Muranga County

Murang'a County is one of the counties of Kenya's former Central Province. Its largest town and capital is Murang'a, formerly referred to as Fort Hall during the colonial era. 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]

Not to be confused with Murang'a.

Murang'a County
County
Murang’a County Landscape
Flag
Coat of arms
Location in Kenya
Country Kenya
FormedMarch 4th 2013
CapitalMurang'a
Area
 • Total2,325.8 km2 (898.0 sq mi)
Population
 (2019)
 • Total1,056,640
 • Density450/km2 (1,200/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+3 (EAT)
WebsiteMuranga.go.ke

History
Tea farming in Muranga County.
Railway bridge crossing Maragua river.

When missionaries first came to Kenya, they found the Coast Region already inhabited by Portuguese, who had taken the coast, strategic for trade, from Arab powers in the 16th century. The missionaries ventured 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 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 Rivers Maragua, which originates from the heart of the Aberdare Range, Mathioya, Kayahwe, Irati and 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 County's main cash crops.[2]

County Government

The Constitution of Kenya (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 Hon. Mwangi wa Iria. He is deputised by Hon. 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

County Assembly

Murang’a County Assembly is located in Murang’a town along Kiria-ini Road. The Assembly is housed in the building formerly occupied by the Municipal Council of Murang’a.

Murang’a County has 35 MCAs, a speaker and 16 nominated members. The current speaker of the assembly is Hon.Leonard Nduati, deputized by Hon. Moses Gachui. The Assembly is administratively managed by Clerk to the Assembly, a post currently occupied by Peter Ndegwa Mbue. The assembly's Majority Leader is Hon. Peter Irungu Kihungi.

Population
Historical population
YearPop.±%
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). 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. M

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.

County subdivisions
Local authorities (councils)
Authority Type Population* Urban pop.*
Murang'aMunicipality24,44311,021
KangemaTown18,2293,971
Murang’a CountyCounty305,6320
Total-348,30414,992
* 1999 census. Source:
Administrative divisions
Division Population* Urban pop.* Headquarters
Kiharu84,86810,433 Murang’a
Kahuro92,1040
Kangema61,182785 Kangema
Mathioya110,1390 Kiria-ini
Total348,30411,218 -
* 1999 census. Sources: , ,

The county has seven constituencies:

The county has several upcoming towns:

Central Kenya Region

Urbanisation
Urbanisation in Central Kenya
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
 Kenya Average
32.3

Urbanisation by County in Central Kenya

[4]

Wealth/Poverty Level
Wealth/Poverty Level in Central Kenya
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
 Kenya Average
45.9

Poverty level by County

[5][6]

Cash crops in Murang'a county:

  • Tea
  • Coffee

Notable people

See also

References
  1. "2019 Kenya Population and Housing Census Volume I: Population by County and Sub-County". Kenya National Bureau of Statistics. Retrieved 6 November 2019.
  2. "Murang'a County: A haven for Coffee Investments". Soko Directory. 23 December 2015. Retrieved 28 May 2020.
  3. KENYA: Administrative Division population statistics
  4. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 12 December 2013. Retrieved 12 December 2013.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  5. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 12 December 2013. Retrieved 12 December 2013.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  6. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 11 December 2013. Retrieved 9 December 2013.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)

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