{{Use British 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 = Municipality |motto = <!-- images and maps -----------> |image_caption = Downtown Kitale | image_skyline = {{multiple image | total_width = 270 | border = infobox | perrow = 1/2/2/3 | 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 = County |subdivision_name1 =Trans-Nzoia County |subdivision_type2 = |subdivision_name2 = |subdivision_type3 = |subdivision_name3 = |subdivision_type4 = |subdivision_name4 = <!-- Politics -----------------> |government_footnotes = |government_type = |leader_title = |leader_name = |established_title = <!-- Settled --> |established_date = <!-- Area ---------------------> |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 = <!-- General information ---------------> |timezone = EAT |utc_offset = +3 |timezone_DST = |utc_offset_DST = |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 = |blank_name = |blank_info = |website = |footnotes = }} '''Kitale''' is a town in the north west of Kenya, within the county of Trans Nzoia which was formerly in the former Rift Valley province prior to the creation of the 2010 constitution. The town lies between Mount Elgon and the Cherang'any 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 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 km (44.9 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 Showground<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 = https://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