KARI Marsabit Research Centre was established in 1987, inheriting some facilities and staff from the UNESCO funded Integrated Project for Arid Lands (IPAL) implemented between mid 1970s and mid 1980s. The Centre is located in Marsabit County of Northern Kenya, some 600 km from Nairobi along the Isiolo-Moyale road. The Centre operates four sub-centres namely: Kargi, Ngurunit, Gudas and Gatab/Mt. Kulal. The sub-centres are located 70, 150, 67 and 200km, respectively, away from the main station and they all fall within the Laisamis and Loiyangalani administrative districts. The sub-centres are used by the Centre scientists when doing research work in the respective areas but the facilities are also hired out to other stakeholders operating in the area at a fee as a way of generating revenue. The Centre also implements research activities outside Laisamis district including Garbatula, Isiolo Moyale, Marsabit north and Chalbi districts of the upper eastern Kenya. The Centre has mandate for five research programs which enables it to effectively and adequately address priority research issues in its mandate area. These programs include range ecology, livestock production, crop production, food and post harvest management, socio-economics & biometrics.