Nyandarua County Explained

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]

Demographics

Local authorities (councils)
AuthorityTypePopulation*Urban pop.*
Town 47,795 15,186
Nyandarua County 432,107 21,868
Total - 479,902 37,054

Religion

Religion in Nyandarua County [6]

Religion (2019 Census)Number
Catholicismy108,971
193,696
195,213
70,943
Orthodox3,692
Other Cristian37,672
Islam969
33
Traditionists719
Other8,766
No ReligionAtheists14.722
Don't Know556
Not Stated50

Administrative divisions

Administrative divisions
Sub-CountyPopulation*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 -

Constituencies

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 Constituency544 95,338 4 Wanjohi, Kipipiri, Geta, Githioro
536 120,282 5 Karau, Kanjuire Ridge, Milangine, Kaimbaga, Rurii
43995,643 4 Gathanji, Gatimu, Weru, Charagita
Ndaragwa Constituency655 92,626 4 Leshau/Pondo, Kiriita, Central, Shamata
Total 3,108 596,26825

Health

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

Representatives

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)

!MCA!Ward represented!Political Party
Daniel GitauKarauUDA
Duncan GithinjiGatimuIndp
Ebarahim MainaMurungaruJubilee
Elijah MwangiKaimbagaUDA
Gichuki JamesEngineerJubilee
Hussein KassanaMagumuUDA
Isaac Kung'uWanjohiUDA
Isaac KamauGithioroUDA
James GachombaNjabiniJubilee
John ThuoKanjuiri RangeUDA
Joseph ThuoGathanjiUDA
Kamwana GeoffreyGatharaIndp
King'ori EdinaldNorth KinangopUDA
Milkah WanjiruKiriitaUDA
Paul WambaireKipipiriCCK
Paul KirukaCharagitaUDA
Peter MwangiCentralUDA
Peter ThinjiRuriiIndp
Peter GathunguLeshauUDA
Ruben GitauShamataUDA
Samuel KaiyaniGithabaiUDA
Samuel ChegeGetaUDA
Samuel MathuMirangineUDA
Simon MbogoWeruUDA
Zachary NjeruNyakioUDA

Legislature

Current Members of parliament from constituencies in the county are;

Constituency Formation MP Name Political Party Vote For Total Vote cast Note
Kinangop1988 HON KWENYA JP 57,895 80,001
Kipipiri1988 HON WANJIKU MUHIA UDA 18,972 36,887
Ol Kalou1997 HON. KIARAHO, DAVID NJUGUNA JP 22,201 46,120
Ol Joro Orok 2013 HON. MUCHIRA, MICHAEL MWANGI UDA 23,748 36,445
Ndaragwa1988 HON. GACHAGUA GEORGEUDA 25,171 38,281
Nyandarua County2013 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 162,418Winner
David Mwaniki Ngugi GNU 19,561
Peter Mwangi Gathimba NARC 55,896
Rejected Votes 2,313
Total Cast Votes 240,188

2022 General election.

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]

Education

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.

Investment challenges

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]

Sport

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]

Economy

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.

Tourism

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]

Central Kenya Region

Urbanisation

[25]

Wealth and poverty level

[26] [27]

External links

-0.55°N 73°W

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Kenya Census 2009 . Scribd . 2013-12-09.
  2. Web site: Kenya | U.S. Agency for International Development . Kenya.usaid.gov . 2013-12-09 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20130903091937/http://kenya.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/profiles/Nyandarua%20County%2023%20Jan%202012.pdf . 3 September 2013 .
  3. Web site: adminusr . 2019-11-04 . 2019 Kenya Population and Housing Census Results . 2023-06-13 . Kenya National Bureau of Statistics . en-US.
  4. Web site: Kenya Districts . Statoids.com . 2013-12-09.
  5. Web site: 2022-08-12 . Kiarie Badilisha declared Nyandarua governor, beating Kimemia . 2022-10-07 . Nation . en.
  6. Web site: 2019 Kenya Population and Housing Census Volume IV: Distribution of Population by Socio-Economic Characteristics . 2 May 2021 . Kenya National Bureau of Statistics .
  7. http://www.ieebc.or.ke
  8. Web site: 2022 Kenya General Election . 2022-10-07 . standardmedia.co.ke.
  9. Web site: Members of National Assembly The Kenyan Parliament Website . 2022-10-07 . parliament.go.ke.
  10. Web site: Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission. 2022-11-08. iebc.or.ke.
  11. Web site: Badilisha sworn-in as Nyandarua governor in colourful event . 2022-10-13 . The Star . en-KE.
  12. Web site: 2022-08-21 . Meet John Methu; Nyandarua's youngest senator . 2022-10-13 . Citizen Digital . en-KE.
  13. Web site: [PHOTOS] Ruto, Gachagua meet Nyadarua leaders ]. 2022-10-19 . The Star . en-KE.
  14. Web site: Members of National Assembly The Kenyan Parliament Website . 2022-10-19 . parliament.go.ke.
  15. Web site: 2022-08-11 . Wanjiku Muhia beats Amos Kimunya to become Kipipiri's first woman MP . 2022-10-20 . Nation . en.
  16. Web site: 2022-08-10 . Jubilee Secretary General Jeremiah Kioni loses Ndaragwa MP seat . 2022-10-20 . Nation . en.
  17. Web site: Nyandarua County Profile Data. HURUmap. 27 November 2017.
  18. Web site: Nyandarua High School . Somo.co.ke . 2013-12-09.
  19. Web site: February 2021 . COUNTY FISCAL STRATEGY PAPER (CFSP) FOR 2021/2022 FY AND THE MEDIUM TERM . Nyandarua go.ke.
  20. Web site: 2021-11-09 . How smart farming in Nyandarua is lifting livelihoods . 2022-10-07 . Nation . en.
  21. Web site: Samuel Kamau WANJIRU Profile World Athletics . 2022-10-07 . worldathletics.org.
  22. Web site: 2021 Nyandarua County Cross-Country – County Government of Nyandarua . 2022-10-07 . en.
  23. Web site: Aberdare National Park Kenya Wildlife Service . 2022-10-13 . kws.go.ke.
  24. Web site: Kagai . Danson . 2015-03-16 . Wealthy Koreans to build Sh22bn golf resort in Nyandarua . 2022-10-13 . CK . en-US.
  25. Web site: County Urbanization: Nairobi | Open Kenya | Transparent Africa . Kenya.socrata.com . 2013-12-09 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20131212082037/https://kenya.socrata.com/Counties/County-Urbanization-Nairobi/g4vq-85ds/ . 12 December 2013 .
  26. Web site: Poverty Rate, by District | Open Kenya | Transparent Africa . Kenya.socrata.com . 2013-12-09 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20131212082035/https://kenya.socrata.com/Poverty/Poverty-Rate-by-District/i5bp-z9aq/ . 12 December 2013 .
  27. Web site: Al . Edward . Kenya | Data . Data.worldbank.org . 2013-09-30 . 2013-12-09 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20131211044508/http://data.worldbank.org//country//kenya . 11 December 2013 .