Kericho
Kericho County
Kericho is a Kenyan county located to the South West of the country and lies within the highlands west of The Great Rift Valley. The capital of the county is Kericho town. The county is home to the best of Kenyan Tea which is world famous for its brightness, attractive color, brisk flavor and textures of fragrant leaves.
The county has a population of 758,339 (2009 census)
There are three constituencies in Kericho County namely:
- Ainamoi
- Belgut and
- Kipkelion constituencies.
Kericho is home to Kenya’s biggest water catchment area, the Mau Forest. With a high altitude and virtually daily rains, Kericho is the centre of Kenya’s large tea industry, its town square even known as Chai Square (Chai is Hindi for Tea). Some of the largest tea companies including Unilever Kenya, James Finlay and Williamson tea are based here. It is also home to the popular Ketepa brand. Much of the tea is also exported, with the UK being the largest market.
Kericho is home to Kenya’s large tea industry.
Kericho is the home town of the Kipsigis people, who are a part of the Kalenjin people. The Kipsigis are rated some of the most hospitable and courteous people in the country.
The Kipsigis just like their Kalenjin counterparts are well known to be good in Athletics. Athletes such as Kipchoge Keino have brought great victory during World Athletic Competitions. The Kipsigis is one of the communities in Kenya that still hold their cultural values dearly.
The favorite meal in the for the Kipsigis people is Maize meal (kimyet) that is enjoyed with vegetables and beef. An almost constant accompaniment is a glass of sour milk locally known as Mursik. Tea is also widely consumed in the county, taken 3 times a day at dawn, midmorning and at 4 o’clock. Tea after the evening meal is also common.
The origin of towns name has not been established. One theory is that it was home to the region’s first public hospital, built by the British at the dawn of the 20th century. Medicine in the local Kipsigis language is referred to as Kerichek. Another theory is that the town was originally home of a medicine man named KipKerich.
Transport Network
Kericho has a comparatively good transport network. Road is the main mode of transport to and around the county. There are 3 main highways that lead to Kericho town, the Nakuru-Kericho, the Kisumu-Kericho and the Kericho-Kisii highways. An alternative route to Kericho would be Nakuru-Njoro-Molo-Kericho, this road is in good condition. The Nakuru-Eldoret highway to Kisumu is in an excellent state. The county has direct bus (matatu) links to Nakuru, Kisumu, Eldoret, Kisii and Bomet towns. Rail transport is available from Kipkelion, Londiani and Fort-Ternan stations, all agricultural hubs within the county. Air transport is also available through chartered light aircraft from Wilson Airport, Nairobi. The county’s main airstrip is Kerenga Aerodrome, 10 km from Kericho town.
Communication and Media
Kericho has a good communication infrastructure. The town is home to one of the only 2 satellite earth stations (the only available international link for Kenya). It is also served by a fibre optic cable. The county is well covered by the fixed line operator Telkom Kenya and the 4 mobile operators Yu, Safaricom, Zain and Orange who offer voice and data services.
The county is served by all major local TV stations. KBC is still widely watched. Others are KTN, K-24, NTV, Citizen TV, Family TV, STV and Sayare. All FM station broadcasting from Nairobi are also available including Capital, Easy, Kiss, Classic, Family, Hope, BBC, Citizen, KBC etc. Local stations include Kass FM, Chamgei FM, KBC Kisumu, Radio Injili 103.7 FM, Sayare TV & Radio. Light and Life 107.3 FM, Sema Radio and The Just FM.
Administration
Kericho forms a municipality with nine wards. Six of them (Central, Chelimo, Kimugu, Kapkugerwet, Kipchimchim and Motobo) belong to the Ainamoi Constituency and remaining three (Kapcheptoror, Kapsuser and Kipkoiyan) belong to Belgut Constituency. Kericho was split in the 1990s to curve out Bomet and Bureti countys. In June 2007 Kipkelion county was again curved out of Kericho.
Kericho is sister town of Portsmouth, Virginia.
Colleges in Kericho
Kabianga University College, a constituent of Moi University,Which is at Kericho West County located next at Kabianga high School Where ATC Training College was. It offers competitive degree course ranging from Science,Agriculture,Business,Natural Resource ,Human Resource and have plan to introduce Health Science Course for more go to www.kabianga.ac.ke Kenya Highlands Bible College – run by the Africa Gospel Church, it offers degree courses in Theology, Computer Science and Education. Kericho Teachers Training College – recently began offering degree courses under agreement with Moi University. Kenya Forestry College – Londiani Kenya Institute of Management Kericho Institute of Professional Studies Eland College – Kabarak University and Eland Schools are jointly running Diploma and Bridging courses being offered at Eland, located next to the stadium.
