Kitui County

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title: "Kitui County" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["kitui-county", "counties-of-kenya"] topic_path: "general/kitui-county" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kitui_County" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::data[format=table title="Infobox settlement"]

FieldValue
official_nameKitui County
image_skylineYellow sunset at Tsavo East National Park.jpg
image_captionSunset at Tsavo East National Park mostly located in Kitui County
image_flagFlag of Kitui County.gif
mottoKaunti Yiitu, Rasilimali Situ, Maisha Maseo (Our County, Our Resources, Good Life)
image_shieldCoat_of_Arms_of_Kitui_County.jpg
image_mapKitui County in Kenya.svg
map_captionLocation in Kenya
settlement_typeCounty
subdivision_typeCountry
subdivision_nameKenya
coordinates
seat_typeCapital
seatKitui
parts_typeOther towns
parts_stylepara
p1Mwingi
p2Mbitini
p3Kwa Vonza
p4Kyuso
established_titleFormed
established_date27 August 2010
leader_titleGovernor
leader_nameJulius Malombe
leader_title2Deputy Governor of Kitui
leader_name2Kanani Augustine Wambua
leader_title3Senator
leader_name3Enoch Kiio Wambua
leader_title4Woman Representative
leader_name4Kasalu Irene Muthoni
timezoneEAT
utc_offset+3
area_total_km230,430
area_water_km224,194
population_as_of2019
population_total1,136,187
population_density_km2auto
website
::

| official_name = Kitui County | image_skyline = Yellow sunset at Tsavo East National Park.jpg | image_size = | image_caption = Sunset at Tsavo East National Park mostly located in Kitui County | image_flag = Flag of Kitui County.gif | image_blank_emblem = | motto = Kaunti Yiitu, Rasilimali Situ, Maisha Maseo (Our County, Our Resources, Good Life) | image_shield = Coat_of_Arms_of_Kitui_County.jpg | image_map = Kitui County in Kenya.svg | map_caption = Location in Kenya | settlement_type = County | subdivision_type = Country | subdivision_name = Kenya | coordinates = | seat_type = Capital | seat = Kitui | parts_type = Other towns | parts_style = para | p1 = Mwingi | p2 = Mbitini | p3 = Kwa Vonza | p4 = Kyuso | established_title = Formed | established_date = 27 August 2010 | leader_title = Governor | leader_name = Julius Malombe | leader_title2 = Deputy Governor of Kitui | leader_name2 = Kanani Augustine Wambua | leader_title3 = Senator | leader_name3 = Enoch Kiio Wambua | leader_title4 = Woman Representative | leader_name4 = Kasalu Irene Muthoni | timezone = EAT | utc_offset = +3 | area_total_km2 = 30,430 | area_land_km2 = | area_water_km2 = 24,194 | population_as_of = 2019 | population_total = 1,136,187 | population_density_km2 = auto | elevation_m = | blank_name = | blank_info = | website = | footnotes = 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) 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".

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. ::data[format=table title="Distribution of Population by Sex and Sub-County{{Cite web |last=Munene |first=Evans |date=2019-11-04 |title=2019 Kenya Population and Housing Census Results |url=https://www.knbs.or.ke/?p=5621 |access-date=2020-05-29 |website=Kenya National Bureau of Statistics |language=en-US}}"]

Sub-CountyMaleFemaleIntersexTotal
Ikutha39,98642,976282,964
Katulani23,15023,957147,108
Kisasi22,64623,49646,142
Kitui Central52,12353,8635105,991
Kitui West33,88736,983170,871
Kyuso36,78940,077176,867
Lower Yatta31,70131,62863,329
Matinyani23,36224,448147,811
Migwani33,52541,726479,255
Mumoni13,74815,59629,344
Mutitu26,38828,896355,287
Mutitu North10,33710,877121,215
Mutomo54,81958,5316113,356
Mwingi Central52,33956,174108,713
Mwingi East40,31444,820585,139
Nzambani22,92923,857246,788
Thagicu7,1417,994115,136
Tseikuru19,61921,25240,871
Total549,003587,151331,136,187
::

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.

| 1979 | 464,283 | 1989 | 652,603 | 1999 | 819,250 | 2009 | 1,012,709 | 2019 | 1,136,187 | 2024 | 1,200,000 |align = none

