Taveta | |
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  Taveta Location of Taveta | |
| Coordinates: 03°23′44″S37°40′34″E / 3.39556°S 37.67611°E | |
| Country | Kenya |
| County | Taita-Taveta County |
| Elevation | 1,000 m (3,300 ft) |
| Population (2019 [1] ) | |
• Total | 22,018 |
| Time zone | UTC+3 (EAT) |
Taveta is a town in the Taita-Taveta County, Kenya.
Taveta town is wedged into a projection of Kenyan territory bordered on the north and west by Tanzania.
The town lies at the border with Tanzania, directly across from the town of Holili. This is approximately 111 kilometres (69 mi), by road, west of Voi, the nearest large town, on the Arusha–Holili–Taveta–Voi Road. [2] This lies approximately 305 kilometres (190 mi), by road southeast of Nairobi, the capital and largest city in Kenya. [3] The coordinates of the town are:3°23'44.0"S, 37°40'34.0"E (Latitude:-3.395565; Longitude:37.676113). [4] In addition to Mount Kilimanjaro, Taveta also enjoys proximity to Lake Chala, a volcanic freshwater lake of extraordinary depth.
In 1914, Taveta was the scene of the first military action in East Africa between forces of the British and German empires. On 15 August, a German force of about 300 soldiers, led by Captain Tom von Prince, advanced across the border and seized the town of Taveta. The objective was both to strengthen the defence of German East Africa and to provide a base for attacks into British territory, especially on the Uganda Railway. [5]
Corporal Murimu Mwiti, leading the small group of police that were defending Taveta, stood his ground and was killed by the advancing German forces. A German officer, Friedrich Broeker, was also shot before the British force retreated. Taveta remained in German hands until it was recaptured by the British in March 1916. [6] [7] [8]
Taveta thrives as a point of commerce between Kenya and Tanzania, with a twice-weekly open - air market especially large for a town of its size. The market is fueled in part by Taveta's rail connection through Voi with the Mombasa-Nairobi-Kampala line, built during the era of British Kenya. Large numbers of people walk across the border from Tanzania to buy and sell wares in Taveta; smuggled goods such as Tanzanian rubies and coffee are occasionally available there.
Taveta Town is a fast-growing town. The Town Council of Taveta has acquired a 20 square kilometres (4,900 acres) former sisal plantation for town expansion. All government border offices are located some 5 kilometres (3 mi), west of the central business district of the town, towards the border with Tanzania. The Holili/Taveta customs and immigration post is a One Stop Border Post. [9]
The current (2014) Member of Parliament for Taveta Constituency, which is largely the district and by extension the town, is Dr. Naomi Shaaban. She is a third term Member of Parliament.
At one time, Taveta has had several Members of Parliament from different tribes, namely Mwacharo Kubo a taita, Norman Lukindo a kamba, Jackson Mwalulu a kamba, Alex Dingiria, Othinel Mnene, Naomi Shaaban, all Tavetas, and even a Kenyan of Greek origin, Basil Criticos.
As of 2019 [update] , the urban center had a population of 22,018. [1] The main ethnicities in Taveta are the Taveta and Kamba tribes.
Kitui is a town and capital of Kitui County in Kenya, 185 kilometres east of Nairobi and 105 kilometres east of Machakos. it covers an area approximately 30,496.4 km squares and lies between latitudes 0°10 South and 3°0 South and longitudes 37°50 East and 39°0 East. It borders seven counties i.e. Machakos and Makueni counties to the west, Tana River County to the east and south-east, Taita Taveta County to the south, Embu to the north-west, and Tharaka-Nithi and Meru counties to the north. Kitui became the headquarters of Kitui County after the adoption of the new constitution and coming into effect of devolved governments.
Voi is the largest town in Taita-Taveta County, Kenya, in the former Coast Province. It is located at the western edge of Taru Desert, south and west of 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.
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.
Taita–Taveta County is a county in Kenya, located approximately 200 km northwest of Mombasa, and 360 km southeast of Nairobi, it has 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.
Mpeketoni is a town in Lamu County, on the Kenyan coast. It is a settlement scheme started in 1960s by the first president of the Republic of Kenya, Jomo Kenyatta near a fresh water lake bearing his name.
Bura is a town in Taita-Taveta County, Kenya.
Mwatate is a town in Taita-Taveta County, Kenya. It is the county's capital, although it is the fourth-largest town in the county. Other urban centers in Taita-Taveta County include Voi, Wundanyi and Taveta.
Mombasa Road, also known as the Nairobi–Mombasa Road, or Mombasa–Nairobi Road or A109 Road (Kenya) is the main road between Nairobi, Kenya's capital and largest city and Mombasa, the country's largest port city. The road is a component of the Northern Corridor. It is part of the Lagos–Mombasa Highway.
The A23 is a major road in Kenya linking the towns of Voi and Taveta, before crossing the Tanzanian border and serving the towns of Moshi and Arusha. The Taveta branch of the Uganda Railway runs along the road. It is part of the Arusha–Holili–Taveta–Voi Road.
Voi Airport is an airport in Voi, Kenya.
Kilaguni is a location in Kenya.
Mackinnon Road Airport is an airport in Mackinnon Road, Kenya.
Taita-Taveta District was a district of Kenya, located in the Coast Province of the country. It lies approximately 200 km northwest of Mombasa city and 360 km southeast of Nairobi city.
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.
Holili, is a town in Rombo District, Kilimanjaro Region, in northeastern Tanzania, at the border with Kenya.
The Malindi–Bagamoyo Highway, also Coastline Transnational Highway, is a road in Kenya and Tanzania, connecting the cities of Malindi and Mombasa in Kenya to Tanga and Bagamoyo in Tanzania.
Isbania, also Isibania, is a town in Migori County of Kenya, at the International border with Tanzania.
The A6 road is a road in Kenya spanning 113 kilometers which serves as an east–west artery in Kenya, connecting the Tanzanian border at Taveta to the bustling A8 route at Voi. The trunk road provides a crucial link between the two points, facilitating the flow of traffic and commerce across the region.
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