View source for Kitale

{{Use Kenyan English|date=January 2023}}
{{Infobox settlement
<!--See the Table at Infobox Settlement for all fields and descriptions of usage-->
<!-- Basic info  ---------------->
|official_name          =Kitale
|other_name             =
|native_name            =  <!-- for cities whose native name is not in English -->
|nickname               = KTL
|settlement_type        = [[List of cities and towns in Kenya by population|Municipality]]
|motto                  =
<!-- images and maps  ----------->
|image_caption          = Downtown Kitale
| image_skyline          = {{multiple image
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    | caption_align      = center
| image1 = Street in Kitale Town 16.jpg{{!}}
| image2 = Street in Kitale Town 133.jpg{{!}}
| image3 = DSC00661 Kitale Museum 2019.jpg{{!}}
| image4 = Street in Kitale Town 13.jpg{{!}}
}}
|image_flag             = 
|flag_size              =
|image_seal             = 
|seal_size              =
|image_map              = 
|mapsize                = 
|map_caption            = 
|pushpin_map            =Kenya
|pushpin_label_position =bottom
|pushpin_map_caption    =Location in Kenya
|subdivision_type       = Country
|subdivision_name       ={{flag|Kenya}}
|subdivision_type1      = [[Counties of Kenya|County]] 
|subdivision_name1      =[[Trans-Nzoia County]]
|subdivision_type2      = 
|subdivision_name2      =
|subdivision_type3      = 
|subdivision_name3      = 
|subdivision_type4      = 
|subdivision_name4      = 
<!-- Politics ----------------->
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|established_title      =  <!-- Settled -->
|established_date       = 
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|area_magnitude         = 
|unit_pref                =Metric <!--Enter: Metric, if metric (imperial) is desired-->
|area_footnotes           =
|area_total_km2           = 
|area_land_km2            = <!--See table @ Template:Infobox Settlement for details on automatic unit conversion-->
<!-- Population   ----------------------->
|population_as_of               = 2019
|population_footnotes           =
|population_note                =
|population_total               ={{gaps|162|174}} <ref name="OpenData Kenya">{{cite web|url=https://www.opendata.go.ke/Population/2009-Census-Vol-1-Table-3-Rural-and-Urban-Populati/e7c7-w67t/1 |title=2009 Census Vol 1 Table 3 Rural and Urban Population |access-date=2016-07-28 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160729203228/https://www.opendata.go.ke/Population/2009-Census-Vol-1-Table-3-Rural-and-Urban-Populati/e7c7-w67t/1 |archive-date=2016-07-29 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.citypopulation.de/en/kenya/cities/|title=Kenya: Provinces, Major Cities, Towns & Urban Centers - Population Statistics, Maps, Charts, Weather and Web Information|website=www.citypopulation.de}}</ref>
|population_density_km2         =
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|timezone               = [[East Africa Time|EAT]]
|utc_offset             = +3
|timezone_DST           = 
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|coordinates            = {{coord|1|01|N|35|00|E|region:KE|display=inline}}
|elevation_footnotes    =  <!--for references: use <ref> tags-->
|elevation_m            = 1900
<!-- Area/postal codes & others -------->
|postal_code_type       =  <!-- enter ZIP code, Postcode, Post code, Postal code... -->
|postal_code            =30200
|area_code              =
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}}
'''Kitale''' is a town in the north west of Kenya, in the former [[Great Rift Valley, Kenya|Rift Valley]] province, between [[Mount Elgon]] and the [[Cherangany Hills]]. It has an elevation of around {{convert|1,900|m|ft|comma=gaps}}.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.africapedia.com/THE-40-HIGHEST-TOWNS-AND-CITIES-IN-AFRICA |title=The 40 Highest Towns and Cities in Africa |access-date=2013-05-23 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130317091540/http://www.africapedia.com/THE-40-HIGHEST-TOWNS-AND-CITIES-IN-AFRICA |archive-date=2013-03-17 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Its population was {{gaps|162|174}} as of 2019.<ref name="OpenData Kenya"/><ref>{{Cite web |date=2019 |title=Kitale|url=https://www.citypopulation.de/en/kenya/riftvalley/trans_nzoia/2602__kitale/}}</ref> It is the location of [[Kitale Airport]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.kenyans.co.ke/news/38212-postal-codes-list-all-postal-codes-kenya|title = List of All Postal Codes in Kenya| date=26 March 2019 }}</ref>

The [[Kitale Museum|National Museum of Western Kenya]] in Kitale is a [[natural history museum]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.museums.or.ke/content/blogcategory/19/25/ |title=About Kenyan Museums |publisher=Kenyan Museums |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131111021342/http://www.museums.or.ke/content/blogcategory/19/25/ |archive-date=2013-11-11 |url-status=dead |access-date=2008-01-05 }}</ref>

==Location==
Kitale lies between [[Mount Elgon]] and [[Cherang'any Hills]] is 72.3&nbsp;km (44.9&nbsp;mi) by road north west of [[Eldoret]].