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

Source

Electoral Constituencies

Source

Political 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: ::data[format=table title="County Executive Committee{{Cite web |title=179. County executive committees - Kenya Law Reform Commission (KLRC) |url=http://www.klrc.go.ke/index.php/constitution-of-kenya/140-chapter-eleven-devolved-government/part-2-county-governments/348-179-county-executive-committees |access-date=2020-05-29 |website=www.klrc.go.ke |archive-date=25 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220925195745/http://www.klrc.go.ke/index.php/constitution-of-kenya/140-chapter-eleven-devolved-government/part-2-county-governments/348-179-county-executive-committees |url-status=dead }}"]

Number
The Governor
The Deputy Governor
The County Secretary
The CEC Members
Total
::

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 Constituency

Religion

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:

::data[format=table]

Religion (2019 Census)Number of people
Catholicism235,032
Protestant500,806
Evangelical Churches248,778
African instituted Churches60,649
Orthodox2,297
Other Cristian30,867
Islam8,898
Hindu40
Traditionists4,278
Other12,332
No Religion/Atheists23,778
Don't Know2,273
Not Stated106
::

Climate

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/64/Dry_river,_Kitui_County,_Kenya.jpg" caption="Dry river bed in Kitui County."] ::

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.

| float = center | title = Urbanisation in South Eastern Kenya | table_width = 70 | bar_width = 20 | data_max = 100 | label_type = County | data_type = | label1 = Machakos County | data1 = 52 | label2 = Kitui County | data2 = 13.8 | label3 = Makueni County | data3 = 11.8 | label4 = Kenya Average | data4 = 32.3 | caption =

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. ::data[format=table title="Education Institutions in County{{Cite web |title=Ministry of Education, ICT & Youth Development – Kitui County Government |url=https://kitui.go.ke/countygovt/ministries/ministry-of-education-ict-youth-development/ |access-date=2020-05-29 |language=en-US |archive-date=14 April 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200414110543/https://kitui.go.ke/countygovt/ministries/ministry-of-education-ict-youth-development/ |url-status=dead }}"]

CategoryPublicPrivateTotalEnrolment
ECD Centres1518308182690,731
Primary schools13181581476346,022
Secondary schools3741038473,385
Teachers Training Colleges325
Technical Training Institutes101
Universities101
University Campuses505
Adult Education Centres311031112,438
::

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. University of Nairobi also has a campus in Kitui town. Kenya Medical Training College has campuses in Kitui and Mwingi.

Additional funds are required to improve the water supply situation for schools. These investments would pay for new or upgraded water facilities in schools, and a professional operation and maintenance service. With regards to water infrastructure, schools would benefit from rainwater harvesting systems and piped water schemes and handpump sources if they do not already have these facilities.

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%. ::data[format=table title="Health Facilities by Ownership"]

Government*FBOPrivateNGOTOTAL
Hospitals1121
Health centres382
Dispensaries1831018
Clinics3
::

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 restaurants

Industries

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

| float = center | title = Wealth/Poverty Level in South Eastern Kenya (source: ) | table_width = 70 | bar_width = 50 | data_max = 100 | label_type = County | data_type = | label1 = Machakos County | data1 = 59.6 | label2 = Kitui County | data2 = 63.1 | label3 = Makueni County | data3 = 64.1 | label4 = Kenya Average | data4 = 45.9 | caption =

| float = center | title = Statistics for Kitui County (Per cent) | table_width = auto | bar_width = auto | data_max = 100 | label_type = County | label1 = Literacy | data1 = 74.7 | label2 = Attending School (15-18 Yrs) | data2 = 77.8 | label3 = Paved Roads | data3 = 2.4 | label4 = Good Roads | data4 = 39.9 | label5 = Electricity Access | data5 = 4.8 | caption =

Tourism

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b5/Nzambani_Rock.jpg" caption="Nzambani Rock is one of the tourist attractions in Kitui County"] ::

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

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/19/Willy_Mutunga.jpg" caption="Dr. Willy Munyoki Mutunga, the former Chief Justice, hails from Kitui County"] ::

