Elgeyo Marakwet County

Strategically situated in the Rift valley, Elgeyo Marakwet county borders the counties of West Pokot to the north, Baringo County to the east, southeast and south, Uasin Gishu to the southwest and west, and Trans Nzoia to the north west. It covers an area of 3,049.7 km2 with population of 369,998 (census 2009). The Cherangany Hills rise gently to form the western half of the Great Rift Valley and extend northwest in a broken chain to Mount Moroto in Uganda. Non-volcanic in origin, the Cherangany Hills resulted from subsequent erosion of the raised western ridge of the Eastern Rift Valley.

The range is approximately 30 miles (48 km) long and 25 miles (40 km) wide and averages 9,000 feet (2,700 metres) in height; its highest point reaches more than 11,000 feet (3,370 metres). Many of the summits are covered with huge groundsels and lobelias. Some of the hills include Kameleogon (3581 m), Chebon (3375 m), Chepkotet (3370 m), Alaleigelat (3350 m) and Sodang (3211 m). Cherengany hills are water catchment for Kerio river that flows through the Kerio Valley northwards to Lake Turkana. Forest depletion has been at its peak in Embobut forest due to human encroachment. Trees had to be cleared to create land for farming.