Laikipia County is county 031 of Kenya’s 47 counties, in the former Rift Valley Province. Its capital is Rumuruti, though Nanyuki, on the equator at the foot of Mount Kenya, is the largest town. The 2019 census recorded 518,560 residents across 8,696.1 km². The county occupies the high, dry Laikipia Plateau between Mount Kenya and the Rift Valley.
| Capital | Rumuruti |
| County code | 031 |
| Population (2019 census) | 518,560 |
| Area | 8,696.1 km² |
| Former province | Rift Valley |
| Sub-counties | 6 |
| Constituencies | 3 |
| Main languages | Kikuyu, Maa, Samburu, Swahili, English |
Towns and Villages in Laikipia County
Nanyuki and Nyahururu are the two urban centres; Rumuruti, the county headquarters, is much smaller. The figures below are settlement-level estimates rather than KNBS urban counts.
| Town | Type | Population |
|---|---|---|
| Nanyuki | Town | 72,813 |
| Nyahururu | Town | 37,650 |
| Rumuruti | County capital | 13,056 |
| Kiambur | Market centre | 4,890 |
| Wiyumiririe | Market centre | 2,449 |
| Karuga | Market centre | 2,301 |
Much of Laikipia is ranch and conservancy land rather than village land, so its settlement list is short for the county’s size. The list below names all 37 recorded towns, trading centres and villages.
- Aljiju
- Anadanguru
- Deighton Downs
- Dol Dol
- Gitundaga
- Kabati
- Karuga
- Kiambur
- Kirichu
- Kirima
- Lairagwan
- Lamuria
- Lariak Settlement
- Maina
- Marmanet
- Marmanet Settlement
- Muthengera
- Nanyuki
- Ndindika Settlement
- Ngobit
- Nyahururu
- Nyahururu Settlement
- Ol Arabei Settlement
- Ol Kimanjoi
- Ol Ng’arua
- Ol Taffeta
- Ongobit
- Rumuruti
- Shamenei
- Shamenek
- Solio
- Subuko
- Tandare
- Thuthuriki
- Tura
- Umande
- Wiyumiririe
Geography
The Laikipia Plateau lies between 1,500 m and 2,000 m, tilting down from the Mount Kenya and Aberdare foothills in the south-east towards the Rift Valley wall in the west. The equator crosses the county at Nanyuki, where a roadside marker draws visitors.
The Ewaso Ng’iro rises on Mount Kenya and crosses the plateau eastward; the Ewaso Narok joins it near Archers Post after passing Rumuruti. Thomson’s Falls, a 74 m drop on the Ewaso Narok, is at Nyahururu. Rainfall is 400 mm to 750 mm over most of the plateau and higher near the mountains, so open grassland and acacia bush dominate rather than forest. The north, around Dol Dol, is drier and used mainly for grazing.
Laikipia borders Samburu County to the north, Isiolo County to the north-east, Meru County to the east, Nyeri County to the south-east, Nyandarua County to the south, Nakuru County to the south-west and Baringo County to the west.
Demographics
The 2019 census recorded 518,560 residents, about 60 people per square kilometre. Population is concentrated in the south and west, around Nanyuki, Nyahururu and the smallholder settlement schemes; the northern rangelands hold very few people.
Kikuyu households are the largest group, many descended from post-independence settlement-scheme buyers. Maasai, Samburu, Turkana and Pokot pastoralist communities live in the north and along the western edge, and Meru families are numerous around Nanyuki. Swahili and English are used in schools, trade and county administration.
Economy and Local Life
Three sectors carry the county: crop farming, ranching and tourism. Wheat, barley, maize, potatoes and beans are grown on the plateau, and greenhouse horticulture near Nanyuki and Timau produces flowers and vegetables for export through Nairobi.
Large ranches and conservancies cover a substantial share of the land. Ol Pejeta keeps the world’s last two northern white rhinos and runs a chimpanzee sanctuary; Loisaba, Mugie, Segera and Solio also combine livestock with wildlife tourism, and Laikipia holds one of Kenya’s largest black rhino populations outside the national parks. Nanyuki serves as a base for Mount Kenya climbers and hosts the British Army Training Unit Kenya and Laikipia Air Base, both significant local employers. Markets at Nanyuki, Nyahururu, Rumuruti and Wiyumiririe handle produce and livestock. The county governor is Joshua Irungu.
Getting There
Nanyuki is about 200 km from Nairobi on the A2 highway through Thika, Karatina and Nyeri, roughly three hours. Nyahururu is reached either from Nyeri or from Nakuru, about 180 km from Nairobi. Rumuruti sits some 40 km north of Nyahururu on the road towards Maralal.
Nanyuki Airport has scheduled flights from Nairobi Wilson, and airstrips serve most of the larger conservancies. Buses and matatus run frequently to Nanyuki and Nyahururu; the northern road to Dol Dol and the routes into the ranches are murram and slower in wet weather.
FAQ
What is the capital of Laikipia County?
Rumuruti is the county headquarters. Nanyuki is the largest town and the main commercial centre.
How many towns and villages are in Laikipia County?
This page lists all 37 recorded towns, trading centres and villages. The count is low for the county’s area because ranches and conservancies cover much of the land.
Which sub-counties make up Laikipia County?
Six: Laikipia West, Laikipia East, Laikipia North, Laikipia Central, Nyahururu and Kirima. Three constituencies — Laikipia West, Laikipia East and Laikipia North — elect its members of parliament.
What is the population of Laikipia County?
The 2019 census recorded 518,560 people across 8,696.1 km², about 60 per square kilometre.
Does the equator pass through Laikipia?
Yes. It crosses at Nanyuki, where a marker stands beside the Nairobi–Meru road.
How far is Nanyuki from Nairobi?
About 200 km on the A2 through Nyeri, usually three hours by road, or under an hour by air from Wilson Airport.