Niskam Saint Puran Singh Institute (NSPSI) located behind the GNNSJ Gurdwara. Kericho Technical Institute
High Schools in Kericho
There are many high schools in Kericho. They approximate up to 31 high schools
Religion
Kericho residents are mostly Christians. The most widespread church is the Africa Gospel Church which has affiliations with The World Gospel Mission of the USA. The church has the biggest church in the county in the town (Immanuel AGC) and heart centers at Cheptenye, Chepkutung, Keongo, Kipkelion, Londiani, Kabianga and Kaptebeswet.
The other churches present in the county include AIC, Catholic Church, Anglican Church, SDA, Full Gospel and a host of Independent churches.
Kericho is also home to Africa’s largest Gurudwara or Sikh place of worship. It is a monument, dedicated to the memory of “Baba Puran Singh Ji of Kericho” who was the founder of the international charitable organisation, Guru Nanak Nishkam Sewak Jatha which promotes the spirit and practice of selfless service (“nishkam sewa”) in the name of Guru Nanak Dev Ji, the founder of the Sikh faith. The site has been gazetted by the Government of Kenya as a place of spiritual significance. Kericho also holds the Muslim faith with at least two mosques. There is also a Hindu population.
Famous people from Kericho
Paramount chief, Cheborge arap Tengecha was one of the most powerful and the most influential paramount Chiefs in the Kipsigis land from economics, social to political matters. Dr. Taitta Toweett was a prominent politician in the county. A renowned scholar in Linguistics and culture, Dr. Towett was the first Education Minister in independent Kenya. He died in 2007 in a road accident aged over 80,Moses Kiprono arap Keino (born September, 1937 – November 4, 1998) was Speaker of the Parliament of Kenya from 1988 until 1991.Other famous people born in the county include former politicians Prof. Jonathan Ngeno, Kipkalya Kones, Lorna Laboso and David Kimutai Too. Others are Franklin Bett, Kipngeno arap Ngeny, Noah arap Too. Other achievers from the county include Mr. Paul Melly (Standard Group, CMA), Samuel Kirui (Telkom, PS, OPDM), Prof Mibei (VC, Moi University), Wilson Chepkwony (State House), Jeremiah Ruto (Director KARI, TRF), Kipchamba arap Tapotuk who was a famous musician. Joel arap Kimeto who is a renowned gospel musician and also the director of radio Injili 103.7 FM formerly at Chepsir, North of Kericho town.
Kericho is the birthplace of Joginder Singh, Kenya’s famous Rally Driver. Joyce Chepchumba, a successful woman marathoner and an Olympic medalist is also from Kericho. Dr Baldev Singh, National Teacher of the Year for Innovation in Education in the UK in 2004 is Kericho-born.
The famous Chandarana Records are also present in Kericho.
Places of interest
Hotel Name: Kericho Tea Hotel Category: 3 Star Hotel Country: Kenya City: Western Kenya Location: Lake Victoria
Other Attractions: Among the major tourist attractions are:
- Visits to tea factories and vast tea plantations
- Bird watching
- River walks
- Trout fishing
- Chagaik Dam and Arboretum
Parks and Gardens in Kericho
Chagaik Botanic Garden
Kericho will give you breath-taking scenes of the vast tea plantations, moreover, if you want some peace and quiet, you must consider spending some time at the arboretum at Chagaik Botanic Garden. Chagaik is located to the right on the Kericho-Nakuru highway, it is about 10 kilometers from Kericho.
Chagaik Botanic Garden is an enclave of tropical jungle formed by lush green grass and a variety of indigenous tree species; surrounded by orderly tea plantations. Furthermore, here you will find a small dam located at the bottom of the valley.
You can rest up or picnic in this shelter of tranquility, it is also a reliable spot for Colombus monkeys, insects, and forest birds.
Monkey Sanctuary
Recently, monkey sanctuary has been established in an area of the forest on the Kericho Chebown estate. Its objective is to protect several species of monkey, including the vervet monkey (Chlorocebus pygerythrus) and the endangered colombus monkey.
Ruma National Park
Ruma National Park (formerly Lambwe Valley National Reserve) is located in Lambwe Valley in South Nyanza, 140 km from Kisumu. It was established in 1966, to protect the small herd roan of antelope and Jackson’s hartebeest. One of the smallest of the antelope family, the Oribi, also can be seen. Predators such as lion and cheetah are present too.
Its main attractions are game-viewing, walking, fishing in the rivers, hiking and bird watching, the fish eagle, white egret and Blue Swallow among other 145 different bird species have been recorded in the Ruma.
Ruma can be reached from Kericho via Kisii, and then through the fishing villages of Homa Bay and Kendu Bay. This park sees few visitors. There is no hotel or lodge accommodation in the park, but there are two campsites.