Kitui County

The name Kitui means 'a place where iron goods are made'.{{cite web|url=http://www.kenya-information-guide.com/kitui-county.html|title=About Kitui County in Kenya|website=kenya-information-guide.com|access-date=29 March 2018}} The Kamba iron-smiths who settled in the county many years before the colonial period are the ones who named the area Kitui.{{Cite journal|last=Ambler|first=Charles H.|date=1985|title=Population Movement, Social Formation and Exchange: Central Kenya in the Nineteenth Century|journal=The International Journal of African Historical Studies|volume=18|issue=2|pages=201–222|doi=10.2307/217740|jstor=217740|issn=0361-7882}}

Kitui County has a total population of 1.2 million people (as of 2024).{{rp|8}} In comparison, in 2009 the population was 1,136,187 people.{{cite web |title=Kenya Census 2009 - Census - Kenya |url=https://www.scribd.com/doc/36672705/Kenya-Census-2009 |access-date=29 March 2018 |website=Scribd}}

Data from 2019 indicated that there are 262,942 households with an average household size of 4.3 persons per household, and a population density of 37 people per square kilometre.{{Cite book|url=https://www.knbs.or.ke/?p=5621|title=2019 Kenya Population and House Census: Volume 1- Population by County and Sub-county|publisher=Kenya National Bureau of Statistics|year=2019|isbn=9789966102096|pages=17, 19, 20, 24}}

The population is mostly made up of people of the Akamba ethnicity. Tharaka people, a section of the Ameru, are also found in Kitui County mainly in Tharaka ward. There is also a growing Somali presence.

{{Historical populations

| 1979 | 464,283

| 1989 | 652,603

| 1999 | 819,250

| 2009 | 1,012,709

| 2019 | 1,136,187[http://www.citypopulation.de/php/kenya-admin.php Kenya: Administrative Division population statistics]

| 2024 | 1,200,000

|align = none

}}

There are eight sub counties, forty county assembly wards, one hundred and sixty seven locations and four hundred and eleven sub-locations.{{Cite web|title=Ministry of Interior and Coordination of National Government|url=https://www.interior.go.ke/|last=interior_admin|website=interior.go.ke|language=en-US|access-date=2020-05-29}}

Further, the sub-counties are divided into smaller units called wards. There are 40 wards which are further divided into 247 villages.{{cite web|title=The County - Visitkitui|url=https://www.visitkitui.com/about-kitui/county|website=www.visitkitui.com|access-date=29 March 2018}}

• Ikutha sub county
• Katulani sub county
• Kisasi sub county
• Kitui central sub county
• Kitui west sub county
• Kyuso sub county
• Lower yatta sub county
• Matinyani sub county
• Migwani sub county
• Mumoni sub county
• Mutitu sub county
• Mutitu north sub county
• Mutomo sub county
• Mwingi central sub county
• Mwingi east sub county
• Nzambani sub county
• Thagicu sub county
• Tseikuru sub county

Source

• Kitui Central Constituency
• Kitui East Constituency
• Kitui Rural Constituency
• Kitui South Constituency
• Kitui West Constituency
• Mwingi Central Constituency
• Mwingi North Constituency
• Mwingi West Constituency

Source{{Cite web|title=The Report of the Interim Independent Boundaries Review Commission (IIBRC): Delimitation of Constituencies and Recommendations on Local Authority Electoral Units and Administrative Boundaries for Districts and Other Units|url=https://www.iebc.or.ke/uploads/resources/oep20PEuYn.pdf|date=2010|website=IEBC|access-date=20 May 2020}}

Julius Makau Malombe is the governor of the county after being elected in the 2022 general elections.{{Cite web |title=Governor |url=https://kitui.go.ke/countygovt/government/know-your-governor/}} He is deputised by Augustine Kanani Wambua.{{Cite web |title=Deputy Governor |url=https://kitui.go.ke/countygovt/government/deputy-governor/}} Eoch Kiio Wambua is the senator who was re-elected in the 2022 general elections after unseating the first senator David Musila.{{Cite web|title=Enoch Kiio Wambua|url=https://info.mzalendo.com/person/enoch-kiio-wambua/|website=Mzalendo|language=en|access-date=2020-05-29}}{{Cite web|title=Members of the Senate {{!}} The Kenyan Parliament Website|url=http://www.parliament.go.ke/the-senate/senators|website=www.parliament.go.ke|access-date=2020-05-29}} Irene Muthoni Kasalu is the second Women Representative after Winfred Nyiva Mwendwa. She was re-elected in 2022.

