The Teariffic Countryside
Geography of Kericho County
Kericho County is characterized by an undulating topography and the overall slopes of the land is towards the west, consequently draining in that direction. Kericho County also forms a hilly shelf between the Mau Escarpment and the lowlands of Kisumu County. Surrounding Kericho are, Tinderet Complex to the north, and to the north east is the Mau Escarpment. Between them, is the gently rolling land which forms Londiani Hills. To the northwest are the hilly areas of Kipkelion, rolling down towards Koru. The central part of Kericho County rises eastward toward the 3,000 ms high Mau Forest Reserve. Kericho Plateau forms the central part of the County, sloping gently from 2,500 ms to about 1,800 ms.
Land Use in Kericho County
Land resources in most parts of Kericho County are utilized for farming, which comprises both food and cash crop farming and livestock rearing. Large tracks of land are mainly held by multinational companies, notably of tea and flower farms, which are mainly concentrated within Belgut, Kipkelion East areas and in Kericho East sub-county. A sizeable percentage of the land is held by private individuals, who use it mainly for the production of small scale cash crops and food crops. About 80% of the land in Kericho County is arable and under farms.
Highlights in Kericho County
While Kericho County does not have either a national park or a reserve, it is endowed with diverse tourist attraction sites such as Tulwap Kipsigis Hill – a cultural attraction site which has strong attachment to the Kipsigis Community. There are also caves, places of worship, tea plantations and indigenous forests. Other points of interest in Kericho include native culture, churches, and hotels.
Population in Kericho County
Bureti Sub-county is the most densely populated, with 563 people / km2 (in 2012), while Kipkelion East constituency has the least population density of 163 people / km2. Due to favourable climatic condition, Kericho County has a high population density, especially in the areas where rainfall is evenly distributed, with fertile soils leading to developed social amenities. According to the 2009 population and housing census, Kericho Town was the most populous urban centre, with an estimated population of 42,039. Kericho County’s population was 758,339 in 2009, with a projected annual population growth of about 2.5%.
Airports in Kericho County
Kericho County has one non-functional airstrip located at Kerenga.
Roads in Kericho County
Kericho County has a road network of 285.9 kms bitumen surface, 592.5 kms of gravel road and 1007.6 kms earth surface. The Mau-Summit-Kericho-Kisumu Road is the chief line of communication, traveling along the southern area mid way through from the east, to Kericho, then trending northeasterly to Kisumu.
Climate in Kericho County
Kericho County receives relief rainfall, with average temperatures of 17 C and low evaporation rates. The temperature ranges between 29 C and 10 C. The central part of the county, where tea is grown, receives the highest rainfall of about 2125 mm, while the lower parts of Soin, and parts of Kipkelion, receive the least amount of rainfall of 1400 mm. It has year round favourable weather.
National Monuments in Kericho County
- Fort Tenan Pre-historic Site
- Kericho Wagon Works
Located in southwestern part of Kenya within the former Rift Valley Province, Kericho County, a healthful highland, has innumerable picture-postcard tea-farm vistas. Kericho County is famous for its vast tea plantations. It is all around a tea-riffic countryside clutching traditions and culture with one hand and a forward-looking yen on the other. It is home to large forests, historic sites and resorts, too.
You Are Here: Kericho County
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Explore Destinations in Kericho County
A Guide to Kericho County
A Summa Digest of Kericho
About Kericho Way Back When
35 Destinations in Kericho County, arranged as one would visit these - east, north, south then west - with aid of narratives, images, strip maps and distance chart:
Mau Forest Reserve, Chereres Waterfalls, A.I.C Kericho, Chesumot Estate, Chagaik Arboretum, Chesumot Dam, Kimugu River Lodge, James Finlays Tea Factory, Dimbolil Dam, The Sacred Heart Cathedral, A.C.K Kericho, Kericho Golf Club, Gurdwara Sahib, Kericho Wagon Works, Kericho Tea Hotel, Chebown Sanctuary, Chelimo Arboretum, Tagabi Monkey Sanctuary, Changoi Tea Estate, Chebulu Conservancy, The Kiptui Falls, Kapkatet Kipsigis Cultural Museum, The Tulwap-Kipsigis Hill, Londiani-Koru-Awasi Route, Londiani Dam, Masaita Forest Station, KFC Hospitality Centre, Londiani Falls, Kimasian Railway Bridge, Kiminket Garden, Kipkelion Monastery, The Van Wicker's Cave, Fort Tenan Pre-Historic Site, Tinderet Mountain, Ole Soi Resort, Bagao Caves
Know More About Kericho County: Its Geography, Land-Use, Highlights, Population, Roads - including a distance chart, Airports, Climate & National Monuments
What’s The Air Like In Kericho?
The annual mean temperature ranges between 29oC and 10oC. The central part of the county, where tea is grown, receives the highest rainfall.
What’s The Lay Of The Land In C.35?
Kericho has an undulating topography, with the overall slope of the land being to the west – forming a hilly shelf between the Mau Hills and the lowlands of Kisumu.
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