Marsabit

Marsabit is a town in the northern Marsabit County in Kenya. It is situated in the former Eastern Province and is almost surrounded by the Marsabit National Park. The town is located east of the centre of the East African Rift at an elevation of between 1300 and 1400 metres. It serves as the capital of Marsabit County, and lies South East of the Chalbi Desert in a forested area known for its volcanoes and crater lakes.

==Overview== Marsabit is an outpost of urban civilization in the desert of Northern Kenya. The town is situated on an isolated extinct volcano, Mount Marsabit, which rises almost a kilometer above the desert. Thick vegetation stretches across the hill slopes, in contrast to the desert beyond, with their own "insular" eco-system. The town has a population of about 5,000. thumb|left|Marsabit is located southeast of the Chalbi Desert. The town is mainly inhabited by the Cushitic-speaking Rendille, as well as the Borana, Gabra,Garre, Sakuye and Burji, who are mostly traders and farmers with settlements in urban centres. There are also very few Nilotic Turkana and Bantu Ameru residents. Additionally, there are also few non-Cushitic-speaking traders.