The Great Rift Valley is part of an intra-continental ridge system that runs through Kenya from north to south. It is part of the Gregory Rift , the eastern branch of the East African Rift , which starts in Tanzania to the south and continues northward into Ethiopia . It was formed on the "Kenyan Dome", a geographical upwelling created by the interactions of three major tectonics: the Arabian, Nubian, and Somalian plates. In the past, it was seen as part of a " Great Rift Valley " that runs from Madagascar to Syria . Most of the valley falls within the former Rift Valley Province .
44-708: Nakuru (also lesser known as Nax vegas ) is a city in the Rift Valley region of Kenya. It is the capital of Nakuru County , and it is the fourth largest city in Kenya and the largest in the Great Rift Valley, Kenya|Rift Valley region. As of 2019, Nakuru had an urban population of 570,674, making it the largest urban center in the Rift Valley, above Eldoret , Uasin Gishu County . The city lies along
88-517: A giant crack in the Earth, measuring 50 feet deep and 65 feet across, opened in the ground just west of Nairobi . However, it is believed to be due to rain and erosion, and not of tectonic origin. The valley is bordered by escarpments to the east and west. The floor is broken by volcanoes, some still active, and contains a series of lakes. Some of the soils are Andisols , fertile soils from relatively recent volcanic activity. Lake Turkana occupies
132-468: A wide range of subjects which are all examinable in the final exam (KCSE): Maths, English, Kiswahili, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Geography, History and Religious Education. These are all mandatory during the first two years. Other examinable subjects are : The Commercials : The Applied Technicals : The school prides itself as being the only one in Kenya that offers ten technical subjects,
176-497: Is a dormant stratovolcano located southeast of Lake Naivasha . Mount Suswa is a shield volcano located between Narok and Nairobi . Lava flows from the most recent eruptions are still not covered by vegetation, and may be no more than one hundred years old. Lake Magadi is the most southern rift valley lake in Kenya, although the northern end of Lake Natron in Tanzania reaches into Kenya. The Elgeyo escarpment forms part of
220-402: Is a massive shield volcano in the floor of the rift with a caldera that formed about 8,000 years ago. It overlooks Lake Nakuru to the south. This region also includes Lake Elementaita , Mount Kipipiri and Lake Naivasha . The Hell's Gate National Park lies south of Lake Naivasha . In the early 1900s, Mount Longonot erupted, and ash can still be felt around Hell's Gate. Mount Longonot
264-610: Is a public library run by the Kenya National Library Service. The Nakuru hospital is one of the largest in the county, historically the biggest in the province of Rift Valley. It is also home to the Nakuru War Memorial Hospital, opened shortly after World War I by Norman Jewell to commemorate troops. Nakuru has a fire department that can be accessed by calling 911. The number can be called in case of any other emergencies. Nakuru
308-538: Is a small agricultural town with a local university aimed at promoting agricultural development in Kenya , namely Egerton University established in 1934. Nakuru is the headquarters of Nakuru County . The current governor is Susan Kihika , and the Member of Parliament for the town is David Gikaria . The senator for Nakuru is Tabitha Karanja . Nakuru is a sister city of East Orange, New Jersey , United States. Great Rift Valley, Kenya The valley contains
352-641: Is categorised as a national school, meaning it recruits students who do well from all over Kenya according to the Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE). It is the only national school in Kenya with a curriculum that also favours visually impaired students. The school admits several visually impaired students every year and has programs to ensure they blend well with other students. The old education system (O-Level and A-Level System) consisted of first forms to sixth forms but after changes occurred it changed to first to fourth forms. The school offers
396-586: Is home to the Lanet Airstrip , later approved in 2017 to be upgraded to an international airport by the Ministry of Transport and the county government. Nakuru is also home to Kabarak Airstrip, located 20 kilometres (12 mi) away from the city centre. Dondori Road C86 links the city to central Kenya. The Eldoret-Nairobi highway passes through this city, linking Uasin Gishu County with Nairobi. The Rift Valley Railways narrow gauge track runs through
440-407: Is internationally known for its dense flamingo population. It is an important feeding site for great white pelicans that nest in nearby Lake Elmenteita . The park is home to over 450 species of birds and 56 mammal species, including Rothschild's giraffes . Another point of interest includes Menengai Crater , a dormant volcano . Small fumaroles and steam vents can regularly be observed within
