'Kapenguria' is a town lying north east of
Kitale on the
A1 road in
Kenya. Kapenguria is capital of the
West Pokot District. Kapenguria forms a municipality with an urban population of 13.000 and a total population of 56,000 (1999 census
[1]).
Kapenguria municipality has seven wards (Chemwochoi, Kaibos, Kapenguria, Keringet/Psigirio, Kisiaunet, Siyoi and Talau). All of them belong to Kapenguria Constituency, which has a total of 23 wards, the remaining 15 are located within other local authorities
[2].
Lying near the
Saiwa Swamp National Park, Kapenguria is home to a
museum in the
prison where
Jomo Kenyatta was incarcerated in
1953 for his alleged role in the
Mau Mau Rebellion.
It is the home of
Tegla Loroupe, world-record-holder in the marathon, half-marathon, 20,000-meter, 15,000-meter and 10,000-meter races. She holds annual
Peace Race races here, to bring peace among the eight tribes in the West Pokot area.
This is the location of the
Tegla Loroupe Peace Academy, founded to provide education for orphans from the tribal wars.
References
1. Kenya National Bureau of Statistics: ''Population of local authorities''
2. Electoral Commission of Kenya: ''Registration centres by electoral area and constituency''