Kitale

Kitale
Kitale Location in Kenya
Coordinates: 1°01′N 35°00′E / 1.017°N 35°E / 1.017; 35
Country	Kenya
Province	Rift Valley Province
District	Trans-Nzoia District
Population (2007)
• Total	220,000
Time zone	EAT (UTC+3)

Kitale is an agricultural town in western Kenya situated between Mount Elgon and the Cherengani Hills at an elevation of around 7,000 feet (2,100 m). Its urban population was estimated at 220,000 in 2007.^[1]

It is the administrative centre of the Trans-Nzoia District, in the Rift Valley Province. The main cash crops grown in the area are sunflower, tea, coffee, Pyrethrum, seed beans and seed maize. Kitale is a market town for the local agricultural area and is known for the Kitale Museum and an agroforestry centre. Saiwa Swamp National Park lies near the town.

The town was founded in 1908 by white settlers. A branch line of the Uganda Railway from Eldoret reached Kitale in 1926 which promoted growth of the town. Kitale is among the most diverse towns in the country.

The National Museum of Western Kenya is located at Kitale. It is a natural history museum and was originally created by Lt Col. Hugh Stoneham in 1926.^[2]

Climate

References

v t e First- and second-level administrative divisions of Kenya Provinces Central Coast Eastern Nairobi North Eastern Nyanza Rift Valley Western Principal cities and towns Baragoi Bungoma Busia Eldoret Embu Garissa Hola Homa Bay Isiolo Kajiado Kakamega Kapenguria Kericho Kiambu Kilifi Kisii Kisumu Kitale Kitui Limuru Lodwar Lokichokio Loiyangalani Lamu Machakos Malindi Mandera Maralal Marsabit Meru Mombasa Moyale Mumias Murang'a Nairobi Naivasha Nakuru Namanga Nanyuki Narok Nyahururu Nyeri Ruiru Thika Voi Wajir Webuye Wundanyi Districts Baringo Bomet Bondo Bungoma Buret Busia Butere/Mumias Embu Garissa Gucha Homa Bay Ijara Isiolo Kajiado Kakamega Keiyo Kericho Kiambu Kilifi Kirinyaga Kisii Kisumu Kitui Koibatek Kuria Kwale Laikipia Lamu Lugari Machakos Makueni Malindi Mandera Maragua Marakwet Marsabit Mbeere Meru Central Meru North Meru South Migori Mombasa Mount Elgon Moyale Muranga Mwingi Nairobi Nakuru Nandi Narok Nyamira Nyandarua Nyando Nyeri Rachuonyo Samburu Siaya Suba Taita-Taveta Tana River Teso Tharaka Thika Trans Mara Trans-Nzoia Turkana Uasin Gishu Vihiga Wajir West Pokot

Coordinates: 1°01′N 35°00′E / 1.017°N 35°E / 1.017; 35