Kiambu County is located in the Central highlands of Kenya in the former Central Province, close to Kenya's capital, Nairobi.
Covering an area of 2,543.42 square kilometers, it is also considered one of the wealthiest counties in Kenya.
It is a leading innovative commercial hub that shares its borders
with five other counties;
Nakuru and Kajiado to the West, Murang'a and
Nyandarua to the North and Nairobi to the South.
There are several theories that explain the origin of the name
kiambu; one theory suggests that it was derived from a prominent Kikuyu
clan known as
mbari ya mbuu who used to live next to the
current day Kiambu town. Another theory suggests the area used to
experience constant showers hence the kikuyu phrase
‘kia mbuu'’ meaning the “
place of drizzles.”
Kiambu County Government
Kiambu County constitutes
twelve constituencies; Gatundu South, Gatundu North, Juja, Thika Town, Ruiru, Githunguri, Kiambu, Kiambaa, Kabete, Kikuyu, Limuru and Lari.
The county's top leaders are
William Kabogo (Governor), Wilson
Njenga (County Commissioner), Paul Wamatangi (Senator) and Anna Nyokabi
(Women Representative).
Other top leaders in Kiambu County include Moses Kuria
(MP-Gatundu South), Kigo Njenga (MP-Gatundu North), Francis Waititu
(MP-Juja), Alice Nganga (MP-Thika Town), Esther Gathogo (MP-Ruiru),
Njoroge Baiya (MP-Githunguri), Jude Njomo (MP-Kiambu), Paul Karuga
(MP-Kiambaa), Ferdinand Waititu (MP-Kabete), Anthony Ichungwa (MP-Kikuyu),
John K Chege (MP-Limuru), Joseph Kahagara (MP-Lari).
Who lives in Kiambu County?
The population tally in the county according to the Kenya
National Bureau of Statistics report of 2009 is 1,623,282. Majority of
the people living in Kiambu County are Kikuyus
- the most populous tribe in Kenya. The county has one of the
wealthiest people, among them other ethnicities who primarily work in
the civil service, carry out business, are farmers or in informal
employment. There is a considerable percentage of Asians and Caucasian
population who are in business or working for various foreign missions.
Most Kikuyus living here are predominantly farmers growing tea
and coffee as cash crops alongside food crops such as maize, beans,
assorted vegetables and sweet potatoes. Other communities living in the
county include Luo, Luhya, Maasai, Kamba, Meru, Kalenjin and other
ethnic groups from all over Kenya.
Religion and Traditional Culture
Majority of people living in Kiambu county are Christians.
Notable among Christian faith are Presbyterian, Methodist, Catholic,
Anglican, Pentecostals and Baptists. A small number of residents
subscribe to different faiths including Islam and Hinduism.
The Kikuyu people speak
Gikuyu; a language widely spoken
across the country even in towns where a majority of people speak
Kiswahili. English language is primarily used for daily interaction in
the education, business and social sector.
The Agikuyu people living in Kiambu originally believed in their ancestral god;
ngai,
who was thought to live on top of mount Kenya. The locals are believed
to have fought and intermarried with the Maasai people from neighbouring
Kajiado. In modern day, most Kikuyus have abandoned their traditional
beliefs for Christianity.
Major Towns
Kiambu:
Kiambu town is the commercial and administrative capital of
Kiambu County. Due to its proximity to the city of Nairobi (16
kilometres), the town hosts key government offices for the main
ministries. It's almost considered a suburb of Nairobi with most middle
class renting houses here while they make daily commutes to Nairobi for
work. The town is witnessing rapid growth with major road infrastucture
and complex real estate developments taking place around and neighboring
environs.
Ruiru:
Located along the Thika superhighway between Kenyatta University
and Juja, Ruiru town is one of the fastest growing towns in the county.
It is a busy commercial hub hosting several industries including Devki
Steel Mills, Brookside Dairy and Spinners Garment Factory amongst
others. It is well connected by road and rail to neighbouring towns.
Thika:
Lying about 40 kilometres from Nairobi, Thika town is popular for
the pineapple plantations and the heavy industrial activity. Several
industries including the Broadways Bakery, Bidco Oil Refineries, CMC
motor vehicle assembly line and Thika Coffee Mills are based here. The
town has witnessed rapid growth due to the explosive real estate boom in
the county.
Kikuyu:
Kikuyu town lies 20 kilometres northwest of Nairobi. It is
mostly a business cum administrative hub with locals indulging in retail
and wholesale businesses. Transport to Kikuyu is mostly by road and
rail. The town is home to one of the most sought after Eye Referral
Hospital and a number of university campuses and top learning
institutions are based here, among them Kenya Forestry Research
Institute, Thogoto Teachers' College and the famous Alliance high
schools for boys and girls.
Climate and Weather
The county enjoys a warm climate with temperatures ranging
between 12°C and 18.7°C. The rainfall aggregate for the county is 1000mm
each year. The cool climate makes it a conducive for farming. June and
July rank as the coldest months while January-March and
September-October are the hottest months.
Economic Activities
Kiambu County relies mostly on agriculture and industries to
sustain its economy. Although majority of residents are small scale
farmers growing tea and coffee, there are several large-scale coffee and
tea farms which are serviced by local industries. Local tea factories
include Kambaa Tea Factory in Githunguri, Gachege Tea Factory; Kiambu,
Ngorongo Tea Factory, Kagwe Tea Factory in Lari and Mundoro Tea Factory
in Gatundu.
Coffee growing and marketing is run under the management of
farmer’s cooperative unions. Some of the cooperative and growers
organizations include Dagoreti & Karai Coffee Growers Co-operative
Society, Gititu Farmers Co-operative Society, Komothai Coffee Growers
Co-operative Society, Kiambaa Farmers Co-operative Society, Kabete &
Muguga Coffee Growers Co-operative Society and Ndumberi Farmers
Co-operative Society Ltd.