==History==
In 1920, Arthur Champion, the colonial district commissioner, established a new administrative centre in the Trans Nzoia region, at the future site of the township of Kitale.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=E.A.W.L |first=Trans Nzoia Branch |date=1969 |title=Mr. and Mrs. A.C. Hoey |journal=Trans–Nzoia Scrap Book 1969}}</ref>

In 1930, locusts caused extensive damage to crops.<ref name="Nicholls">{{cite web |url=https://oldafricamagazine.com/the-founding-of-kitale/ |title=The Founding of Kitale |last=Nicholls |first=Christine |date=4 November 2014 |website=oldafricamagazine.com |publisher=Old Africa Magazine |access-date=21 April 2023 |quote=}}</ref>

== Places of Interest ==

* [[Kitale Museum]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Google Maps |url=https://www.google.com/maps/place/Kitale+Museum/@1.015677,34.9859191,5559m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m10!1m2!2m1!1sKitale+Museum!3m6!1s0x178227a4b68ea595:0x5b0533de3fd381f1!8m2!3d1.0134567!4d35.0054207!15sCg1LaXRhbGUgTXVzZXVtkgEGbXVzZXVtqgE1EAEyHhABIhoz4wk_kDA0jBIiaIAet3IT51n1ikEgJ2G91zIREAIiDWtpdGFsZSBtdXNldW3gAQA!16s/m/0swn46c?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI1MDgxMS4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw== |access-date=2025-08-14 |website=Google Maps |language=en}}</ref>
* Kitale Showgroud<ref>{{Cite web |title=Google Maps |url=https://www.google.com/maps/place/Kitale+Showgrounds/@1.015677,34.9859191,5559m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m9!1m2!2m1!1sKitale+Museum!3m5!1s0x178227bdef375c7b:0x1c1bde54ed4622a2!8m2!3d1.0093035!4d35.0104862!16s/g/1tcvf4g1?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI1MDgxMS4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw== |access-date=2025-08-14 |website=Google Maps |language=en}}</ref>

== Neighborhoods ==
Kitale is subdivided into 8 Wards totaling 167 (km²) of area.<ref>{{Cite web |title=About Us – Kitale Municipality |url=https://kmcboard.transnzoia.go.ke/about-us/ |access-date=2025-08-14 |language=en-US}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible"
|+
!Ward
!Area (km²)
|-
|Tuwan
|5
|-
|Matisi
|38
|-
|Sirende
|14
|-
|Waitaluk
|18
|-
|Bidil
|32
|-
|Hospital
|34
|-
|Kinyoro
|19
|-
|Kapomboi
|7
|}

