This article possibly contains original research .(July 2013) |
Murang'a County | |
---|---|
Murang’a County Landscape | |
Location in Kenya | |
Country | Kenya |
Formed | March 4th 2013 |
Capital | Murang'a |
Area | |
• Total | 2,325.8 km2 (898.0 sq mi) |
Population (2019) | |
• Total | 1,056,640 |
• Density | 450/km2 (1,200/sq mi) |
Time zone | UTC+3 (EAT) |
Website | Muranga.go.ke |
Murang'a County is one of the counties of Kenya's former Central Province. Its largest town and capital is Murang'a, formerly referred to as Fort Hall during the colonial era. It is inhabited mainly by and is considered the home of the Gikuyu, the largest community in Kenya. The county has a population of 1,056,640 (2019 census). [1]
When missionaries first came to Kenya, they found the Coast Region already inhabited by Portuguese, who had taken the coast, strategic for trade, from Arab powers in the 16th century. The missionaries ventured into Kenya's rugged interior and Murang'a was one of the first places they settled.
When the British set up the East African Protectorate in 1895, their first administrative post (Fort Smith) was located in Murang'a.
One of the main highlights of Murang'a's history, however, is the Mau Mau uprising that was led by the Agikuyu community who consider Murang'a their ancestral origin. Murang'a is thus considered, at least by some, the birthplace of the Kenyan independence movement.
Missionaries had initially been welcomed by Karuri Wagakure who was the chief of Tuthu. They set up the first mission church in Kenya at Murang'a.
Murang'a is also the source of Rivers Maragua, which originates from the heart of the Aberdare Range, Mathioya, Kayahwe, Irati and Muriurio among others.
Additionally, Murang'a is known for its fertile farming soil and good climate. Food crops such as maize, beans, sweet potatoes, arrow roots, pumpkins and bananas are grown in the region.
Tea and coffee are the County's main cash crops. [2]
The Constitution of Kenya (2010) created 47 regional governments with the formerly larger Murang'a district as a county. The county government is composed of an executive branch and an assembly.[ citation needed ]
The executive arm is headed by a governor, a position currently held by Hon. Mwangi wa Iria. He is deputised by Hon. Maina Kamau. The governor is assisted by a team of ministerial members referred to as County Executive Committee (CEC), which has ten other members. The individuals and their portfolios include
CEC member | Portfolio |
---|---|
Hon. Githirwa M. Macharia | Environment & Natural Resources |
Hon. Muiruri Maina Edward | Youth,Sports,Gender,Culture,social services Co-operatives & special Programmes. |
Hon. George M. Kamau | Finance,IT & Economic Planning |
Hon. Nyambura Macharia | Public Service |
Hon. Albert Mwaniki | Agriculture, Livestock & Irrigation |
Hon. Eng. Amos Njoroge | Energy Transport & Infrastructure Development |
Hon. David W. Waweru | Commerce,Trade, Industry & Investment |
Hon. Dr. Susan Muthoni Magada | Health, water & sanitation |
Hon. Gerishon Nyagia | Education & Technical Training |
Hon. Sarah Masaki | Lands, Housing & Planning |
Murang’a County Assembly is located in Murang’a town along Kiria-ini Road. The Assembly is housed in the building formerly occupied by the Municipal Council of Murang’a.
Murang’a County has 35 MCAs, a speaker and 16 nominated members. The current speaker of the assembly is Hon.Leonard Nduati, deputized by Hon. Moses Gachui. The Assembly is administratively managed by Clerk to the Assembly, a post currently occupied by Peter Ndegwa Mbue. The assembly's Majority Leader is Hon. Peter Irungu Kihungi.
Year | Pop. | ±% |
---|---|---|
1979 | 648,333 | — |
1989 | 858,063 | +32.3% |
1999 | 736,273 | −14.2% |
2009 | 942,581 | +28.0% |
2019 | 1,056,640 | +12.1% |
source: [3] |
Currently, there is only one public university in the county, known as Murang’a University of Technology (MUT). MUT was established in September 2011 via Murang’a University College order legal notice No. 129 of September 2011 as a constituent College of Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology. MUT is the successor of Murang’a University College and Murang'a College of Technology. The University currently operates under the provision of the Universities Act 2012 CAP 210 B of the laws of Kenya. M
The University is located 1.5 km from Murang'a town, 85 km North East of Nairobi, 70 km South East of Nyeri and 50 km South West of Embu.
