Taita-Taveta District

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Taita-Taveta District (formerly Taita District) was a district of Kenya, located in the Coast Province of that country. It lies approximately 200 km northwest of Mombasa and 360 km southeast of Nairobi city.

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The district was created by the colonial authorities in 1895 as Taita District, one of the original districts of Ukamba Province of the East Africa Protectorate. It included the Taveta sub-districts. In 1902, the district became part of Seyidiye Province headquartered at Mwatate, then Voi from 1911. In 1914, the Taveta sub-district was occupied by the Germans and was administered as part of the Moshi District of Tanganyika. After its reoccupation by the British in 1916, Taveta sub-district, was rejoined to Taita in 1921, with the entire district rejoining the Ukamba Province, till 1933 when it joined the Coast Province. [1] In 1963, it was one of the forty districts of Kenya. [2] It was later renamed to include 'Taveta'.

The population of the district in the 1980s was approximately 45,000 persons but this has shot up to well over 250,000 persons with population densities ranging from 3 persons per km2. to more than 800 persons per km2. This is due to the varied rainfall and terrain with the lower zones receiving an average of 440 mm of rain per annum and the highland areas receiving up to 1900 mm of rain. The range rises in altitude from 500 m above sea level to almost 2,300 a.s.a at vuria peak which is the highest.

In 2007, the Taita-Taveta District was split into two sub districts: the Taita sub District and the Taveta sub District [3]

District land use

The district covered an area of 16,975 km2. of which a bulk of 62% or 11,100 km2. is within Tsavo East and Tsavo West National Parks. The remaining 5,876 km2 is occupied by ranches, sisal estates, water bodies such as Lakes Chala and Jipe in Taveta and mzima springs, and the hilltop forests which occupy less than 100 km2. or approximately 10 km² out of 587.5 km².

The lowland areas of the district that are do not belong to national parks are divided to ranches, estates and wild life sanctuaries. The district has approximately 25 ranches. The main land use in ranche is cattle grazing. The three operating sisal estates of the district are the Teita Sisal Estate, Voi Sisal Estate and Taveta Sisal Estate. Many ranches utilize also wildlife tourism and conservation. The Taita Hills and Saltlick Lodges sanctuary is located in the district.

There are 48 forests which have survived on hill tops in the district of which 28 are gazetted and are under government protection and management. They range in size from small 500 square metres with a few remnant trees to modestly vast 2 square kilometres indigenous and exotic forest mountains. These forests are part of a unique Eastern Arch range of forests which are found mostly in Eastern Tanzania with the Taita Hills forming the only Kenyan Eastern Arc forest type in East Africa.

The Taita Hills forest hold a unique biodiversity with 13 taxa of plants and 9 taxa of animals found only in the Taita Hills and nowhere else in the world. In addition 22 plant species found in the Taita Hills forests are typical of the Eastern arc forests. The next being in eastern Tanzania. Some of the endemic African violet - Saintpaulia teitensis among others. Within these beautiful indigenous forests, bubble pure clean water to the lowland areas to cater to both human agricultural activities and wildlife in the Taita game sanctuary and Aruba dam in Tsavo East. The lower plains are thus supplied with water by the forests in the hills which are a good catchment of rains.

Townships and villages

The capital of the district was small town of Wundanyi, though Voi was its largest town.

Local authorities (councils)
AuthorityTypePopulation*Urban pop.*
Voi Municipality32,17616,863
Taveta Town52,45611,495
Taita-TavetaCounty162,0398,032
Total-246,67136,390
* 1999 census. Source:
Administrative divisions
DivisionPopulation*Urban pop.*Headquarters
Mwambirwa4,9270
Mwatate56,3653,386 Mwatate
Tausa20,2750
Taveta53,03822,219 Taveta
Tsavo West N.P. 2,7330
Voi54,56215,382 Voi
Wundanyi54,7714,055 Wundanyi
Total246,67134,042
* 1999 census. Sources: , ,

The district has four constituencies:

Related Research Articles

Tsavo East National Park is a national park in Kenya with an area of 13,747 km2 (5,308 sq mi). It was established in April 1948 and covers a semi-arid area previously known as the Taru Desert. Together with the Tsavo West National Park, it forms an area of about 22,000 square kilometers. The Tsavo River flows west to east through the national park, which is located in the Taita-Taveta County of the former Coast Province.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Voi</span> Town in Coast Province, Kenya

Voi is the largest town in Taita-Taveta County, Kenya, situated in the former Coast Province. It is located at the western edge of the Taru Desert, south and west of the Tsavo East National Park, with the Sagala Hills to the south.

Wundanyi is a town in the Taita-Taveta County of Kenya. Other urban centres in the county include Voi, Taveta and Mwatate.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Taveta people</span> Ethnic group native to East Africa

Taveta is the name of a tribe found in Kenya. It is also the name of the principal town in the land of the Taveta people and the name of the surrounding subdistrict of Kenya.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Taita Hills</span>

The Taita Hills, sometimes also spelled as Teita Hills, are a mountain range located in the Taita-Taveta County in south-eastern Kenya. The hills consist of three massifs: Dawida, Sagalla in the southern side of Voi township and Kasigau in the south near the border of Tanzania. The Dawida massif is the largest and tallest of the three, with an altitude of 2,228 metres (7,310 ft) above sea level at its highest peak, Vuria. Dawida has three other main peaks: Iyale, Wesu, and Susu.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Taita–Taveta County</span> County in Kenya

Taita–Taveta County is a county in Kenya. Located approximately 200 km northwest of Mombasa, and 360 km southeast of Nairobi, it is a port and major gateway to the United Republic of Tanzania through Taveta. The county headquarters are located in Mwatate. It is one of the six counties in the Coastal region of Kenya. Major towns include Voi, Taveta, Mwatate, and Wundanyi.

