Quick answer
Turkana County has 30 wards in six constituencies: Turkana West (7), Turkana North (6), Turkana Central (5), Turkana South (5), Loima (4) and Turkana East (3). The county had 926,976 people at the 2019 census.
Updated 19 October 2026
Turkana County has 30 wards spread across six constituencies: Turkana North, Turkana West, Turkana Central, Loima, Turkana South and Turkana East. Each ward elects one Member of County Assembly (MCA) to the Turkana County Assembly in Lodwar. Turkana West has the most wards (seven) and Turkana East the fewest (three). The list below follows the county government’s third County Integrated Development Plan (CIDP 2023 to 2027), which reproduces the ward list and ward codes used by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), with population figures from the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) 2019 census.
In this guide
All 30 Wards in Turkana County by Constituency
| Constituency | Number of wards | Wards |
|---|---|---|
| Turkana North | 6 | Kaeris, Lake Zone, Lapur, Kaaleng/Kaikor, Kibish, Nakalale |
| Turkana West | 7 | Kakuma, Lopur, Letea, Songot, Kalobeyei, Lokichoggio, Nanam |
| Turkana Central | 5 | Kerio Delta, Kang’atotha, Kalokol, Lodwar Township, Kanamkemer |
| Loima | 4 | Kotaruk/Lobei, Turkwel, Loima, Lokiriama/Lorengippi |
| Turkana South | 5 | Kaputir, Katilu, Lobokat, Kalapata, Lokichar |
| Turkana East | 3 | Kapedo/Napeitom, Katilia, Lokori/Kochodin |
| Total | 30 |
Spellings differ between documents. The CIDP writes “Lokichogio”, “Nanam”, “Kangatotha”, “Lobei/Kotaruk” and “Lorengipi/Lokiriama”, while other official lists use Lokichoggio, Nanaam, Kang’atotha, Kotaruk/Lobei and Lokiriama/Lorengippi. They are the same wards. IEBC ward codes for Turkana run from 0611 (Kaeris) to 0640 (Lokori/Kochodin).
Ward Codes and Village Units
The CIDP also lists the village administrative units inside each ward, which is useful if you are trying to work out which ward a particular settlement falls under. A few examples from the plan:
- Lodwar Township (0627): Lodwar Town, Nakwamekwi, Napetet, Kakwanyang and Kawalase.
- Kanamkemer (0628): Kanamkemer, Nawoitorong/Lolupe, Naotin and Loturerei.
- Kakuma (0617): Komudei, Nadapal, Nayenae Emeyen, Pokotom and Lorengo.
- Lokichoggio (0622): Lokichogio, Lokariwon, Lotetelei, Loriemet and Nadapal.
- Lake Zone (0612): Kataboi, Lomekwi, Nachukui, Riokomor, Lowarengak and Todonyang along the lake shore.
- Lokichar (0637): Lokichar, Kapese, Kasuroi, Lomunyenkupurat, Lochwaa and Kakalel.
- Lobokat (0636): Kainuk, Kakongu, Loyapat and Koputiro.
- Kapedo/Napeitom (0638): Napeitom, Lomelo, Kapedo, Nadome and Kamuge.
Village names repeat in different wards (Nadapal appears in Kakuma, Lokichoggio, Loima and Turkwel lists, for example), so always confirm the ward with the sub-county or ward administrator’s office rather than relying on the village name alone.
Population by Sub-County (2019 Census)
KNBS counted 926,976 people in Turkana in 2019 (478,087 male, 448,868 female and 21 intersex). Census results were published by sub-county rather than by constituency, and KNBS treats Kibish as a separate sub-county even though Kibish is a ward of Turkana North constituency.
| Sub-county (KNBS) | Population 2019 | Area (km²) |
|---|---|---|
| Turkana West | 239,625 | 16,779 |
| Turkana Central | 185,305 | 6,415 |
| Turkana South | 153,731 | 7,045 |
| Turkana East | 138,514 | 11,396 |
| Loima | 107,794 | 9,120 |
| Turkana North | 65,218 | 7,012 |
| Kibish | 36,768 | 10,466 |
| Total | 926,955 (plus 21 intersex) | 68,233 |
Source: Turkana CIDP 2023 to 2027, Tables 1-1 and 1-4, citing KNBS. The Turkana West figure excludes refugees in Kakuma and Kalobeyei, who are counted separately by UNHCR; the Turkana West NG-CDF office put that refugee population at 250,850 in December 2022. The CIDP projects the county population at about 1.07 million in 2025.
