Voi, Transit town in Taita-Taveta County, Kenya
Voi is a town situated at the western edge of Taru Desert at an elevation of 580 meters (1,900 feet) near Tsavo East National Park. It occupies a dry landscape with distant hills and serves as a gateway to a major wildlife reserve.
The town emerged with the construction of the Uganda Railway in the late 1800s and experienced rapid growth afterward. It gained official township status in 1932 after becoming an administrative center.
The marketplace draws farmers and traders from surrounding hill communities who bring agricultural goods and livestock to sell. It functions as the main trading hub where local producers exchange their products.
Two railway stations serve the town: one on the historic Kenya-Uganda line and another on the Standard Gauge Railway connecting Mombasa and Nairobi. These rail connections make it accessible for travelers coming from either direction.
The name comes from Chief Kivoi, a 17th-century slave trader who founded a settlement near the Voi River. Though the town has grown far beyond its origins, the name preserves the memory of this forgotten historical figure.
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