Kenya Volcanoes
Kenya has 21 Holocene volcanoes. Note that as a scientific organization we provide these listings for informational purposes only, with no international legal or policy implications. Volcanoes will be included on this list if they are within the boundaries of a country, on a shared boundary or area, in a remote territory, or within a maritime Exclusive Economic Zone. Bolded volcanoes have erupted within the past 20 years. Suggestions and data updates are always welcome ().
Volcano Name | Location | Last Eruption | Primary Volcano Type |
---|---|---|---|
The Barrier | Kenya | 1921 CE | Shield |
Central Island | Kenya | Unknown - Evidence Credible | Tuff cone(s) |
Chyulu Hills | Kenya | 1855 CE | Volcanic field |
Ol Doinyo Eburru | Kenya | Unknown - Evidence Credible | Complex |
Elmenteita Badlands | Kenya | Unknown - Evidence Credible | Pyroclastic cone(s) |
Emuruangogolak | Kenya | 1910 CE | Shield |
Homa Mountain | Kenya | Unknown - Evidence Credible | Complex |
Korosi | Kenya | Unknown - Evidence Credible | Shield |
Longonot | Kenya | 1863 CE | Stratovolcano |
Marsabit | Kenya | Unknown - Evidence Uncertain | Shield |
Menengai | Kenya | 6050 BCE | Shield |
Namarunu | Kenya | 6550 BCE | Shield |
North Island | Kenya | Unknown - Evidence Credible | Tuff cone(s) |
Nyambeni Hills | Kenya | Unknown - Evidence Credible | Shield |
Ol Kokwe | Kenya | Unknown - Evidence Credible | Shield |
Olkaria | Kenya | 1770 CE | Pyroclastic cone(s) |
Paka | Kenya | 7550 BCE | Shield |
Segererua Plateau | Kenya | Unknown - Evidence Credible | Pyroclastic cone(s) |
Silali | Kenya | 5050 BCE | Shield |
South Island | Kenya | 1888 CE | Stratovolcano |
Suswa | Kenya | Unknown - Evidence Credible | Shield |
Chronological listing of known Holocene eruptions (confirmed or uncertain) from volcanoes in Kenya. Bolded eruptions indicate continuing activity.
Volcano Name | Start Date | Stop Date | Certainty | VEI | Evidence |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Central Island | [1974 Jul 22 (?)] | [1974 Jul 27 ± 1 days] | Uncertain | ||
Barrier, The | 1921 Dec 31 ± 365 days | Unknown | Confirmed | 2 | Historical Observations |
Barrier, The | [1920 ± 3 years] | [Unknown] | Uncertain | ||
Barrier, The | 1917 | Unknown | Confirmed | 2 | Historical Observations |
Emuruangogolak | 1910 ± 50 years | Unknown | Confirmed | 0 | Magnetism |
Barrier, The | [1906] | [Unknown] | Uncertain | ||
Barrier, The | 1897 May (in or before) | Unknown | Confirmed | 2 | Historical Observations |
Barrier, The | 1895 | Unknown | Confirmed | 2 | Historical Observations |
South Island | 1888 | Unknown | Confirmed | 1 | Historical Observations |
Barrier, The | 1888 | Unknown | Confirmed | 0 | Historical Observations |
Barrier, The | 1871 ± 3 years | Unknown | Confirmed | 2 | Historical Observations |
Longonot | 1863 ± 5 years | Unknown | Confirmed | 0 | Anthropology |
Chyulu Hills | 1855 ± 5 years | Unknown | Confirmed | 2 | Anthropology |
Olkaria | 1770 ± 50 years | Unknown | Confirmed | Radiocarbon (uncorrected) | |
Emuruangogolak | 1700 ± 100 years | Unknown | Confirmed | 0 | Radiocarbon (uncorrected) |
Chyulu Hills | 1470 ± 200 years | Unknown | Confirmed | Radiocarbon (uncorrected) | |
Emuruangogolak | 1300 ± 150 years | Unknown | Confirmed | 0 | Magnetism |
Emuruangogolak | 1230 ± 150 years | Unknown | Confirmed | 0 | Magnetism |
Emuruangogolak | 1160 ± 150 years | Unknown | Confirmed | 0 | Magnetism |
Emuruangogolak | 1120 ± 150 years | Unknown | Confirmed | 0 | Magnetism |
Barrier, The | 1090 ± 50 years | Unknown | Confirmed | 0 | Magnetism |
Barrier, The | 1050 ± 150 years | Unknown | Confirmed | 0 | Magnetism |
Barrier, The | 1030 ± 150 years | Unknown | Confirmed | 0 | Magnetism |
Longonot | 1330 BCE ± 100 years | Unknown | Confirmed | Radiocarbon (uncorrected) | |
Chyulu Hills | 2250 BCE ± 110 years | Unknown | Confirmed | 3 | Radiocarbon (uncorrected) |
Olkaria | 4050 BCE (?) | Unknown | Confirmed | Tephrochronology | |
Silali | 5050 BCE ± 2000 years | Unknown | Confirmed | Ar/Ar | |
Menengai | 6050 BCE (?) | Unknown | Confirmed | 6 | Radiocarbon (uncorrected) |
Olkaria | 6050 BCE (?) | Unknown | Confirmed | Tephrochronology | |
Silali | 6050 BCE ± 3000 years | Unknown | Confirmed | Ar/Ar | |
Emuruangogolak | 6550 BCE ± 1500 years | Unknown | Confirmed | Tephrochronology | |
Namarunu | 6550 BCE ± 1500 years | Unknown | Confirmed | Tephrochronology | |
Silali | 7050 BCE ± 2000 years | Unknown | Confirmed | Ar/Ar | |
Longonot | 7200 BCE ± 100 years | Unknown | Confirmed | Radiocarbon (uncorrected) | |
Menengai | 7350 BCE ± 500 years | Unknown | Confirmed | Tephrochronology | |
Paka | 7550 BCE ± 2000 years | Unknown | Confirmed | 4 | Ar/Ar |
Barrier, The | 7710 BCE ± 200 years | Unknown | Confirmed | Tephrochronology | |
Emuruangogolak | 8050 BCE ± 1000 years | Unknown | Confirmed | Radiocarbon (uncorrected) |
There are 41 photos available for volcanoes in Kenya.

