Kericho County is county number 35 of Kenya’s 47, in the western highlands of the former Rift Valley Province, with its headquarters at Kericho town. The 2019 census recorded 901,777 residents on 2,454.5 km². Kericho is Kenya’s leading tea-growing county, and the Kipsigis name of its main river, the Kipsonoi, still marks the boundary with Bomet.
| Fact | Value |
|---|---|
| Capital | Kericho town |
| County code | 35 |
| Population (2019 census) | 901,777 |
| Area | 2,454.5 km² |
| Former province | Rift Valley |
| Sub-counties | 6 |
| Main languages | Kipsigis (Kalenjin), Swahili, English |
The six sub-counties are Ainamoi, Belgut, Bureti, Kipkelion East, Kipkelion West and Sigowet–Soin. The county governor is Erick Mutai, elected in August 2022.
Towns and Villages in Kericho County
Kericho town is the only settlement above 50,000 people. The rest of the county is a dense pattern of tea-estate centres and market villages.
| Town | Type | Population |
|---|---|---|
| Kericho | County capital | 53,804 |
| Litein | Town | 13,403 |
| Brooke | Town | 7,896 |
| Sondu | Town | 6,869 |
| Londiani | Town | 4,758 |
| Kapsoit | Town | 3,545 |
| Kipkelion | Town | 2,952 |
| Kapkatet | Town | 2,484 |
The full list below names 103 towns, trading centres and villages recorded in Kericho County, A–Z.
- Ainamoi
- Barschell
- Borborwet
- Brooke
- Buchenge
- Chebigen
- Chebitet
- Cheboin
- Cheborge
- Chebwagan
- Cheimen
- Chemamul
- Chemoiben
- Chemutum
- Chepkemel
- Chepkosilen
- Cheplanget
- Chepsir
- Chepsiria
- Cheptenye
- Cheptororiet
- Cheptuiyet
- Cheribo
- Daraja Sita
- Fort Ternan
- Getarwet
- Jamji
- Jouberts
- Kabalion
- Kabartegan
- Kabianga
- Kabukyek
- Kabwastuiyo
- Kakibei
- Kaminjewet
- Kaparok
- Kapkatet
- Kapkiam
- Kapkisiara
- Kaplelartet
- Kapmaso
- Kapsamonget
- Kapsaos
- Kapsarok
- Kapsegut
- Kapsigirio
- Kapsimbiri
- Kapsinendet
- Kapsoit
- Kapsuset
- Kaptebeswet
- Katani
- Kebeneti
- Kedowa
- Kenegut
- Keongo
- Kericho
- Kileges
- Kipkelion
- Kipsitet
- Kiptere
- Kiptewit
- Kitio
- Kitumbe
- Koitaburot
- Koituiy
- Koiwalelach
- Kongoni
- Lilloch
- Litein
- Londiani
- Mabasi
- Maraboi
- Marumbasi
- Masaita
- Mombwo
- Musaria
- Ngesumin
- Ngomwet
- Nyaberi
- Ofthie
- Poiywek
- Roret
- Senetwet
- Simbi
- Singaronik
- Singoronik
- Sitotwet
- Soliat
- Sondu
- Sorget
- Sosiot
- Sosit
- Sunny Brook
- Tebesonik
- Tegat
- Telanet
- Teldet
- Thessalia
- Torit
- Tugunon
- Tulwet
- Wandore
Geography
Kericho lies on the western wall of the Rift Valley, between about 1,500 m and 3,000 m above sea level, with the Mau Escarpment rising along its eastern edge. Rainfall is among the most reliable in Kenya at 1,400–2,100 mm a year, spread over most months, which is why tea does well here. Daytime temperatures sit between 17°C and 22°C. Rivers rising in the Mau include the Sondu (Miriu), Kipsonoi, Itare, Nyando, Kiptiget and Timbilil, and the Sondu Miriu hydroelectric scheme on the county’s western boundary feeds the national grid.
Kericho borders seven counties: Uasin Gishu County and Nandi County to the north, Baringo County to the north-east, Nakuru County to the east, Bomet County to the south, Nyamira County to the south-west and Kisumu County to the west.
Demographics
The county held 901,777 people in 2019, giving a density of about 367 people per km². The population is heavily rural and young, and settlement follows the tea belt rather than the towns. The Kipsigis, a Kalenjin community, are the majority. Luo and Kisii families are numerous at Sondu, Kipsitet and Soin, on the Nyando valley side, and Kikuyu and Nubian communities have long histories in Londiani and Kericho town. Kipsigis is the everyday language; Swahili and English are used in schools and offices.
Economy and Local Life
Tea is the county’s business. Multinational estates at Kericho, Kimugu, Chagaik and Kipkelion sit alongside more than a dozen Kenya Tea Development Agency smallholder factories, including Kapkatet, Litein, Momul, Toror and Chelal. Dairy farming, maize, potatoes and horticulture fill the rest of the land, and forestry operates around Londiani. Kericho town serves the region with banks, referral and mission hospitals, and the University of Kabianga lies south of it at Kabianga. Cattle and produce markets run at Kapkatet, Kapsoit, Roret, Sosiot, Fort Ternan and Kebeneti.
Getting There
Kericho town is about 256 km north-west of Nairobi and 85 km east of Kisumu, on the main Nakuru–Kericho–Kisumu highway. Buses and matatus run through it all day between Nairobi, Nakuru, Kisumu and Kisii. From Nairobi the route is the A104 to Nakuru, then west through Londiani and Kipkelion. Kericho has a small airstrip used by charter flights; the nearest scheduled service is Kisumu International Airport, about 90 minutes away. The Kenya–Uganda railway line passes through Fort Ternan and Kipkelion in the north-west of the county.
FAQ
What is the capital of Kericho County?
Kericho town, which had 53,804 residents at the 2019 census.
How many towns and villages are in Kericho County?
This page lists 103 named towns, trading centres and villages across the six sub-counties.
Which sub-counties make up Kericho County?
Ainamoi, Belgut, Bureti, Kipkelion East, Kipkelion West and Sigowet–Soin.
Why is Kericho known for tea?
Its altitude, deep volcanic soils and rainfall spread across most months suit tea. The county produces more tea than any other in Kenya.
How far is Kericho from Nairobi?
About 256 km by road, roughly five hours by bus via Nakuru and Londiani.
Which counties border Kericho?
Uasin Gishu, Nandi, Baringo, Nakuru, Bomet, Nyamira and Kisumu.