Iten
Iten | |
|---|---|
| Nickname: The Home of Champions | |
| Motto: Home of Champions | |
| Coordinates: 0°40′23″N 35°30′30″E / 0.67306°N 35.50833°E | |
| Country | Kenya |
| County | Elgeyo-Marakwet County |
| Government | |
| • Governor | Alex Tolgos |
| Elevation | 2,400 m (7,900 ft) |
| Population (2009) | |
• Total | 42,312 |
| Time zone | UTC+3 (EAT) |
| Climate | Cfb |
Iten is a town in Elgeyo-Marakwet County in the Republic of Kenya and serves as the capital and is the largest town in the county.
International Association of Athletics Federation (IAAF) awarded the town with a plaque recognising Iten as a World Athletics Heritage Landmark. Because of its Elevation of about 2400 metres above sea level, it attracts many sports Champions due to the benefit of training at high altitude.
The town is located along the road between Eldoret and Kabarnet at the junction of the road heading to Kapsowar. Elgeyo escarpment and Kerio River are located east of Iten. The growing town had a population of 42,312 at the 2009 consensus.
It forms a common local authority (Iten/Tambach town council) with Tambach, a small town in the vicinity. Iten was the headquarters of the former Elgeyo-Marakwet District since 1966, when it replaced Tambach.
The name of the town is a corruption of Hill Ten, a local rock formation named by Joseph Thomson in 1883. The hill is located 800 meters outside the village, on the road toward Kessup. It can be best viewed from the Iten Viewpoint.