484-548: Is the most important feeding area for lesser flamingos in the world. The system is home to globally important populations of black-necked grebe , African spoonbill , pied avocet , little grebe , yellow-billed stork , black-winged stilt , grey-headed gull and gull-billed tern . The Kenya lake system is a key location on the West Asian-East African Flyway , a route followed by huge numbers of birds in their annual migration from breeding grounds in
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#1732772308158528-563: The Cherangani Hills and a chain of volcanoes, some of which are still active. The climate is mild, with temperatures usually below 28 °C (82 °F). Most rain falls during the March–June and October–November periods. The Tugen Hills to the west of Lake Baringo contain fossils preserved in lava flows from the period 14 to 4 million years ago. The relics of many hominids, ancestors of humans, have been found here. In March 2018,
572-618: The Nairobi–Nakuru Highway , 160 kilometres (99 mi) from Nairobi , the capital city of Kenya. Archaeological discoveries were located about 8 kilometres (26,000 ft) from the Central Business District at Hyrax Hill . The city was incepted on 28 January 1904 when a local area one mile away from the railway station's main entrance was proclaimed to be a township by the British authorities. The name of
616-587: The Nguruman Escarpment is around 50 kilometers long and elongated in N-W direction. Its northern edge is about 120 kilometres (75 mi) southwest of Nairobi, while the southern edge is near the Tanzanian border, at the northwestern corner of Lake Natron . The Aberdare Range forms a section of the eastern rim of the Great Rift Valley to the north of Nairobi. Mount Satima lies at the northern end of
660-565: The Aberdares and is their highest point, and Mount Kinangop at the southern end is the second highest. The mountains form a ridge between these two peaks. Ngong Hills are peaks in a ridge along the east of the Great Rift Valley, located southwest near Nairobi. Kenya is home to 64 (9.50%) of the total lakes found within the continent of Africa. Eight of these make up the main lakes in the Kenyan Rift Valley. From north to south,
704-752: The East Africa region. It is held at the Nakuru Athletics Club. Nakuru is one of six cities to host a leg of the national rugby sevens circuit. Nakuru's part in the competition is referred to as the Prinsloo sevens . It has contributed to one of Nakuru's nicknames, Nax Vegas. A motor racing track, Nakuru Park (not to be confused with the Langa Langa circuit near Gilgil ), operated in the Lake View Estate area from 1956 until
748-529: The Kalenjin coming in second place. According to the 2019 Kenya Population Census, Nakuru had the third-largest urban population in Kenya. The diverse populace of Nakuru makes it a hub for entrepreneurship. It also gives it a blend of cultures underpinning the city's culture of hospitality and cuisine. Surrounding towns include the residential town Lanet, approximately 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) from Nakuru. Njoro lies 20 kilometres (12 mi) from Nakuru and
792-607: The Kenyan Premier League. The stadium holds 8,200 people and opened in 1948. It is two kilometres from the famous Lake Nakuru National Park. Although it was used for playing sports, Afraha Stadium became famous for hosting many political meetings, including the GEMA promoted change The Constitution Series held in the 1970s. The former ruling party KANU also held many prominent meetings during the presidency of Daniel arap Moi . Nakuru has local skaters and skateboarders in
836-545: The Leakeys in 1926, is considered a major Neolithic and Iron Age site. The adjoining museum features finds from various nearby excavations. The food culture of Nakuru includes a variety of local and international cuisines. Afraha Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium in Nakuru, Kenya. It is mainly used for football matches, and it is the home stadium of Nakuru AllStars — part of the Kenyan Premier League — and Ulinzi Stars of
880-502: The Maasai market area on weekends. The Rift Valley Sports Club lies in the centre of the city. The club was started in 1907 by European settlers who had settled in Nakuru in the early 1900s. A number of sporting activities are hosted at this club, including cricket . The local Indian community can be found at cricket fixtures throughout the year. The city hosts an annual rugby festival, The Great Rift 10-a-side, featuring teams throughout
924-499: The National and East Africa titles in 2004 and 2005 consecutively. Before the school was split, it had the largest number of students in the country one stream having seven or eight classes each with students not less than 50 so that each year a class had between 300 and 450 students - a number equivalent to a whole school in most places. By mid-2000 this uncontrolled admission led to leaders calling for its split along gender lines. It
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#1732772308158968-771: The Republic of Kenya chartered Nakuru on 1 December 2021. It is the fourth urban centre in Kenya to be declared a city after Nairobi , Mombasa , and Kisumu . The city of Nakuru is situated in Nakuru County, Kenya. It lies 1,850 metres above sea level. Nakuru County holds four of the Rift Valley lakes, Lake Solai , Lake Nakuru , Lake Elementaita , and Lake Naivasha . Nakuru has temperate and subtropical highland climates (known as Csb ); temperatures fall significantly at night and between June and August. The Nyayo Gardens are located along Kenyatta Avenue in Nakuru. Agriculture , manufacturing and tourism make up
