Turkana

Lodwar is the largest town in northwestern Kenya and the administrative capital of Turkana County, set on the banks of the Turkwel River west of Lake Turkana. Its dry, rocky surroundings, pastoralist culture, and role as the main gateway to the Lake Turkana region give it a distinctive frontier character.

The town's modern history began around 1933 with a trading post on the Turkwel River and later became a colonial-era transit point for political prisoners. Jomo Kenyatta, Kenya's first president, was held under house arrest in Lodwar from 1959; the site is preserved as Kenyatta House and is among the town's most significant historical landmarks.

Lodwar's compact centre is built around a lively market, small shops, and local institutions, while outlying wards such as Nawoitorong and Kanamkemer spread along the A1 road. Nearby attractions include the Christ the Redeemer statue on a hill above town, Lake Turkana's sandy Eliye Springs, and the Turkana cultural festival Tobong'u Lore, which brings music, dance, and crafts to the town.

The wider Turkana Basin is world-renowned for palaeontology and archaeology at sites such as Koobi Fora and Nariokotome, while Sibiloi National Park and Central Island National Park protect landscapes and wildlife around the lake. These draw researchers, specialist tour groups, and adventurous travellers, making Lodwar a base for exploration.

Today Lodwar functions as a regional centre for county government, NGOs, humanitarian work, commerce, and the developing oil and energy sector in Turkana. Its airport, road links, and services make it an important practical base for both independent travellers and business or project travel to northern Kenya.