Wikipedia

Murang'a County

Not to be confused with Murang'a.

Murang'a County is one of the counties of Kenya's former Central Province. Its largest town and capital is Murang'a, which was referred to as Fort Hall during the colonial era. The county is inhabited mainly by and is considered the birthplace of the Gikuyu, the largest ethnic group in Kenya.[1] The county has a population of 1,056,640 based on the 2019 census.[2]

Murang'a County
County
Murang’a County Landscape
Murang’a County Landscape
Flag of Murang'a County
Flag
Coat of arms of Murang'a County
Coat of arms
Location in Kenya
Location in Kenya
Country Kenya
Formed4 March 2013
CapitalMurang'a
Government
 • GovernorIrungu Kang'ata
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

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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 strategically 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 soil and good climate, which are good for farming. Among the food crops grown in this county include maize, beans, sweet potatoes, arrow roots, pumpkins, and bananas.

Tea and coffee are the county's main cash crops.[3]

County government

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The Constitution of Kenya (2010) created 47 regional governments with the formerly larger Murang'a district as a county. The County Government has two arms, and these are; the County Assembly and the County Executive.[4]

.[citation needed] The county uses the code 021 on the national coding scheme and locals famously refer to the county as Metumi.

Executive

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From 2013 to 2022, the Executive arm was headed by Hon. Mwangi wa Iria, who was deputized by Hon Gakure Monyo during his first term and Hon Maina Kamau in his second term. In his last term, Mwangi wa Iria was assisted by a team of ministerial members referred to as County Executive Committee (CEC), which had ten other members. The individuals and their portfolios included:

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

Following the end of the two terms of governorship by Mwangi wa Iria as stipulated by the Kenyan Law, Murang'a County voters voted in Dr. Francis Irungu Kang’ata as their second Governor in August 2022 general elections. Governor Francis Irungu took Oath of Office on 25 August 2022,[5] together with his deputy Stephen Mburu Munania, who became the third Deputy Governor of Murang'a County.[6]

County Assembly

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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 position of the Speaker of the Assembly was formerly held by Hon. Leonard Nduati, deputized by Hon. Moses Gachui. Johnson Mukuha was voted in as the new Speaker in September 2022 by the majority of Members of County Assembly (MCAs).[7] The Assembly is administratively managed by Clerk to the Assembly, a post formerly occupied by Peter Ndegwa Mbue. The current Clerk to the Assembly is Mr. Kuria Thuita.[8]

MEMBERS OF MURANG'A COUNTY ASSEMBLY(2022–2027)

  1. Speaker - Johnson Mukuha - UDA
  2. Deputy speaker - Moses Gachui Mungai - UDA
  3. Majority Leader - Francis Kibe Kamau - UDA

Elected Members of County Assembly.

Name Political Party Ward
Alex Ndunda Makau PNU Ithanga
Alex Wanyoike Wainaina UDA Mugumo-ini
Benard Ruiru Njeri UDA Mbiri
Boniface Nga’ng’a Mbau IND Muthithi
Caroline Wairimu Njoroge UDA Kigumo
Elizabeth Wambui Mwangi UDA Kimorori Wempa
Gerald Wambugu Mwangi IND Kamacharia
Hilary Muigai Muchoki UDA Ichagaki
James Karanja Kabera IND Kamahuha
Jeremiah Clement Gichobe Mbatia UDA Kariara
John Kamwaga Mwangi UDA Mugoiri
John Kibaiya Ngugi UDA Gatanga
John Munyua UDA Gaichanjiru
John Mwangi Kamau UDA Nginda
Karina Charles Machigo UDA Township
Laban Chomba Njaramba UDA Kambiti
Liz Muthoni Mbugua UDA Kinyona
Margaret Wanjiku Gichia ANC Wangu
Morris Thuku Gathoni UDA Kiru
Moses Macharia Mirara UDA Kangari
Naomi Nyambura Maina UDA Ruchu
Njeri Gathee IND Gaturi
Njoroge Chefman Isaac UDA Kahumbu
Peter Munga Njuguna IND Murarandia
Peter Murigi Ngugi UDA Muruka
Mwangi Wa Kuria UDA Kagundi-ini
Simon Mwaura Wamwea UDA Ng’araria
Steven Muigai Kimani UDA Kakuzi Mitumburi
Thomas Muteti Mwaura UDA Makuyu

Population

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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:[9]

Religion

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Religion in Murang'a County [10]

Religion (2019 Census) Number
Catholicismy 259,936
Protestant 415,159
Evangelical Churches 207,410
African instituted Churches 103,788
Orthodox 5,119
Other Cristian 36,738
Islam 3,640
Hindu 59
Traditionists 1,000
Other 7,704
No ReligionAtheists 11.496
Don't Know 910
Not Stated 100

Learning Institutions

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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 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.

