ABSTRACT
Many continental rifts document that structure is the dominant mechanism controlling type and distribution of sediments, whereas other extrabasinal and intrabasinal parameters are superimposed on the architecture of the rift. The initiation of structure accounts for basin relief and drainage evolution. During more advanced stages of structural development the rift floor may be segmented into contemporary, and potentially distinct erosional and depositional domains. Within these sub-basins the sedimentary record is determined by the prevalent nature of drainage preconditioned by tectonic activity. The Kenya Rift is exemplary for the diversity of sedimentary environments in a large rift basin which has become subdivided into an array of discrete depocenters due to continued tectonic activity. As a result, in the Central Kenya Rift basins characterized by alkaline and freshwater lacustrine deposition occur adjacent to and interfinger with environments dominated by fluvial processes.
