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
FormedMarch 4th 2013
CapitalOl Kalou
Government
 • GovernorFrancis Kimemia
Area
 • Total3,107.7 km2 (1,199.9 sq mi)
Population
 (2019)
 • Total638,289 [1]
Time zoneUTC+3 (EAT)
Websitenyandarua.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 KalouTown47,79515,186
NyandaruaCounty432,10721,868
Total-479,90237,054
* 1999 census. Source:[4]
Historical population
YearPop.±%
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
Kipipiri78,893208Kipipiri
Ndaragwa85,2453,594Ndaragwa
North Kinangop67,3564,080
Ol Joro Orok65,2290Ol Joro Orok
Ol Kalou98,8063,881Ol Kalou
South Kinangop84,3733,099Njabini
Total479,90214,871-
* 1999 census. Sources:,[6][7]

Constituencies

The county has five constituencies and 25 wards

ConstituencyArea km2Popn census 2009No of WardsWards
Kinangop Constituency935192,3798Engineer, Gathara, North Kinangop, Murungaru, Njabini/Kibiru, Nyakio, Magumu, Githabai
Kipipiri Constituency54495,3384Wanjohi, Kipipiri, Geta, Githioro
Ol Kalou Constituency536120,2825Karau, Kanjuire Ridge, Milangine, Kaimbaga, Rurii
Ol Jorok Constituency43995,6434Gathanji, Gatimu, Weru, Charagita
Ndaragwa Constituency65592,6264Leshau/Pondo, Kiriita, Central, Shamata
Total3,108596,26825

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, 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;

ConstituencyFormationMP NamePolitical PartyVote ForTotal Vote castNote
Kinangop1988HON KWENYAJP57,89580,001
Kipipiri1988HON KIMUNYAJP18,97236,887
Ol Kalou1997HON KiarahoJP22,20146,120
Ol Joro Orok2013Michael Muchira MwangiJP23,74836,445
Ndaragwa1988JEREMIAH KIONIJP25,17138,281
Nyandarua County2013HON Faith GitauJP158,486239,661Women Representatives
Nyandarua County2013[HON GITHIOMIJP211,315239,074Senator

Governor

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

CandidatePartyVotesComment
Daniel Waithaka MwangiTNA162,418Winner
David Mwaniki NgugiGNU19,561
Peter Mwangi GathimbaNARC55,896
Rejected Votes2,313
Total Cast Votes240,188

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]

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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.

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