1012-544: The West. The school was founded in 1927 as Francis Scott High School but later renamed to Nakuru High School after Kenya attained independence in 1963. The first stone was laid by the then colonial governor Edward William Macleay Grigg . It has roughly 200 acres of land facing Menengai Crater . Initially the co-educational institution was reserved for children of the whites who lived in the outlying farming areas and British administrators. All teachers, masters (as they were called at
1056-563: The city with a railway station located on the edge of the CBD . It connects to cities Nairobi and Mombasa to the east, and Kisumu and Eldoret to the west. Two kilometres south of the town of Nakuru is Lake Nakuru , one of the Rift Valley soda lakes , which forms part of the Lake Nakuru National Park . The park was declared a rhinoceros sanctuary in 1983 a Ramsar site in 1990, and as an Important Bird Area in 2009. The park
1100-697: The economy of Nakuru. Around the city, it is widely known for its agricultural activity. The main crops grown include coffee, wheat, barley , maize, beans , and potatoes. These crops are stored in great silos at the outskirts of the city, stored by the National Cereals and Produce Board and Lesiolo Grain Handlers Limited. The crops are the main sources for manufacturing industries found in Nakuru and Nairobi, such as flour milling and grain ginneries. Dairy farming supplies milk processing plants within Nakuru. Some manufacturing industries include
1144-479: The forested caldera from above. The second largest surviving volcanic crater in the world, it plunges 483 metres down from the rim, and the summit is accessible by walking or driving 8 kilometres to Nyahururu . The wood-covered crater ground is a nature reserve. Nakuru's closest tourist destinations are Lake Bogoria and Lake Baringo in Baringo County . The Hyrax Hill prehistoric site, discovered by
1188-555: The main thoroughfare to the capital, Nairobi. Nakuru is the home of Egerton University and Kabarak University , a private university associated with former President Moi 's business and religious interests. Mount Kenya University , University of Nairobi and Kenyatta University have campuses situated here. Nakuru contains numerous public and private secondary schools. Public schools include Nakuru Boys High School and Nakuru Girls High School (formerly Nakuru High School), Menengai High School, and Nakuru Day Secondary School. There
1232-527: The mid 1980s. Nakuru is host to a diverse populace from across Kenya making it fit the description of a cosmopolitan city. The city consists predominantly of ethnic communities such as the Kikuyu people , Kalenjin , Luhya , Gusii , Luo , and people of Indian descent. Moreover, some settler families still live in the area today. However, the majority, about 70% of Nakuru's population is the Kikuyu community with
1276-451: The names of these lakes are Lake Turkana , Lake Logipi , Lake Baringo , Lake Bogoria , Lake Nakuru , Lake Elmenteita , Lake Naivasha , and Lake Magadi . Of those eight, only Lakes Baringo and Naivasha are fresh water. Lake Turkana, at the northern end of the rift, is 250 kilometres (160 mi) long, between 15 kilometres (9.3 mi) and 30 kilometres (19 mi) wide and is 125 metres (410 ft) at its greatest depth. Most of
1320-528: The north to wintering places in Africa. The lands around the lakes include large populations of black rhino, Rothschild's giraffe, greater kudu, lion, cheetah and wild dogs. The Kenya lake system is surrounded by the steep escarpment of the Rift Valley, which provides a spectacular backdrop. Other lakes are Lake Chew Bahir , in the northeast extension. This lake lies mainly in Ethiopia but extends into Kenya in
1364-568: The northern end of the Great Rift Valley in Kenya. There are also volcanoes in Lake Turkana. The Suguta Valley , or Suguta Mud Flats, is an arid part of the Great Rift Valley directly south of Lake Turkana . The shield volcano Emuruangogolak straddles the valley to the south of Suguta, and further south Mount Silali and Paka rise from the valley floor. Paka is a shield volcano, with widespread geothermal activity. South of Paka are Mount Korosi , Lake Baringo and Lake Bogoria . Menengai
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1408-500: The only one unavailable at the moment being Aviation which is offered at Mangu High School The school has 11 houses, in two wings, named after Kenya's lakes: Western Wing: Eastern Wing: The school has a variety of Clubs and Societies. Some clubs like the Mathematics club, Junior Achievement club and Science club have represented the school at national, continental and international levels. The Mathematics club has produced
1452-403: The other lakes are shallow and poorly drained, and therefore have become alkaline. They have waters that are rich in blue-green algae, which feed insect larvae, small crustaceans and lesser flamingos . The larvae and crustaceans are food for fish and greater flamingos . Massive flocks of these birds have been found to have an effect on the lakeside sediments also. Their numbers cause trampling of
