COMPOSITION AND ABUNDANCE OF INDIGENOUS MEDICINAL PLANTS IN SELECTED AREAS IN BARINGO COUNTY, KENYA Carol Jeruto Rotich, Najma Dharani and Esther Kitur School of Environmental Studies Kenyatta University, P.o. Box 43844-00100, Nairobi, Kenya Department of Environmental Sciences, Kenyatta University, P.o. Box 43844-00100, Nairobi, Kenya Abstract. The study was conducted with the main objective to determine the utilization and conservation of indigenous medicinal plants in Koipirir, Ilchurai and Ikumae in Baringo County. The specific objectives were to assess the composition and abundance of the common Indigenous Medicinal Plants in the study areas. Balanites aegyptiaca (26.26%), Acacia nilotica (17.68%) and Balanites aegyptiaca (15.80%) were abundant in Koipirir, Ilchurai and Ikumae respectively. Introduction; Increasing demand for medicinal plants internationally has resulted in the over- exploitation and indiscriminate over-harvesting of medicinal plants [I]. The degree of vulnerability of medicinal plants to overexploitation and disturbance largely depends on the part used be it bark, leaves, twigs, roots or stem and the life form [2] species and partly because of their scarcity [3]. The harvesting technique employed in the prevailing area is important in the conservation of medicinal plants as some of the practices may be destructive. In view of these threats to medicinal plants there is need for sustainable management, cultivation and conservation of medicinal plants [4]. According to[3], an important tool for local and international drug development and use to conserve the indigenous African medicinal plants. It is documented that 95% of drug needs in Africa come from medicinal plants, and as many as 5000 plant species in Africa are used for medicinal purposes [5; 1]. According to [6], one of the major concerns of our times is the loss of the Earth‟s biological diversity. The absence of ecological knowledge implies hindrance to the conservation, management and sustainable use of medicinal plant species, especially in due to overexploitation and land use changes. Along with overexploitation, land use changes threaten many medicinal plant species in Africa [7]; [8]. Research has shown that medicinal plants with ruderal life history characteristics tend to be more tolerant of habitat disturbance and degradation [3]. According to [9] the insufficient knowledge about the conservation of medicinal plants is a major issue for resource managers. Thus the protected areas may assist in the conservation of indigenous medicinal plant species in [10]. The communities‟ knowledge on traditional medicine, changing lifestyles and practices is also affecting the status of medicinal plants [11]. It is widely agreed that in the African countries which are considered less developed countries, anthropogenic activities are taking a serious toll on renewable resources including plant species that are valuable to rural communities[12];[13]. Deforestation and land use changes are some of the human activities that have led to serious loss of important plant resources in both the developed and developing countries. In Baringo County,