Limuru | |
|---|---|
  Limuru Location in Kenya | |
| Coordinates: 01°06′28″S36°38′34″E / 1.10778°S 36.64278°E | |
| Country |  Kenya |
| County | Kiambu County |
| Population (2019 Estimate) | |
| • Total | 159'314 |
| Time zone | UTC+3 (EAT) |
| Climate | Cfb |
Limuru is a town in central Kenya. It is also the name of a parliamentary constituency and an administrative division. The population of the town, as of 2004, was about 4,800. In a census taken in 2019 the population had increased to 159,314. [1]
Limuru is a town located on the eastern edge of the Great Rift Valley about 30 kilometres (19 mi), by road, northwest of Nairobi. [2] The geographical coordinates of Limuru town are:1°06'28.0"S, 36°38'34.0"E (Latitude:-1.107778; Longitude:36.642778). [3]
The native language of most people in Limuru is Kikuyu, with Swahili and English being widely spoken.
Limuru served as the capital of Kiambu West District which was formerly part of Kiambu District. It is now a sub county in the main Kiambu County. In addition, it is also the name of a parliament constituency.
Most of the area of Limuru is now what was previously known as the "white highlands", a rich agricultural land south of the equator. The term "white highlands" derived from the British and other Europeans who realised the productive potential of this area and settled in large numbers with the support of the colonial government, establishing coffee and tea plantations, cereal farms and ranches. The altitude of the town is about 2,500 meters. Limuru has a temperature of 10–28 °C (75 °F) year round.
There is a railway station in Limuru town.
Limuru is widely known in Kenya as a tea-producing and processing area with the main factories being Karirana Tea Estates and Mabroukie Teas Estates on the outskirts of the town.
The tea plantations established around Limuru from 1903 onwards were the foundation of Kenya's tea industry. Limuru is home to the BATA shoe company, the largest shoe factory in East and Central Africa. In recent years, more companies have established themselves in the town, including Procter and Allan, polypipes and Fruit 'n' Juice.
Also in Limuru is the Nest Children's Home, which specializes in the care of children of imprisoned mothers.
The town of Limuru grew with the railway, the tea industry (especially with major expansion from the 1920s), and the Bata shoe factory and head office.
The town also serves as a milk processing zone obtained from the small-scale dairy farming in the surrounding area.
Limuru residents rely mostly on farming and a shoe factory for employment. Early in the British colonial period (from the 1890s) Europeans settled in the area due to its proximity to Nairobi, the railway, its fertile land and pleasant weather. It is the birthplace of the African writer, Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o, as well as that of Bishop Caesar Gatimu and human rights and political activist Percy Faith Fawaki (Zartaj).
Limuru town is served by one government run health facility, Limuru Health Center which is located within the town limits. Other health facilities in Limuru include Rwamburi Dispensary, Rironi Dispensary, Thigio Dispensary, Ndeiya Health Center and Ngecha Health Center. Tigoni District Hospital is the main government hospital and serves as the link facility between the rural health facilities and the main National referral hospital. Health care has seen an improvement in quality of services with the collaboration of other stakeholders. Services such as cervical cancer screening by VIA/VILLI is available at all government run facilities in Limuru. The nurses working in these clinics also conduct outreach programs to ensure more women are screened. Uptake of long-term contraceptive methods such as implants and IUCDs has also improved due to intensive community education and outreach programs undertaken by the staff working in the various government health facilities. It is for this reason that Ndeiya Health Center was confirmed the center of excellence in addressing family planning and cervical cancer screening in East and Central Africa. Ndeiya Health Center has mentored other health facilities in the area including Rwamburi Dispensary with an aim of replicating the success in the same. Constituency development fund has funded the construction of three rural facilities in the area. These are: Rwamburi Dispensary, Rironi Dispensary and Ngecha Health Center. Also, there are several private hospitals in Limuru.
Community strategy has been implemented in the area and community units such as Ndiuni community unit has been conducting various community health activities. These community units are linked to their respective health facilities where they refer patients.
Due to its proximity to Nairobi and its location on the main highway linking Nairobi to other towns like Naivasha, Eldoret and Kisumu, Limuru is attracting investors and businesses. In July 2014, developers of a new 11,000 square metres (120,000 sq ft) shopping mall broke ground. This will be the first mall in the town. Tuskys, the number two supermarket chain in Kenya by sales, will be the anchor tenant, taking up about 50% of the rental space. The development is expected to cost KSh650 million (approx. US$7.5 million) to construct, and is expected to be ready during the second half of 2018. [4] The number three supermarket chain in the country, naivas [5] together with Society Stores have opened new stores in Limuru during the year 2016 & 2017 respectively. The new supermarkets will join others such as Cleanshelf, the then major supermarket in the town, as at January 2015. [4] The Great Kenyan Bake Off, the Kenyan version of The Great British Bake Off, was filmed at Limuru. [6]
Trans-Nzoia County is a county in the former Rift Valley Province, Kenya, located between the Nzoia River and Mount Elgon, 380 km northwest of Nairobi. At its centre is the town of Kitale which is the capital and largest town. The county borders Bungoma to the west, Uasin Gishu and Kakamega to the south, Elgeyo-Marakwet to the east, West Pokot to the north and the Republic of Uganda to the Northwest. Trans Nzoia covers an area of 2495.5 square kilometres.
