| Official Name: | Nyandarua County |
| Flag Size: | 120px |
| Settlement Type: | County |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Name: |  Kenya |
| Seat Type: | Capital |
| Seat: | Ol Kalou |
| Established Title: | Formed |
| Established Date: | 4 March 2013 |
| Leader Title: | Governor |
| Leader Name: | Moses Ndirangu Badilisha |
| Timezone: | EAT |
| Utc Offset: | +3 |
| Area Total Km2: | 3,107.7 |
| Population As Of: | 2019 |
| Population Total: | 638,289[1] |
| Population Density Km2: | auto |
| Website: | nyandarua.go.ke |
Nyandarua County is a county in the former Central Province of Kenya, with its capital and largest town being Ol Kalou.[2] Formerly, the capital was Nyahururu, which is now part of Laikipia County. Nyandarua County had a population of 596,268 in 2009 and 638,289 in 2019[3] and covers an area of 3,304 km2.[4] The county is located on the northwestern part of the old Central Province, and contains the Aberdare Ranges.
Daniel Waithaka was elected the first governor of the County in the 2013 General Election, followed by Francis Kimemia, who was elected as the second governor in the August 2017 elections. In the 2022 general elections, Moses Ndirangu Badilisha won the seat, becoming the third Governor of Nyandarua County.[5]
| Authority | Type | Population* | Urban pop.* | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Town | 47,795 | 15,186 | ||
| Nyandarua | County | 432,107 | 21,868 | |
| Total | - | 479,902 | 37,054 | |
Religion in Nyandarua County [6]
| Religion (2019 Census) | Number |
|---|---|
| Catholicismy | 108,971 |
| 193,696 | |
| 195,213 | |
| 70,943 | |
| Orthodox | 3,692 |
| Other Cristian | 37,672 |
| Islam | 969 |
| 33 | |
| Traditionists | 719 |
| Other | 8,766 |
| No ReligionAtheists | 14.722 |
| Don't Know | 556 |
| Not Stated | 50 |
| Sub-County | Population* | Urban pop.* | Headquarters | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kipipiri | 78,893 | 208 | Kipipiri | |
| Ndaragwa | 85,245 | 3,594 | Ndaragwa | |
| North Kinangop | 67,356 | 4,080 | Engineer | |
| Ol Joro Orok | 65,229 | 0 | Ol Joro Orok | |
| Ol Kalou | 98,806 | 3,881 | Ol Kalou | |
| South Kinangop | 84,373 | 3,099 | Njabini | |
| Total | 479,902 | 14,871 | - | |
The county has five constituencies and 25 wards
| Constituency | Area km2 | Popn census 2009 | No of Wards | Wards | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 935 | 192,379 | 8 | Engineer, Gathara, North Kinangop, Murungaru, Njabini/Kibiru, Nyakio, Magumu, Githabai | ||
| Kipipiri Constituency | 544 | 95,338 | 4 | Wanjohi, Kipipiri, Geta, Githioro | |
| 536 | 120,282 | 5 | Karau, Kanjuire Ridge, Milangine, Kaimbaga, Rurii | ||
| 439 | 95,643 | 4 | Gathanji, Gatimu, Weru, Charagita | ||
| Ndaragwa Constituency | 655 | 92,626 | 4 | Leshau/Pondo, Kiriita, Central, Shamata | |
| Total | 3,108 | 596,268 | 25 |
Nyandarua is serviced by several government hospitals; Nyahururu, Ngano. Ol Kalou -JM Kariuki Memorial district hospital, Engineer District Hospital. Mission hospital funded by church and NGO. Several dispensaries offer health services to the county's residents, an example being Mirangine Health Centre.
County hospitals receive patients from all over the county and in case of referral refer them to Nakuru or Nyeri County Referral hospital and then to Kenyatta National Hospital
The county is represented by 25 elected ward representatives 5 MPs, a Women representative, a Senator and a Governor.[7]
In 2013 presidential election the county voters voted for Uhuru Kenyatta with 237,975 a 99% of valid votes.
In the 2022 general elections, majority of the voters voted for William Samoei Ruto with 189, 513 votes, 78.76% of valid votes.[8]
August
Members of County Assembly (In reference to August 2022 general elections)
| Daniel Gitau | Karau | UDA | |
| Duncan Githinji | Gatimu | Indp | |
| Ebarahim Maina | Murungaru | Jubilee | |
| Elijah Mwangi | Kaimbaga | UDA | |
| Gichuki James | Engineer | Jubilee | |
| Hussein Kassana | Magumu | UDA | |
| Isaac Kung'u | Wanjohi | UDA | |
| Isaac Kamau | Githioro | UDA | |
| James Gachomba | Njabini | Jubilee | |
| John Thuo | Kanjuiri Range | UDA | |
| Joseph Thuo | Gathanji | UDA | |
| Kamwana Geoffrey | Gathara | Indp | |
| King'ori Edinald | North Kinangop | UDA | |
| Milkah Wanjiru | Kiriita | UDA | |
| Paul Wambaire | Kipipiri | CCK | |
| Paul Kiruka | Charagita | UDA | |
| Peter Mwangi | Central | UDA | |
| Peter Thinji | Rurii | Indp | |
| Peter Gathungu | Leshau | UDA | |
| Ruben Gitau | Shamata | UDA | |
| Samuel Kaiyani | Githabai | UDA | |
| Samuel Chege | Geta | UDA | |
| Samuel Mathu | Mirangine | UDA | |
| Simon Mbogo | Weru | UDA | |
| Zachary Njeru | Nyakio | UDA |
Current Members of parliament from constituencies in the county are;
| Constituency | Formation | MP Name | Political Party | Vote For | Total Vote cast | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kinangop | 1988 | HON KWENYA | JP | 57,895 | 80,001 | |
| Kipipiri | 1988 | HON WANJIKU MUHIA | UDA | 18,972 | 36,887 | |
| Ol Kalou | 1997 | HON. KIARAHO, DAVID NJUGUNA | JP | 22,201 | 46,120 | |
| Ol Joro Orok | 2013 | HON. MUCHIRA, MICHAEL MWANGI | UDA | 23,748 | 36,445 | |
| Ndaragwa | 1988 | HON. GACHAGUA GEORGE | UDA | 25,171 | 38,281 | |
| Nyandarua County | 2013 | HON Faith Gitau[9] | UDA | 158,486 | 239,661 | Women Representatives |
| Nyandarua County | 2013 | Governor2013 General election. |
There were three candidates for governorship during 2013 election[10]