References

References

  1. Nyaga, C., Hope, R., Charles, K.J., Nowicki, S., Katuva, J., Mugo, P., Hoque, S., Olago, D., Thomas, M.K., and Mumma, A. (2024). [https://reachwater.uk/resource/guaranteeing-safe-drinking-water-services-for-public-schools-in-kenya-a-costed-professional-service-delivery-model-for-kitui-county-reach-working-paper-14/ Guaranteeing safe drinking water services for public schools in Kenya: A costed professional service delivery model for Kitui County]. REACH Working Paper 14. University of Oxford, UK.
  2. "About Kitui".
  3. (2018). "Kitui County Integrated Development Plan CIDP 2018-2022". Kitui County Government.
  4. "About Kitui – Kitui County Government".
  5. "::.The County Government of Kitui .:: - The County Government of Kitui".
  6. "About Kitui County in Kenya".
  7. Ambler, Charles H.. (1985). "Population Movement, Social Formation and Exchange: Central Kenya in the Nineteenth Century". The International Journal of African Historical Studies.
  8. "Kenya Census 2009 - Census - Kenya".
  9. (2019). "2019 Kenya Population and House Census: Volume 1- Population by County and Sub-county". Kenya National Bureau of Statistics.
  10. Munene, Evans. (2019-11-04). "2019 Kenya Population and Housing Census Results".
  11. [https://www.citypopulation.de/php/kenya-admin.php Kenya: Administrative Division population statistics]
  12. interior_admin. "Ministry of Interior and Coordination of National Government".
  13. "The County - Visitkitui".
  14. (2010). "The Report of the Interim Independent Boundaries Review Commission (IIBRC): Delimitation of Constituencies and Recommendations on Local Authority Electoral Units and Administrative Boundaries for Districts and Other Units".
  15. (December 2025). ["Governor"](https://kitui.go.ke/countygovt/government/know-your-governor/ }}{{Dead link).
  16. "Deputy Governor".
  17. "Enoch Kiio Wambua".
  18. "Members of the Senate {{!}} The Kenyan Parliament Website".
  19. "179. County executive committees - Kenya Law Reform Commission (KLRC)".
  20. "Benson Makali Mulu".
  21. "Hon. Mulu, Benson Makali {{!}} The Kenyan Parliament Website".
  22. "Nimrod Mbithuka Mbai".
  23. "Hon. Mbai, Nimrod Mbithuka {{!}} The Kenyan Parliament Website".
  24. "David Mwalika Mboni".
  25. "Hon. Mboni, David Mwalika {{!}} The Kenyan Parliament Website".
  26. "Rachael Kaki Nyamai".
  27. "Hon. Nyamai, Rachael Kaki {{!}} The Kenyan Parliament Website".
  28. "Edith Nyenze".
  29. "Hon. Nyenze, Edith {{!}} The Kenyan Parliament Website".
  30. "Gideon Mutemi Mulyungi".
  31. "Hon. Mulyungi, Gideon Mutemi {{!}} The Kenyan Parliament Website".
  32. "Paul Musyimi Nzengu".
  33. "Hon. Nzengu, Paul Musyimi {{!}} The Kenyan Parliament Website".
  34. "Charles Ngusya Nguna".
  35. "Hon. Nguna, Charles Ngusya {{!}} The Kenyan Parliament Website".
  36. "2019 Kenya Population and Housing Census Volume IV: Distribution of Population by Socio-Economic Characteristics".
  37. (2013-05-11). "County Urbanization: Kitui {{!}} Open Kenya {{!}} Transparent Africa".
  38. "Publications".
  39. "Ministry of Education, ICT & Youth Development – Kitui County Government".
  40. Futaa. (February 2020). "ARS: Upper Hill see off Kathungi to clinch KSSSA title".
  41. "Ministry of Health and Sanitation – Kitui County Government".
  42. (2018). "HIV Estimates Report Kenya 2018".
  43. [https://gesnetworking.globalinnovationexchange.org/user/kglcotton-africacom]{{dead link. (March 2018)
  44. (2018-12-18). "Kitui coal mining to displace 30,000 households". Energy Siren.
  45. (2013-12-11). "Kenya {{!}} Data".
  46. (2013-12-12). "Poverty Rate, by District {{!}} Open Kenya {{!}} Transparent Africa".
  47. USAID: [https://web.archive.org/web/20130221174520/http://kenya.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/profiles/Kitui_Dec2011%2034.pdf Kenya County Factsheets]
  48. "Tourism and tourist attractions in Kitui County".
  49. (17 September 2020). "How a rock solved water shortage problem in a Kenyan village".
  50. "Nzambani rock offers more than just the intriguing tales about".

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