Kiambu County has a significant presence of various industries
which specialize in agricultural based product, natural resources and
service provision.
Some of the leading industries include, Bogani Industries,
Spinners & Spinners Ltd, Del Monte, Brookside, Fresha and Kinale
dairies. Other industries are Devki Steel Mills, Carbacid industries,
Bata Shoe industry and Uplands Bacon Industry in Limuru.
The larger population of people are in retail businesses where
they manage hotels and restaurants, new and second hand clothes,
foodstuffs, hardware shops and household goods.
The expansion of the Thika Superhighway has opened up the county
and led to an explosiion of the real estate market with several big
projects under development, such as Tatu City, Thika Greens and Buffalo
Hills complexes. Other modern housing developments include Bahati
Ridges, Fourways Junction and Juja South schemes.
Health Facilities
With over 300 health facilities, the county has a reliable health
service network comprising District Hospitals, Sub-District Hospitals,
Dispensaries, Health Centres, Medical Clinics and Nursing Homes. Some
of the leading government hospitals include Kiambu District Hospital,
Kijabe Hospital, PCEA Kikuyu Hospital, Ruiru Sub District Hospital,
Thika District Hospital and Immaculate Heart of Mary Hospital. Private
hospitals in Kiambu County include Thika Nursing Home, The Aga Khan
Hospital, Mt. Sinai Hospital, Thika, Plainsview Nursing Home; Ruiru,
Beta Care Hospital Limited; Githunguri and Naidu Hospital in Thika among
others.
Education
As of 2013, there are are 1,133 primary and 313 secondary
schools. These run on both the day and boarding system for boys and
girls.
Some of the top high schools in Kiambu include St. Ann’s Girls
Lioki, Alliance High School, Mangu High School and Loreto Girls High
School, Limuru among others. The county has several renowned colleges
and universities which include Mount Kenya University; Thika, Kenyatta
University, Jomo Kenyatta University of Science and Technology; Juja,
Gretsa University; Thika, St Paul’s and Presbyterian University; Limuru
and Kiriri Women’s University Of Science and Technology.
Other top colleges and technical institutes are Kiambu Institute
Of Technology, Thika Institute of Technology, Kabete Technical
Institute, Thika College of Banking and Accounting, Kenya Baptist
Theological College, Amboseli Training Institute, Jodan College of
Technology in Thika and the Limuru Youth Agricultural Centre.
Notable Personalities
Kiambu County has perhaps the highest population of prominent
people among them Kenya's first President and founding father Jomo
Kenyatta, Kenya's current President Uhuru Kenyatta, former Attorney
General Charles Njonjo, business tycoon Munga Githunguri, Kenya literary
scholar Ngugi Wa Thiongo and seasoned lawyer Paul Muite among hundreds
of others.
Attractions and Places of Interest
Kiambu County offers numerous attractions. These include the
Mau Mau caves in Kereita Forest in Lari. These caves were used by the Mau Mau fighters to hide from colonial soldiers.
Paradise Lost
along Kiambu road is a breathtaking picnic forest with rich fauna and
flora. You will experience a grand sight of the epic 14 Falls as 14
different waterfalls on River Tana converge in one large pool.
The
Limuru Viewpoint on the Nakuru-Nairobi
highway offers a fantastic view of the Great Rift Valley and antique
curio shops. For the golf enthusiast, you will find some legendary golf
courses in this county which include Sigona, Ndumberi, Windsor and
Kiambu golf clubs.
Travelling to Kiambu County
The county relies on road transport for goods and passengers. It
takes about 20 minutes of travel from Nairobi to Kiambu town, 30 minutes
from Nairobi to Ruiru and approximately 45 minutes to Thika. You can
get to Kikuyu from Nairobi in 35 minutes while Nairobi to Githunguri
will take 50 minutes. Travellers can enjoy modern road service of the
new Northern bypass which stretches from Mombasa Road - Ruiru - Ruaka.
There's an active railroad transport system from the Railways
Bus Station in Nairobi to several towns. The public trains managed by
Rift Valley Railways are mostly used for goods and passengers transport
to Ruiru, Kikuyu, Thika and Dagoretti. There is no air transport to the
county.
Accommodation
There is a wide array of hotels, resorts and golf clubs that
offer budget to high-end accommodation in Kiambu County to locals and
visitors. Some of the leading hotels include the Kentmere Club, Windsor
Golf & Country Club, Fourteen Falls Lodge and Sportsview Hotel.
Others are Blue Post hotel; Thika, Kiambu club, Rainbow Resort in Ruiru and Hotel La Mada.
Guest Information
Banks:
Kiambu county is a hotbed of businesses both small and large
scale. As such, you are bound to find almost all mainstream banks
represented, among them Family Bank, Standard Chartered, Equity,
Cooperative, KCB, DTB, Barclays and National Bank of Kenya. Kiambu is
well served by mobile money agents from Safaricom’s Mpesa and Airtel
money.
Shopping:
Kiambu County is served by a network of wholesale, retail chain
supermarkets and grocery stores. Visitors and tourists will find
numerous shopping malls and leading chain of supermarkets in major towns
of the county. Shopping malls include the village market, Nakumatt,
Tuskys, Clean Shelf and Kamindi Supermarkets. Others are Kikuyu
Mattresses and Amazing Grace Supermarket. There are wholesale outlets
and major depots for basic commodities in major towns including Ruiru,
Kikuyu, Thika, Karuri and Kabete among other towns.
Source:
Kenya Information Guide