== Climate ==
Kitale has a temperate [[oceanic climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification]] ''Cfb'') very closely bordering on ''Cwb''.
<div style="width:80%">
{{Weather box
|location = Kitale (1961–1990, extremes 1921–present)
|single line = Yes
|metric first = Yes
|Jan record high C = 36.0
|Feb record high C = 35.2
|Mar record high C = 37.8
|Apr record high C = 33.0
|May record high C = 33.3
|Jun record high C = 29.2
|Jul record high C = 27.8
|Aug record high C = 30.0
|Sep record high C = 29.8
|Oct record high C = 29.8
|Nov record high C = 33.0
|Dec record high C = 33.6
|year record high C = 37.8
|Jan high C = 27.0
|Feb high C = 27.7
|Mar high C = 27.5
|Apr high C = 25.8
|May high C = 24.8
|Jun high C = 24.1
|Jul high C = 23.3
|Aug high C = 23.7
|Sep high C = 24.8
|Oct high C = 25.1
|Nov high C = 24.9
|Dec high C = 25.7
|year high C = 25.4
|Jan mean C = 18.8
|Feb mean C = 19.5
|Mar mean C = 19.8
|Apr mean C = 19.3
|May mean C = 18.7
|Jun mean C = 17.9
|Jul mean C = 17.4
|Aug mean C = 17.5
|Sep mean C = 17.9
|Oct mean C = 18.3
|Nov mean C = 18.1
|Dec mean C = 18.1
|year mean C = 18.4
|Jan low C = 10.5
|Feb low C = 11.4
|Mar low C = 12.0
|Apr low C = 12.9
|May low C = 12.6
|Jun low C = 11.7
|Jul low C = 11.6
|Aug low C = 11.3
|Sep low C = 11.0
|Oct low C = 11.5
|Nov low C = 11.3
|Dec low C = 10.5
|year low C = 11.5
|Jan record low C = 6.0
|Feb record low C = 6.0
|Mar record low C = 7.0
|Apr record low C = 7.4
|May record low C = 7.3
|Jun record low C = 7.0
|Jul record low C = 8.0
|Aug record low C = 6.5
|Sep record low C = 7.0
|Oct record low C = 7.0
|Nov record low C = 5.0
|Dec record low C = 5.8
|year record low C = 5.0
|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation mm = 20.4
|Feb precipitation mm = 52.2
|Mar precipitation mm = 102.5
|Apr precipitation mm = 190.3
|May precipitation mm = 198.4
|Jun precipitation mm = 101.1
|Jul precipitation mm = 123.3
|Aug precipitation mm = 150.9
|Sep precipitation mm = 102.8
|Oct precipitation mm = 91.5
|Nov precipitation mm = 90.9
|Dec precipitation mm = 34.8
|year precipitation mm = 1259.1
|unit precipitation days = 1.0 mm
|Jan precipitation days = 8
|Feb precipitation days = 13
|Mar precipitation days = 14
|Apr precipitation days = 13
|May precipitation days = 17
|Jun precipitation days = 15
|Jul precipitation days = 13
|Aug precipitation days = 14
|Sep precipitation days = 13
|Oct precipitation days = 7
|Nov precipitation days = 5
|Dec precipitation days = 5
|year precipitation days = 137
|Jan humidity = 50
|Feb humidity = 52
|Mar humidity = 54
|Apr humidity = 66
|May humidity = 70
|Jun humidity = 70
|Jul humidity = 73
|Aug humidity = 72
|Sep humidity = 67
|Oct humidity = 63
|Nov humidity = 63
|Dec humidity = 56
|year humidity = 63
|Jan sun = 257.3
|Feb sun = 218.4
|Mar sun = 226.3
|Apr sun = 195.0
|May sun = 210.8
|Jun sun = 207.0
|Jul sun = 192.2
|Aug sun = 201.5
|Sep sun = 210.0
|Oct sun = 223.2
|Nov sun = 207.0
|Dec sun = 254.2
|year sun = 2602.9
|Jand sun = 8.3
|Febd sun = 7.8
|Mard sun = 7.3
|Aprd sun = 6.5
|Mayd sun = 6.8
|Jund sun = 6.9
|Juld sun = 6.2
|Augd sun = 6.5
|Sepd sun = 7.0
|Octd sun = 7.2
|Novd sun = 6.9
|Decd sun = 8.2
|yeard sun = 
|source 1 = NOAA<ref name= NOAA>{{Cite FTP | url = ftp://ftp.atdd.noaa.gov/pub/GCOS/WMO-Normals/TABLES/REG__I/KN/63661.TXT
| server = [[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration]]
| title = Kitale Climate Normals 1961–1990
| access-date = July 6, 2015}}</ref>
|source 2 = [[Deutscher Wetterdienst]] (humidity, 1961–1990),<ref name = DWD>
{{cite web
| url = http://www.dwd.de/DWD/klima/beratung/ak/ak_636610_kt.pdf
| title = Klimatafel von Kitale / Kenia
| work = Baseline climate means (1961-1990) from stations all over the world
| publisher = Deutscher Wetterdienst
| language = de
| access-date = August 31, 2016}}</ref> Meteo Climat (record highs and lows)<ref name = meteoclimat>
{{cite web 
| url = http://meteo-climat-bzh.dyndns.org/index.php?page=stati&id=1761
| title = Station Kitale 
| publisher = Meteo Climat 
|language = fr 
| access-date = August 31, 2016}}</ref>
}}
</div>

== References ==
{{Wikivoyage}}
{{reflist}}

{{First and second-level administrative divisions of Kenya}}
{{coord|1|01|N|35|00|E|region:KE_type:city|display=title}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Populated places in Trans-Nzoia County]]
[[Category:Rift Valley Province]]
[[Category:Cities in the Great Rift Valley]]
[[Category:County capitals in Kenya]]