Laikipia County: Wildlife, Ranches and Political Shifts

Laikipia County is known for its wide open spaces, wildlife conservancies, and strong agricultural potential. It sits between the Rift Valley and Mount Kenya, two of Kenya’s most famous landscapes.

The evolution of Laikipia County

Early in its history, the region was covered by forests and home to large herds of wild animals. People lived closely with nature, and communities that relied most on hunting and gathering controlled the largest areas. Over time, Laikipia shifted from colonial-era ranching to a centre of conservation tourism and mixed farming, while its diverse communities continued to share the wild landscape and economic opportunities, both through cooperation and conflict.

The lifeline of the county

Laikipia covers about 9,462 square kilometres. 

Administrative Note: The county headquarters is in Rumuruti. The main towns are Nanyuki and Nyahururu, both of which are steadily growing.

Population (2019 Census): 518,560 people, with nearly equal numbers of males and females.

Recent estimates suggest that by the mid-2020s, the population will be between 560,000 and over 600,000.

Population density remains low, about 54 to 60 people per square kilometre, because much of the land is used for ranching and pastoralism.

Constituencies: 3 (Laikipia East, Laikipia West, Laikipia North) with 15 wards.

Current National Leadership (2022–2027 term):

Governor: Joshua Wakahora Irungu (UDA)

Deputy Governor: Reuben Kamuri

Senator: John Kinyua Nderitu (UDA-aligned)

Women Representative: Jane Kagiri (UDA)

Members of Parliament (2022 elections):

Laikipia East: Mwangi Kiunjuri (UDA/independent leanings in past)

Laikipia West: Wachira Karani (UDA)

Laikipia North: Sarah Korere Jubilee

Democracy in Kenya’s devolved system started with the 2013 general elections. Ethnic affiliations, land-related issues, participation in national coalitions, and the struggle between incumbents and challengers have all played a role in determining Laikipia’s election outcomes. Voter turnout has been mostly moderate to high, and the number of registered voters has increased over time.

Kenya’s devolved system began with the 2013 general elections. Since then, Laikipia has hosted competitive elections shaped by ethnic dynamics, land issues, national coalitions, and the contest between incumbents and challengers. Voter turnout has been robust, mirroring patterns in the greater Mount Kenya area.

2013 General Election

Registered Voters: 174,131 voters

Voter Turnout: 85.3% (A very strong turnout reflecting very high enthusiasm for this first devolution cycle). 

Governor Race: Joshua Wakahora Irungu, who was the National Alliance (TNA) candidate, won the governorship with 83,678 votes . He was followed by Mwangi Kiunjuri, the main challenger, who got 42,906 votes running under the Grand National Union (GNU).

Senate Race: The experienced politician Godfrey Gitahi (GG) Kariuki (TNA) comfortably won with 96,580 votes. His main challenger, John Kinyua Nderitu of the Grand National Union (GNU), secured 23,487 votes.

Overall Outcome: Majority control by the TNA/Jubilee Alliance, matching the national trend of the region.

2017​‍​‌‍​‍‌​‍​‌‍​‍‌ General Election

Registered Voters: 246,487 voters

Voter Turnout: 75.5%

Governor Race: Ndiritu Muriithi won the election as an Independent candidate after first unsuccessfully trying to get the Jubilee party nomination. He unexpectedly won the votes by a very small margin against the incumbent, Joshua Irungu (Jubilee): Muriithi received 100,356 votes, while Irungu received 98,349.

Senate Race: John Kinyua Nderitu got the senatorial seat through the Jubilee Party ticket. He won the election with 144,371 votes. His nearest competitor was Maina Njenga, who ran on the KANU ticket and received 54,211 votes.

Overall Outcome: Strong local rivalries showed how personal campaigning can help an independent candidate like Muriithi defeat the favoured party candidate in the region.

2022 General Election

Registered Voters: 263,012 voters

Voter Turnout: ~63.8%

Governor Race: Joshua Irungu won the governor's seat for the second time, in a historic way, running under the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) banner. He returned to his position with 113,783 votes. He was able to remove the incumbent, Ndiritu Muriithi, from office, who was on the Jubilee/Azimio ticket and received fewer votes, 48,563.

Senate Race: John Kinyua Nderitu was able to stay in the position through the UDA party ticket. He got 59,947 votes. The candidate who came closest to him, John Kamunya, who took second with 40,205 votes, while John Githinji (Jubilee) was third with 29,771 votes.

Overall Outcome: UDA and Kenya Kwanza strengthened their grip on power, reflecting political changes in the Rift Valley and Mt. Kenya. 

Ecotourism & Private Wildlife Conservancies

Tourism has become a major economic pillar for Laikipia, where much of the activity is generated through private and community wildlife sanctuaries. Unlike Kenya’s public national parks, Laikipia combines high-end eco-tourism with collaborative livestock ranching.

Ol Pejeta Conservancy: The sanctuary has been recognised as the largest rhino sanctuary in East and Central Africa, with a particularly strong population of black rhinos, totalling 240. It is also the home to the last two northern white rhinos on the globe. Each year, the conservancy records over 117,000 visitors, of whom 60% are domestic Kenyan tourists. 

Lewa Wildlife Conservancy:  A UNESCO World Heritage Site. It extends from Mount Kenya and serves as a refuge for the endangered Grevy's zebra and a wildlife corridor for migrating animals.

Segera Conservancy: Most recently, Segera has reached an important conservation target, working with the Kenya Wildlife Service to relocate 9 critically endangered rhinos to a new habitat that is both safe and conducive to breeding. 

Infrastructure​‍​‌‍​‍‌​‍​‌‍​‍‌ Transition to Rumuruti

Changing the administrative county headquarters from Nanyuki Town to Rumuruti, which is almost centrally located in Laikipia West County, has led to infrastructure improvements in the area. 

The Smart Towns Initiative is ongoing to transform Rumuruti into a modern town. Works include concrete-paved walkways, new recreational parks, remodelling urban drainage systems, and a clear town layout with proper street signage. 

The KSh 3 billion spent on the Rumuruti-Naibor-Kisima highway has connected the capital to external trading centres, increasing demand for local land and property. The national government has also prioritised the Sipili-Ol Moran road project, which will connect farmers directly to regional markets. 

Based on a projection of a 60,000-resident urban population, the county is moving forward with the Rumuruti Dam & Water Supply Project through a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model. The project aims to ensure a water storage capacity of 0.87 million cubic meters (MCM) to meet local needs and address persistent climatic challenges. 

Political Behaviour in Laikipia County

Politics in Laikipia County is competitive and frequently influenced by ethnic ties, land issues, and strong personalities. Since devolution began in 2013, voter turnout has remained high. Alliances in the county shift often. Elections usually feature close contests between incumbents and challengers.

Voters tend to change their support based on ethnicity, economic promises, and national trends. The county usually supports major national coalitions, but local rivalries and independent candidates sometimes break party dominance. This shows that voters are practical, focused on issues, but still aware of ethnic factors.

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