Taita Taveta County News

Taita Taveta County is located in the Coastal region of Kenya, it borders Makueni County, Kitui County, and Tana River County to the North, Kilifi County and Kwale County to the East, the Republic of Tanzania to the South and South-west, and Kajiado County to the North West.

What is known as the Taita tribe actually consists of three separate but closely-related tribes: Wadawida (or Taita), Wasaghala (Sagalla) and Wataveta (Taveta). The Taita Hills are mainly Precambrian mountain ranges consisting of three massifs; Dawida, Saghalla and Kasighau with Dawida outcropping the rest at 2,228 metres above sea level at its highest peak – Vuria; it also has three other main peaks – Iyale, Wesu and Susu. The Taita have a variation of dialects that include the Mbololo, Bura, Wusi, Kidaya, Mghange, Chawia, Mwanda, Kishamba, Werugha, Wumingu, and Wundanyi whereas the Kisaghalla and Kasighau stand on their own as self-sustaining dialects.

Political History of Taita Taveta County

Taita Hills have significant political stories to tell with sites like Mile 27, the Mashoti encampment, Mbuyuni, Salaita, Latema, Reata and the fortifications near Maktau portraying events dating back 100 years ago during world war 1; the only memorabilia of the battleground being the war cemetery segregated into white and Asian races. There is a story told of a German lady sniper supposedly hidden in a hollow Baobab tree, out to avenge her husband, leading it to become a target for the British. The baobab tree survived as the most-shot-at tree during World War One and still has the bullet holes to show till date.

  Taita-Taveta court of arm

Taita Taveta County Biodiversity

Some of the endemic species that call Taita hills home include Bird species like the Taita Thrush, the Taita White-eye and the Taita Apalis, a unique rear-fanged snake – Amblyodipsas teitana, an endemic toad – Bufo Teitensis, and butterflies; the Taita Glider, Taita Charaxes, Cymothoe teita, Papilio desmond teita and Taita Swallowtail. There are at least nine plant species found nowhere else in the world but on these moist slopes including the African violet – Saintpaulia teitensis, Memecyclon teitensis, Milletia obrata, Psychotria petitae. Trailing the forest within the first morning sun rays, one is also bound to chance upon an endemic species of chameleon – Bradpodium Kinyongia. For birding enthusiasts, Taita hills are home to species like Orange Ground Thrush, Stripe-cheeked Greenbul, Cabanis’s Greenbul, Hartlaub’s Turaco, Evergreen Forest Warbler, Yellow-throated Woodland Warbler amongst others.

Taita Taveta County – Culture

Taita-Taveta County is a county of Kenya. It lies approximately 200 km northwest of Mombasa and 360 km southeast of Nairobi. The capital is Mwatate even though it is the third-largest town in the county after Voi, Wundanyi and Taveta in that order. The population of the county 30 years ago was approximately 45,000 persons but this has shot up to well over 250,000 persons with population densities ranging from 3 persons per km2. to more than 800 persons per km2. This is due to the varied rainfall and terrain with the lower zones receiving an average 440 mm of rain per annum and the highland areas receiving up to 1900 mm of rain. The range rises in altitude from 500 m above sea level to almost 2,300 a.s.a at vuria peak which is the highest.

In 2007, the Taita-Taveta District was split into two districts: the Taita District and the Taveta District. The two were subsequently reunited to form Taita-Taveta County

 Land Use in Taita Taveta County

The county covers an area of 17,083.9 km2. of which a bulk 62% or 11,100 km2. is within Tsavo East and Tsavo West National Parks. The remaining 5,876 km2 is occupied by ranches, sisal estates, water bodies such as Lakes Chala and Jipe in Taveta and mzima springs, and the hilltop forests which occupy less than 100 km2. or approximately 10 km² out of 587.5 km².

The lowland areas of the district that are do not belong to national parks are divided into ranches, estates, and wildlife sanctuaries. The district has approximately 25 ranches. The mainland used in ranch is cattle grazing. The three operating sisal estates of the district are the Teita Sisal Estate, Voi Sisal Estate, and Taveta Sisal Estate. Many ranches utilize also wildlife tourism and conservation. The Taita Hills and Saltlick Lodge sanctuary is located in the district.