1496-400: The production of soaps, motorcycles, batteries, and gardening equipment. Nakuru is one of Kenya's largest hubs for retail supermarket chains with The Nakumatt, Naivas , Tuskys , and Gilanis being founded. The city is also a centre for various retail businesses that provide goods and services to the manufacturing and agricultural sectors. A large public market lies to the west of the town on
1540-537: The rainy season. Lake Kamnarok is another small lake. Nakuru Boys High School Nakuru Boys High School is an all-boys high school in Nakuru , Kenya . It is among the 17 traditional national schools of Kenya, that have been in existence for more than 30 years. Nakuru High School is one of Kenya's National Schools located in Nakuru City, off Nakuru-Nyahururu highway. It borders Nakuru State House to
1584-631: The school was opened to girls, making it the only national co-educational school in the whole country. A few years later, black teachers were employed, and in 1982 the first black principal, Francis Kesui, was appointed to the school. The school has produced notable leaders, scholars, actors and countless professionals and performs well in National Examinations. Rugby is a signature game for Nakuru High School. Multiple times has it dominated provincial rugby competition but has faced stiff competition at national level lately, despite having bagged
1628-629: The silts in certain areas, while the feeding grounds are oxygenated due to probing beaks in the mud. Their nest mounds can also be preserved and cemented as the lake's water levels change. These form irregularities in the lakeside topography. Trona , an evaporative mineral, used for sodium carbonate production, has been mined at Lake Magadi for nearly 100 years. It produces about 250,000 metric tonnes per year. Other precious minerals like rubies and pink sapphires have been found and mined from areas around Lake Baringo. In 2004, over 2 kilograms of Corundum were collected. Three shallow alkaline lakes and
1672-422: The surrounding lands make up the Kenya lake system: Lake Bogoria at 10,700 hectares (26,000 acres), Lake Nakuru at 18,800 hectares (46,000 acres) and Lake Elmenteita at 2,534 hectares (6,260 acres). This system has one of the most diverse populations of birds in the world, and is the home of thirteen globally threatened species of bird. It is an important nesting and breeding site for great white pelicans , and
1716-414: The time) were also white. First formed as a boarding school, it still allowed day pupils on condition that they lived around the school. By the late 1950s, the school had grown to have a swimming pool, numerous rugby pitches, basketball courts, football pitches, hockey and cricket fields. The school also had well equipped learning resources. It has fully furbished classrooms, and science laboratories. Unique
1760-535: The town was derived from the Maasai -speaking people of Kenya. During the colonial era, the British established Nakuru as part of the White Highlands and it became a municipality in 1952. After the founding of the Republic of Kenya, the first and second presidents of Kenya, Jomo Kenyatta and Daniel Arap Moi respectively, had their semi-official residences. The city had been known for Kenyan politics and
1804-649: The western wall. The Kerio Valley lies between the Tugen Hills and the Elgeyo escarpment at an elevation of 1,000 metres (3,300 ft) There are large deposits of Fluorite in the Kerio Valley area. Further south the Mau Escarpment is a steep natural cliff approximately 1,000 m (3,300 ft) high, running along the western edge of the Great Rift Valley about Lake Naivasha . Yet further south
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1848-497: Was also arguable that despite being mixed, girls had their own classes and dining hall. The aim was to reduce the number to ease management and to subsequently improve academic performance. In 2006 the school was split into the current Nakuru Boys High School and Nakuru Girls High School. Both schools have since recorded noticeable improvement in KCSE performance. Diligentia Servo which translates to "Learn To Serve" Nakuru High School
1892-622: Was home to politicians such as Kariuki Chotara, Kihika Kimani, Mirugi Kariuki, and Koigi Wamwere. During the 2007 post-election violence, dozens of buildings in Nakuru were burnt to the ground. On 3 June 2021, Nakuru was no longer a municipality after the Kenyan Senate voted that its status was adequate enough to be a city. Following the Senate of Kenya 's approval in June, the President of
1936-470: Was the weather station where geography students took practical lessons. To keep up with its fast pace of growth, a large contingent of residential subordinate staff was employed. After Kenya's Independence in 1963, gradual changes followed including the school being renamed and the first admissions of children of African origin. The first black students who pioneered entry to the school suffered harsh racial discrimination from students of Asian descent. In 1964
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