Taita-Taveta: Home of spectacular sceneries

Taita-Taveta County comprises five constituencies namely, Wundanyi, Mwatate, Voi and Taveta.
It boasts of the expansive and world-renowned Tsavo National Park and the picturesque Taita hills—both spectacular tourist attractions in the coastal region.
Other attraction sites include Lakes Challa and Jipe that straddle the Kenya-Tanzania border, and Mzima Springs.
Commercial activities include agriculture, fishing, dairying, ranching, mining, bee keeping, and large-scale sisal farming.

Elders say no to new home for IDPs

Tension is building up in Taita and Taveta districts over land row involving the government and residents, with youths planning to invade a farm allegedly bought to resettle people displaced in the 2007-2008 election violence.

Several meetings were held in Taita and Taveta to

Leaders oppose Government’s plan to resettle IDPs in Taveta

Leaders in Taita-Taveta have vowed not to allow the Government to resettle internally displaced persons (IDPs) in the district.

The leaders, who included former legislators, elders, youth and women leaders, said the land on which the Government plans to resettle the IDPs should instead be allocated to landless residents in the region.

Led by the Social Democratic Party (SDP) national chairman

Firm ready to explain iron ore mining deal

A mining company management is ready to answer questions how it obtained a licence to extract iron ore in Taita-Taveta county.

Wanjala Mining Company CEO Mahmood Kassim said they followed all procedures to obtain the consent. Mr Kassim said he was ready to present the documents for verification.

Poverty-stricken villagers sitting on ‘gold’

After enduring years of grinding poverty, residents of Taita Taveta County are now looking forward to a better life, thanks to the discovery of rich deposits of minerals.

The region, which has for years been known only for sisal farming has vast deposits of minerals spread across its expansive plains and scenic hills.

Among these minerals are iron ore which is predominantly found in

Taita Taveta People Speak

Through our popular Facebook page, 'Taita Taveta County', we asked our people what problem really ails our region despite it being so rich in minerals. To be exact, we asked the following question, "Why is it that a region rich in natural resources like ours still has people languishing in abject poverty?" Many responded and below are some of the answers. Feel free to continue

Going back in time narrated by Rupi Mangat

On 12 February 1916, a bloody battle ensued between the Brits and the Germans where we stand now at the base of Salaita Hill on the plains of Tsavo.

The reason was that it was World War 1 and Britain had declared war on Germany and hence as a sense of loyalty, the colonial government in Kenya declared that the British Protectorate would wage a war against their German neighbours in Tanzania.The Germans then

Who will put Taita's History on the Map?

John Mkaya notes that history as currently taught in schools is biased towards some regions. Says he, "Independence struggle was not about freedom for this nation but some selfish gains for some communities! Mwangeka is a true Taita Legend. No doubt about that. Our Taita legal experts need to raise a case against the British government at to the whereabout of Mwangeka remains." He concludes by saying that Mwangeka deserves a decent burial in the land he died fighting for.

But Godfrey, who comes from Taita confesses that he knew nothing about Mwangeka

Felix Mwawasi's take on the Taita Hero, Mwangeka wa Malowa

The piece on Mwangeka wa Malowa is wonderful narration there about our Taita Legendary hero! Many stories abound about this man, in fact, legends have been told about him already. I have always wanted information about this hero: where did the British take his body? Can we claim his remains from the British government today?

I always say that the history taught in our Kenyan schools today is, to a great extent,

Mwangeka Wa Malowa

A hero, powerful soldier and chief of Taita people, whose exact date of birth is not yet known, though believed to have been born in 1842 at Mwanda Kwa Weni Ngasu. He was a married person, married to three wives. The first wife was Mrs. Zighe Mshote from Mrughuwa,Msudu village. Second wife was from Bura, Mrs. Mfwa Mwaghowa, from Kashinyi village and the third wife, Mrs. Mfwa Ndaghina from Mwanda Njawuli. From the three wives, Mwangeka had four sons and two daughters. One of his surviving granddaughters Mrs. Maurine Ari Chorongo, was born in 1945. This is the fifth daughter to Mwaumba. Mwaumba died at the age of 91 years.