History of Kiambu County
Kiambu
county is one of the 47 counties established under the new
constitution, the move to establish the counties was intended to evenly
distribute the national cake and make/open up the rest of the country.
Located in central Kenya where it borders Murang'a county to the north
and north east, to the east it boarders Machakos county, to the south it
border Nairobi and Kajiado county, to the west it borders Nakuru county
and to the North west it border Nyandarua county.
The population of Kiambu county has an approximately 1,623,282according to the 2009 national census and it covers an area of 2,543.4 Km 2.
According to the just concluded 2013 election the Governor of Kiambu County is William Kabogo of The National Alliance(TNA) after taking down the Former Director of Rockefeller Foundation James Nyoro of NARC
The Senator of Kiambu County is Paul Kimani and The women represntative is Ann Nyokabi Gatheca
The climatic/weather condition: Temperatures range from a minimum
of 12.8°C to a maximum of 24.6°C with an average of 18.7°C. The average
rainfall is 989mm per annum.
POPULATION
Population: 1,623,282 (Male - 49%, Female - 51%)Population Density: 638 people per km 2
National Percentage: 4.20%
Annual Growth Rate: 2.56
Age Distribution: 0-14 years (34.5 %), 15- 64 years (61.9 %), 65+ years (3.6%)
Number of Households: 469,244 a
Government
County capital: Kiambu Town (proposed)Number of Constituencies (2010): 8 (Githunguri, Gatundu North, Gatundu South, Limuru, Lari, Juja, Kiambaa, Kabete)
Registered voters: 699,303
Voting History:
1992: FORD ASILI
1997: DP
2002: KANU (NARC – Juja, Kikuyu)
2007: PNU
2013: TNA of the Jubilee Alliance
Voter Turnout:
Highest: 88% (2013 Elections)
Lowest: 62% (2002 Elections)
National percentage: 5.5%
Number of Districts (2009): 11 (Lari, Limuru, Githunguri, Kiambaa (Kiambu East, Kiambu West, Kikuyu, Thika East, Thika West, Ruiru, Gatanga, Gatundu)
Number of 1oca1 Authorities (2010): 8 (Municipal councils of Kiambu, Limuru, Thika, and Ruiru, County Councils of Kiambu and Thika, Town Councils of Kikuyu and Karuri)
Economics
Poverty Level: 25% (Kiambu District) and 48% (Thika District)Age Dependency Ratio: 100: 62
Resources: Arable Land, Forests, Water Falls.
Tourist Attractions: Mau Mau Caves, Paradise Lost, Chania Falls and Fourteen Falls, Mugumo Gardens, Christina Wangare Gardens.
Financial Services: Seven commercial banks, eight micro-finance institutions.
Main Economic Activities/Industries: Farming, Food Processing, Manufacturing (Leather), Mining (Carbacid), Textile (Cotton), Motor Vehicle Assembly, Wholesale and Retail trade.
Agricultural products: Pineapples, Tea, Coffee, Wheat, Macadamia Nuts, Poultry, Horticulture, Dairy, Fish.
CRA Allocation: 5,045,152,826
Education
Number of Institutions (2007): Primary (1,135), Secondary (373)Primary: Enrollment (291,765)
Teacher to Pupil Ratio: 1: 43 (Public Schools)
Secondary: Enrollment (73,831)
Teacher to Pupil Ratio: 1:20 (Public Schools)
Tertiary: More than 15
Adult Literacy Classes: Enrollment: Over 9,337 (Central Province)
Health
Health Facilities: District Hospitals (4),
Sub-District Hospitals (3), Dispensaries (108), Health Centres (29),
Medical Clinics (170), Nursing Homes (9), Maternity Homes (1), Others
(22)Doctor to Population Ratio: 1:25,000 (Kiambu District), 1:21,940 (Thika District)
Infant Mortality Rates: 7/1000 (Kiambu District), 63/1000 (Thika District)
Under five Mortality Rates: 8/1000 (Kiambu District), 36.7/1000 (Thika District)
Prevalent Disease: Malaria, Respiratory Tract Infections, Intestinal Worms, Broncho-pneumonia.
Notable Hospitals: Kiambu District Hospital, Thika District Hospital, Immaculate Heart of Mary Hospital.
Potential
- Great potential in real estate development due to its proximity to the Capital city.
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The upgrade of Thika Road increases land value along the highway and opens up the area
-
Famous for pig farming around the Limuru and Kamiti area
Challenges
- Illicit brew
- Widespread theft of coffee from farmers
- Brokerage of Tea leaves
