Kitui County
Kitui County | |
|---|---|
Sunset at Tsavo East National Park mostly located in Kitui County | |
| Motto(s): Kaunti Yiitu, Rasilimali Situ, Maisha Maseo (Our County, Our Resources, Good Life) | |
Location in Kenya | |
| Coordinates: 1°29′S 38°23′E / 1.483°S 38.383°E | |
| Country | Kenya |
| Formed | 27 August 2010 |
| Capital | Kitui |
| Other towns | Mwingi, Mbitini, Kwa Vonza, Kyuso |
| Government | |
| • Governor | Julius Malombe |
| • Deputy Governor of Kitui | Kanani Augustine Wambua |
| • Senator | Enoch Kiio Wambua |
| • Woman Representative | Kasalu Irene Muthoni |
| Area | |
• Total | 30,430 km2 (11,750 sq mi) |
| • Water | 24,194 km2 (9,341 sq mi) |
| Population (2019) | |
• Total | 1,136,187 |
| • Density | 37/km2 (97/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+3 (EAT) |
| Website | Official website |
Kitui County is one of the 47 counties of Kenya in the former Eastern Province of Kenya. Its capital and largest town is Kitui. Mwingi is also another major urban centre. The county has a population of about 1.2 million people (as of 2024): 8 and an area of 30,496 km2. It lies between latitudes 0°10 South and 3°0 South and longitudes 37°50 East and 39°0 East.
Kitui County shares its borders with seven counties; Tharaka-Nithi and Meru to the north, Embu to the northwest, Machakos and Makueni to the west, Tana River to the east and southeast, and Taita-Taveta to the south.
Kitui County is "representative" of the fragile Arid and Semi-arid lands of Kenya that account for 80 percent of the land mass. These lands are characterized by high poverty levels, agro-pastoral livelihoods, high vulnerability to climate shocks, underdeveloped social infrastructure, low access to social services, and in extreme cases conflict over natural resources, especially during droughts".: 8