Kijabe is a town in Kenya.
Thika is an industrial town and commerce hub in Kiambu County, Kenya, lying on the A2 road 42 kilometres (26 mi), northeast of Nairobi, near the confluence of the Thika and Chania Rivers. Although Thika town is administratively in Kiambu County, the greater Thika area comprising residential areas such as Bendor estate, Maporomoko, Thika Greens, Thika Golden Pearl, Bahati Ridge, and Thika Sports Club, among others, are within Murang'a County. Thika has a population of 279,429 which is growing rapidly, as is the entire greater Nairobi area. Its elevation is approximately 1,631 metres (5,351 ft).
Ruiru is a municipality and sub-county in Kiambu County, Kenya. It sits within the greater Nairobi Metropolitan region. According to the 2019 national population census, Ruiru is the 4th largest urban centre in Kenya by population. The name Ruiru is of the Kikuyu dialect and possibly relates to the black cotton soil that is found in most parts of Ruiru to the east and south.
Kiambu County is a county in the former Central Province of Kenya. Its capital is Kiambu and its largest town is Thika town. Kiambu County is the second most populous county in Kenya after Nairobi County. Kiambu County borders Nairobi and Kajiado Counties to the South, Machakos to the East, Murang'a to the North and North East, Nyandarua to the North West, and Nakuru to the West. It has a population of 2,417,735.
Gatundu is a small town in Kiambu County of Kenya. It is known for the first Kenyan president Jomo Kenyatta who lived about three kilometres away from the town, as well as his son, Uhuru Kenyatta, now the 4th President of Kenya and former Member of Parliament representing Gatundu South Constituency. The town is located on a hill surrounded by many farms and residences.
Kikuyu Constituency is an electoral constituency in Kenya. It is one of twelve constituencies in Kiambu County. The constituency was established for the 1963 elections. From the 1988 elections to the 2002 elections it was known as Kabete Constituency. With the new demarcation of constituencies by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), the constituency was split into two and now we have Kikuyu Constituency and Kabete Constituency. The Current Member of Parliament for Kikuyu Constituency is Hon. Anthony Kimani Ichung'wa who was elected on The National Alliance Party (TNA) ticket. He is also the Vice - Chairman of the Public Investments Committee, a Member of the committee of Powers and Privileges and equally a Member of the Departmental Committee on Agriculture, Livestock and Co-operatives in parliament. Kikuyu Constituency borders Kabete, Limuru, Westlands and Dagoreti Constituencies. The constituency had its name changed to Kabete Constituency before the 2007 General Elections and Later in 2012 during the review of boundaries by the Independent Electoral Boundaries Commission (IEBC), the constituency was split into two, thereby creating Kikuyu and Kabete constituencies Respectively.
Lari Constituency is an electoral constituency in Kenya, located forty kilometers from Nairobi along the Nairobi-Nakuru highway. Lari is located in the Western part of Kiambu County. The constituency was established in 1966. Lari borders Kinangop to the North, Limuru to the South, Githunguri and Gatundu North constituencies to the east and Naivasha Constituency to the west. Lari is one of the 12 sub-counties in Kiambu County, and is further divided to five wards each electing a representative to the Kiambu County Assembly.
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Karuri is a town in Kiambu County. The town hosts a town council.
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Lower Kabete is the name given to a region straddling Kiambu County and Nairobi County, Kenya. It falls between Wangige Area and Kitisuru Estate.
Naivasha Airport is an airport in Naivasha, Kenya.
Loreto High School Limuru is an all girls' National School located in the highlands of Limuru, Kiambu County, Central Kenya. It is approximately 28 kilometres (17 mi) from the capital city of Nairobi, Kenya.
Ruaka is a town in Kiambu County, Kenya. The town is located north west of Nairobi, at the western end of the Northern Bypass along Limuru Road. Ruaka is part of the larger Nairobi Metropolitan Conurbation. The town formed part of the former Karuri Town Council local authority area. Two Rivers Mall, in Nairobi County, is close to Ruaka.
The Nairobi–Nakuru–Mau Summit Highway is a road in Kenya, connecting the capital city of Nairobi, in Nairobi County, with the towns of Naivasha, Nakuru and Mau Summit, in Nakuru County.
Nairobi Western Bypass Highway is a road in Kenya. It connects the town of Kikuyu to the town of Ruaka, both in Kiambu County.
St. Paul's University, is a private Christian ecumenical University with its main campus in Limuru, Kiambu County Kenya. The students and staff of the University come from all over the world.
1°06′28″S36°38′34″E / 1.10778°S 36.64278°E
Nairobi metropolitan area | ||
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Population - 7.8 million | ||
| Counties |  | |
| Major city 3.8 million | ||
| Urban Centres over 200K | ||
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