Marsabit County is a county in Kenya, covering a surface area of 66,923.1 square kilometres. Marsabit is the second largest county by size in Kenya after Turkana county which has an area of 71,597.8 km2. Its capital is Marsabit and its largest town is Moyale. According to the 2019 census, the county had a population of 459,785. It is bordered to the North by Ethiopia, to the West by Turkana County to the South by Samburu County and Isiolo County, and to the East by Wajir County.

Geography

The county is located in central north Kenya and borders the eastern shore of Lake Turkana. Important topographical features are: Ol Donyo Ranges 2,066 m in the southwest, Mount Marsabit 1,865 m in the central part of the county, Hurri Hills 1,685 m in the northeastern part of the county, Mount Kulal 2,235 m in the northwest and the mountains around Sololo-Moyale escarpment up to 1,400 m in the northeast. The Chalbi Desert makes up much of the center region of the county.

Physical and tropical features

The county is made of an extensive plain lying 300 and 900 m above sea level which gently slopes towards the south-east. Some of the prominent features include Ol Donyo 2,066 m above sea level, Mt. Marsabit 1,865 m above sea level, Hurri Hills 1,685 m above sea level, Mt. Kulal 2,235 m above sea level, and the Sololo-Moyale escarpment up to 1,400 m above sea level.

Climatic conditions

The county experiences semi-arid climatic conditions with an average temperature ranging between 15 °C and 26 °C. The rainfall ranges between 200 and 1,000 mm per annum. The Long rains season starts in April through May while the short rains occur from November to December.

Demographics

The county has a total population of 459,785, of which 243,548 are males, 216,219 females and 18 intersex persons. There are 77,495 households, with an average household size of 5.8 persons per household and a population density of 6 people per square kilometre. Population

Religion

Administrative and political units

Administrative units

There are 4 sub counties, 16 divisions, 63 locations and 127 sub-locations.

Sub-counties

Electoral constituencies

There 4 constituencies and 20 county assembly wards.

Political leadership

Mohamed Mohamud Ali is the Governor and was elected in 2017 and his deputy is Solomon Gubo Riwe. He replaced Ukur Yattani, the first governor of Marsabit county and currently the Cabinet Secretary of National Treasury & Planning. Gordana Hargura is the Senator and has been senator since 2013. Nasra Ibrahim Ibren is the first elected women representative and was replaced in 2017 general elections by Safia Sheikh Adan. For Marsabit County, the County Executive Committee comprises:- Source

Members of Parliament 2017-2022 (Marsabit County)

Education

There are 278 ECD centres 209 primary schools and 31 secondary schools. The county has also 1 teachers training college, 4 Youth Polytechnics, 106 adult training institutions and 6 technical training institutions. The number of teachers currently providing basic education in Marsabit county is 1,912, consisting of 492 ECDE teachers, 1,147 primary and 283 secondary school teachers.

Health

There is a total of 111 health facilities, hospital beds in the county. County has 457 health personnel of different cadre. HIV prevalence is at 1% ,below the national 5.3% (Kenya HIV Estimates 2011).

Transport and communication

The county is covered by 5,000 km of road network. Of this, 4,108 km is covered by earth surface, 580 km is murram surface, and 312 km of surface is covered by bitumen. There are two post offices with 1,000 installed letter boxes: 717 rented letter boxes and 283 vacant letter boxes.

Electoral constituencies

Administrative sub-divisions

Administratively, the county is divided into four administrative sub-counties namely: Marsabit Central, Laisamis, North Horr, and Moyale. Sub-counties are further divided into 20 wards and administrative villages.