There are 48 forests which have survived on hilltops in the district of which 28 are gazetted and are under government protection and management. They range in size from small 500 square metres with a few remnant trees to modestly vast 2 square kilometres indigenous and exotic forest mountains. These forests are part of a unique Eastern Arch range of forests which are found mostly in Eastern Tanzania with the Taita Hills forming the only Kenyan Eastern Arc forest type in East Africa.

The Taita Hills forest holds unique biodiversity with 13 taxa of plants and 9 taxa of animals found only in the Taita Hills and nowhere else in the world. In addition, 22 plant species found in the Taita Hills forests are typical of the Eastern Arc forests. The next being in eastern Tanzania. Some of the endemic African violet – Saintpaulia teitensis among others. Within these beautiful indigenous forests, bubble pure clean water to the lowland areas to cater for both human agricultural activities and wildlife in the Taita game sanctuary and Aruba dam in Tsavo East. The lower plains are thus supplied with water by the forests in the hills which are a good catchment of rains.

Constituencies in Taita Taveta County

The county has four constituencies:

1. Taveta Constituency
2. Wundanyi Constituency
3. Mwatate Constituency
4. Voi Constituency

Ranches, estates and sanctuaries in Taita-Taveta County

The large scale land use units of the Taita-Taveta County consists of 21 ranching units, two wildlife sanctuaries and three sisal estates.

Wildlife sanctuaries

1. Taita Hills Wildlife Sanctuary
2. LUMO Community Wildlife Sanctuary

Ranches

1. Amaka Ranch
2. Bura Ranch
3. Choke Ranch
4. Dawida Ranch
5. Kambanga Ranch
6. Kasigau Ranch
7. Kishushe Cooperative Ranch
8. Kuma Ranch
9. Lualenyi Private Ranch
10. Maungu Ranch
11. Mbale Ranch
12. Mbulia Ranch
13. Mgeno Ranch
14. Mramba Ranch
15. Mwasui Ranch
16. Ndara Ranch
17. Oza Ranch
18. Rukinga Ranch
19. Sagalla Ranch
20. Taita Ranch
21. Wushumbu Ranch
22. Estates
23. Kidai Sisal Estate (not operational)
24. Taveta Sisal Estate
25. Teita Sisal Estate
26. Voi Sisal Estate

 Traditional Taita Festivals, Dress, Dance, Houses & Farming

The people in our community have different ways of life as a result of their customs and traditions. The culture of the people is shown through:-

Festivals:

Harvest: Festivals were held after something special has taken place like good harvest/music competition.
Childbirth: Ceremonies are held to mark a major event like birth, naming of a baby, initiation, marriage or death.
Child Naming: The birth of the child was considered a major event. People come with gifts to see the newborn baby and special food and drinks are made and this child is blessed. The children are named after their dead relatives, naming after relatives, according to season depending on when the time the child is born – like Mwanjala (born during drought), Wamvua (born during rain season), Tabu (born during troubles), Mwashimba (born when lions were seen).
Initiation: Initiation is a right of passage from childhood to adulthood. After circumcision one starts being treated as an adult and one had to change his or her behaviour completely. Mostly they learn how to behave as responsible members of the community. Both boys and girls were circumcised using knives, we call it Kuchwa in Taita language. But today the circumcision of girls is discouraged because it affects their health and education. Nowadays also the boys are taken to the hospital. This helps the spread of diseases such as HIV/AIDS.

Dress :

Sometimes back ancestors (living dead) used to wear skins from goats or sheep. They were used to cover the lower part of the body. Some used to wear the barks of big trees. Most women used banana leaves as a woman respective attire. There is also a mode of dressing meant for the woman called mahando. This was worn during traditional dances and it is made from sisal.

Dance :

The traditional dance is called Kirindi in Taita language. They used instruments, live horns (nderera), whistle (firimbi), jingles (njuga), mwazindika (a drum made with a hollow trunk of tree covered with skin on top and bottom.

Houses :

The traditional house’s walls were made from mud and the roofs were made of grass. The house itself is round shaped and has a kingpost which is located at the center to support the other wooden pieces which were tied around the house to create space for the grass to be thatched through. In these houses, they used hides as their beddings and also they used them as chairs (hides).