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Comment | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Daniel Waithaka Mwangi | TNA | 162,418 | Winner | |
| David Mwaniki Ngugi | GNU | 19,561 | ||
| Peter Mwangi Gathimba | NARC | 55,896 | ||
| Rejected Votes | 2,313 | |||
| Total Cast Votes | 240,188 |
Moses Kiarie Ndirangu Badilisha and John Mathara Mwangi won the 2022 election on a United Democratic Alliance ticket both being sworn in on 25 August 2022 at the Ol Kalou Amboretum grounds as Governor and Deputy Governor of Nyandarua County respectively.[11]
John Methu was elected Senator through United Democratic Alliance with 185,337 votes against Theuri Kinyanjui who had 34,845 votes and the former Senator Mwangi Paul Githiomi came in third with 15,015 votes.[12]
Faith Gitau of the United Democratic Alliance won and retained her seat by 159,621 votes against her competitors Esther Muhoho of the Jubilee Party with 40,112 and followed closely by Judy Muhia with 27,819 votes.[13]
In constituency level, Kinangop Constituency saw Mr Kwenya Thuku retain his seat by the Jubilee Party won by 39,321 votes against Chege Mugo who garnered 34, 842 votes and vied in the United Democratic Alliance party, Ol Kalou Constituency Hon. Kiaraho, David Njuguna retained his seat with the Jubilee Party having gained 24,058 votes against United Democratic Alliance contender Sammy Ngotho, who received 19,380 votes.[14] In Kipipiri Constituency they made history by electing the first female Member of Parliament Wanjiku Muhia who was also the First Women Representative for Nyandarua County.[15] Jeremiah Kioni Jubilee Secretary lost his seat of ten years to George Gachagwa of United Democratic Alliance. George who got 30,180 votes against Kioni who had 7,227 votes in the Ndaragwa Constituency.[16]
Children in Nyandarua can access school with ease. Schools are normally situated a walking distance mostly of less than 3 km (for primary school and high school) with a large number of public and private schools. For tertiary education they are a number of colleges and polytechnic but no university.
Education levels vary drastically with 61% of the population having reached primary school, 19% secondary school and only 2% have a tertiary education level.[17]
One of pioneer school is Nyandarua high School which was opened 29 March 1965 with 71 students.[18] Currently they are other major school among others; Kangui high School, Karima Girls, Kaheho Mix Secondary, Shamata Girls, Wanjohi Girls, Magumu, Mukoe, Kagondo, Kihingo, Waka Junior, Njabini, Nyahururu Boys, St. Joseph-Mkungi Boys. There has been no University in Nyandarua, until Nyandarua Institute was upgraded to a university college under Dedan Kimathi University of Science & Technology. There are some Technical Institutions like Leshau Polytechnic in Ndaragwa Constituency, at Gordon Centre (Next to Kihingo Catholic Church) – Mutanga Parish And Kinagop Technical and Vocational centre in Githioro (kinagop sub county) which was launched in 2017. More Tertiary institution are needed.
Nyandarua County is a productive area for agriculture, manufacturing and processing. There are a number of challenges including lack of a good road network and adequate distribution of electricity and water.[19]
Interested investors both local and in the diaspora can invest in agriculture, manufacturing, processing and housing.
Nyandarua county is famous for its agricultural productivity. Agricultural produce in terms of Maize, Beans, Irish potatoes, cabbages, spinach, kales, peas, grow in plenty, due to the fertile soils and favourable climate in the county.[20]
Nyandarua is famous for being the home of athletics such as; John Ngugi, Catherine Ndereba, Stanley Waithaka and the late Samuel Wanjiru (a one-time Olympic champion, three-time major marathon winner, one-time major marathon silver medalist, and two-time world record holder).[21] It is also home to Benson Kariuki and Bernard Ndung'u, who are Kenya Bowling Federation champions both in Africa and globally. The county is also famous for organising cross country races at different administrative levels in attempt to nurture young athletes.[22]
The main economic activity in Nyandarua is farming (crop cultivation and dairy farming). In late 1990s Nyandarua was a leading producer of pyrethrum, however Kenya Pyrethrum Board the parastatal that was given the role of purchasing, processing and marketing the crop collapsed because of poor management and corruption, severely undermining the livelihood of many farmers. Nyandarua county is well known as a giant in potato farming. However, there has been a number of challenges that are associated with farming such as fluctuation of the market, poor roads, and crop diseases. Aberdare forest which covers a larger area of the country, attract local and international tourist who make a positive income to the local society.The time is now ripe for the people of Nyandarua to initiate new ways of Agribusiness. Constituencies like Ndaragwa should initiate Agribusiness that does well in semi arid areas like mangoes, millet, cassava, pumpkins and other such crops and a processing factory should be established so that the farmers get maximum returns.
Nyandarua county is famous for various tourism destination sites attracting both local and international tourists. This include the Aberdare National Park,[23] Mount Kipipiri, Lake Ol Bolossat, Kinangop Plateau and Elephant Hill Hiking Trail.[24]