Kilgoris
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Kilgoris is a town in
Narok County Narok County 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 K ...
, Kenya with a population of 70,475 as of the 2019 census. Kilgoris is one of two major urban centres in Narok County, the other being the town also named
Narok Narok (sometimes referred to as NauwongoTown) is a town west of Nairobi that supports Kenya's economy in south-west of the country, along the Great Rift Valley. Narok is the county capital of the Narok County and stands as the major centre ...
.


Location

The town is located about 60km west of the Masai Mara National Reserve, which is known for its annual migration of wildebeest. There is a murram road from the town through the neighbouring town of Lolgorien to Mara, another to Enoosaen in the west, and another to Kirindoni through the famous Oloololo gate side of the park. It is an alternative to Narok Road, especially for anyone coming from Western Kenya.


Economy

The town's economy relies on agriculture, trade, and some tourism due to its proximity to Maasai Mara. Farming, especially maize and bean cultivation, plays a significant role in the livelihood of many residents. Sugarcane farming is increasingly becoming the main economic activity due to the proximity of the Trans-Mara Sugar Company and the South Nyanza sugar belt region. Being in the larger Maasai region, Kilgoris is home to the Maasai people's unique culture and traditions. This includes their jumping dance, vibrant clothing, and pastoralist lifestyle. Kilgoris has witnessed growth and development over the years. This has included improvement in infrastructure such as roads and accessibility, which facilitates movement and trade. Like many other towns in Kenya and the larger East African region, Kilgoris faces challenges related to economic development, education, healthcare, and infrastructure. The region also contends with periodic droughts which can affect the predominantly pastoralist and agricultural activities. Kilgoris was previously the capital of the former Trans Mara District. The constituency Member of Parliament for Kilgoris, Julius Ole Sunkuli, initially served from 1992 to 2002 and returned in 2022. Sunkuli was preceded by Gideon Konchella, Ole Sompisha, and John Konchella. Kilgoris is the home of the first Narok County governor Samuel Kuntai Tunai. Kilgoris has a combination of many religions, including Christians, Muslims, Hindus, and atheists. Kilgoris and its surrounding regions have several schools, both primary and secondary, serving the educational needs of the local community. One notable initiative is The Kilgoris Project. This non-profit organization partners with local leaders to provide education, meals, and medical care to the Maasai children in Kilgoris. The Kilgoris Project runs several schools in the area.


Notable residents

*
Billy Konchellah Billy Komintai Konchellah (born 20 October 1961 in Kilgoris, Kenya) is a former 800 m runner who won two World Championship gold medals in Rome in 1987 and Tokyo in 1991. Career His victory in the 1991 final was unexpected. He sprinted past P ...
, winner of two consecutive 800m World Championships * Wycliffe Kinyamal, a two-time Commonwealth Games 800m champion *
David Rudisha David Lekuta Rudisha, State Commendations of Kenya, MBS (born 17 December 1988) is a retired Kenyan Middle-distance running, middle-distance runner who is the world and Olympic record holder in the 800 metres. Rudisha won gold medals in the 800 ...
, current
world record A world record is usually the best global and most important performance that is ever recorded and officially verified in a specific skill, sport, or other kind of activity. The book ''Guinness World Records'' and other world records organizatio ...
holder and reigning Olympic champion in
800 metres The 800 metres, or 800 meters (American and British English spelling differences#-re.2C -er, US spelling), is a common track running event. It is the shortest commonly run middle-distance running event. The 800 metres is run over two laps of a ...


References

Populated places in Narok County {{RiftValleyKE-geo-stub