Farming :

The Taita people used to grow maize, peas, cowpeas, green grams, cassava, sweet potatoes, yams, pumpkins, bananas, millet, watermelons, orange trees, avocado, guavas, locots, wild passion fruit.
They also kept cows, goats, sheep, camels, donkey. They used animals for food, transport, traditional medication, dowrey. The person who kept many cattles was considered to be rich.
Early means of transport were canoes, foot, and some used park animals to carry their goods.

 The lifestyle of the of the Taita people

Taita-skulls-ritual

Traditionally, one of the most important aspects of Taita tribal culture was male circumcision. Circumcision was considered an important ritual in training young boys, normally aged between 7 and 11 years, to take on more adult responsibilities. Traditional circumcision no longer takes place in most parts of Taita, as many parents opt to have the operation done in a hospital.

One very unique aspect of Taita culture is the respect accorded to the dead. In the past, when a person died, they were buried for a period of about one year, at which time their body would be exhumed. The skull would be severed from the rest of the body and taken to a sacred cave – their “proper” abode with the ancestors. While this is no longer practiced today, the caves where the skulls can still be found are treated as sacred in many parts of Taita.

Taitas and Music

The Taita people have always enjoyed expressing themselves through music. They had many interesting forms of traditional dance, the most fascinating of which was the pepo spirit-possession dance called Mwazindika. The tavetas also have a dance called Urwasi pictured below. This and other traditional dances have since died off and are now only performed during national holidays. Members of the Taita tribe are, however, still very talented musically. The late Fadhili Williams of the hit song Malaika was one of many recent Taita musicians.

Economy, Business And Investment Opportunities in Taita Taveta County

Taita Taveta County has recently seen great developments in its mineral mining sector after traces of iron ore were discovered in 1992. Asbestos, chalk, limestone, gemstones, construction stones and sand are also among the regions minerals portfolio.

The county is known for its large-scale sisal farming with vast sisal plantations covering the area. The county is ecologically diverse with an number of forests hosting a large variety of indigenous and exotic tree species.

It has water resources such as Lake Chala , Lake Jipe amd Mzima springs that supply the coastal region with water. Large parts of the county lie within the Tsavo East and Tsavo West National Parks some of the country’s popular tourist destinations.

Economic Activities in Taita Taveta County

Commercial activities in the county include agriculture, fishing, dairying, ranching, mining, bee keeping, and large-scale sisal farming.

Tourist Attractions in Taita Taveta County

The county boasts of the expansive and world-renowned Tsavo National Park and the picturesque Taita hills. Other tourist attractions include Lake Challa and Lake Jipe that straddle the Kenya-Tanzania border, and Mzima Springs.

Taita Hills

Category: Tourist Attractions in Taita Taveta County

Covering 1,000km², Taita Hills form the northern most part of the Eastern Arc Mountains. Vuria is the highest peak at 2,208 metres above sea level.

The Taita Hills forests have 13 taxa of plants and nine taxa of animals that are endemic. in addition 22 plant species found in the Taita Hills forests are typical of the Eastern Arc forests including the indigenous species of the African violet.

Tsavo National Park

Category: Tourist Attractions in Taita Taveta County

Dubbed the “Theatre of the wild’, Tsavo West and Tsavo East National Parks form one of the largest national parks in the world covering a massive four percent of Kenya’s total land area. Tsavo East, the larger of the two, lies to the east of the Nairobi —Mombasa road, halfway between Nairobi and Mombasa.

For more information visit: Tsavo East National Park and Tsavo West National Park

Major Attractions

• Elephants.
• Aruba Dam on the northern banks of the seasonal Voi River is a popular drinking hole for wildlife.
• Mudanda Rock. The enormous rock towers above a natural dam, which draws elephants and thousands of other animals to it.
• Yatta Plateau. The longest lava flow in the world stretching 300km.
• Lugard Falls. Named after Captain Lugard, the first proconsul to East Africa, the falls feature bizarrely eroded rocks through which the waters of the Galana River flow over foaming rapids and crocodile-infested pools.

