Facts about Lodwar Town
Lodwar is the largest town
in northwestern Kenya,
located west of Lake Turkana on the A1 road.
Its main industries are basket
weaving and tourism. The Loima Hills lie to
its west. Lodwar is the capital of Turkana
District. The town has a population of 17,000.
According to the Insider’s
guide to Kenya Lodwar’s history began around 1933 when a trader named
Shah Mohamed, arrived on the banks of the Turkwell
River. The roads were inaccessible so he brought the donkeys. He
eventually built a permanent trading centre in Lodwar including a gas station.
The district commissioner’s office was built followed by a small medical clinic
and a government prison. Police headquarters were built in Lokitaung as
the tribal disputes were common in the area. During the 1960s, missionaries
built schools in and around the town. Shah Mohamed opened several stores in the
remote towns of this Turkana district because he was the only contractor and
supplier to government departments, carried mail to the area, supplied and
transported the goods for the Norwegian and Italian fish-canning projects on
Lake Turkana (both projects eventually failed).
During the colonial
period, Lodwar functioned as a transit point for British officials moving
Kenyan political prisoners to the north. Jomo Kenyatta,
Kenya's first president was restricted to house arrest for two years in Lodwar
in 1959. The town had developed a reputation as an isolated outpost removed
from in the rest of Kenya, but in recent years, Lodwar has expanded and gained
commercial and economic prominence.
Lodwar is considered the
capital of the region, housing local and governmental facilities, including
Turkana’s biggest health facility and the main referral hospital, Lodwar
District Hospital (LDH).[2] It is also
the seat of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Lodwar.
The town is also served by Lodwar Airport.
Facts about Turkana County
Turkana County is located in north
western Kenya bordering Marsabit County to the east, Samburu County to the
south east, and Baringo and West Pokot County to the south, to the South-west.
The only town of any size in the
northwest of the region is Lodwar, the administrative centre of the Turkana
District. Historically it was an important colonial outpost where frequent
Ethiopian raids were countered. Jomo Kenyatta was held here briefly in 1959
whilst in detention. It has been said that Kenyatta was taken to Lodwar so that
the Mau Mau would be unable to rescue him given the distance and the fierce
nature of the Turkana tribesmen.
It is not nearly so isolated as in
the past due to the opening of the surfaced road from the highlands and an
airstrip, but it is still very much a backwater town. Poverty is very acute and
many of the Turkana residents are under-nourished. Take good care of your
possessions and be prepared for aggressive begging. There is a branch of
Kenya Commercial Bank with an ATM
(though do not rely on it taking TCs), a post office, a small supermarket and a
Kobil petrol station in town. The local people are persistent in attempts to
sell their crafts, but it is generally done in a friendly spirit. You can buy
large, beautiful baskets made by local women.
North of Lodwar the A1 continues
the 130 km to Kakuma on a good road that the UN has recently tarred. This is
the site of a very large refugee camp that was set up in 1992, predominantly to
house refugees from southern Sudan. The Lokichokio border is another 188 km
further on. Now the civil war has ended in Sudan, people are starting to
trickle back, but at its height it accommodated 70,000 people.
Area (Km 2): 68,680.3 Km 2
Climate/Weather: Warm and hot
climate, unreliable rainfall pattern ranging between 300mm and 400mm per annum
Road Network: Bitumen Surface
(319.2 Km), Gravel Surface (296.7 Km), Earth Surface (2030.5 Km)
Key National Monument(s): Lake
Turkana National Park
POPULATION
Population: 855,399 (Male – 52 %,
Female – 48 %)
Population Density: 6.9 people per
Km 2
National Percentage: 2.2 %
Annual Growth Rate: Not Available
Age Distribution: 0-14 years
(46.0%), 15-64 years (51.6 %), 65+ years (2.4%)
Number of Households: 123,192
GOVERNMENT
County Capital: Lodwar Town
(proposed)
Number of Constituencies (2010): 3
(Turkana North, Turkana Central, and Turkana South)
Registered Voters: 116,816
National percentage: 1.0 %
Number of Districts (2009): 6 (Turkana
Central, Turkana North, Turkana South, Turkana West, Turkana East, Loima)
Number of Local Authorities
(2010): 2 (Municipal council of Lodwar, County Council of Turkana)
ECONOMICS
Poverty Level: 95% of populations
live below poverty line
Age Dependency Ratio: 89.4
Resources: Natural (gemstones and
saltlicks, gold – dormant, wildlife, Lake Turkana, Turkwell Dam)
Tourist Attractions: Lake Turkana
National Park, Loiyangalani Desert Museum
Financial Services: 3 Commercial
Banks, 2 Micro-finance Institutions
Main Economic
Activities/industries: Livestock farming and trade, fishing, weaving, and
tourism
Agricultural products: Sorghum,
Maize
EDUCATION
Number of Institutions (2007):
Primary (202), Secondary (19)
Primary: Enrolment (122,883)
Teacher to Pupil Ratio: 1: 51
Secondary: Enrolment (48,004)
Teacher to Pupil Ratio: 1: 27.7
(Public Schools)
Tertiary: At least 2 Institutions
Adult Literacy Classes: Enrolment
(562)
HEALTH
Health Facilities: District
Hospitals (3), Sub-District Hospitals (2), Dispensaries (91), Health Centers
(6), Medical Clinics (19), Health Programs (3) Others (3)
Doctor to Population Ratio:
1:52,434
Infant Mortality Rates: 60/1000
Under Five Mortality Rates:
12/1000
Prevalent Diseases: Malnutrition
Notable Hospitals: Lodwar, Katilu,
and Lokitaung District Hospitals
Prominent People from Turkana
County.
Pauline Akai Lokuruka… holds an MA
in International Development from Cornell University, USA, and currently
lectures at the Institute of Women, Gender and Development Studies at Egerton
University
Sons and daughters
A Bachelor of Education graduate
of the University of Nairobi, Ms Lokuruka has more than 20 years’ experience
and involvement in women’s and girls’ development and education and is a board
member of various learning institution and state corporations.
Joyce Akai Emanikor … is chairwoman of
the Kerio Valley Development Authority and has been instrumental in championing
for educational rights of Turkana children, especially girls, and for beating
poverty through work.
Ms Emanikor, who is experienced
in social policy analysis and training for empowerment is undertaking a
doctorate in environmental planning and management at Moi University, Eldoret.
Christopher Nekuleu … a former member of
the East African Community Legislative Assembly from the Turkana North area, is
a graduate of Moi University and a former teacher.
He has championed the rights of
Turkana people, particularly in the accountability of public funding in their
behalf (for example use of Constituency Development Fund) before being
appointed to the assembly.
Samson Akoru … general secretary
of the Reformed Church of East Africa, whose headquarters is in Eldoret, is
respected among the Turkana for helping to broker peace with the Pokot.
The Rev Akoru, from Turkana South,
has also been at the forefront of the fight against poverty and illiteracy and
of irrigation in the Kainuk area, and in arguing for equal education
opportunities.
Daniel Nanok … served as a
principal of Lodwar High school before entering politics. He contested Turkana
North in 2007 but lost to Mr. Munyes and is now advocating transparency in
using CDF cash, and championing education and poverty eradication.
Ekuru Aukot … the lawyer was a
member of the Committee of Experts on the new Constitution and one of the most
respected Turkana professionals. He has also served as director of Kituo Cha
Sheria.
Patrick Nachok … began his
footballing career in Kitale before joining Eldoret KCC and finally the
national team, Harambee Stars. A computer expert, his ambition is to run
football in Kenya.
Joseph Kalei … the renowned
marathon runner joined athletics having looked after livestock and has become a
role model to Turkana youth.
Paul Ereng … is a former 800 meters
champion who was among the first Turkana to take up athletics and is now a
noted coach.
Joseph Ebuya … is another athlete
who encourages Turkana youths to take up sport. He won last year’s world cross country
championships
