These lands are characterized by high poverty levels, agro-pastoral livelihoods, high vulnerability to climate shocks, underdeveloped social infrastructure, low access to social services, and in extreme cases conflict over natural resources, especially during droughts".

[6] The Kamba iron-smiths who settled in the county many years before the colonial period are the ones who named the area Kitui.

This means that rainfall occurs practically only during the two rainy seasons (one long around March & April, and one short, around October, November and December).

The terms Long and Short Rains has nothing to do with amount of rainfall received but rather on the length of the rainy seasons.

[6] The number of city dwellers is relatively low as the majority of people (about 86% of the population) lives in rural areas.

[1]: 8 Major towns in the county include Kitui, Mwingi, Mutomo, Kwa Vonza, Mutitu, Ikutha, Kabati, Migwani, Mutonguni, Mbitini and Kyuso.

Kathungi Secondary School, which is also found in Kitui County, is famous for its football championship in the country.

Alongside the national champions Upper Hill, they represented Kenya in East Africa Secondary School games held in Lira, Uganda.

These investments would pay for new or upgraded water facilities in schools, and a professional operation and maintenance service.

[44] For these people, the extended dry period (June to October) creates water supply challenges.

[44] Piped water schemes have fewer or no customers during the wet season because "users shift to using free surface and groundwater alternatives".

The customers tend to shift to shallow wells during the wet season even though this exposes them to health risks.

[43]: 11 The vast majority of the economy is based on sustenance farming, despite the fact that the agriculture is an extremely challenging endeavor giving the sporadic rainfall.

[46] Kitui county has large deposits of coal in Mui Basin,[13] having low energy content/calorific value, meaning it produces less heat when burned.

[13] Also in Kitui county is one of the largest Rock outcrops in Kenya which is locally known as "Ivia ya Nzambani".

Situated past Kitui Town, about 1 km from Chuluni Market is the Nzambani Rock which is famous for the tales and myths of its origin.