History
The name Kitui means 'a place where iron goods are made'. The Kamba iron-smiths who settled in the county many years before the colonial period are the ones who named the area Kitui.Demographics
Kitui County has a total population of 1.2 million people (as of 2024). In comparison, in 2009 the population was 1,136,187 people. Data from 2019 indicated that there are 262,942 households with an average household size of 4.3 persons per household, and a population density of 37 people per square kilometre. The population is mostly made up of people of the Akamba ethnicity. Tharaka people, a section of the Ameru, are also found in Kitui County mainly in Tharaka ward. There is also a growing Somali presence.Administration and Political Units
Administrative Units
There are eight sub counties, forty county assembly wards, one hundred and sixty seven locations and four hundred and eleven sub-locations. Further, the sub-counties are divided into smaller units called wards. There are 40 wards which are further divided into 247 villages.Administrative Sub-Counties
* Ikutha sub county * Katulani sub county * Kisasi sub county * Kitui central sub county * Kitui west sub county * Kyuso sub county * Lower yatta sub county * Matinyani sub county * Migwani sub county * Mumoni sub county * Mutitu sub county * Mutitu north sub county * Mutomo sub county * Mwingi central sub county * Mwingi east sub county * Nzambani sub county * Thagicu sub county * Tseikuru sub county SourceElectoral Constituencies
* Kitui Central Constituency * Kitui East Constituency * Kitui Rural Constituency * Kitui South Constituency * Kitui West Constituency * Mwingi Central Constituency * Mwingi North Constituency * Mwingi West Constituency SourcePolitical Leadership
Julius Makau Malombe is the governor of the county after being elected in the 2022 general elections. He is deputised by Augustine Kanani Wambua. Eoch Kiio Wambua is the senator who was re-elected in the 2022 general elections after unseating the first senator David Musila. Irene Muthoni Kasalu is the second Women Representative after Winfred Nyiva Mwendwa. She was re-elected in 2022. For Kitui County, the County Executive Committee comprises:Members of Parliament 2017-2022 (Kitui County)
*Hon. Mulu, Benson Makali of Wiper Democratic Party Kenya Member of Parliament Kitui Central Constituency * Hon. Mbai, Nimrod Mbithuka of Jubilee Party Member of Parliament Kitui East Constituency * Hon. Mboni, David Mwalika of chama cha uma party Member of Parliament Kitui Rural Constituency * Hon. Nyamai, Rachael Kaki of Jubilee Party Member of Parliament Kitui South Constituency * Hon. Nyenze, Edith of Wiper Democratic Party Kenya Member of Parliament Kitui West Constituency * Hon. Mulyungi, Gideon Mutemi of Wiper Democratic Party Kenya Member of Parliament Mwingi Central Constituency * Hon. Nzengu, Paul Musyimi of Wiper Democratic Party of Kenya Member of Parliament Mwingi North Constituency * Hon. Nguna, Charles Ngusya of Wiper Democratic Party of Kenya Member of Parliament Mwingi West ConstituencyReligion
Christianity is the dominant religion in Kitui County. Roman Catholics make about 15% of the county's population. Other Christian denominations in the county include The Africa Brotherhood Church (ABC), the African Inland Church (AIC), Anglican Church of Kenya (ACK), Presbyterian Church of East Africa (PCEA), Independent Presbyterian Church (IPC), Redeemed Gospel Church and many others. Kitui county has a significant number of Muslims and several mosques can be spotted around the county's major urban centres. Religion in Kitui County:Climate
The climate of Kitui County is arid and semi-arid. It receives roughly 71 cm (28 inches) per year with a bi-modal rainfall pattern. This means that rainfall occurs practically only during the two rainy seasons (one long around March & April, and one short, around October, November and December). The terms ''Long'' and ''Short Rains'' has nothing to do with amount of rainfall received but rather on the length of the rainy seasons.Infrastructure
Urban centres
The number of city dwellers is relatively low as the majority of people (about 86% of the population) lives in rural areas. Major towns in the county include Kitui, Mwingi, Mutomo, Kwa Vonza, Mutitu, Ikutha, Kabati, Migwani, Mutonguni, Mbitini and Kyuso.Education
In 2019, Kitui County had "1,742 public primary and secondary schools, representing a student population of slightly over 400,000 pupils and 17,000 teachers. In addition, there were up to 145 private education institutions across the various education levels." The county has also 5 teachers training colleges, 311 adult training institutions and one technical training institution. Kitui School and Muthale Girls are the only national schools in Kitui County. Kathungi Secondary School, which is also found in Kitui County, is famous for its football championship in the country. Kathungi were the 2013 national silver medalists. Alongside the national champions Upper Hill, they represented Kenya in East Africa Secondary School games held in Lira, Uganda. South Eastern Kenya University is a public university located in Kitui with the Main Campus at Kwa Vonza and other campuses at Mwingi and Kitui towns. Kenyatta University has a campus at Kwa Vonza while Moi University has a campus at Kyuso in Mwingi North sub-county.Health
There are a total of 256 health facilities in the county with one county referral hospital. County has 2,084 health personnel of different cadre. HIV prevalence is at 4.2% below the national 5.9%. Kitui County has several hospitals and health centres to meet the health needs of residents, among them Kitui County Referral Hospital, Mwingi Sub-County General Hospital, Kitui Nursing Home, Neema Hospital, Jordan Hospital, mission-run hospitals such as Muthale Mission hospital and some private health centres.Water supply and sanitation
Economy
The vast majority of the economy is based on sustenance farming, despite the fact that the agriculture is an extremely challenging endeavor giving the sporadic rainfall. A logical move therefore would be a transition to non-agricultural industries. During a recent, informal survey of the businesses in the town of Ikutha in southern Kitui County, the following businesses were identified: *Butcheries *Food Staples (rice, corn meal) *Mini-markets (sells things like Coca-Cola, potato chips, bread, long-shelf milk) *Mechanics *Pubs *Hotels and restaurantsIndustries
Situated in Kitui town is a cotton ginnery where cotton farmers from around the county can deliver their harvest. It is the only major industry in the region, and was set up way back in 1935. Kitui is a semi-arid region and not many crops fare well there apart from cotton, hence the ginnery plays a major role creating income for the many cotton farmers in the region.Minerals
Kitui county has large deposits of coal in Mui Basin, having low energy content/ calorific value, meaning it produces less heat when burned. It also has sulphur. The coal could potentially supply the 1,000 MW Lamu Coal Power Station, and the 960-megawatt (MW) Kitui coal plant. Mutomo/Ikutha district contains limestone.Wealth/Poverty Level
Tourism
Nzambani Rock
Also in Kitui county is one of the largest Rock outcrops in Kenya which is locally known as "Ivia ya Nzambani". Situated past Kitui Town, about 1 km from Chuluni Market is the Nzambani Rock which is famous for the tales and myths of its origin. Activities here include hiking and rock climbing.Notable people
See also
*References
External links