For Kitui County, the County Executive Committee comprises:

• Hon. Mulu, Benson Makali{{Cite web|title=Benson Makali Mulu|url=https://info.mzalendo.com/person/benson-makali-mulu/|website=Mzalendo|language=en|access-date=2020-05-30}} of Wiper Democratic Party Kenya Member of Parliament Kitui Central Constituency{{Cite web|title=Hon. Mulu, Benson Makali {{!}} The Kenyan Parliament Website|url=http://www.parliament.go.ke/node/3368|website=www.parliament.go.ke|access-date=2020-05-30}}
• Hon. Mbai, Nimrod Mbithuka{{Cite web|title=Nimrod Mbithuka Mbai|url=https://info.mzalendo.com/person/nimrod-mbithuka-mbai/|website=Mzalendo|language=en|access-date=2020-05-30}} of Jubilee Party Member of Parliament Kitui East Constituency{{Cite web|title=Hon. Mbai, Nimrod Mbithuka {{!}} The Kenyan Parliament Website|url=http://www.parliament.go.ke/node/3336|website=www.parliament.go.ke|access-date=2020-05-30}}
• Hon. Mboni, David Mwalika{{Cite web|title=David Mwalika Mboni|url=https://info.mzalendo.com/person/david-mwalika-mboni-2/|website=Mzalendo|language=en|access-date=2020-05-30}} of chama cha uma party Member of Parliament Kitui Rural Constituency{{Cite web|title=Hon. Mboni, David Mwalika {{!}} The Kenyan Parliament Website|url=http://www.parliament.go.ke/node/3342|website=www.parliament.go.ke|access-date=2020-05-30}}
• Hon. Nyamai, Rachael Kaki{{Cite web|title=Rachael Kaki Nyamai|url=https://info.mzalendo.com/person/rachael-kaki-nyamai/|website=Mzalendo|language=en|access-date=2020-05-30}} of Jubilee Party Member of Parliament Kitui South Constituency{{Cite web|title=Hon. Nyamai, Rachael Kaki {{!}} The Kenyan Parliament Website|url=http://www.parliament.go.ke/the-national-assembly/hon-nyamai-rachael-kaki|website=www.parliament.go.ke|access-date=2020-05-30}}
• Hon. Nyenze, Edith{{Cite web|title=Edith Nyenze|url=https://info.mzalendo.com/person/edith-nyenze/|website=Mzalendo|language=en|access-date=2020-05-30}} of Wiper Democratic Party Kenya Member of Parliament Kitui West Constituency{{Cite web|title=Hon. Nyenze, Edith {{!}} The Kenyan Parliament Website|url=http://www.parliament.go.ke/the-national-assembly/hon-nyenze-edith|website=www.parliament.go.ke|access-date=2020-05-30}}
• Hon. Mulyungi, Gideon Mutemi{{Cite web|title=Gideon Mutemi Mulyungi|url=https://info.mzalendo.com/person/gideon-mutemi-mulyungi/|website=Mzalendo|language=en|access-date=2020-05-30}} of Wiper Democratic Party Kenya Member of Parliament Mwingi Central Constituency{{Cite web|title=Hon. Mulyungi, Gideon Mutemi {{!}} The Kenyan Parliament Website|url=http://www.parliament.go.ke/index.php/node/3369|website=www.parliament.go.ke|access-date=2020-05-30}}
• Hon. Nzengu, Paul Musyimi{{Cite web|title=Paul Musyimi Nzengu|url=https://info.mzalendo.com/person/paul-musyimi-nzengu-2/|website=Mzalendo|language=en|access-date=2020-05-30}} of Wiper Democratic Party of Kenya Member of Parliament Mwingi North Constituency{{Cite web|title=Hon. Nzengu, Paul Musyimi {{!}} The Kenyan Parliament Website|url=http://www.parliament.go.ke/node/3428|website=www.parliament.go.ke|access-date=2020-05-30}}
• Hon. Nguna, Charles Ngusya{{Cite web|title=Charles Ngusya Nguna|url=https://info.mzalendo.com/person/charles-ngusya-nguna/|website=Mzalendo|language=en|access-date=2020-05-30}} of Wiper Democratic Party of Kenya Member of Parliament Mwingi West Constituency{{Cite web|title=Hon. Nguna, Charles Ngusya {{!}} The Kenyan Parliament Website|url=http://www.parliament.go.ke/node/3408|website=www.parliament.go.ke|access-date=2020-05-30}}

