Narok County Explained

Narok County should not be confused with Narok.

Official Name:Narok County
Settlement Type:County
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Name: Kenya
Coordinates:-1.25°N 72°W
Seat Type:Capital
Seat:Narok
Established Title:Formed
Established Date:4 March 2013
Leader Title:Governor
Leader Name:Patrick Keturet Ole Ntutu
Utc Offset:+3
Area Total Km2:17,921.2
Population As Of:2019
Population Total:1,157,873[1]
Population Density Km2:auto
Website:narok.go.ke

Narok County[2] is a county in southwestern Kenya with an estimated population of 1,157,873 according to 2019 Census. The dominant ethnic group is the Maasai. Its capital and largest town is Narok, with the only other major urban centre being Kilgoris.[3] Narok County Government was formed by the County Governments Act of 2012 as prescribed in the 2010 Constitution of Kenya. Narok County governor is Patrick Ole Ntutu after winning in the 2022 elections and his Deputy is Tamalinye K. Koech.

Along with Kisii County, Narok County has been identified as having the highest level of practice of female genital mutilation in the country, despite the practice being outlawed in 2001.[4]

Religion

Religion in Narok County [5]

Religion (2019 Census)Number
Catholicism152,607
417,457
350,885
57,673
Orthodox6,277
Other Cristian71,598
Islam4,805
249
Traditionists15,953
Other22,476
No ReligionAtheists45,617
Don't Know3,710
Not Stated122

Geography

Narok County is situated in the southern part of the Great Rift Valley. It lies between latitudes 0° 50' and 1° 50' South and longitude 35° 28' and 36° 25' East. The county borders the Republic of Tanzania and six other counties – Nakuru, Bomet, Nyamira, Kisii, Migori County and Kajiado.[6]

The Maasai Mara National Reserve and Mau Forest are located in the county.

Economy

The main economic activities in the county include pastoralism, crop farming, tourism and trade among other activities undertaken in small scale.

As of 2018, gold production from mines located in Narok County was at 111kg (245lb).[7]

County subdivisions

The county has six constituencies:

Local authorities (councils)
AuthorityType Population*Urban pop.*
Town 41,09224,091
Narok County County 324,658 2,839
Total 365,750 26,930
Administrative divisions
DivisionPopulation*Urban
population*
population
density
Area (km2)Headquarters
Central 41,162 22,488 44 935,5 Narok
Loita 15,557 0 9 1728,6
Mara 41,964 0 9 4662,7
Mau 77,686 1,898 30 2589,5
Mulot 68,432 0 95 720,3
Olokurto 44,326 837 36 1231,3
Ololulunga 53,828 0 36 1495,2 Ololulunga
Osupuko 22,795 0 12 1899,6
Total 365,750 25,233 24 (average) 15,263

Narok County wards

There are thirty Members of County Assembly (MCAs) representing the thirty wards at Narok County Assembly. These wards were formed in 2010 by the Boundaries Review Commission. There are six wards in Narok North Constituency, Narok South Constituency and Kilgoris Constituency respectively.

Narok West Constituency, Emurua Dikirr Constituency and Narok East Constituency each have four county wards[8]

Communities

Notable people

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Kenya Census 2009 – Census – Kenya. Scribd. 19 April 2018.
  2. Web site: Welcome to Narok County Government Kenya. narok.go.ke. 2020-05-28.
  3. Web site: Narok County – County Integrated Development Plan 2018-2023 . Maarifa Centre . 17 October 2019.
  4. BBC News, "Kenyan Girls Flee Circumcision" (on circumcision), BBC News – In Pictures, 2003, webpage:BBC-News-In-Pictures-Kenya.
  5. Web site: 2019 Kenya Population and Housing Census Volume IV: Distribution of Population by Socio-Economic Characteristics . 2 May 2021 . Kenya National Bureau of Statistics. dmy .
  6. Web site: About Narok County . Narok County Government . 30 July 2019.
  7. Web site: Michira. Moses. Gold production in Narok doubles. 2020-07-21. The Standard. en.
  8. Web site: Narok County Wards and Constituencies. maasaimedia.com. 3 May 2016.