Isiolo County is a

county A county is a geographic region of a country used for administrative or other purposesChambers Dictionary, L. Brookes (ed.), 2005, Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd, Edinburgh in certain modern nations. The term is derived from the Old French ...

in the former Eastern Province of Kenya. Its population is 268,002 (2019 census) and its capital and largest city is

Isiolo Isiolo is a town in Isiolo County, of which it is the capital. It is located in the upper eastern region of Kenya and geographically considered the centre of the country Kenya. It lies 285 kilometres north of the capital Nairobi. The town grew ar ...

. Isiolo County is to be the first county to be developed as part of the Kenya Vision 2030 program. Other upcoming urban centres are: Garbatulla, Modogashe, Kinna,

Merti Merti is one of the Aanaas in the Oromia Regional State of Ethiopia. Part of the Arsi Zone, Merti is bordered on the south by Sude, on the west by Jeju, on the northwest by the East Shewa Zone, on the north by the Afar Region, on the east by A ...

and Oldonyiro. The local topography is arid or semi-arid low plains. Ewaso Nyiro River flows through the county and partly bounds it. It borders

Marsabit County Marsabit County is a county in Kenya. Covering a surface area of 66,923.1 square kilometres. Marsabit is the second largest county in Kenya. Its capital is Marsabit and its largest town Moyale. According to the 2019 census, the county has a po ...

to the north,

Wajir County Wajir County is a counties of Kenya, county in the former North Eastern Province (Kenya), North Eastern Province of Kenya. Its capital and largest town is Wajir. The county has a population of 720,000 and an area of . The county is bordered to t ...

to the east, Garissa and Tana River counties to the south east,

Meru County Meru County is one of the 47 counties of Kenya, located in the former Eastern Province. The county lies between 0° 6′ North and 0° 1′ South and between latitudes 37° West and 38° East. It borders Isiolo County to the North, Tharaka/Nit ...

to the south,

Laikipia County Laikipia County is one of the 47 Counties of Kenya, located on the Equator in the former Rift Valley Province of the Country. Laikipia is a cosmopolitan County and is Listed as County number 31. The county has two major urban centres: Nanyuki t ...

to the south west and

Samburu County Samburu County is a counties of Kenya, county in the former Rift Valley Province, Kenya. It covers an area of roughly 21,000 km2 (8,000 mi2) in northern Kenya where the Samburu people, Samburu, Turkana people, Turkana and many other tr ...

to the west. Three different National Game Reserves are located in Isiolo County:

Bisanadi National Reserve Bisanadi National Reserve is a wildlife reserve in Isiolo County, Kenya. It is adjacent to Meru National Park. The park is home to the lion, African elephant, cheetah, white rhinoceros The white rhinoceros, white rhino or square-lipped rhinoc ...

, Buffalo Springs National Reserve and

Shaba National Reserve Shaba National Reserve is a protected area in Isiolo County in northern Kenya to the east of the Samburu and Buffalo Springs national reserves. Together, the three reserves form a large protected area. The Shaba reserve has dramatic scenery in ...

Demographics

Isiolo county has a total population of 268,002 persons as 2019 census and of this 139,510 are males; 128,483 are females; 9 intersex persons. There is an average size of 4.6 persons per household and a population density of 11 persons per square Km. Source

Infrastructure and transport

Isiolo covered by 1,185.49 km of earth, 263.7 km of murram and 35 km of bitumen as at 2014. There are 1,149 installed letter boxes, 851 rented letter boxes and vacant letter boxes. Isiolo airport is one of the key airport in the county.

Administrative and political units

As of 2018, the county has two constituencies ( Isiolo North Constituency and

Isiolo South Constituency Isiolo South Constituency is an electoral constituency in Kenya. It is one of two constituencies of Isiolo County Isiolo County is a county in the former Eastern Province of Kenya. Its population is 268,002 (2019 census) and its capital and ...

), three sub-counties and ten wards. There are a total of 10 county assembly wards, 71 locations and 144 sub-locations

Political leadership

Mohamed Kuti is the second governor for Isiolo and took office in 2017 and he deputised by

Ibrahim Abdi Issa Ibrahim ( ar, إبراهيم, links=no ') is the Arabic name for Abraham, a Biblical patriarch and prophet in Islam. For the Islamic view of Ibrahim, see Abraham in Islam. Ibrahim may also refer to: * Ibrahim (name), a name (and list of people w ...

Adan Dullo Fatuma Fatuma Adan Dullo is a Kenyan politician and the current elected Senator for Isiolo County Isiolo County is a county in the former Eastern Province of Kenya. Its population is 268,002 (2019 census) and its capital and largest city is Isiolo ...

is the senator and also the first woman to be elected as a senator in Kenya.
Rehema Dida Jaldesa
is the sitting women representative for isiolo and second to hold the office.

Education

There are 213 ECD centres with enrolment of 5148 pupils, 124 primary schools of which 107 are public and 17 are private schools. 23 secondary schools are spread across the county of which 16 are public and 7 are private schools. Furthermore, there are two youth polytechnics, three tertiary institutions and two vocational training centres in the county.

Health

There are three hospitals in Isiolo County, two of which are government owned. One hospital is a faith based organisation. There are also five health centres, thirty three dispensaries, and three clinics. Isiolo county has a total of 214 medical personnel of different cadre ranging from doctors to biochemists.

Economy

The four main crops planted in Isiolo are maize, beans, sorghum and green grams. Livestock is also sold and the four animals kept are cattle (indigenous), cattle (dairy), camels, sheep, and goats. A total of 178 ponds were in various places in the county in 2014.

Urbanisation

Source
USAid Kenya

Notable people

* Hon.

Godana Doyo Godana Doyo is a Kenyan politician who was the first Governor of Isiolo County Isiolo County is a county in the former Eastern Province of Kenya. Its population is 268,002 (2019 census) and its capital and largest city is Isiolo. Isiolo Cou ...

, First governor, Isiolo County * Mr.

Barnabas Esunyen Barnabas (; arc, ܒܪܢܒܐ; grc, Βαρνάβας), born Joseph () or Joses (), was according to tradition an early Christian, one of the prominent Christian disciples in Jerusalem. According to Acts 4:36, Barnabas was a Cypriot Jew. Name ...

, First County Chief officer of ICT of Isiolo County government 2013-2017 * Hon.

Rehema Jaldesa Rehema Dida Jaldesa (born 29 July 1971) is a Kenyan politician. She is the current Chief Administrative Secretary tourism, wildlife and heritage and former women representative of Isiolo County Isiolo County is a county in the former Easte ...

, women representative of Isiolo County * Hon.

Mohammed Kuti Mohammed Abdi Kuti is a Kenyan politician and the former governor of Isiolo County from August 23, 2017. Kuti previously served as the senator for Isiolo county for one term (2013–2017), a post he was elected to as a member of the United Repub ...

, governor, Isiolo County & a 2 term MP, Isiolo North

References

External links

* http://www.iwmi.cgiar.org/Publications/Working_Papers/working/WOR106.pdf * http://www.aridland.go.ke/bulletins/July%202006-Isiolo.pdf {{Authority control Counties of Kenya