Christianity is the dominant religion in Kitui County. Roman Catholics make about 15% of the county's population. Other Christian denominations in the county include The Africa Brotherhood Church (ABC), the African Inland Church (AIC), Anglican Church of Kenya (ACK), Presbyterian Church of East Africa (PCEA), Independent Presbyterian Church (IPC), Redeemed Gospel Church and many others. Kitui county has a significant number of Muslims and several mosques can be spotted around the county's major urban centres.

Religion in Kitui County:

File:Dry river, Kitui County, Kenya.jpg

The climate of Kitui County is arid and semi-arid.{{rp|8}} It receives roughly 71 cm (28 inches) per year with a bi-modal rainfall pattern. This means that rainfall occurs practically only during the two rainy seasons (one long around March & April, and one short, around October, November and December). The terms Long and Short Rains has nothing to do with amount of rainfall received but rather on the length of the rainy seasons.

The number of city dwellers is relatively low as the majority of people (about 86% of the population) lives in rural areas.{{rp|8}}

Major towns in the county include Kitui, Mwingi, Mutomo, Kwa Vonza, Mutitu, Ikutha, Kabati, Migwani, Mutonguni, Mbitini and Kyuso.

{{Bar chart

| float = center

| title = Urbanisation in South Eastern Kenya{{Cite web |date=2013-05-11 |title=County Urbanization: Kitui {{!}} Open Kenya {{!}} Transparent Africa |url=https://opendata.go.ke/Counties/County-Urbanization-Kitui/747f-z33c |access-date=2024-10-17 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130511022440/https://opendata.go.ke/Counties/County-Urbanization-Kitui/747f-z33c |archive-date=11 May 2013 }}

| table_width = 70

| bar_width = 20

| data_max = 100

| label_type = County

| data_type = {{center|Urbanisation in South Eastern Kenya (Per cent)}}

| label1 = Machakos County | data1 = 52

| label2 = Kitui County | data2 = 13.8

| label3 = Makueni County | data3 = 11.8

| label4 = {{flag|Kenya}} Average | data4 = 32.3

| caption = {{resize|88%|Urbanisation by County in South Eastern Kenya}}

}}

In 2019, Kitui County had "1,742 public primary and secondary schools, representing a student population of slightly over 400,000 pupils and 17,000 teachers. In addition, there were up to 145 private education institutions across the various education levels."{{rp|8}}

The county has also 5 teachers training colleges, 311 adult training institutions and one technical training institution.{{Cite web |title=Publications |url=https://www.knbs.or.ke/?page_id=3142 |access-date=2020-05-29 |website=Kenya National Bureau of Statistics |language=en-US}}

Kitui School and Muthale Girls are the only national schools in Kitui County.

Kathungi Secondary School, which is also found in Kitui County, is famous for its football championship in the country. Kathungi were the 2013 national silver medalists. Alongside the national champions Upper Hill, they represented Kenya in East Africa Secondary School games held in Lira, Uganda.{{cite web|url=http://www.futaa.com/news/ars-upper-hill-see-off-kathungi-to-clinch-ksssa-title|title=ARS: Upper Hill see off Kathungi to clinch KSSSA title|last=Futaa|website=www.futaa.com|access-date=29 March 2018}}{{Dead link|date=February 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}

South Eastern Kenya University is a public university located in Kitui with the Main Campus at Kwa Vonza and other campuses at Mwingi and Kitui towns. Kenyatta University has a campus at Kwa Vonza while Moi University has a campus at Kyuso in Mwingi North sub-county. University of Nairobi also has a campus in Kitui town. Kenya Medical Training College has campuses in Kitui and Mwingi.