Local authorities (councils) | |||
Authority | Type | Population* | Urban pop.* |
---|---|---|---|
Murang'a | Municipality | 24,443 | 11,021 |
Kangema | Town | 18,229 | 3,971 |
Muranga | County | 305,632 | 0 |
Total | - | 348,304 | 14,992 |
* 1999 census. Source: |
Administrative divisions | ||||
Division | Population* | Urban pop.* | Headquarters | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Kiharu | 84,868 | 10,433 | Murang’a | |
Kahuro | 92,104 | 0 | ||
Kangema | 61,182 | 785 | Kangema | |
Mathioya | 110,139 | 0 | Kiria-ini | |
Total | 348,304 | 11,218 | - | |
* 1999 census. Sources: , , |
The county has seven constituencies:
The county has several upcoming towns:
County | Urbanisation in Central Kenya (Percent) | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Kiambu County | 60.8 | ||||||||
Nyeri County | 24.5 | ||||||||
Nyandarua County | 18.5 | ||||||||
Murang’a County | 16.3 | ||||||||
Kirinyaga County | 15.8 | ||||||||
Kenya Average | 32.3 | ||||||||
Urbanisation by County in Central Kenya |
County | Poverty Level in Central Kenya (Percent) | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Kirinyaga County | 25.2 | ||||||||
Murang’a County | 28.5 | ||||||||
Kiambu County | 28.9 | ||||||||
Nyeri County | 32.7 | ||||||||
Nyandarua County | 46.6 | ||||||||
Kenya Average | 45.9 | ||||||||
Poverty level by County |
Cash crops in Murang'a county:
The Kikuyu are a Bantu tribe native to Central Kenya, but also found in significantly less numbers in Tanzania. At a population of 8,148,668 as of 2019, they account for 17.13% of the total population of Kenya, making them the largest ethnic group in Kenya.
Kenneth Stanley Njindo Matiba was a Kenyan politician and an activist for democracy. He came in at second place in the 1992 presidential election. In November 2007, he announced that he would stand as a presidential candidate in the December 2007 election. Matiba placed seventh, with 8,046 votes.
John Njoroge Michuki was a Kenyan politician and businessman. He was born at Muguru, village, Iyego Location, Kangema Division in Murang’a District. He was educated in Kenya and abroad. Michuki emerged as one of the prominent and long-serving civil servants and politicians as well as a businessman in Kenya. Michuki served Kenya in various capacities, including Permanent Secretary in the Finance Ministry, Chairman of the Kenya Commercial Bank, Member of Parliament and Cabinet Minister. He was serving his 4th five-year term as a Member of Parliament for Kangema Constituency. Michuki had a reputation as a "ruthless" and efficient manager, and was widely acknowledged as among the best performing ministers in President Kibaki's Government. He was serving as the Minister for Environment and National Resources at the time of his death.
Murang'a is a town in Muranga County of Kenya. The town used to be called Fort Hall. It is the administrative centre of Muranga County and is mainly inhabited by the Kikuyu community. According to the 1999 census, the town has a population of about 11,021.
Mûkûrwe'inî was a former district in Nyeri County, Kenya.
Kiambu County is a county in the former Central Province of Kenya. Its capital is Kiambu and its largest town is Thika. 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 and has a population of 2,417,735.
Bildad Mwaganu Kaggia was a Kenyan nationalist, activist, and politician. Kaggia was a member of the Mau Mau Central Committee. After independence he became a Member of Parliament. He established himself as a militant, fiery nationalist who wanted to serve the poor and landless people. Because of this he fell out irreconcilably with Jomo Kenyatta.
