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 serves as both a parliamentary constituency and an administrative division. As of 2004, the town's population was approximately 4,800, which significantly increased to 159,314 by the 2019 census. [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 also widely used.
Historically, Limuru served as the capital of Kiambu West District, which was part of the larger Kiambu District. It is now a sub county in Kiambu County and also the name of a parliament constituency.
Limuru encompasses areas 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 town is at an altitude of about 2,500 meters and experiences temperature of 10–28 °C (75 °F) year round.
There is a railway station in Limuru town.
Limuru is a key area of tea production and processing, with major factories such as 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.
The town is also 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.
The Nest Children's Home, which offers care services for children whose mothers are imprisoned, is located in Limuru town.
Limuru has a rich history tied 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 the government-run Limuru Health Center which is located within the town limits. Other health facilities serving Limuru residents 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]
Nakuru County is a county in Kenya. It is county number 32 out of the 47 Kenyan counties. Nakuru County is a host to Kenya's Fourth City – Nakuru City. On 1 December 2021, President Uhuru Kenyatta awarded a City Charter status to Nakuru, ranking it with Nairobi, Mombasa, and Kisumu as the cities in Kenya. With a population of 2,162,202, it is the third most populous county in Kenya after Nairobi County and Kiambu County, in that order. With an area of 7,496.5 km2, it is Kenya's 19th largest county in size. Until 21 August 2010, it formed part of Rift Valley Province.
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.
Banana Hill is a suburb of Karuri town, in the eastern part of Kiambu County, Kenya. Banana Hill's population constitutes 20 percent of the estimated 100,000 residents within Kiambaa Constituency.
Kikuyu Constituency is an electoral constituency in Kenya. It is one of twelve constituencies in Kiambu County and was established during the 1963 elections. From the period 1988 elections were held until the 2002 elections were held in Kenya, 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.
Lari Constituency is an electoral constituency in Kenya, located in the northwestern part of Kiambu County. The constituency was established in 1966 from Limuru Constituency. 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 constituencies in Kiambu County, and is further divided to five wards each electing a representative to the Kiambu County Assembly.
The Village Market is a large shopping, recreation and entertainment complex in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi. It accommodates over 150 stores outlets covering 210,000 square feet (20,000 m2) of retail space, 20,000 square feet (1,900 m2) square feet of office space, in addition to recreation and entertainment facilities.
Karuri is a town in Kiambu County. The town hosts a town council.
Kamwangi town is headquarter of Gatundu North Sub County Kiambu County, Kenya, in the former Central Province.
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.
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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