Tharaka-Nithi County

Tharaka-Nithi County is one of the 47 counties of Kenya located in Kenya's former Eastern Province. The county has an area of 2609 km2 and as of the 2019 census a population of 393,177.[2]

Tharaka-Nithi County
County
Flag
Coat of arms
Location of Tharaka-Nithi County in Kenya
Coordinates: 0°18′S 38°0′E
Country Kenya
FormedMarch 4, 2013
CapitalKathwana
Government
 • GovernorMuthomi Njuki
Area
 • Total2,609 km2 (1,007 sq mi)
Population
 (2019)[1]
 • Total393,177
 • Density150/km2 (390/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+3 (EAT)
Websitewww.tharakanithi.go.ke

Tharaka-Nithi County is the home to the Chuka, Muthambi, Mwimbi and Tharaka sections of the Ameru (Meru) community. The people of Tharaka-Nithi County are now predominantly Christian with the Catholics, the Presbyterian, and the Methodists being the predominant religious communities.

The county consists of three constituencies: 60. Maara, 61. Chuka/Igambang'ombe, 62. Tharaka.

History

In 1992 Meru District, sometimes called "Greater Meru" was broken up into four pieces, Meru Central, Meru North, Meru South and Tharaka; with Meru South (also known as Nithi District) combined with Tharaka into a new Tharaka-Nithi District. In 1998, the Tharaka Nithi District was split into two districts, Nithi and Tharaka,[3] but the Kenya Supreme Court decision of 2009 declared that split unconstitutional.[4] Subsequently, under the revised constitution of 2010, Tharaka-Nithi became a county.[5]

County Headquarters

The county headquarters is at Kathwana, a site that is at the intersection of the three constituencies (Maara, Tharaka and Chuka/Igamba-ngo'mbe. The headquarters is on the Mate Road, a recently tarmacked road that runs through Ena, Ishiara, Ciakariga, Tunyai, to Meru and Nkubu. The location of the County headquarters was by consensus by all the communities of the County. If well planned it can turn out to be a very beautiful city. Before the decision to locate the headquarters at Kathwana was settled, there was a disagreement between leaders from the region. The disagreement has been persisting even as recent as last year(2016) when the deputy president H.e William Ruto referred to Chuka town as the county headquarter in an official tour of the county. This was despite the president having earlier assented to a bill earmarking all county headquarters and gazetted.

Politics

Tharaka Nithi County presently has 3 constituencies in the 11th Parliament of the Republic of Kenya. They are Maara Constitutuency - Represented by Hon. Japheth Kareke Mbiuki Chuka-Igambang'ombe Constituency - Represented by Hon. patrick munene Tharaka Constituency - Represented by Hon. george Gitonga Murugara

The incumbent Senator is Hon. Prof. Kindiki A. Kithure while the County member of parliament (Women Representative) is Hon. Beatrice Nkatha.

Education

The county has many secondary schools, it has two national schools; Chogoria Girls High School and Ikuu Boys. The other county schools are: Chuka boys, Chogoria Boys, Muthambi Girls, Kajiunduthi High School and some district schools such as Kirege High School, Magumoni Girls, Mukuuni Boys, Ndagani secondary among others. The county was also the first in the former eastern province to host a public chartered university – Chuka University.

Academics

While holders of PhD degree were few or none 2 decades ago, in the last 10 years Tharaka-Nithi County has had a major development in terms of PhD holders with notable figures as Dr. Mzalendo Kibunjia, Prof Kithure Kindiki, Prof Erastus Njoka and, Prof Micheni J. Ntiba. Notably some are serving as Heads of Government Institutions, VCs, PS's and University Principals among others.

Economy

Like Other Counties surrounding Mount Kenya, the primary economic activities in Tharaka-Nithi County are tea and coffee planting, subsistence dairy farming, as well as keeping of other livestock such as goats and sheep.

Vision

to be a competitive, dynamic, environmentally-friendly county for quality education advancement and investment, economically stable and enrichment of innovation and creativity in all fields.

Prominent personalities
  • Bernard Mate - The County's most notable "son". He was an active politician in Kenya's independence struggle, who resided in Majira, near Chogoria. He represented Central in the LegCo of 1957, as well as being a member of parliament in the 1960s and 1970s.
  • James Njeru Giturianduu - Former assistant minister in Jomo Kenyatta government
  • Samuel Ragwa - First Governor of Tharaka Nithi County
  • Muthomi Njuki - Second and Incumbent Governor
  • Prof. Kindiki A. Kithure- Current Senator

See also some neighbouring counties
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References
  1. https://www.scribd.com/doc/36672705/Kenya-Census-2009
  2. "Kenya 2009 Population and Housing Census Highlights" (PDF). Kenya national Bureau of Statistics. Archived from the original (PDF) on 21 September 2010.
  3. Sheila Aikman, Elaine Unterhalter: (2005) Beyond access: transforming policy and practice for gender equality in education. Oxfam, page 107.
  4. Nyasato, Robert (5 September 2009). "High Court outlaws 210 districts created by Moi and Kibaki since 1992". The Standard. Archived from the original on 1 July 2014.
  5. "First Scheduke, Article 6 (1)" (PDF). Constitution of Kenya (2010). p. 167. Archived (PDF) from the original on 14 March 2014.
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