Nyeri High School, also known as Nyeri High, is a boys boarding school situated in Nyeri, Kenya near Mathari Consolata Mission Hospital, which provides secondary education as stipulated by the 8-4-4 Curriculum. Despite being acknowledged as an academic giant in the region, the school has also developed a notoriety for student unrest culminating in the death of four school prefects in a fire caused by student arson and followed a few years later by a student strike that led to an official government inquiry into the running of the school.
Jamleck Irungu Kamau, also known as "Kabisa Kabisa", was a Member of Parliament (MP) from 2007 to 2017 representing Kigumo Constituency, a sub-county in Murang'a County, Central Kenya. He is the son of Kamau Muchunu from Kigumo.
Kiunjuri Festus K Mwangi is a Kenyan politician. He was born in kenju village in kangema constituency, muranga county. He has held various political and government positions with his most recent role being the CS agriculture.A section of the mt kenya region believe he Is among, if not, uhuru's successor as the region's leader and spokesperson.
Kangema Constituency is an electoral constituency in Muranga County, Kenya.
Joseph Kamaru was a Kenyan Benga and gospel musician and political activist. He was an icon, a hero, and a leading Kikuyu musician, who has sold about half a million records. He was notable for his politically motivated songs either praising or criticising the government. His music covered the teachings of life, promiscuity and sexual harassment in Kenyan politics and social culture.
Juja is an electoral constituency in Kenya. It is one of twelve constituencies in Kiambu County, one of four in the former Thika District. The constituency was established for the 1969 elections.
Peter Mbiyu Koinange was a politician from Kenya. He served in the government and cabinet of Jomo Kenyatta, Kenya's first president, for 16 years. During this time, he held the post of Member of Parliament for the Kiambaa constituency and the portfolios of Minister of State for Education, External Affairs, Pan-African Affairs, as well as Minister of State in the Office of the President.
Mwangi wa Iria is the 1st and current Governor of Murang'a County in Kenya. He is also the current vice chairman of the Council of Governors of Kenya, having been elected in January 2019. He was elected on the 4 March 2013 and subsequently in August 2017 for his second term. His famous campaign slogan is "Hapa kazi tu". He is the 1st black man to be a governor in Muranga county. He won the 2013 Kenyan gubernatorial elections under The National Alliance ticket.
Murang'a University of Technology (MUT) is the Successor of Murang'a University College (MRUC), a former constituent College of Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) after being elevated from Murang'a College of Technology (MCT). The University is located 1.5 km from Murang'a Town in Muranga County, 85 km North East of Nairobi, 70 km South East of Nyeri and 50 km South West of Embu.
Irungu Kang'ata is a Kenyan politician, the senator for Murang'a County, and the former Senate Majority Chief Whip. He is a law graduate from the University of Nairobi and a principal in the firm Irungu Kangata & Co. Advocates located at Flamingo Towers 4th floor, Upperhill, Nairobi. Kang'ata is the immediate former member of parliament for Kiharu Constituency and a former Councillor for Central Ward in Murang'a town. He is a PhD (Law) researcher at the University of Nairobi and teaches law at Catholic University of Eastern Africa, Nairobi.
Ndindi Nyoro is a Kenyan politician, an economist and an entrepreneur, and currently the Member of Parliament (MP) for Kiharu Constituency, which is in Murang'a county in central part of Kenya. Murang’a town is in Kiharu constituency. Ndindi belongs to Jubilee Party, the ruling party in Kenya under President Uhuru Kenyatta. He previously served as the Chairman of Kiharu Constituency Development Fund (CDF) from 2013 to 2016. He is a graduate of Kenyatta University with a Bachelor of Arts (Economics) and was a student leader at the same university. Ndindi occupies a markedly controversial position in Kenya political life, having risen to prominence with his disdain for the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) Party leader Raila Odinga, and later and unequivocal supporter of Deputy President William Ruto's 2022 presidential ambitions. Ndindi has been rated as among the best performing Members of Parliament in Kenya.
John Kiarie Waweru is a Kenyan politician. He is a member of Parliament for Dagoretti South Constituency in Nairobi County under Jubilee Party. and former Redkyulass Comedian.