Elevated at 4287 meters above sea level, in the snowcapped area of the mountain named for our country is the Teleki Tarn, a breathtaking body of water. On another side of the mountain is the Hut Tarn. Then there’s the Tyndall Tarn and Glacier, the Lewis Glacier, and the Darwin Glacier. Besides dwelling on different sections within Mount Kenya, these fairly small bodies of water have another thing in common: the travelling River.
It is better known as Naro Moru River and previous discussions and texts about Naro Moru have said that its source is Mount Kenya – which is true – but with a 153 km circumference at its base, and a pyramidal peak of 5,119 m, specifics on where the River’s source is may be worth exploring. This is where the tarns and glaciers come in. All six water bodies have curve like snakes around the mountain and meet at a confluence to form the Naro Moru River. At this convergence, as the River takes on this new name, its bank widens carrying the water through Kirinyaga and Meru Counties for over 150 kilometers. With this name, this current is also responsible for a town’s name: Naro Moru town in Nyeri County, and a notable spot along its course: the Naro Moru River Lodge, a scenic getaway for an out-of-town experience.
Still in Nyeri, the River takes on another name; it empties into the 15,000 square kilometer basin of the Ewaso Ng’iro River. From here, the waters flow north-east and thereafter south-east, visiting a number of areas. The now Ewaso Ng’iro feeds into Lake Ol Bolossat in Nyandarua County, crosses into wildlife territory and scorched areas in Samburu County, makes an appearance in Laikipia County, contributes to the Merti Aquifer in Isiolo and Garissa Counties, and the Lorian Swamp in Wajir County. But the River isn’t just bound to Kenya, it joins the Juba River in Southern Somalia.
While the travelling River passes through these various locations, it is a source of water to several communities and wildlife. Because its sources are high up in the mountain, there is a consistent supply of or access to water throughout most of the areas it flows through. Though one might wonder about these names of the River along its course. Do you know what Ewaso Ng’iro means? Is Naro Moru an actual word (or two) and not just the name of a town? Let us know!
