back at ancient civilizations, cultures as they were centuries ago, cottage industries, colonial legacies, and archaeological finding – in specialization or as a combination – to give insights on the past and present.


Touring Baringo County offers a unique blend of cultural experiences, natural wonders, and outdoor adventures. Many of its hidden gems, along Kenya’s Rift Valley, create unforgettable memories. Baringo County’s vast ecological gamut is a road-trip lover’s playground, birder’s haven and photographer’s paradise.

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Temperatures vary from region to region in, ranging from 22 to 35 degrees C. Due to its varied altitudes, the sub-counties in Baringo County receive different levels of rainfall.

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