Photo by Martin Smith, 1993 (copyright British Geological Survey, NERC).

Photo by Martin Smith, 1993 (copyright British Geological Survey, NERC).

NASA Space Shuttle image STS026-37-2, 1988 (http://eol.jsc.nasa.gov/).

Satellite image courtesy of Copernicus Sentinel Data, 2019.

Satellite image courtesy of Planet Labs Inc., 2019 (https://www.planet.com/).

Copyrighted photo by Katia and Maurice Krafft, 1976.

NASA Landsat 7 image (worldwind.arc.nasa.gov)

Photo by Martin Smith, 1993 (copyright British Geological Survey, NERC).

NASA Landsat image, 1999 (courtesy of Hawaii Synergy Project, Univ. of Hawaii Institute of Geophysics & Planetology).

Photo by Hunting Aereo Surveys (published in Green and Short, 1971).

Copyrighted photo by Katia and Maurice Krafft, 1978.

Satellite image courtesy of Planet Labs Inc., 2019 (https://www.planet.com/).

Photo by Martin Smith, 1993 (copyright British Geological Survey, NERC).

Satellite image courtesy of Copernicus Sentinel Data, 2019.

NASA Landsat image, 1999 (courtesy of Hawaii Synergy Project, Univ. of Hawaii Institute of Geophysics & Planetology).

NASA International Space Station image ISS006-E-5095, 2002 (http://eol.jsc.nasa.gov/).

Satellite image courtesy of Planet Labs Inc., 2019 (https://www.planet.com/).

NASA Landsat image, 1999 (courtesy of Hawaii Synergy Project, Univ. of Hawaii Institute of Geophysics & Planetology).

Satellite image courtesy of Copernicus Sentinel Data, 2019.

Photo by Martin Smith, 1993 (copyright British Geological Survey, NERC).

Satellite image courtesy of Planet Labs Inc., 2020 (https://www.planet.com/).

Copyrighted photo by Katia and Maurice Krafft, 1976.

Copyrighted photo by Katia and Maurice Krafft, 1976.

Satellite image courtesy of Planet Labs Inc., 2019 (https://www.planet.com/).

Photo by Martin Smith, 1993 (copyright British Geological Survey, NERC).

Copyrighted photo by Katia and Maurice Krafft, 1977.

Photo by Tom Jorstad, 1990 (Smithsonian Institution).

Photo by Martin Smith, 1993 (copyright British Geological Survey, NERC).

Satellite image courtesy of Copernicus Sentinel Data, 2019.

NASA Landsat 7 image (worldwind.arc.nasa.gov)

Copyrighted photo by Katia and Maurice Krafft, 1976.

Photo by Doron, 1999 (http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Image:LakeTurkanaSouthIsland.jpg).

Satellite image courtesy of Copernicus Sentinel Data, 2019.

NASA Landsat image, 1999 (courtesy of Hawaii Synergy Project, Univ. of Hawaii Institute of Geophysics & Planetology).

Copyrighted photo by Katia and Maurice Krafft, 1976.

NASA Landsat image, 1999 (courtesy of Hawaii Synergy Project, Univ. of Hawaii Institute of Geophysics & Planetology).

Copyrighted photo by Katia and Maurice Krafft, 1976.

Photo by Chip Clark, 1994 (Smithsonian Institution).

Photo by Martin Smith, 1993 (copyright British Geological Survey, NERC).

Copyrighted photo by Katia and Maurice Krafft, 1978.

Photo by Martin Smith, 1993 (copyright British Geological Survey, NERC).
This is a compilation of Kenya volcano information sources, such as official monitoring or other government agencies.
Volcanic Ash Advisory Center | |
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Toulouse Volcanic Ash Advisory Center (VAAC) Notices and Archive |