Eldoret is a city in the Rift Valley region of Kenya. It serves as the capital of Uasin Gishu County. Located in western Kenya and lying south of the Cherang'any Hills, the local elevation varies from about at the Eldoret International Airport to more than in nearby areas.
As per the 2019 population census, Eldoret has a population of 475,716 people and is the fifth most populated urban area in the country after Nairobi, Mombasa, Nakuru and Ruiru."Population of Local Authorities" (with towns), Government of Kenya, 1999, Population
A long-standing municipality, Eldoret was conferred city status on 15 August 2024, making it the fifth city of Kenya after Nairobi, Mombasa, Kisumu and Nakuru.
The city is a significant urban area in Kenya; it is the second largest medical destination in Kenya after Nairobi and hosts the largest university student population outside of the nation's capital. Its international airport is ranked as the nation's second busiest cargo airport after JKIA in Nairobi and has the second largest coverage by financial institutions outside of the capital with over 40 branches in town. The city also hosts a substantial manufacturing sector.
Etymology The name "Eldoret" is based on the Maasai word meaning "stony river", a reference to the bed of the Sosiani River, a tributary of the Nile that runs through the town. The city was referred to as Farm 64 or 'Sisibo', a derivative of '64', during the early colonial period.
History Early inhabitants of the region The Uasin Gishu Plateau and surrounding highlands were historically inhabited by the Sirikwa, a sedentary pastoralist community remembered through oral traditions and early colonial-era ethnography. Although the term "Sirikwa culture" has since been adopted by archaeologists to describe a broader Late Iron Age agropastoral horizon (c. AD 1200–1600), the Sirikwa people themselves appear to have been a distinct clan or sub-group within this wider cultural complex.
Oral traditions—particularly among the Pokot, Kony, and Nandi—place the Sirikwa on the Uasin Gishu Plateau prior to their dispersal in the mid-19th century. These accounts describe the plateau as being shared by at least two distinct communities, indicating a segmented settlement pattern rather than exclusive Sirikwa occupation. Sengwer oral traditions, for example, recall the presence of both "Sirikwa and Mitia"—the latter possibly corresponding to the Mitei (Kalenjin) tribe referenced in early 20th-century Nandi sources.
Archaeologically, the Sirikwa are associated with a distinctive form of circular earthwork enclosure known as Sirikwa holes, alongside tumuli, irrigation channels, and occasional monolith structures. These features are especially concentrated in the western highlands of Kenya, notably in the modern-day counties of Trans Nzoia, Uasin Gishu, and Elgeyo Marakwet.
The way of life of the Sirikwa and related communities was profoundly disrupted during the 18th and 19th centuries by the movements of the Ateker confederacy. This period saw the rise of the Loikop society east of Lake Turkana, which later fragmented into three major groups—including the Maasai and the related Uasin Gishu people, who would come to occupy the plateau and lend their name to it. Following a series of internecine conflicts, the Uasin Gishu Maasai were eventually defeated in the late 19th century by the Nandi during their retaking of Uasin Gishu, leading to the absorption of surviving Uasin Gishu into the Nandi and other neighboring communities.
Early settlers In August 1908, a group of 58 Afrikaner families, originally from South Africa, relocated from Nakuru and Mombasa to the Uasin Gishu Plateau. Led by Jan van Rensburg, they arrived at Sergoit Hill near present-day Eldoret on 22 October 1908. This location is now the site of a golf and wildlife resort.
The land had previously been surveyed by an individual named van Breda, and the settlers acquired leaseholds ranging from , with the condition that they would improve the land within five years. Each family constructed basic shelters, enclosed their plots, and began ploughing the land using ox-drawn ploughs. They cultivated wheat, maize, and various vegetables—activities that would eventually transform the plateau into a key agricultural zone.
Over time, the farms were formally registered and assigned individual numbers.
The settlement that became Eldoret developed around what was initially known as "Farm 64", referring to its distance——from the Londiani railhead on the newly constructed Uganda Railway. Locals referred to the area as "Sisibo". The land was originally owned by Willy van Aardt, whose former property is now partly occupied by the Central Lounge in Eldoret.Red strangers: the white tribe of Kenya, , by Christine Stephanie Nicholls
The foundation for the official town was laid in 1910 with the establishment of a post office at Sisibo. In 1911, an additional 60 Afrikaner families joined the earlier settlers.Kass Magazine In 1912, colonial authorities designated the area as an administrative centre, prompting a surge in trade and the construction of commercial infrastructure including a bank and shops. The name "Eldoret" was then officially adopted.
Colonial period The extension of the Uganda Railway from Londiani reached Eldoret in 1924, ushering in a period of significant economic and infrastructural development. A piped water supply from the Sosiani River was introduced in 1928, followed by the installation of an electricity generation plant by the East African Power and Lighting Company in 1933. By this time, Eldoret boasted basic urban infrastructure, including a small airport and government-built low-cost rental housing.
