Kericho is a Kenyan town in Kericho County, located within the highlands west of the Kenyan Rift Valley. Kericho is home to Kenya's biggest water catchment area, the Mau Forest. With a high altitude and virtually daily rains, Kericho is the centre of Kenya's large tea industry, and its town square is even known as Chai Square (Chai is Hindi for Tea). Some of the largest tea companies including Unilever Kenya, James Finlay and Williamson are based here. It is also home to Ketepa, the largest tea company in Kenya. Much of the tea is exported, with the United Kingdom being the largest market. The town has an urban population of 150,000 and a total population of over 500,000 (1999 census).