It is bordered by the countries of Uganda to the west; South Sudan and Ethiopia, including the disputed Ilemi Triangle, to the north and northeast; and Lake Turkana to the east.

The entire Turkana district was hived off the Uganda Protectorate twice: the southern section in 1902 and the northern region in 1926.

[4] Direct influence by colonial forces, in the form of pacification within the district began in 1900 and ended in 1918.

[6][7] During 1958 the district experienced an influx of a number of people classified as belonging to the Turkana people expelled from the Kenyan settlement Isiolo town to be forcibly relocated to the Turkana district by persons of the then British colonial administration.

[9] The people of the north of the district were reported (2000) endangered by marauding Ethiopians and consequently forced to settle in southerly locations.

[20]Gold panning was reported (2005) as occurring at Lochoremoit, Namoruputh and Ng,akoriyiek.