Muranga County
Murang'a County is one of the counties of Kenya's former Central Province. Its largest town is Murang'a its capital, called Fort Hall in colonial times (before 1963). 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]
Murang'a County | |
|---|---|
 Murang’a County Landscape | |
 Flag  Coat of arms | |
 Location in Kenya | |
| Country |  |
| 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 | Murang’a.go.ke |
History
When missionaries first came to Kenya, they were prevented from settling on the coast by the Portuguese, who had taken the coastal area, strategic for trade, from Arab powers in the 16th century. The missionaries were forced to venture 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 that 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 many big rivers, including River Maragua, which originates from the heart of the Aberdare Range, River Mathioya, River Kayahwe, River Irati, and River 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 region's main cash crops.[2]
County Government
The Constitution of Kenya of 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.
Executive
The executive arm is headed by a governor, a position currently held by Mwangi wa Iria. In every election the each person vying for the governorship is expected to select a running mate with whom the person get elected as a single ticket. The current deputy governor of Murang'a is 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 |
Assembly
Murang’a County Assembly is situated in Central Kenya in a town known as Murang’a town along the Kiria-ini road opposite Ihura stadium. It is in the building which was formerly the Municipal Council of Murang’a. It is in Murang’a County Government area of jurisdiction. On 4 March 2013, the general election was held in Kenya and the Members of the County Assembly (MCAs), the women representatives, the Members of Parliaments (MPs), the senators, the governors and the president were elected.
Murang’a County has 35 MCAs elected members, a speaker and 16 nominated members of which 4 are people who are physically challenged. On 22 March 2013, the elected MCAs were sworn in and the speaker of the county Assembly elected and sworn in at the same time. Subsequently, the select and the sectoral committees were formed, of which there are 18.
Select committees are the county public investment and accounts committee, county budget and appropriation committee, committee on appointments, committee on implementation, committee on delegated county legislation, committee on selection, committee on procedure and rules, the county Assembly business committee and the liaison committee.
The current speaker of the assembly is the Hon. Leonard Nduati, deputized by the Hon. Moses Gachui. The assembly is also administratively managed by Clerk to the Assembly, a post being occupied by Peter Ndegwa Mbue. The assembly's Majority Leader is the Hon. Peter Irungu Kihungi.
Population
| 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] | ||
Learning Institutions
Currently, there is only one public university in the county, known as Murang’a University of Technology (MUT). Murang’a University of Technology (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. MUT is positioning itself to develop a distinctive profile as a progressive and international Technical University, growing its enrollment strategically.
Although the University has opened its doors to undergraduate and postgraduate students, MUT remains strongly committed to exploring how best to harness technology to improve the quality of education it offers students. Through the continued development of our courses, we will continue to explore and embrace sound pedagogy through a combination of active and engaged learning and appropriately matched technological tools. At MUT, students are being trained to analyze, interpret, and synthesize information from a variety of sources; practice holistic reasoning; improve verbal, visual and written communication skills; organize and contribute to team efforts; and enhance self-confidence and preparation for a career and/or postgraduate training.
The University intends to build technology and innovations that will go a long way to improve the quality of life of the Kenyans and also contribute to quickening industrialization envisioned in vision 2030.
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. Its location provides a serene environment conducive for learning.
County subdivisions
| Local authorities (councils) | |||
| Authority | Type | Population* | Urban pop.* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Murang'a | Municipality | 24,443 | 11,021 |
| Kangema | Town | 18,229 | 3,971 |
| Murang’a County | County | 305,632 | 0 |
| Total | - | 348,304 | 14,992 |
| * 1999 census. Source: | |||
The county has seven constituencies:
- Kangema Constituency
- Kiharu Constituency
- Mathioya Constituency
- Kigumo Constituency
- Kandara Constituency
- Maragwa Constituency
- Gatanga Constituency
The county has several upcoming towns:
Central Kenya Region
Urbanisation
| 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 | ||||||||
|
32.3 | ||||||||
|
Urbanisation by County in Central Kenya | |||||||||
Wealth/Poverty Level
| 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 | ||||||||
|
45.9 | ||||||||
|
Poverty level by County | |||||||||
Cash crops in Murang'a county:
- Tea
- Coffee
Notable people
- Kenneth Matiba - Politician, First Kenyan Opposition Leader, Business Man, civil servant
- Charles Rubia - First African Mayor of Nairobi
- Mwangi wa Iria - Governor
- Irungu Kan'gata - Current senator
- Kembi Gitura - Former Senator Murang'a County
- Peter Kenneth - Presidential candidate 2013 elections, Former Assistant Minister and Member of Parliament
- Sabina Wanjiru Chege - Chairperson of Health Committee in National Assembly, MP, Woman Representative Murang'a County
- Joseph Kamaru - Renowned Benga Musician
- Dr Gacuuru Wa Karenge - Former MP Kandara
- John Njoroge Michuki - Former Cabinet Minister
- Elias Mbau - Former MP
- Ndindi Nyoro - Current MP Kiharu
- Clement Muchiri Wambugu - Former MP, Mathioya Constituency
- James Mwangi - Entrepreneur, Businessman and Current C.E.O of Equity Bank
- Peter Munga - Businessman, Entrepreneur
- Jimnah Mbaru - Politician, Businessman, Entrepreneur
- Alice Wahome - Current MP Kandara
- James Kiarie Asaph- Former Muranga Town Council Planner.
- Wangu wa Makeri - A woman colonial chief
See also
References
- "2019 Kenya Population and Housing Census Volume I: Population by County and Sub-County". Kenya National Bureau of Statistics. Retrieved 6 November 2019.
- "Murang'a County: A haven for Coffee Investments". Soko Directory. 23 December 2015. Retrieved 28 May 2020.
- KENYA: Administrative Division population statistics
- "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 12 December 2013. Retrieved 12 December 2013.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
- "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 12 December 2013. Retrieved 12 December 2013.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
- "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 11 December 2013. Retrieved 9 December 2013.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)