Baringo District

The district is named after local Lake Baringo. The colonial government established a gaming reserve was established in 1900.[2][3]

Results of excavations at Ngenyn were reported in 1983.[4]

Kipsaramon sites contained fossil finds are dated to be within 15.8 and 15.5 Ma, and is one of only a few from the middle Miocene within the entirety of Africa.[5][6][7] During 2000 the Kenyan Palaeontology Expedition announced the discovery of the remains of what was at the time considered likely a new hominid species, and was stated as the oldest hominid remains found, dated from the surrounding rock as six million years old.[8][9] The find was named Orrorin tugenensis (Senut et al 2001).[10] Later finds were made in the village of Rondinin in the Tugen Hills.[11] Archaeological remains were recovered from Kipsaramon within the Tugen Hills during 2002.[12]

Chimpanzee fossils reported as the earliest found were reported found in the Kapthurin formation in 2005.[13]

Daniel arap Moi was born in Baringo District during 1924[14] and the former Kenya president lives in Baringo District.

According to Bollig as a result of British colonizing peaceful relations between tribes were improved.[3]

At a time nearing the independence of Kenya from colonial governship the district became part of an amalgamated council including the Nakuru and Naivasha county councils.[15]

The principal spoken is Kalenjin.[16] The main groups of Kalenjin peoples are the Nandi, Terik, Elgeyo, Elkony, Sabaot, Marakwet and the Kipsigis.[17]

Pottery from the district found through archaeology is recognized as having a distinct style,[18] an occurrence understood as necessitated to strengthen tribal differentiation.[19]

Some of Kenya's famous runners come from the district, most notably Paul Tergat. Tergat started the Baringo Half Marathon in the area in 2004,[20] and it has been sponsored by Safaricom and featured athletes such as World Championship medallist Mubarak Hassan Shami.[21]

The Kituro athletics camp is located near to Kabarnet in the district.[22]

The district is estimated[23] to have had during

• 1915 ; 178'814 cattle, 307'708 sheep
• 1928 ; 190'968 cattle, 591'235 sheep, 736 camel, 6'673 donkeys
• 1932 ; 333'584 cattle, 842'345 sheep,1'480 camel, 6'675 donkeys.

The Il Chamus farming area was changed from an efficient and productive grain-producing economy to being reliant on importing by competition from European settlers and other tribes.[24]

The prevalence of cattle raiding amongst the youth and (or) also classified as warrior groups was reported as greater due to the availability of a market for their purchase, and by the encouragement of some authorities (according an unnamed observer) to obtain the cattle specifically for profit and especially for the benefit of so-called cattle warlords.[25][3]

During the two decades beginning 1902 the British colonial administration collected taxes from the Pokot people. Also as a result of colonial influences trade in the district was improved.[3]

It is an area of geothermal activity.

Malaria and kala-azar is present within the district.[26][27]

European farmers at sometime during the 20th century occupied farming land in Nakuru previously used by Tugen and Il Chamus herders.[28][24]

The Baringo lowlands were reported during 1992 as an area of land unavailable to farming due to an environmental situation. There are only a few places to obtain water in south Baringo.[24]

During 1921, almost the entire district's land for arable farming was taken by millet and sorgham. This situation changed in 1945 by the replacement of millet by maize as a crop in certain areas caused by promotion of the crop by the then-government.[24]

The district had three constituencies: Baringo Central, Baringo East and Baringo North.

0°40′N 36°00′E