Accommodation in Taita Taveta County

There are several world-class hotels and lodges offering catering and accommodation for both local and foreign visitors to the Taita Taveta County. These include Sarova Taita Hills Game Lodge, Sarova Salt Lick Game Lodge, and Voi Wildlife Lodge among others

Taita Taveta County Jobs

Taita Taveta County Jobs opportunities for all qualified personnel and those who would wish to work with Taita Taveta County government. Jobs in Taita Taveta County are posted on the county website.

Jobs in Taita Taveta County are awarded in a free, fair and transparency manner in the need to fight corruption in the country.

To access these Taita Taveta county jobs advertisement click the link: Taita Taveta County Jobs for the latest job opportunities in the county.

Taita Taveta County Tenders

Taita Taveta county tenders are awarded in a free, fair and transparency manner in the need to fight corruption in the country.

To access tenders in Taita Taveta county click the link: http://taitataveta.go.ke/tenders for the latest job opportunities in the county.

Taita Taveta County Governor and Deputy Governor

The current governor of Taita Taveta County is Hon. Isaac Ruto and the deputy governor is Hon. Stephen Mutai.

Major Towns in Taita Taveta County

Major towns in Taita Taveta County include Voi, Wundanyi, Taveta, and Mwatate.

Facts About Taita Taveta County

Area (Km 2): 17,084.1 Km 2

Climate/Weather: The county experiences an annual mean rainfall of 650mm per annum with temperatures averaging 23 0C.

Road Network: Bitumen Surface (151.8 Km), Gravel Surface (138.2 Km), Earth Surface (663 Km)

 Key National Monument(s): None

Taita Taveta County Population

Population: 284,657 (Male – 51.1%, Female – 48.9%)

Population Density: 17 people per Km 2

National Percentage: 0.7 %

Annual Growth Rate: 1.74%

Age Distribution: 0-14 years (37.7 %), 15-64 years (56.9 %), 65+ years (5.4 %)

Number of Households: 71,060

Taita Taveta County Government

 County Capital: Wundanyi Town (proposed)

Number of Constituencies (2010): 4 (Taveta, Wundanyi, Voi, and Mwatate)

 Registered Voters: 89,089

 National percentage: 0.7 %

 Number of Districts (2009): 4 (Taveta, Taita, Mwatate, and Voi)

 Number of Local Authorities (2010): 3 (Town Council of Taveta, County Council of Taita, Municipal County of Voi)

The economy of Taita Taveta County

 Poverty Level: 66 % (Absolute Poverty – Rural & Urban)

Age Dependency Ratio: 100:90

 Resources: Forest, Rivers, Wildlife

 Tourist Attractions: Tsavo Game Reserve, National Park, Wildlife

Financial Services: 5 Commercial Banks, 8 Micro-finance Institutions, 5 Village Banks

Main Economic Activities/industries: Sisal Farming, Horticulture, Livestock Farming

Education in Taita Taveta County

Number of Institutions (2007): Primary (206), Secondary (53)

Primary: Enrolment (74,616)

Teacher to Pupil Ratio: 1:40 (Public Schools)

 Secondary: Enrolment (14,132) Teacher to Pupil Ratio: 1:25 (Public Schools)

Tertiary: Over 20 Institutions

Adult Literacy Classes: Enrolment (Not Available)

Health in Taita Taveta County

 Health Facilities: District Hospitals (3), Sub-District Hospitals (1), Dispensaries (47), Health Centres (9), Medical Clinics (11), Nursing Homes (None), Maternity Homes (None), Others (4)

 Doctor to Population Ratio: 1:41,000

 Infant Mortality Rates: 14/1000

Under Five Mortality Rates: 93/1000

 Prevalent Diseases: Malaria, Upper Respiratory Transmitted Infections, Diarrhoea, HIV/AIDS

 Notable Hospitals: Moi District Hospital in Voi, Wesu and Taveta District Hospitals

Taita Taveta County Contacts

Office of the Governor.
Postal Address: P.O. Box 1066 – 80304 Wundanyi
Tel: +254-788186436, +254-718988717
Email: info@taitataveta.go.ke

Taita Taveta County Website

Website: http://taitataveta.go.ke/

Taita Taveta County Map

Taita Taveta County Video