Attractions in West Pokot County
Abandoned Former State House at Turkwel
Abandoned building, exceptionally when associated with nobility, evoke a sense of mystery and intrigue, often shrouded in tales of their past glory and eventual decline. Abandoned circa 2007, situated at the banks of Turkwel Gorge, looking out to Riting Hills, this former presidential state house now stands as a instriguing ruin. If you ever fancied up setting foot in a state lodge, this abandoned lodge near Turkwel will assuredly get you a feel of the affairs, albeit not in the posh condition afforded to its peers. Still, it inspires curiosity and wonder in those who visit it.
Daniel Moi, Kenya’s second president, was the last president to patronize the lodge in company of many high level officials. His successors Mwai Kibaki and Uhuru Kenyatta did not call on the lodge during its time of operation. The last of the emissaries to stay here was former Vice President Moody Awori in 2006 during Tegla Loroupe Peace Marathon at Turkwel Gorge. It maybe, perhaps, its proximity to the rest of Kenya, in a desolate backwood, that led to its discredit.
This multi-million residence, once a heavily guarded home, is now slowly fading away. Kenya now has eight working presidential state lodges at Mombasa, Kisumu, Eldoret, Kakamega Cherangani, Nakuru, Sagana and Rumuruti Lodge. However, all is not lost on this place, since many private companies and residents have advocated for its restoration. In 2024 the government duly announced plans to renovate Turkwel State Lodge in West Pokot County at a cost of Sh230 million.
Touring West Pokot County in Kenya offers a chance to explore a region known for its iconic, rugged landscapes, vibrant cultures, and rich traditions. Located in the extreme northwest part of the country, bordering Uganda, West Pokot County is primary inhabited by the Pokot community, known for their pastoralist lifestyle.
You Are Here: Former State Lodge
Where to Next?
Explore Destinations Nearby Former State Lodge
A Guide to West Pokot County
A Summa Digest of West Pokot
About West Pokot Way Back When
32 Destinations in West Pokot County, arranged as one would visit these - south to northeast - with the aid of narratives, images, strip maps and distance chart:
Kaisagat Viewpoint, Barnley's Guest House, Kapkoris Hill Viewpoint, Dini ya Roho Church, Mount Murpus, Chewoyet High School, Kapenguria Museum, Kapenguria Town, Chelanga Gardens, Tartar Falls, Kacheliba, Holy Cross Church Kacheliba, Alale Gold Mines, Suam River Beach, Kamatira Forest, Lounon Village, Cherangani Hills, Marich Pass, Marich Pass Center, Kang'alan Escarpment, Kolloa Cross Monument, Weiwei Irrigation Scheme, Tamkal Valley, Mount Koh, Sekerr Range, Mount Mtelo View Lodge, Nasolot National Reserve, Turkwel Dam, Turkwel Gorge, State Lodge, Riting
Know More About West Pokot County: Geography, Land-Use, Highlights, Population, Roads - including a distance chart, Airports, Climate & National Monuments
West Pokot has significant variations in temperature with the lower lands experiencing temperatures of up to 33oC, and highlands experiencing modest temperatures of 15oC.
West Pokot County is marked by a variety of topographic features – dry plains in the north, a hatful of ranges and hills in the mid, and in the south east Cherangani Hills.