Taveta is a town in the Taita-Taveta County, Kenya.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Makueni County</span> County in Kenya

Makueni County is a county in the former Eastern Province of Kenya. Its capital town is Wote.The largest town is Emali town. Emali town is also an important market and stop over for the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR). Emali town is multicultural and adds diversity to Makueni county.The county has a population of 987,653. The county lies between Latitude 1° 35' and 2° 59' South and Longitude 37° 10' and 38° 30' East. It borders Machakos County to the North, Kitui County to the East, Taita Taveta County to the South and Kajiado County to the West and covers an area of 8,008.9 km2.

Bura is a town in Taita-Taveta County, Kenya.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Divisions of Kenya</span>

The districts of Kenya were divided into 262 divisions (matarafa). Divisions of Kenya were further subdivided into locations. Today's counties of Kenya are based on the merging of some of the districts on this list and since the divisions are one level under the districts they are now the sub-counties. This is because Kenya recently changed its constitution and 47 Counties emerged. Here are the divisions listed below, by district :

Mwatate is a town in Taita-Taveta County, Kenya. It is the county capital, although it is the fourth-largest town in the county. Other urban centers in Taita-Taveta County include Voi, Wundanyi and Taveta.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">LUMO Community Wildlife Sanctuary</span>

LUMO Community Wildlife Sanctuary is a community-led wildlife conservation initiative in Kenya. It is located near Mwatate in Taita-Taveta County in the former Coast Province, approximately 220km from Mombasa. It covers an area of 48,000 acres. The sanctuary is formed by the Lualenyi, Mramba Communal Grazing Area, and Oza Community land, hence the acronym "LUMO".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Taita Hills Wildlife Sanctuary</span> Wildlife sanctuary in Kenya

Taita Hills Wildlife Sanctuary is a privately owned wildlife sanctuary and national park in Kenya established in 1972 by Hilton international. It is located in Taita-Taveta County approximately 220 kilometers from Mombasa and 360 km south of Nairobi. The sanctuary covers an area of 28,000 acres (110 km2), and is adjacent to Tsavo West National Park and the LUMO Community Wildlife Sanctuary. It hosts cape buffalo, African bush elephant, leopard, lion, cheetah, Masai giraffe, zebra, hartebeest, impala, waterbuck, Thomson's gazelle, lesser kudu, dik-dik, Hyena, and other smaller animals, including a diversity of birdlife

Tsavo West National Park is located in Taita-Taveta County of Kenya. The park covers an area of 9,065 square kilometres. The A109 road Nairobi-Mombasa and a railway divides it from the adjoining Tsavo East National Park. Together with adjoining ranches and protected areas, they comprise the Tsavo Conservation Area. Tsavo West is a more popular destination due to its magnificent scenery and the Mzima Springs, the rich and varied wildlife, a good road system, a rhino reserve, rock climbing potential and guided walks along the Tsavo River. The park is operated by Kenya Wildlife Service.

Voi Sisal Estate is located near the township of Voi in the Taita-Taveta County of Kenya. It specializes mainly in production of sisal fibre.

Lualenyi Ranch is a private group ranch in Kenya. The ranch is located in Taita-Taveta County next to the Tsavo West National Park and Taita Hills Wildlife Sanctuary. The ranch covers approximately 106,000 acres (430 km2). It has been leased from the government for 99 years. Lualenyi Ranch is part of the LUMO Community Wildlife Sanctuary with Oza and Mramba ranches.

Wesu District Hospital is a 60-bed government hospital in Kenya under the Ministry of Medical Services. It is located in the town of Wundanyi, Taita-Taveta County.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tsavo Trust</span>

The Tsavo Trust is a non-profit wildlife conservation organisation, which covers Tsavo East National Park, Tsavo West National Park, and Chyulu Hills National Park in Kenya. The trust was founded by Nzioki Wa Makau and Richard Moller who is chief executive officer and an experienced bush pilot. The started aim of the trust is the protection of wildlife, especially African elephants, and the reduction of the ivory trade. In June 2014, the Tsavo Trust came into the international spotlight when it announced the death of Kenya's iconic and most well-known elephant, Satao, killed by an ivory poacher with a poisoned arrow.

Arusha–Holili–Taveta–Voi Road (A23) is a road in Tanzania and Kenya, connecting the towns of Arusha, Moshi, and Holili in Tanzania with Taveta and Voi in Kenya.

References

  1. ↑ "description of the districts and provinces". Syracuse University. p. 5. Retrieved 6 October 2023.
  2. ↑ "Kenya Gazette dated 2nd April, 1963" (PDF). Gazettes.Africa. Retrieved 22 September 2023.
  3. ↑ Kenya Food Security (2008). "TAITA TAVETA DISTRICT REPORT LONG RAINS FOOD SECURITY ASSESSMENT" (PDF). kenyafoodsecurity.org. Retrieved 2009-09-03.[ dead link ]

3°20′S38°15′E / 3.333°S 38.250°E / -3.333; 38.250

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