Kericho is a town in southwestern Kenya, and is also the headquarters of Kenya's Kericho District. The Republic of Kenya is a country in East Africa. It is bordered by Ethiopia to the north Somalia to the northeast Tanzania to the south Kericho is a District in the Rift Valley Province of Kenya. Its capital town is Kericho. With a high altitude and virtually daily rains, Kericho is the centre of Kenya's large tea industry, its town square even known as Chai Square. Tea refers to the cured agricultural product of the leaves leaf buds and internodes of Camellia sinensis, which have been prepared and cured for the market Public square and city square redirect here For Public Square Cleveland see Public Square and for City Square in Leeds see Leeds City Square. Some of the largest tea companys including Unilever Kenya, James Finlay and Williamson tea are based here. It is also home to the popular Ketepa brand. Much of the tea is also exported, with the UK being the largest market. The town has an urban population of 30. 000 and total population of 85. 000 (1999 census ^[1]).

History and Culture

Kericho is home to Kenya's large tea industry. The Republic of Kenya is a country in East Africa. It is bordered by Ethiopia to the north Somalia to the northeast Tanzania to the south Tea refers to the cured agricultural product of the leaves leaf buds and internodes of Camellia sinensis, which have been prepared and cured for the market

The town is named after a Maasai chief, Ole Kericho, who was killed there in a tribal war in the 18th century. The Maasai are an indigenous African Ethnic group of semi-nomadic people located in Kenya and northern Tanzania. Kericho is the home town of the Kipsigis people, who are a part of the Kalenjin people. The Kipsigis was a pastoralist ethnic group in Kenya, speaking the Kipsigis language. The Kalenjins are well known to be good in Athletics. Such athletes as Kipchoge Keino have brought great victory during World Athlethic Competitions. The Kalenjins are also well known for their drink, Mursik.

Kericho was split in the 1990s to curve out Bomet and Bureti districts. In June 2007 Kipkelion district was again curved out of Kericho.

Administration

Kericho forms a municipality with nine wards. Six of them (Central, Chelimo, Kimugu, Kapkugerwet, Kipchimchim and Motobo) belong to the Ainamoi constituency and remaining three (Kapcheptoror, Kapsuser and Kipkoiyan) belong to Belgut constituency. Both constituencies have additional wards located within Kipsigis County Council, the rural council of Kericho District ^[2].

Kericho is sister town of Portsmouth, Virginia [1]. Portsmouth is an Independent city located in the US Commonwealth of Virginia.

Famous people from Kericho

Kericho is the birthplace of Joginder Singh, Kenya's famous Rally Driver. Sardar Joginder Singh Bhachu (born February 9, 1932 in Kericho, Kenya) was a successful endurance rally driver in the 1960s and 1970s The Republic of Kenya is a country in East Africa. It is bordered by Ethiopia to the north Somalia to the northeast Tanzania to the south Joyce Chepchumba, a successful woman marathoner and an olympic medalist is also from Kericho. Joyce Chepchumba (born November 6 1970 in Kericho) is a long distance athlete from Kenya. Dr Baldev Singh, National Teacher of the Year for Innovation in Education in the UK in 2004 is Kericho-born. The National Teacher of the Year is a professional Award in the United States. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located "MMIV" redirects here For the Modest Mouse album see " Baron von Bullshit Rides Again "

Colleges in Kericho

Kenya Highlands Bible College - run by the Africa Gospel Church, it offers degree courses in Theology, Computer Science and Education. Kenya Highlands Bible College is an educational institution in Kericho, Kenya. Kericho Teachers Training College - recently began offering degree courses under agreement with Moi University. Kenya Forestry College - Londiani

Schools in Kericho

There are many schools in Kericho including some of the following:

• Kericho High School
• Kipsigis Girls High School
• Kabianga High School
• Sosiot Girls Secondary School
• Kericho Day Secondary School
• Kericho Tea Secondary School
• Moi Tea Girls High School
• Cheptenye High School
• Moi Sitotwet High School
• Londiani High School
• Londiani Girls High School
• Kipchimchim Secondary School
• Kericho Primary School
• Eland Academy
• Kapmaso Day Secondary School
• Kabokiek Adventist Secondary School
• Soliat Boys Secondary School
• Chemamul Secondary School
• Koiwalelach Girls Secondary School
• Kakibei Secondary School
• Mercy Girls Secondary School
• Kaborok Secondary School
• Kiptere Secondary School
• St Thomas Mindililwet Secondary School
• Milimani Secondary School

Religion

Kericho residents are mostly Christians. The most widespread church is the Africa Gospel Church which has affiliations with The World Gospel Mission. The church has the biggest church in the district in the town (Emmanuel AGC) and heart centers at Cheptenye, Chepkutung, Keongo, Kipkelion, Londiani, Kabianga and Kaptebeswet.

The other churches present in the district include AIC, Catholic Church, Anglican Church, SDA, Full Gospel and a host of Independent churches.

Kericho is also home to Africa's largest Gurudwara or Sikh place of worship. Sikh (English or; ਸਿੱਖ sikkh, IPA) is the title and name given to an adherent of Sikhism. It is a monument, dedicated to the memory of "Baba Puran Singh Ji of Kericho" who was the founder of the international charitable organisation, Guru Nanak Nishkam Sewak Jatha which promotes the spirit and practice of selfless service ("nishkam sewa") in the name of Guru Nanak Dev Ji, the founder of the Sikh faith. The Gurdwara Sahib was built in the late 1970s under spiritual guidance of Pujey Sant Baba Puran Singh Ji Kericho Wale and under the leadership of Pujey Bhai Sahib ji Bhai Guru Nanak Dev (ਗੁਰੂ ਨਾਨਕ ਦੇਵ (गुरु नानक گرونانک Gurū Nānak ( 15 april 1469, Nankana Sahib Sikh (English or; ਸਿੱਖ sikkh, IPA) is the title and name given to an adherent of Sikhism. The site has been gazetted by the Government of Kenya as a place of spiritual significance. The term gazette normally refers to a Newspaper. In the governments of Commonwealth countries a gazette is an official Journal that publishes the

References

Kericho also holds the muslim faith with at least two mosques.