Marsabit

Marsabit County is the largest of Kenyas 47 counties with an area of 70,961 sq. km and a population of approximately 300,000. It is part of the approximately 80% of the countrys landmass classified as arid and semi-arid land (ASAL) where the primary livelihood is either pastoralism or agro-pastoralism. It is located in upper eastern region of the Republic of Kenya and borders Ethiopia to the north, Wajir to the east, Isiolo to the south, Samburu to the south west and Turkana County to the west.

The county generally comprises of low plains between 530-760m above sea level and occasionally interrupted by mountain ranges- Ndoto mountains, Mt. Nyiru, Mt. Marsabit and Mt. Kulal.The Chalbi desert- a saline lake bed lying 435-500m above sea level is a true desert and the lowest land surface in the county. Lying between latitudes 02⁰ 45 and 04⁰ 27N and longitudes 37⁰ 57 and 39⁰ 21E, it is a county of varied soil characteristics with poor texture, shallow, low fertility and low organic content. The temporal and spatial variation of rainfall is bimodal in distribution with the lowest part receiving less than 200mm of rainfall per annum while Mt. Marsabit at much higher elevation (1707m) receives a mean annual rainfall of 800 mm.

Source: Marsabit Agriculture Sector Plan 2013-2017

In terms of agricultural productivity, 5060 ha is covered under food and cash crop; livestock has 424,603 head of cattle, 1,143,480 goats, 960,004 sheep, 203,320 camels, 63,861 donkeys and 50,690 poultry. (Republic of Kenya (2009)-Human Population and Housing Census).