Kajiado County is county number 34 of Kenya’s 47, in the southern Rift Valley and the former Rift Valley Province, with its headquarters at Kajiado town. The 2019 census recorded 1,117,840 residents on 21,292.7 km², the third largest county area in Kenya. Kajiado is Maasai land that now also carries Nairobi’s fastest-growing commuter towns: Ongata Rongai, Kitengela, Ngong and Kiserian are each larger than the county capital.
| Fact | Value |
|---|---|
| Capital | Kajiado town |
| County code | 34 |
| Population (2019 census) | 1,117,840 |
| Area | 21,292.7 km² |
| Former province | Rift Valley |
| Sub-counties | 5 |
| Main languages | Maa (Maasai), Kikuyu, Swahili, English |
The five sub-counties are Kajiado Central, Kajiado North, Kajiado East (Isinya), Kajiado West and Kajiado South (Oloitokitok). The county governor is Joseph Ole Lenku, elected in 2017 and re-elected in August 2022.
Towns and Villages in Kajiado County
The northern edge of the county, next to Nairobi, is urban. The rest is open rangeland where trading centres sit far apart.
| Town | Type | Population |
|---|---|---|
| Ongata Rongai | Town | 172,569 |
| Kitengela | Town | 154,436 |
| Ngong | Town | 102,323 |
| Kiserian | Town | 76,903 |
| Kajiado | County capital | 24,678 |
| Magadi | Town | 14,529 |
| Isinya | Town | 14,429 |
| Oloitokitok | Town | 10,568 |
| Kimana | Town | 10,116 |
The full list below names 81 towns, trading centres and villages recorded in Kajiado County, A–Z.
- Bartimaro
- Bulbul
- Elangata Wuas
- Elkilongyeti
- Emerit
- Emotoroki
- Emparbal
- Engabol
- Engamata Sinoni
- Enkojonga
- Enkorika
- Enkurare
- Enkutoto
- Enoorotet
- Esoitnarok
- Esonorua
- Ewaso Nkidongi
- Ewuaso
- Ilbisil
- Illasit
- Ilpartimaro
- Isineti
- Isinya
- Kajiado
- Kalema
- Karero
- Kepass
- Kibini
- Kikelelua
- Kimana
- Kiserian
- Kitengela
- Kuku
- Laset
- Lengesim
- Lerrap
- Lorngosua
- Luanat
- Magadi
- Mailua
- Makutano
- Mashuru
- Matathia
- Mberelongo
- Merueshi
- Meto
- Moilo
- Mosiro
- Ngatataek
- Ngong
- Njoroi
- Nkatu
- Ntaretoi
- Ol Orian
- Oldoinyo Kelo
- Oldorko
- Olepolos
- Olipesi
- Olkejuloosaen
- Olkeramatian
- Olkulului
- Oloika
- Oloiserri
- Oloitokitok
- Ololua
- Oloonkiyieutie
- Olooseos
- Olooshoibor
- Olosho-Oibok
- Olosinkiran
- Oloyiangalani
- Oltepesi
- Ongata Rongai
- Poka
- Rombo
- Sajiloni
- Samuli
- Selengei
- Shompole
- Simba
- Torosei
Geography
Kajiado stretches from the Ngong Hills, at about 2,460 m, south to the Tanzanian border at roughly 500 m near Lake Magadi. Most of the county is semi-arid rangeland on the Athi–Kaputiei and Amboseli plains, cut by the Nguruman Escarpment in the west and the Chyulu range in the east. Lake Magadi, a soda lake in the Rift floor, is one of the hottest and lowest points in Kenya. Amboseli National Park sits under Mount Kilimanjaro, which stands just across the border in Tanzania and feeds the Amboseli swamps through underground flows. Rainfall is 300–800 mm a year in two unreliable seasons, and the Ewaso Ng’iro South is the main river.
Kajiado borders seven counties and one country: Nairobi County to the north-east, Kiambu County to the north, Nakuru County to the north-west, Narok County to the west, Machakos County and Makueni County to the east, Taita-Taveta County to the south-east, and Tanzania to the south.
Demographics
Kajiado held 1,117,840 people in 2019, about 52 per km², but the average hides a sharp split. Kajiado North alone, covering Ongata Rongai, Ngong and Kiserian, holds a large share of the county’s residents on a small fraction of its land, while Kajiado West and South are open pastoral country. The Maasai are the indigenous community and Maa is widely spoken; Kikuyu, Kamba, Luhya and Luo households dominate the commuter towns. Population in the north grew faster than almost anywhere in Kenya between 2009 and 2019 as Nairobi workers moved out along the Magadi and Namanga roads.
Economy and Local Life
Livestock keeping is the traditional economy: Maasai households run cattle, sheep, goats and donkeys, sold at the Ilbisil, Kimana, Mashuru and Namanga markets. Irrigated horticulture along the Kimana, Rombo and Nguruman streams supplies Nairobi with tomatoes, onions and kale. Magadi Soda, on Lake Magadi, has mined soda ash since 1911 and is one of Kenya’s oldest industrial operations. Quarrying for building stone and ballast runs across Kajiado Central and East, and cement, steel and light manufacturing plants have grown up around Kitengela and Isinya. Tourism centres on Amboseli National Park, the Ngong Hills and the Olkiramatian and Shompole conservancies. In the north, the towns work as dormitory settlements for Nairobi.
Getting There
The A104 highway from Nairobi to Namanga and Arusha runs the length of the county through Kitengela, Isinya, Kajiado town and Namanga, the main border post with Tanzania. Kajiado town is about 80 km from Nairobi. Ngong, Kiserian and Ongata Rongai are 20–25 km from the city centre by the Ngong and Magadi roads. Oloitokitok, in the far south-east, is reached from Emali on the Nairobi–Mombasa highway, about 120 km away. The Nairobi–Mombasa standard gauge railway clips the county’s north-eastern corner, and airstrips serve Amboseli, Magadi and several conservancies.
FAQ
What is the capital of Kajiado County?
Kajiado town, which had 24,678 residents at the 2019 census. Ongata Rongai is the county’s largest town.
How many towns and villages are in Kajiado County?
This page lists 81 named towns, trading centres and villages across the five sub-counties.
Which sub-counties make up Kajiado County?
Kajiado Central, Kajiado North, Kajiado East (Isinya), Kajiado West and Kajiado South (Oloitokitok).
Is Amboseli National Park in Kajiado?
Yes. Amboseli lies in Kajiado South, near Oloitokitok, below Mount Kilimanjaro on the Tanzanian side of the border.
How far is Kajiado town from Nairobi?
About 80 km on the A104 Namanga highway, roughly ninety minutes by road.
Which counties border Kajiado?
Nairobi, Kiambu, Nakuru, Narok, Machakos, Makueni and Taita-Taveta, plus an international border with Tanzania.