Kapedo

Kapedo is a settlement in Turkana East Constituency of Turkana County Government, in Kenya's former Rift Valley Province. It is a four-hour drive, with a Four-wheel drive, off road truck, from Nakuru town. Administratively, it is Headed by a Chief[National Government] to be assisted by Village Administrator [yet to be recruited by the County Government]

Map of Kapedo, Kenya

The village lies to the west of Mount Silale in the floor of the Great Rift Valley at the head of the Suguta Valley. The Suguta River enamates from hot springs just East of the village, and is joined by the Kapedo River flowing from the west.

The village, occupied by Turkana people, is in a hot semi-desert area. Most houses are semi permanent, made of iron sheets on roof and mud on the walls. There are also houses made of mud and palm leaves. However, due to the prospective LAPPSET, the village has appreciable number of permanent houses with bricks got from the local quarry, "Ng'amor nyangae' translated as the yellow stones. Kapedo is a trading Center few shops sell basic goods such as flour, tea, sugar and kerosene. There are MPESA shops The village is about to benefit from devolution as the Turkana County Government has advertized a tender for the installation of Street Lights to enhance security and enable small business owners to extend the closing time, that has hitherto been 1800hrs. There is very little agricultural land, so the people mainly depend on raising goats and camels. Conflict with the neighboring Pokot people creates risk in both farming and herding.

The village is home to four learning institutions, namely, Kapedo Mixed Boarding Primary School, Kapedo Girls Primary School, Lopalal Academy and the Kapedo Mixed Secondary School, which was completed and had a staff of eight , mostly BOM teachers over 180 pupils. The capacity of the school is much higher but few students can afford even the modest fees. As of 2011 the Kapedo Sub-District Hospital had 28 beds and four cots. It provided in-patient and out-patient services related to maternity, HIV and Tuberculosis. Kapedo has high potential but it is limited mostly due to the defunct Hydro Electric Power that has been desolate for years since the departure of the Finnish Missionaries. The 'mission' coined for the Kapedo Mixed Primary School, Hospital, Full Gospel Church, The garage and The Guest House were the heavily hit after the redundancy of the HEP project. Due to insecurity from the neighboring Pokot Community and being a border village, Kapedo is a host to a platoon of General Service Unit, an Administration Police camp and a number of National Police Reservists.