Additional funds are required to improve the water supply situation for schools. These investments would pay for new or upgraded water facilities in schools, and a professional operation and maintenance service. With regards to water infrastructure, schools would benefit from rainwater harvesting systems and piped water schemes and handpump sources if they do not already have these facilities.{{rp|10-11}}

There are a total of 256 health facilities in the county with one county referral hospital. County has 2,084 health personnel of different cadre.{{Cite web |title=Ministry of Health and Sanitation – Kitui County Government |url=https://kitui.go.ke/countygovt/ministries/ministry-of-health-and-sanitation/ |access-date=2020-05-29 |language=en-US}}

HIV prevalence is at 4.2% below the national 5.9%.{{Cite web|title=HIV Estimates Report Kenya 2018|url=https://nacc.or.ke/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/HIV-estimates-report-Kenya-20182.pdf|date=2018|website=National AIDS Control Council|access-date=29 May 2020}}

Kitui County has several hospitals and health centres to meet the health needs of residents, among them Kitui County Referral Hospital, Mwingi Sub-County General Hospital, Kitui Nursing Home, Neema Hospital, Jordan Hospital, mission-run hospitals such as Muthale Mission hospital and some private health centres.

{{excerpt|Water supply and sanitation in Kenya#Kitui County}}

The vast majority of the economy is based on sustenance farming, despite the fact that the agriculture is an extremely challenging endeavor giving the sporadic rainfall. A logical move therefore would be a transition to non-agricultural industries.

During a recent, informal survey of the businesses in the town of Ikutha in southern Kitui County, the following businesses were identified:

• Butcheries
• Food Staples (rice, corn meal)
• Mini-markets (sells things like Coca-Cola, potato chips, bread, long-shelf milk)
• Mechanics
• Pubs
• Hotels and restaurants

Situated in Kitui town is a cotton ginnery where cotton farmers from around the county can deliver their harvest. It is the only major industry in the region, and was set up way back in 1935. Kitui is a semi-arid region and not many crops fare well there apart from cotton, hence the ginnery plays a major role creating income for the many cotton farmers in the region.[https://gesnetworking.globalinnovationexchange.org/user/kglcotton-africacom]{{dead link|date=March 2018}}

Kitui county has large deposits of coal in Mui Basin, having low energy content/calorific value, meaning it produces less heat when burned. It also has sulphur. The coal could potentially supply the 1,000 MW Lamu Coal Power Station, and the 960-megawatt (MW) Kitui coal plant.{{cite web | url=http://energysiren.co.ke/2018/12/18/kitui-coal-mining-to-displace-30000-households/ | title=Kitui coal mining to displace 30,000 households |publisher= Energy Siren |date=2018-12-18 |access-date=2019-03-19 }}

Mutomo/Ikutha district contains limestone.

{{Bar chart

| float = center

| title = Wealth/Poverty Level in South Eastern Kenya (source: {{Cite web |date=2013-12-11 |title=Kenya {{!}} Data |url=http://data.worldbank.org//country//kenya |access-date=2024-10-17 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131211044508/http://data.worldbank.org//country//kenya |archive-date=11 December 2013 }}{{Cite web |date=2013-12-12 |title=Poverty Rate, by District {{!}} Open Kenya {{!}} Transparent Africa |url=https://kenya.socrata.com/Poverty/Poverty-Rate-by-District/i5bp-z9aq/ |access-date=2024-10-17 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131212082035/https://kenya.socrata.com/Poverty/Poverty-Rate-by-District/i5bp-z9aq/ |archive-date=12 December 2013 }})

