Kapedo

Kapedo
Kapedo
Location of Kapedo
Coordinates: 1°10′N 36°06′E / 1.17°N 36.1°E / 1.17; 36.1Coordinates: 1°10′N 36°06′E / 1.17°N 36.1°E / 1.17; 36.1
Country Kenya
County Turkana County
Time zone UTC+3 (EAT)
Climate BSh

Kapedo is a trading center in Turkana East Constituency of Turkana County Government, in Kenya's former Rift Valley Province. It is a four-hour drive from Nakuru town.

Administratively, it is headed by a chief (National Government), to be assisted by a village administrator (yet to be recruited by the County Government).

The village lies to the west of Mount Silali in the floor of the Great Rift Valley at the head of the Suguta Valley.

The Suguta River enamates from hot springs just east of the village, and is joined by the Kapedo River flowing from the west.[1]

The village, occupied by Turkana people in a slum, is in a hot semi-desert area. Most houses are semi-permanent, made of iron sheets on roof and mud on the walls. There are also houses made of mud and palm leaves. However, due to the prospective LAPPSET, the village has a number of permanent houses with bricks from the local quarry, "Ng'amor nyangae' translated as the yellow stones.

Kapedo is a trading center with a few shops selling basic goods such as flour, tea, sugar and kerosene.

The village is about to benefit from devolution as the Turkana County Government has advertised a tender for the installation of street lights to enhance security and enable small business owners to extend the closing time, that has hitherto been 1800hrs.

There is very little agricultural land, so the people mainly depend on raising goats and camels. Conflict with the neighboring Pokot people creates risk in both farming and herding.[2]

The village is home to four learning institutions: Kapedo Mixed Boarding Primary School, Kapedo Girls Primary School, Lopalal Academy and the Kapedo Mixed Secondary School, which was completed and had a staff of eight, mostly BOM teachers over 180 pupils. The capacity of the school is much higher but few students can afford even the modest fees.[3]

As of 2011 the Kapedo Sub-District Hospital had 28 beds and four cots. It provided in-patient and out-patient services related to maternity, HIV and tuberculosis.[4]

Kapedo has high potential but it is limited mostly due to the defunct hydro-electric power plant that has been desolate for years since the departure of the Finnish missionaries. The 'mission' coined for the Kapedo Mixed Primary School, Hospital, Full Gospel Church, the garage and the guest house were the heavily hit after the redundancy of the HEP project.

Due to insecurity from the neighboring Pokot community and being a border village, Kapedo is a host to a platoon of General Service Unit, an Administration Police camp and a number of National Police Reservists. A police station was built by Turkana East NG-CDF FY 2015/2016 under the tutelage of the then area member of Parliament.

References

  1. ↑ Andrews, Peter; Banham, Peter; Bishop, Walter W. (1999). Late cenozoic environments and hominid evolution: a tribute to the late Bill Bishop. Geological Society. ISBN 1-86239-036-3.
  2. ↑ "Kikapu project (2008)". Liana ry. 14 June 2008. Retrieved 2012-01-02.
  3. ↑ Mutambo, Aggrey (30 November 2010). "Where Guns Guard Empty School Dorms". Daily Nation. Retrieved 2012-01-02.
  4. ↑ "Kapedo Sub-District Hospital". eHealth Kenya. Retrieved 2012-01-02.
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