View source for Maralal

{{Use Kenyan English|date=January 2023}}
{{Infobox settlement
|official_name          = Maralal
|other_name             =
|native_name            =  
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|settlement_type        = Town
|motto                  =
|image_skyline          = Maralal.jpg
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|pushpin_map            = Kenya
|pushpin_label_position = bottom
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|pushpin_map_caption    = Location in Kenya
|subdivision_type       = Country
|subdivision_name       = {{flag|Kenya}}
|subdivision_type1      = [[Counties of Kenya|County]]
|subdivision_name1      = [[Samburu County]]
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|population_as_of       = 2019
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|population_total       = 31,350 
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|timezone               = [[East Africa Time|EAT]]
|utc_offset             = +3
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|coordinates            = {{coord|1|06|N|36|42|E|region:KE|display=inline,title}}
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'''Maralal''' is a small hillside [[market town]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.capitalfm.co.ke/news/2013/10/tension-high-in-maralal-after-police-kill-student/|title=Tension high in Maralal after police kill student|work=Capital News|date=31 October 2013 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://redditupdate.blogspot.com/ |title=Reddit:Reddit is the Best Place.Updating Breaking News and Videos Just for You |website=redditupdate.blogspot.com |access-date=22 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181221134642/https://redditupdate.blogspot.com/ |archive-date=21 December 2018 |url-status=dead}}</ref> in northern [[Kenya]], lying east of the [[Loroki Plateau|Loroghi Plateau]] within [[Samburu County]]. It is the administrative headquarters of [[Samburu county|Samburu County]]. The town had an urban population of 31,350 (2019 census).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://redditupdate.blogspot.com/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181221134642/https://redditupdate.blogspot.com/|url-status=dead|archive-date=2018-12-21|title=The National Treasury - Home |work=treasury.go.ke }}</ref> The [[market (place)|market]] was pioneered by [[Somalia|Somali]] settlers in the 1920s.

==Main sights==
Approximately 2&nbsp;km southwest of the town are the remains of the [[Maralal National Sanctuary]]. This nature site, which was closed by the Samburu County Government in September 2014, has since been largely absorbed into the town, and much of its wildlife has been eradicated by poachers. Encroachment began from the south as villages expanded, causing the natural wildlife corridors to be closed.

Maralal is also home to Kenyatta House, where [[Jomo Kenyatta]] was detained before his release. This rather unassuming modern house has a significant place in the history of modern Kenya.

Until 2016, the town hosted the Maralal International Camel Derby, but this has ceased to function primarily due to the outcry by foreign tourists objecting to the abuse of the animals used. Tourist activities in Maralal have slowed and the town is mostly a base for adventurous travellers heading to Lake Turkana, some 12 hours travel by road to the north.

Accommodation is generally inexpensive, though options are limited in terms of amenities. Road improvements from the south were expected to be completed by 2019, with hopes that tourism opportunities would subsequently improve. The closest airport is [[Kisima Airport]], located in the nearby village of [[Kisima]].

==Transport==
The main road to Maralal starts from [[Gilgil]] and passes through [[Nyahururu]] and [[Rumuruti]] and ends in [[Baragoi]]. The entire stretch up to Maralal is tarmac, but is unpaved past that. The President of Kenya also launched work on the paved Naibor–[[Kisima]]–Maralal road in July 2017.<ref>{{cite web |title=KeNHA Annual Report for FY 2017-2018 |url=https://www.kenha.co.ke/Downloads/Tenders/KeNHA_Annual_Report_2017_2018_Final.pdf |website=Kenya National Highways Authority (KenHA) |access-date=5 July 2019 |archive-date=5 July 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190705131811/https://www.kenha.co.ke/Downloads/Tenders/KeNHA_Annual_Report_2017_2018_Final.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref>

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

{{First and second-level administrative divisions of Kenya}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Populated places in Samburu County]]
[[Category:County capitals in Kenya]]


{{RiftValleyKE-geo-stub}}