A Closer Look at Each Constituency
Turkana North
Six wards in the far north, bordering South Sudan and Ethiopia, with Lokitaung as the main administrative centre. Kibish ward covers the northern border area around the Ilemi Triangle, and Lake Zone runs along the western shore of Lake Turkana, where fishing is a major livelihood.
Turkana West
The largest constituency by both area and wards. Kakuma and Kalobeyei host the refugee camp and settlement, and Lokichoggio sits on the Kenya and South Sudan border. The constituency now has two sub-counties, Kakuma and Lokichoggio; the NG-CDF office says Lokichoggio sub-county was launched in June 2023 and covers Lokichoggio, Songot and Nanam wards.
Turkana Central
Home to Lodwar, the county headquarters and its largest town, with about 82,970 residents in 2019 according to the CIDP’s urban population table. Kalokol, on the lake, is the second urban centre in this constituency.
Loima
Four wards west of Lodwar, with Lorugum as the main town. Turkwel ward takes its name from the Turkwel River, and the Turkwel hydro power station in the south-west of the county feeds the national grid.
Turkana South
Lokichar ward is the centre of the South Lokichar oil basin, and Kainuk in Lobokat ward is the main gateway from West Pokot. Katilu has one of the county’s older irrigation schemes, with canal networks dating from the late 1970s.
Turkana East
The smallest constituency by wards. Kapedo/Napeitom borders Baringo, and Lokori is the main administrative centre.
Why Your Ward Matters
Your ward decides who represents you in the County Assembly, which bursary and ward development funds you can apply to, and where you register and vote. If you are applying for a county bursary, a business permit or county jobs, you will usually be asked for your ward and sub-county. Turkana’s share of the county equitable allocation is covered in our county allocations 2026/27 guide. For schools in the county, see our best schools in Turkana County guide, and for health training, the KMTC campuses list by county. County and NGO vacancies in Lodwar and Kakuma are often posted on JobInKenya.
For a comparison with another large pastoral county, see our full list of wards in Kajiado County.
How to Confirm Your Ward
- Check your voter registration details through the IEBC SMS or online voter verification service, which shows your county, constituency and ward.
- Ask the ward administrator or the sub-county administrator’s office nearest you.
- Use the village unit lists in the Turkana CIDP if you know your village but not your ward.
Frequently asked questions
How many wards are in Turkana County?
Turkana County has 30 wards in six constituencies: Turkana West (7), Turkana North (6), Turkana Central (5), Turkana South (5), Loima (4) and Turkana East (3).
Which wards are in Turkana Central?
Turkana Central has five wards: Lodwar Township, Kanamkemer, Kang’atotha, Kalokol and Kerio Delta.
Which ward is Kakuma in?
Kakuma is its own ward in Turkana West constituency. Kalobeyei, where the newer refugee settlement is, is a separate ward in the same constituency.
Is Kibish a ward or a sub-county?
Both. Kibish is one of the six wards of Turkana North constituency, and KNBS also treats Kibish as a separate sub-county for census and administration purposes.
What was the population of Turkana in the 2019 census?
KNBS counted 926,976 people in Turkana County in 2019. Turkana West was the most populous sub-county with 239,625 people, excluding refugees.
Prefer WhatsApp? Follow Business Radar on WhatsApp
Weekly, free. We only use your email for this newsletter and you can unsubscribe in one click. Privacy policy.
