Nyandarua County

Nyandarua County is a County in the former Central Province of Kenya. Its capital and largest town is Ol Kalou.[2] Formerly the capital was Nyahururu, which is now part of the Laikipia County. Nyandarua County has population of 596,268 [1] and an area of 3,304 km².[3] The county is located on the northwestern part of the old Central Province, and contains the Aberdare Ranges.

Nyandarua County
County
Aberdare Ranges in Nyandarua County
Flag Coat of arms
Location in Kenya
Country	Kenya
Formed	March 4th 2013
Capital	Ol Kalou
Government
• Governor	Francis Kimemia
Area
• Total	3,107.7 km^2 (1,199.9 sq mi)
Population  (2019)
• Total	638,289 [1]
Time zone	UTC+3 (EAT)
Website	nyandarua.go.ke

The county was split into two in 2007: Nyandarua North District and Nyandarua South District. However, with the promulgation in 2010 of new constitution, these have been re-organised as sub counties of Nyandarua County . Daniel Waithaka was elected the first governor of the County 2013 General Election and Francis Kimemia seconds him in August 2017 elections.

Demographics

Local authorities (councils)

Authority	Type	Population*	Urban pop.*
Ol Kalou	Town	47,795	15,186
Nyandarua	County	432,107	21,868
Total	-	479,902	37,054
* 1999 census. Source:[4]

Historical population

Year	Pop.	±%
1979	233,302	—
1989	345,420	+48.1%
1999	479,902	+38.9%
2009	596,268	+24.2%
2019	638,289	+7.0%
source:[5]

Administrative divisions

Administrative divisions

Sub-County	Population*	Urban pop.*	Headquarters
Kipipiri	78,893	208	Kipipiri
Ndaragwa	85,245	3,594	Ndaragwa
North Kinangop	67,356	4,080
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	-
* 1999 census. Sources:,[6][7]

Constituencies

The county has five constituencies and 25 wards

Constituency	Area km^2	Popn census 2009	No of Wards	Wards
Kinangop Constituency	935	192,379	8	Engineer, Gathara, North Kinangop, Murungaru, Njabini/Kibiru, Nyakio, Magumu, Githabai
Kipipiri Constituency	544	95,338	4	Wanjohi, Kipipiri, Geta, Githioro
Ol Kalou Constituency	536	120,282	5	Karau, Kanjuire Ridge, Milangine, Kaimbaga, Rurii
Ol Jorok Constituency	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

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, Dispensary i.e.Mirangine Health Centre and numbers of private hospital.

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.[8]

In 2013 presidential election the county voters voted for Uhuru Kenyatta with 237,975 a 99% of valid votes.

Legislature

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 KIMUNYA	JP	18,972	36,887
Ol Kalou	1997	HON Kiaraho	JP	22,201	46,120
Ol Joro Orok	2013	Michael Muchira Mwangi	JP	23,748	36,445
Ndaragwa	1988	JEREMIAH KIONI	JP	25,171	38,281
Nyandarua County	2013	HON Faith Gitau	JP	158,486	239,661	Women Representatives
Nyandarua County	2013	[HON GITHIOMI	JP	211,315	239,074	Senator

Governor

There were three candidates for governorship during 2013 election[9]

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

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.[10]

One of pioneer school is Nyandarua high School which was opened 29 March 1965 with 71 students.[11] Currently they are other major school among others; Kangui high School, Karima Girls, Shamata Girls, Wanjohi Girls, Magumu, Mukoe, Kagondo, Kihingo, Waka Junior, Njabini, Nyahururu 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. 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.

Interested investors both local and in the diaspora can invest in agriculture, manufacturing, processing and housing.

Sport

Nyandarua is known for athletics being home to John Ngugi and Samuel Wanjiru.

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.

Central Kenya Region

Urbanisation

Urbanisation in Central Kenya

County	Urbanisation in Central Kenya (Percent)
Kiambu County	60.8
Nyeri County	34.7
Nyandarua County	8.9
Muranga County	36.3
Kirinyaga County	25.8
Kenya Average	32.3
Urbanisation by County in Central Kenya

[12]

Wealth and poverty level

Poverty Level in Central Kenya

County	Poverty Level in Central Kenya (Percent)
Kirinyaga County	34.2
Muranga County	28.5
Kiambu County	19.9
Nyeri County	26.3
Nyandarua County	76.6
Kenya Average	45.9
Poverty level by County

[13][14]

References

1. "Kenya Census 2009". Scribd.com. Retrieved 9 December 2013.
2. "Kenya | U.S. Agency for International Development" (PDF). Kenya.usaid.gov. Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 September 2013. Retrieved 9 December 2013.
3. "Kenya Districts". Statoids.com. Retrieved 9 December 2013.
4. "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 1 March 2020. Retrieved 2 January 2007.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
5. KENYA: Administrative Division population statistics
6. (PDF) https://web.archive.org/web/20070616215050/http://www.cck.go.ke/html/final_annex1_cover_status.pdf. Archived from the original (PDF) on 16 June 2007. Retrieved 7 August 2013. Missing or empty |title= (help)
7. Archived 18 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine
9. Archived 5 August 2013 at the Wayback Machine
10. "Nyandarua County Profile Data". HURUmap. Retrieved 27 November 2017.
11. "Nyandarua High School". Somo.co.ke. Retrieved 9 December 2013.
12. "County Urbanization: Nairobi | Open Kenya | Transparent Africa". Kenya.socrata.com. Archived from the original on 12 December 2013. Retrieved 9 December 2013.
13. "Poverty Rate, by District | Open Kenya | Transparent Africa". Kenya.socrata.com. Archived from the original on 12 December 2013. Retrieved 9 December 2013.
14. Al, Edward (30 September 2013). "Kenya | Data". Data.worldbank.org. Archived from the original on 11 December 2013. Retrieved 9 December 2013.

External links

• Nyandarua County