Elgeyo Marakwet County encompasses two closely related but geographically distinct Kalenjin sub-groups: Kalenjin (also called Keiyo) and Kalenjin. Together they inhabit the western escarpment of Kenya's Great Rift Valley, with dramatically contrasting environments shaped by altitude and water availability.
Geography: The Escarpment and the Valley
The Kerio Valley divides the two sub-groups. On its western side, the Elgeyo (Keiyo) inhabit the escarpment edge at higher elevation, overlooking the valley's steep drop. On the eastern side of the valley, in the Cherangani Hills, live the Marakwet at even higher altitude and with access to more reliable rainfall and water sources.
The Kerio Valley floor is known as one of Kenya's hottest regions, with sparse vegetation and minimal rainfall. Local herders use the valley for dry season grazing but cannot sustain permanent settlement. The contrast between the arid valley below and the well-watered highlands above profoundly shaped the two sub-groups' economies and societies.
The Elgeyo (Keiyo)
The Elgeyo or Keiyo number approximately 144,000 people and occupy the western escarpment of the Rift Valley. Their territory includes dramatic cliffs, forested slopes, and high-altitude farmland. The terrain, combined with altitude reaching above 2,000 metres, creates conditions ideal for certain crops and, as it turned out, for endurance running training.
The Marakwet
The Marakwet occupy the higher Cherangani Hills (with peaks above 3,000 metres) to the east. The name Marakwet comprises sub-dialects including Almoo, Endoow, and Sombirir (Borokot). Marakwet territory receives more reliable rainfall and has historically been more densely settled than the Keiyo side.
The Ancient Irrigation Furrows
The Marakwet are renowned for their sophisticated system of ancient irrigation furrows, recognized by UNESCO as a potential World Heritage site. These furrows channel water from perennial rivers fed by the Cherangani Hills (including the Embobut, Embolot, and Enou rivers) down the steep escarpment to the warm Endo plains below, where water is distributed through carefully maintained channels to irrigate fields.
This system evolved to manage competing demands for water use across clans. Unlike many African communities that adopted irrigation only under colonial pressure, the Marakwet developed their system independently as a sophisticated solution to their environment's constraints. The furrows remain in active use today and continue to support smallholder farming.
County Governance
Since devolution in 2013, Elgeyo Marakwet County has been governed as a single administrative unit, though political representation reflects the interests of both sub-groups. Governors have included Alex Tolgos (representing Marakwet interests) and subsequent administrations have navigated the balance between the two communities.
See Also
Kalenjin Hub | Kericho County | Nandi County | Baringo County | Uasin Gishu County
Sources
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UNESCO, Marakwet Irrigation Furrows and Water Management Systems. https://whc.unesco.org/en/tentativelists/5964/
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Kenya National Bureau of Statistics, Elgeyo Marakwet County Demographic Profile. https://www.knbs.or.ke/
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International Journal of Heritage Studies, "Ancient Irrigation Systems of the Marakwet." https://www.tandfonline.com/toc/rjhs/current
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World Agroforestry Centre, Cherangani Hills Ecological Assessment. https://www.worldagroforestrycentre.org/