During the colonial era, Eldoret developed along segregated lines. In the 1950s, the town was informally divided along what is now Uganda Road: Afrikaner settlers primarily occupied the northern side, while British settlers lived in the south. This divide extended to education and recreation—Afrikaners sent their children to Highland School (now Moi Girls’ High School), while British families favored Hill School. Social life also reflected this division: the Afrikaners frequented the Wagon Wheel establishment, while the British preferred the Lincoln Hotel and the nearby Racecourse, located in what is now referred to as the “Chinese Area.”Hill School. Eldoret Kenya mccrow.org.uk
Post-independence After Kenya's independence, Eldoret continued to grow, boosted in part by its association with key political figures. Daniel arap Moi, born in the neighboring Baringo District, oversaw substantial investment in the town during his presidency. In 1984, Moi University—Kenya's second public university—was established near the town, and Eldoret International Airport was later constructed, further enhancing the region's connectivity and economic stature.
By the late 20th century, the town's settler population—particularly the Afrikaner community that had once dominated parts of Eldoret—had largely vanished. Many Afrikaner families repatriated to South Africa during the transition to independence and in the aftermath of the Mau Mau uprising. By 1987, only a few Afrikaner households remained in the city.
Recent history In the early 21st century, Eldoret was among the towns affected by the 2007–2008 post-election crisis that followed a disputed national vote. The violence led to significant displacement and loss of life in parts of the Rift Valley. One of the most widely reported incidents occurred near Burnt Forest, where a tragic fire at a church sheltering displaced persons resulted in numerous fatalities. The unrest marked a difficult period in the town's recent history.
Eldoret remains politically significant in Kenya's contemporary landscape. It is the birthplace of William Ruto, the current President of Kenya, who was born in Kamagut Ward, within Turbo Constituency, which borders Eldoret. Before ascending to the presidency, Ruto represented Eldoret North in Parliament, further anchoring the town's importance in national affairs.
Climate
Eldoret has a subtropical highland climate (Köppen climate classification Cfb). The town, lying over above sea level, has a moderate to cool climate. The temperature falls significantly at night, and in the cold season (May–August) it is regularly in the single digits Celsius. The warm season is the driest and the cool season is the wettest, making the town have a pattern similar to that of a Mediterranean climate.
Population
Local governance Eldoret is governed by the County Government of Uasin Gishu which manages all the town's affairs. The city is divided into thirteen wards. Six of them (Huruma, Kamukunji, Kapyemit, Kidiwa/Kapsuswa, and Stadium/Industrial, Market) are in Eldoret North Constituency, three (Hospital, Kapsoya and Kimumu/Sergoit) are in Eldoret East Constituency, and the remaining four (Kipkenyo, Langas, Pioneer/Elgon View and Race Course) are part of Eldoret South Constituency. All of these three constituencies also have wards within other local authorities outside the Eldoret municipality.Electoral Commission of Kenya: Registration centres by electoral area and constituency
Suburbs Eldoret has a number of estates. Estates vary in that some are posh and others are resided in by the middle-class community. Almost every estate has its own identity. Some of the estates include Elgon View, Langas, Kapseret, Huruma, Kapsoya, Shauri, Kipkorgot, Kahoya, West Indies, West, Kipkaren, Kimumu, Jerusalem, Annex, Mwanzo, Hawaii, Action, Mailinne, Pioneer, Outspan, Kiplombe, Kamkunji, Samar, Silas, Kenya Service, Cheplaskei, Chinese, Road Block, Peris, Junction, Munyaka, Hillside, Eldoville, Juniorate among many others.
Economy
Eldoret is surrounded by prime agricultural lands and acts as a trading centre for Uasin Gishu's economy which is driven by large-scale grain farming, dairy and horticultural farming. The town is also a local manufacturing hub with a number of nationally recognised manufacturing concerns, including Raiplywoods, Rupa Textiles, Kenya Pipeline Company, Kenya Co-operative Creameries as well as corn, wheat and pyrethrum factories all within the town.
The city is home to a large market and is known for the Doinyo Lessos cheese factory, Moi University and Eldoret International Airport. The runners from Eldoret have also contributed significantly to the economy of Eldoret town, primarily investing in small businesses and real estate, from their winnings in races all over the world. Moses Kiptanui is a stake holder in one of the largest buildings, Komora, that houses a large supermarket chain and many offices.
Industries Textiles The city has an industry that is led by Ken Knit (Kenya). It is the first, fully integrated textile manufacturing company in East and Central Africa and has been based in Eldoret for close to 50 years. It is Kenya's leading manufacturer of wool products and with a workforce of 2,000, is presently the largest textile related employer in the North-Rift.
Another notable textile firm is Rivatex EA which was opened in 1975 by then Vice President, Daniel Toroitich arap Moi as Rift Valley Textiles (Rivatex), a parastatal that was the first Kenyan textile mill to operate computerized mills. It quickly became a success, achieving profitability within three years while employing 400 people and consuming 3,000 tons of cotton a year at its peak. By the late 1990s, the liberalization of Kenya's market which led to massive imports of cheap used clothing coupled with mismanagement led to the decline of the country's textile industry. Rivatex in Eldoret was placed under receivership in 1998 and finally shut its doors in 2000.
The city of Eldoret, through Moi University and its subsidiary firm Rivatex, has played a leading role in the revival of the Kenyan textile industry.