Londiani
{{short description|Town in Kericho County, Kenya}}
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{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2023}}
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{{Infobox settlement
|name = Londiani
|settlement_type = Town
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|subdivision_type = Country
|subdivision_name = Kenya
|subdivision_type1 = County
|subdivision_name1 = Kericho
|subdivision_type2 = Constituency
|subdivision_name2 = Kipkelion East
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|elevation_m = 2325
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|population_total = 44,953
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Londiani is a town in Kericho County, Kenya. It is 49 km from Kericho, which is about a 50-minute drive. As of 2009, it had a total population of 44,953.[http://treasury.go.ke/cbs.go.ke/pdf/authority.pdf 1999 census]{{dead link|date=May 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
Transport
Londiani is located in the Kipkelion East Constituency between Nakuru and Kericho, off Nakuru-Eldoret highway about one hour drive from Nakuru town.
The town borders the Londiani Forest and contains a forestry station managed by the Kenya Forestry Service.
The Nairobi-Kisumu railway{{Cite web |title=The Kisumu Safari train – Kenya Railways |url=https://krc.co.ke/the-kisumu-safari-train/ |access-date=2024-03-22 |language=en-US}} also passes through the town. The Londiani-Fort Ternan-Koru-Muhoroni{{Cite web |date=2016-10-31 |title=Londiani-Fort Ternan-Koru-Muhoroni New tarmacked road |url=https://kenyatalk.com/t/londiani-fort-ternan-koru-muhoroni-new-tarmacked-road/97794 |access-date=2024-03-22 |website=Kenya Talk |language=en}} (C35{{Cite web |title=Prime Minister Raila Odinga and Roads Minister Franklin Bett arrive at Londiani to commission the Londiani -Fort Ternan-Muhoroni Road on Friday. [PHOT |url=https://www.standardmedia.co.ke/mobile/article/2000020993/prime-minister-raila-odinga-and-roads-minister-franklin-bett-arrive-at-londiani-to-commission-the-londiani-fort-ternan-muhoroni-road-on-friday-phot |access-date=2024-03-22 |website=The Standard |language=en}}) road goes through Londiani enabling travel from Nakuru to Kisumu,{{Cite web |title=Kisumu {{!}} Kenya, Map, & Population {{!}} Britannica |url=https://www.britannica.com/place/Kisumu |access-date=2024-03-22 |website=www.britannica.com |language=en}} without going through Kericho.
Geography
Londiani town lies approximately 2,325 m above sea level.
The town borders Mt. Londiani{{Cite web |last=Tanui |first=Nikko |title=State launches Sh75m forest initiative |url=https://www.standardmedia.co.ke/lifestyle/article/2001401093/state-launches-sh75m-forest-initiative |access-date=2024-03-27 |website=The Standard |language=en}} (2,848 m). This mountain is also referred to as Mount Kipsigis, Tuluap-Kipsigis by the locals and was called Mount Blackett{{Cite web |title=Mount Blackett hill, Rift Valley, Kenya |url=https://ke.geoview.info/mount_blackett,200391 |access-date=2024-03-27 |website=ke.geoview.info}}{{Cite web |title=Europeans In East Africa - View entry |url=https://www.europeansineastafrica.co.uk/_site/custom/database/default.asp?a=viewIndividual&pid=2&person=1340 |access-date=2024-03-27 |website=www.europeansineastafrica.co.uk}} by the British colonial authorities. The site was gazetted{{Cite web |date=2016-07-05 |title=Leaders call for conservation of sacred hill believed to be home of the Kalenjin deity - Africa Eco News |url=https://africaeconews.co.ke/leaders-call-for-conservation-of-sacred-hill-believed-to-be-home-of-the-kalenjin-deity/ |access-date=2024-03-27 |language=en-GB}} as a cultural heritage site{{Cite web |title=Conservation Of Tulwap Kipsigis Heritage Site – County Government Of Kericho |url=https://kericho.go.ke/fix/?p=5967 |access-date=2024-03-27 |language=en-US}} of great significance to the Kipsigis community.
History
The British colonial authorities constructed a railway line passing through the town, from Nairobi to Kisumu.
There was also a sawmill near the town, called Mount Blackett Sawmills{{Cite web |title=Europeans In East Africa - View entry |url=https://www.europeansineastafrica.co.uk/_site/custom/database/default.asp?a=viewIndividual&pid=2&person=1340 |access-date=2024-03-27 |website=www.europeansineastafrica.co.uk}}
Administration and Finance
Londiani town hosts various administrative and financial offices:
- Londiani Ward office
- Rift Valley Eco-Region Research Programme {{Cite web |title=KEFRI |url=https://www.kefri.org/components/rverp/rverp.html |access-date=2024-03-27 |website=www.kefri.org}}
- Londiani Police Station
- Assistant County Commissioner
- Kenya Commercial Bank
- Kenya Women Finance Trust{{Cite web |title=Branches – KWFT |url=https://kwftbank.com/branches/ |access-date=2024-03-27 |language=en-US}}
Education
Several institutions are found within and around the town:
{{Cleanup list|date=March 2024}}
- Londiani Boys High School{{Cite web |title=Home |url=https://londianiboyshigh.sc.ke/ |access-date=2024-03-21 |website=LONDIANI BOYS HIGH SCHOOL |language=en-US}}
- Londiani Girls High School{{Cite web |title=Londiani Girls Secondary School - Londiani town |url=https://www.easyelimu.com/schools/school/85-londiani__girls_secondary_school.html |access-date=2024-03-21 |website=www.easyelimu.com}}
- Sacred Hills Girls High School.[https://sacredhills.cookiesdesigns.co.ke/ Sacred Hills Girls High School]
Healthcare
Londiani town has the Londiani District Hospital,{{Cite web |title=Afya360 |url=https://afya360.co.ke/health-facility/londiani-district-hospital/1664 |access-date=2024-03-28 |website=afya360.co.ke}} which offers outpatient and inpatient services, mother and child healthcare, family planning, antenatal care, immunization and nutrition services. The hospital also has an operation theatre.{{Cite web |title=- Brighter Communities Worldwide |url=http://friendsoflondiani.contentdaemon.com/preview/en/blog/article/operating-theatre-begins-in-londiani-district-hosp.php |access-date=2024-03-28 |website=friendsoflondiani.contentdaemon.com}}
Londiani is also the site of the proposed Londiani Referral Hospital,{{Cite web|title=South Rift leaders differ over proposed location of referral hospital |url=https://www.the-star.co.ke/news/2023-01-19-south-rift-leaders-differ-over-proposed-location-of-referral-hospital/ |access-date=2024-03-28 |website=The Star |language=en-KE}} which will serve the South Rift region, including Kericho, Bomet and Narok counties.