| table_width = 70

| bar_width = 50

| data_max = 100

| label_type = County

| data_type = {{center|Poverty Level in South Eastern Kenya (Per cent)}}

| label1 = Machakos County | data1 = 59.6

| label2 = Kitui County | data2 = 63.1

| label3 = Makueni County | data3 = 64.1

| label4 = {{flag|Kenya}} Average | data4 = 45.9

| caption =

}}

{{Bar chart

| float = center

| title = Statistics for Kitui County (Per cent)USAID: [https://web.archive.org/web/20130221174520/http://kenya.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/profiles/Kitui_Dec2011%2034.pdf Kenya County Factsheets]

| table_width = auto

| bar_width = auto

| data_max = 100

| label_type = County

| label1 = Literacy | data1 = 74.7

| label2 = Attending School (15-18 Yrs) | data2 = 77.8

| label3 = Paved Roads | data3 = 2.4

| label4 = Good Roads | data4 = 39.9

| label5 = Electricity Access | data5 = 4.8

| caption =

}}

File:Nzambani Rock.jpg

• Tsavo East National Park{{cite web|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160125213336/http://kenyacountyguide.com/home/tourism-and-tourist-attractions-in-kitui-county/|archive-date=2016-01-25|url=http://kenyacountyguide.com/home/tourism-and-tourist-attractions-in-kitui-county|title=Tourism and tourist attractions in Kitui County|website=kenyacountyguide.com}}
• South Kitui National Reserve
• Mwingi National Reserve
• Ikoo Valley
• Ngomeni Rock Catchment.{{Cite web|title=How a rock solved water shortage problem in a Kenyan village|url=https://next.blue/articles/how-a-rock-solved-water-shortage-problem-in-a-kenyan-village|access-date=2021-04-29|website=next.blue|date=17 September 2020 |language=en-US}}

Also in Kitui county is one of the largest Rock outcrops in Kenya which is locally known as "Ivia ya Nzambani". Situated past Kitui Town, about 1 km from Chuluni Market is the Nzambani Rock which is famous for the tales and myths of its origin. Activities here include hiking and rock climbing.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nation.co.ke/news/Nzambani-rock-offers-more/1056-2768534-kdc27yz/index.html|title=Nzambani rock offers more than just the intriguing tales about|website=Daily Nation|language=en|access-date=2019-08-09}}

File:Willy Mutunga.jpg

• Willy Mutunga, Former Chief Justice of Kenya
• Kalonzo Musyoka, 10th Vice-President of Kenya
• John Mbiti, Kenyan-born Christian Philosopher, priest and writer
• Julius Malombe, The first Governor of Kitui County
• Makau W. Mutua, Former dean of the University of Buffalo Law School
• Charity Ngilu, Former MP Kitui Central (The former Governor of Kitui County)
• David Musila, Former Member of Parliament of Kitui West Constituency
• Nzamba Kitonga, Former president of the East Africa Law Society and COMESA Court of Justice
• Kiema Kilonzo, Kenyan ambassador to Turkey
• Eric Mutua, Former chairman of the Law Society of Kenya and Treasurer of the East Africa Law Society
• Onesmus Kimweli Mutungi, Former Chancellor of Kenyatta University and the first Kenyan to get Doctor of Law degree
• Ngala Mwendwa, Former Minister of Labour in the first Kenyan post-independence cabinet
• Nyiva Mwendwa, The first Kitui County Woman Representative and first Kenyan woman to serve as a cabinet minister
• Kitili Maluki Mwendwa, First black Chief Justice of Kenya
• Benson Masya, Kenyan long-distance runner and marathon serial winner and the winner of the inaugural IAAF World Half Marathon Championships in 1992
• Benjamin Nzimbi, Retired Archbishop and Primate of the Anglican Church of Kenya
• Musili Wambua, Associate Dean of the University of Nairobi School of Law and the first Chancellor of University of Embu
• John Nzau Mwangangi, Kenyan long-distance runner and the gold medalist at the 2011 African Cross Country Championships

• Counties of Kenya

{{reflist}}

{{commons category|Kitui County}}

• [http://www.kitui.go.ke/ Kitui County official website]
• [http://www.visitkitui.com/ Visit Kitui website]

{{First and second-level administrative divisions of Kenya}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:Counties of Kenya