Kenya Loiyangalani town Information Guide

Loiyangalani town is one of the unknown cities in this big land of Kenya. Though much is not known about this city, I want to assure you that it’s the safest city in the whole of Kenya. On this page, we will give you all the details about Loiyangalani City in Kenya

Loiyangalani is a small town located on the southeastern coast of Lake Turkana in Kenya.. Loiyangalani means "a place of many trees" in the native Samburu tongue.

It is home to Turkana people and was founded near a freshwater spring in the 1960s where the El Molo people live.

Its main industries include fishing, tourism and gold panning. It is a popular tourist destination in Northern Kenya, as the surrounding El Molo and Turkana villages offer unique (although somewhat commercialized) experiences.

In June 2008, the 1st Cultural Festival took place at Loiyangalani and united all tribes of the Lake in celebration for one weekend.

The town is home to an airstrip and lies near Mount Kulal (50 km), known for its forest and stones. The only Lodge in the area is "Oasis Lodge" which is located only a few hundred meters from the airstrip.

Loiyangalani is nearly 500 miles north of Nairobi, the capital of Kenya. The journey by road takes two days as over 300 miles of the road is unsealed. At times the road can be blocked by land slides, rock falls or floods. Lorries that make the journey tend to make excessive charges for the goods they bring. The final section of the road passes along the shores of Lake Turkana.

Lake Turkana

Lake Turkana, which was formerly known as Lake Rudolf extends north to the border with Ethiopia. The lake is vast, being some 290 km at its longest and 30km at its widest points. Lake Turkana is situated in the Great Rift Valley.

The lake has no outlet and the only water loss is through evaporation. Therefore the water is salty and high in sodium which causes problems for those who drink the water.

The lake contains many varieties of fish, the most common of which is the tilapia. Nile Perch and Solomon Fish are also caught. The lake contains nile crocodiles and turtles whilst the shores are home to scorpions and carpet vipers.

Population

The population of Loiyangalani is approximately 6000 adults. There are large numbers of nomads in the area who drift in and out of the town at various times of the year. The dominant tribes are the Turkana, Samburu and Rendille.

Water

There is a natural spring in the centre of Loiyangalani. This is fed by underground springs situated in the hills 15 miles away. Growing anything is not easy due to the high rate of evaporation and also the very rocky volcanic terrain.

Houses

The wealthier inhabitants have built houses in the centre of the town using stone and corrugated iron.

The poorer people live on the outskirts of Loiyangalani. Their huts are built primarily with reeds. These have to be gathered from areas up to 8 miles away, because they are not allowed to use materials from the trees in the town. Posts, that support the huts, have to be dug into the hard ground using very primitive tools. Sometimes old sacks are used in the roof. Mats made from reeds are used for sleeping. Constant checks have to be made for scorpions which like to escape from the heat.

Climate

The area is very hot. Rain is supposed to come during the rainy season but has been more unreliable recently. There is a constant wind during the day for most of the year which ensures the area is hot and dusty.

Goats

Goats are looked upon as symbols of wealth. Families only and eat kill goats on special occasions. It is usually the older males that are killed as Africans prefer their meat to be tough. Over-grazing is a huge problem. Nothing will grow unless the area is fenced to keep the goats out.

The nomads live with their goats in the outlying areas. Often young boys live with the herds relying on the milk to provide sustenance.

Food

The people live on a basic diet of "posho" which is ground maize and water, supplemented by beans when they can afford them.

Fish are eaten by some families, but many do not have the means to catch them.

Medical Centre

There is a medical centre run by the Catholic missionaries but it is very primitive. They have to finance it themselves as there is no help from the government. Supplies of medicines are very erratic and often past their use-by dates. HIV, malaria, snake and scorpion bites, bronchitis and heat rashes are the main afflictions attended to by the Sisters. There are also nutritional and natal problems.

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