Major Rivers in West Pokot
Suam River: The People’s Beach
Below the iconic Kacheliba Hill, by the shores of River Suam, the morning sun is rising slowly to the real beauty of West Pokot. The fishing birds are busy taking breakfast. The foot prints and marks, show who “toured” the river at night. The presence of huge, broken down and dead trees, show the mighty power of Suam, during the rainy season!! Suam, the river with clean water, that watered the cows of our forefathers for generations, has a camera-ready lovely beachline riverbank.
Apart from the Suam River, which rises in Mount Elgon and runs along the western border, all the other major rivers in West Pokot County rise from the forested summits of Cherangani Hills and flow north to Lake Turkana. The chief of these are the Muruny, after been joined by several tributaries, becomes the Marich and flows through the pass of that name; the Weiwei, which is joined by the Marich and later by the Suam to form the Turkwel, and the Seigha which flows into the Weiwei after crossing the Tamkal plain. All these rivers are permanent.
The Muruny and Weiwei rivers also flow north, from Cherangany Hills, into the Rift valley and form the boundary between West Pokot and Turkana counties. These two rivers, on their wend to Lake Turkana, caused carnage at Kainuk before the A1 highway construction. But their value is inestimable, especially with shift to irrigated agricultural farming. River Muruny in particular will open up farming.
Kenya is blessed with several rivers, each playing a vital role in the country’s ecosystem, economy, and culture. The longest of these is the Tana, stretching approximately 1,000 kilometers from its source in the Aberdare Mountains to the Indian Ocean. Long, wide, short, seasonal, the rivers that crisscross Kenya each contributes to the natural beauty, biodiversity, and socio-economic success.
Index of The Longest Rivers in Kenya
River Tana - approx. 1,000 km: rising in Mount Kenya and Aberdare Ranges and draining into Indian Ocean; Ewaso Nyiro - approx. 700 km: rising in Mount Kenya and draining into the Lorian Swamp; Daua River - approx. 450 km; rising in the Sidamo Highland (through Ethiopia and Kenya) and draining into the Somali Sea; The Mara River - approx. 395 km, formed in Bomet County, after the Nyangores and Amala River merge, it drains into Lake Victoria, and is thus a tributary to the Nile River; Athi-Galana-Sabaki - approx. 390 km; rising in the Aberdare Ranges and draining into Indian Ocean; Mara River - approx. 380 km; rising in the Mau Escarpment and draining into Lake Victoria; Kerio River - approx. 350 km; rising in the Tugen Hills and draining into Lake Turkana; Turkwel River - approx. 340 km; rising in Mount Elgon and draining into Lake Turkana; River Nzoia - approx. 257 km: rising in the Cherangani Hills and draining into Lake Victoria; Southern Ewaso Nyiro - approx. 220 km; rising in the Mau Escarpment and drains into Lake Natron; River Yala - approx. 219 km; rising in the Nandi Escarpment and draining into Lake Victoria; Gucha River - approx. 190 kms: rising in the Kiabonyoru Hills in Nyamira County and draining into Lake Victoria; River Nyando - approx. 153 km: rising in the Mau Escarpment and draining into Lake Victoria
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.
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Explore Destinations Nearby Suam River
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.