Nandi County is county number 29 of Kenya’s 47, on the Nandi Escarpment in the former Rift Valley Province, with its headquarters at Kapsabet. The 2019 census recorded 885,711 residents on 2,884.5 km². The county is named after the Nandi, a Kalenjin community, and is known nationally for tea, dairy and middle-distance runners.
| Fact | Value |
|---|---|
| Capital | Kapsabet |
| County code | 29 |
| Population (2019 census) | 885,711 |
| Area | 2,884.5 km² |
| Former province | Rift Valley |
| Sub-counties | 6 |
| Main languages | Nandi (Kalenjin), Swahili, English |
The six sub-counties are Aldai, Chesumei, Emgwen, Mosop, Nandi Hills and Tinderet. The county governor is Stephen Sang, elected in 2017 and re-elected in August 2022.
Towns and Villages in Nandi County
Kapsabet is the only town above 10,000 people. Everything else is a trading centre, tea-estate settlement or village.
| Town | Type | Population |
|---|---|---|
| Kapsabet | County capital | 41,997 |
| Nandi Hills | Town | 8,032 |
| Mosoriot | Town | 4,916 |
| Baraton | Town | 2,043 |
The full list below names 141 towns, trading centres and villages recorded in Nandi County, A–Z.
- Arwos
- Baraton
- Bonjoge
- Bwongo
- Chebirir
- Chemase
- Chemisia
- Chemnoet
- Chemogonja
- Chemomi
- Chemundu
- Chemursoi
- Chemuswo
- Chepkebure
- Chepkongony
- Chepkumia
- Chepkunar
- Chepkunyuk
- Chepsonoi
- Cheptarit
- Chepterit
- Chepterwai
- Cheptil
- Chepyegoris
- Cheribisi
- Eisero
- Emdin
- Ibanja
- Itigo
- Kabiemit
- Kabirirsang
- Kabisaga
- Kabiyet
- Kaboi
- Kabongwa
- Kaiboi
- Kaigat
- Kaimosi
- Kamamut
- Kamimei
- Kamobo
- Kamoiywo
- Kamyeberai
- Kapchemoiywo
- Kapchorua
- Kapkangani
- Kapkerer
- Kapkitui
- Kapkoimur
- Kapkuong
- Kapkures
- Kapkuto
- Kapnyemisa
- Kaprachoge
- Kapsabet
- Kapsaos
- Kapsasur
- Kapsisiywa
- Kaptel
- Kaptildil
- Kaptuiya
- Kaptumek
- Kaptumo
- Keben
- Kebulonik
- Keburo
- Kemeloi
- Kesengei
- Kibabet
- Kibebetiet
- Kibungu
- Kibwareng
- Kilibwoni
- Kimaren
- Kiminda
- Kimngeru
- Kimondi
- Kingoror
- Kipchawat
- Kipkarren
- Kipkenyo
- Kipsamoite
- Kipsesin
- Kipture
- Kobujoi
- Koilot
- Koiprak
- Kokwet
- Kombe
- Kongoro
- Kormaet
- Kosirai
- Koyo
- Kurgung
- Laboret
- Lessos
- Lolkeringet
- Maraba
- Mateget
- Matema
- Meswo
- Miti ya Hunter
- Mogobich
- Mogoget
- Mogoon
- Mokong
- Morongiot
- Mosombor
- Mosoriet
- Mosoriot
- Mugundoi
- Mutwot
- Nandi Hills
- Ndonyongara
- Ndurio
- Ngebugoryo
- Ngejek
- Ngeron
- Samoo
- Saniak
- Serengoni
- Sigoit
- Sirikwa
- Sirono
- Siwo
- Soimining
- Sojoi
- Songoliet
- Soyet
- Surungai
- Taito
- Tangaratwet
- Tebeson
- Terige
- Tilolwa
- Tindinyo
- Tirikwo
- Tobolwa
- Tuloi
- Tulon
- Twedies
Geography
Nandi is a plateau county tilted from about 2,500 m in the north-east down to roughly 1,300 m where it meets the Nyando and Kano plains in the south-west. The Nandi Escarpment forms a sharp western wall above the sugar belt. Rainfall of 1,200–2,000 mm falls in two seasons and temperatures range from 18°C to 25°C. The Nandi Forest, in two blocks north and south, holds the headwaters of the Yala, Kimondi, Kipkarren and Mokong rivers, and Chepkiit and Kingwal are well-known local waterfalls and wetlands.
Nandi borders five counties: Uasin Gishu County to the north and east, Kericho County to the south-east, Kisumu County to the south, Vihiga County to the south-west and Kakamega County to the west.
Demographics
With 885,711 people on 2,884.5 km², Nandi averages about 307 people per km². The Nandi sub-group of the Kalenjin forms the majority, and Luhya families are common along the Kakamega and Vihiga borders around Kaimosi, Chemase and Kapsabet’s western wards. Luo households live near the Kisumu boundary at Chemelil and Songhor. Nandi is spoken at home; Swahili and English are the official languages.
Economy and Local Life
Tea, maize and dairy are the mainstays. Large estates cover Nandi Hills, Kibwari, Kaimosi and Tinderet, while smallholders deliver to Kenya Tea Development Agency factories including Chemomi and Kaimosi. Sugarcane grows in the lower Aldai and Tinderet wards, feeding mills at Chemelil and Muhoroni just over the county line. Dairy cooperatives collect milk across Mosop and Chesumei. Athletics is a real local industry: training camps around Kapsabet, Kaptel and Chepterit host national and international runners, and Nandi has produced several Olympic and world champions. Markets run at Kapsabet, Mosoriot, Kobujoi, Kabiyet, Kaptumo and Lessos.
Getting There
Kapsabet is about 320 km north-west of Nairobi and 35 km south-west of Eldoret. Most travellers take the A104 to Eldoret, then the tarmac road south through Mosoriot. A second route runs from Kisumu north through Chavakali and Kaimosi. Eldoret International Airport, about 55 km away in Uasin Gishu, is the nearest scheduled air service; Kisumu International Airport is about 90 km south-west. Daily buses and matatus connect Kapsabet with Eldoret, Kisumu, Nakuru and Nairobi, and Lessos in the east sits on the Kenya–Uganda railway line.
FAQ
What is the capital of Nandi County?
Kapsabet, which had 41,997 residents at the 2019 census.
How many towns and villages are in Nandi County?
This page lists 141 named towns, trading centres and villages across the six sub-counties.
Which sub-counties make up Nandi County?
Aldai, Chesumei, Emgwen, Mosop, Nandi Hills and Tinderet.
What is the population of Nandi County?
885,711 at the 2019 Kenya Population and Housing Census, on 2,884.5 km².
How far is Kapsabet from Eldoret?
About 35 km by road through Mosoriot, under an hour by matatu.
Which counties border Nandi?
Uasin Gishu, Kericho, Kisumu, Vihiga and Kakamega.