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.

There is also Kenya Medical Training College Murang’a Campus (KMTC). This Medical Training College is situated in Murang’a town, approximately 1 km from the town center. Having started in 1950s as a training Centre for Mid-wives, the college morphed into training nurses and gradually started offering Certificate and Diploma Courses in Nursing and Mental Health Psychiatry. Murang'a county also has a teachers training college,Murang'a Teachers college in Makuyu. The college offers training for primary school teachers. Another public institution is the Michuki Technical Training Institute which is located near Karugia Shopping Centre in Kangema subcounty.

In 2022 Murang'a Technical Institute a TVET institute was opened in Maragua Town and offers diplomas and certificates in various trades.

County subdivisions

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Local authorities (councils)
Authority Type Population* Urban pop.*
Murang'a Municipality 24,443 11,021
Kangema Town 18,229 3,971
Muranga County 305,632 0
Total - 348,304 14,992
* 1999 census. Source: [1]
Administrative divisions
Division Population* Urban pop.* Headquarters
Kiharu 84,868 10,433 Murang’a
Kahuro 92,104 0
Kangema 61,182 785 Kangema
Mathioya 110,139 0 Kiria-ini
Total 348,304 11,218 -
* 1999 census. Sources: [2], [3],

The county has seven constituencies:

The county has several towns:

Central Kenya Region

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Urbanisation

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Urbanisation in Central Kenya
County
Urbanisation in Central Kenya (Per cent)
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

[11]

Wealth/Poverty Level

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Wealth/Poverty Level in Central Kenya
County
Poverty Level in Central Kenya (Per cent)
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

[12][13]

Cash crops in Murang'a county:

  • Tea
  • Coffee

Notable people

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Kikuyu People". Encyclopaedia Britannica. Archived from the original on 24 July 2019. Retrieved 18 January 2022.
  2. ^ "2019 Kenya Population and Housing Census Volume I: Population by County and Sub-County". Kenya National Bureau of Statistics. Archived from the original on 13 November 2019. Retrieved 6 November 2019.
  3. ^ "Murang'a County: A haven for Coffee Investments". Soko Directory. 23 December 2015. Archived from the original on 17 August 2017. Retrieved 28 May 2020.
  4. ^ "County Government | AHADI toolkit". countytoolkit.devolution.go.ke. Archived from the original on 23 October 2022. Retrieved 23 October 2022.
  5. ^ "governor of muranga sworn in – Google Search". google.com. Archived from the original on 2 August 2023. Retrieved 23 October 2022.
  6. ^ "The Governor – Muranga County Government". Archived from the original on 23 October 2022. Retrieved 23 October 2022.
  7. ^ "Johnson Mukuha elected Murang'a County Assembly Speaker". pd.co.ke. 20 September 2022. Archived from the original on 23 October 2022. Retrieved 23 October 2022.
  8. ^ Assembly, Murang'a County. "Clerk of the County Assembly". Murang'a County Assembly. Archived from the original on 24 October 2022. Retrieved 23 October 2022.
  9. ^ "Kenya: Administrative Division (Provinces and Counties) – Population Statistics, Charts and Map". citypopulation.de. Archived from the original on 25 December 2021. Retrieved 26 December 2021.
  10. ^ "2019 Kenya Population and Housing Census Volume IV: Distribution of Population by Socio-Economic Characteristics" (PDF). Kenya National Bureau of Statistics. Retrieved 2 May 2021.
  11. ^ "County Urbanization: Nairobi | Open Kenya | Transparent Africa". Archived from the original on 12 December 2013. Retrieved 12 December 2013.
  12. ^ "Poverty Rate, by District | Open Kenya | Transparent Africa". Archived from the original on 12 December 2013. Retrieved 12 December 2013.
  13. ^ "Kenya | Data". Archived from the original on 11 December 2013. Retrieved 9 December 2013.
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0°45′S 37°7′E / 0.750°S 37.117°E / -0.750; 37.117

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