Turkana District
The entire Turkana district was hived off the Uganda Protectorate twice: the southern section in 1902 and the northern region in 1926. In 2013, Turkana County was formally established on the same boundaries as the district.
History
Four sites of Stone Age cultures are situated upon tributaries along the west side of Lake Turkana in West Turkana; at Lokalalei, Kokiselei and Nadung, and became of interest to archaeology beginning sometime during 1988.
The earliest late Stone age industries date to 12,000 b.p.
Direct influence by colonial forces, in the form of pacification within the district began in 1900 and ended in 1918.
During 1926 the entire Turkana people were subjugated to a body of the British military who subsequently restricted their movements to an area of Kenya, forcing these to settle in the area known now as the Turkana district.
During 1958 the district experienced an influx of a number of people classified as belonging to the Turkana people expelled from the Kenyan settlement Isiolo town to be forcibly relocated to the Turkana district by persons of the then British colonial administration.
The district maintained an all but complete isolation from influences of any other countries peoples until the time during 1976 when road-blocks on entering the district were ceased.
The people of the north of the district were reported (2000) endangered by marauding Ethiopians and consequently forced to settle in southerly locations.
Language
The land is known in the Kenyan language as Aturksven.
Some place names in the country are attributed to the language of the Pokot and Samburu peoples, representing a tradition in the area of inhabitation by these peoples prior to displacement by the Turkana.
Geography
The district was within the boundaries of the former Rift Valley province.
According to data provided during 1991 the majority of the population at that time lived by way of farming.
With an area of nearly 77,000 km, Turkana is the largest district in Kenya. Its capital town is Lodwar. The district has a population of 450,860 (1999 census).
Kekarongole and Katilu had irrigation networks made commencing sometime during or after 1975.
Rainfall measurements per annum (1982 data) is recorded as less than ten inches; with a range of between 115mm and 650mm.
There were thirteen drought periods in a period of 50 years beginning 1938.
Economics
On 26 March 2012, Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki announced that oil had been discovered in the Turkana District after exploratory drilling by Anglo-Irish firm Tullow Oil, and he further stated that
It is... the beginning of a long journey to make our country an oil producer, which typically takes in excess of three years. We shall be giving the nation more information as the oil exploration process continues.
Gold panning was reported (2005) as occurring at Lochoremoit, Namoruputh and Ng,akoriyiek.
According to Barrett (2001) cited in Watson the wealth of a person is kept in the form of cattle.
Figures stated as of 1998 stated an average estimated herd size of 15–20.
District subdivisions
| Local authorities (councils) | |||
| Authority | Type | Population* | Urban pop.* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lodwar | Municipality | 35,897 | 16,981 |
| Turkana | County | 414,963 | 26,563 |
| Total | – | 450,860 | 43,544 |
| * 1999 census. Source: [1] | |||
| Administrative divisions | |||
| Division | Population* | Population density |
Headquarters |
|---|---|---|---|
| Central | 35,919 | 45 | Lodwar |
| Kaaling | 24,053 | 3 | |
| Kainuk | 11,799 | 7 | |
| Kakuma | 97,114 | 26 | Kakuma |
| Kalokol | 28,735 | 5 | Kalokol |
| Katilu | 12,548 | 10 | |
| Kerio | 15,409 | 6 | |
| Kibish | 6,056 | – | |
| Lapur | 12,780 | 6 | |
| Lokichar | 21,791 | 5 | Lokichar |
| Lokichogio | 36,187 | 5 | Lokichogio |
| Lokitaung | 22,586 | 12 | Lokitaung |
| Loima | 33,979 | 10 | |
| Lokori | 17,915 | 3 | |
| Lomelo | 6,088 | 1 | Kapedo |
| Oropol | 18,020 | 3 | Oropol |
| Turkwel | 49,881 | 9 | |
| Total | 450,860 | 7 (average) | – |
| * 1999 census. Sources: [2] | |||
The district had three constituencies: