Nyeri

Not to be confused with Nyeri County.

City in Nyeri County, Kenya

Nyeri
City
A street in the center of Nyeri
Nyeri Location of Nyeri
Coordinates: 0°25′S 36°57′E / 0.417°S 36.950°E / -0.417; 36.950Coordinates: 0°25′S 36°57′E / 0.417°S 36.950°E / -0.417; 36.950
Country	Kenya
County	Nyeri County
Population (2009)
• Total	225,357[1]
Time zone	UTC+3 (EAT)
Climate	Cfb

Nyeri is a town situated in the Central Highlands of Kenya. It is the county headquarters of Nyeri County. It is one of the oldest towns in Kenya having been established in the British colonial era in Kenya. The town was the central administrative headquarters of the country's former Central Province.^[2] Following the dissolution of the former provinces by Kenya's new constitution on 26 August 2010,^[3] Nyeri town is now the largest city in the newly created Nyeri County.

Nyeri is the birthplace of the Boy Scout movement and hosts the tomb of the founder Lord Baden Powell. It is also the home town the late Nobel laureate Wangari Maathai.

Nyeri's Roman Catholic Cathedral also hosts the tomb of Blessed Irene Stefani "Nyaatha" who was beatified on 23 May 2015 in Nyeri. Half her remains preserved in the Cathedral, and the other half at Gikondi.

The town is also the home of the famous national university of technology: Dedan Kimathi University of Technology (DeKUT) founded by the local community in the early 1970s as an institute of technology and converted into a fully fledged university in 2012.

The city is situated about 150 km (a two-hour drive) north of Kenya's capital Nairobi, in the country's densely populated and fertile Central Highlands, lying between the eastern base of the Aberdare (Nyandarua) Range, which forms part of the eastern end of the Great Rift Valley, and the western slopes of Mount Kenya.

The city population, according to the 2009 Kenya Population and Housing Census, was estimated at 225,357.^[1] There is, however, a significant population of primarily Government and corporate workers who ordinarily reside in Nyeri but who, during the census, choose to be counted in their areas of origin or the areas where their families are residents.^{[citation needed]}

Nyeri town's central business district is relatively small as compared to other cities in, for instance Mombasa and Kisumu. While small business activities are vibrant, Nyeri is essentially a government administration city.

The town has a relatively low cost of living in comparison to Nairobi and other major urban centers in Kenya. Located in Kenya's fertile highlands, food and water^[4] are plentiful and relatively cheap.^[5]

Contents

• 
  1 History
  


• 
  2 Demographics and culture
  
  
  
  • 
    2.1 Ethnicity and language
    
  
  
  • 
    2.2 Entertainment
    
  
  
  • 
    2.3 Religion
    
  
  
  • 
    2.4 Education
    
  
  
  
  


• 
  3 Economy
  
  
  
  • 
    3.1 Infrastructure
    
  
  
  • 
    3.2 Transport
    
  
  
  • 
    3.3 Tourism
    
    
    
    • 
      3.3.1 Hotels
      
    
    
    • 
      3.3.2 In City
      
    
    
    • 
      3.3.3 Mount Kenya
      
    
    
    • 
      3.3.4 The Aberdares
      
    
    
    • 
      3.3.5 Private ranches
      
    
    
    
    
  
  
  
  


• 
  4 Administration and government
  
  
  
  • 
    4.1 Central government
    
  
  
  • 
    4.2 Local government
    
  
  
  • 
    4.3 Parliamentary representation
    
  
  
  
  


• 
  5 Notable personalities
  


• 
  6 References
  


• 
  7 External links
  

History

Nyeri was the headquarters of Kenya's former Central Province, and is now the largest city in, and new headquarters of the new Nyeri County (click to enlarge map).

Towards the end of 1902, as the British were establishing their colonial presence, Richard Meinertzhagen marched a strong military column meeting spirited resistance from the native Kikuyu warriors led by Wangombe Wa Ihura. The Kikuyu were eventually defeated.^[6] After Meinertzhagen's victory, a decision was reached to site a British post close to a little hill on the slopes of Mt. Kenya. The Kikuyu called the hill Kia-Nyiri while their Maasai neighbours called the hill Na-aier. The post took its name from the little hill. On 18 December 1902, Nyeri was founded.^[6]

Shortly after the establishment of the post, a trickle of European settlers and missionaries and Indian merchants began to migrate into Nyeri and the surrounding areas. The city soon burgeoned into a trading centre for white settler farmers who produced cattle, wheat and coffee. The city became particularly associated with the Happy Valley set in the first half of the twentieth century. The Nyeri Golf Club, The White Rhino Hotel, Outspan Hotel, and the Aberdare Country Club at nearby Mweiga township are relics of those colonial days.

Demographics and culture

Ethnicity and language

The majority of Nyeri residents are members of Kenya's largest ethnic group, the Kikuyu, with residents generally being known as "Nyeri Kikuyu".^[7] The Kikuyu language is widely spoken, along with Kenya's National language, Swahili as well as Kenya's official language, English.

Entertainment

Watching TV sports and listening to music. Most of Kenya's terrestrial TV and radio channels, transmitting mainly from Nairobi, are available in Nyeri.

Most homes have at least one TV and radio. Foreign TV channels are also available, either relayed by local channels, or via satellite. Several entertainment spots, hotels and homes have satellite TV in addition to local television. DVDS, Hollywood movies imported from Asia,Europe and America are cheaply and widely available for purchase or rental.

Religion

Though the depth of belief and dedication to religion varies, most people in Nyeri express belief in God.^{[citation needed]} Following the national pattern of Kenya being a predominantly Christian country, Christianity is the main religion. The main Christian denominations are Catholic, Presbyterian, Anglican, Pentecostals and indigenous denominations, in that order. The older residents, who tend to attend the mainstream churches, are invariably more religious than the younger ones. Muslims, traditional African believers and Hindus, in declining order, make up a small minority.^[8][9]

About 5 km from the city Centre is the Mathari Mission settlement, a complex of several Catholic buildings and institutions, established by Italian missionaries at the beginning of the 20th century. The mission is composed of convents for nuns, schools, a teacher training college and other vocational colleges. It also hosts the Consolata Hospital and School of Nursing, which is staffed largely by nuns of the Consolata order.

Education

Dedan Kimathi University of Technology

In addition to its two home-grown universities, Dedan Kimathi University of Technology and the recently upgraded Karatina University College,^[10] Nyeri hosts satellite campuses of various Kenyan public universities such as University of Nairobi,^[11]Kenyatta University.^[12]

The National Police Training College is situated in Kiganjo, 10.8 km from the city. There is a Medical Training College, a government nursing school, two polytechnic colleges, and several private and public secondary and primary schools.The town is also home to The Nyeri National Polytechnic.[1] The Roman Catholic Church Archdiocese of Nyeri runs several schools, colleges, and hospitals.The town is also home to two famous National schools, The Nyeri igh school,Kagumo high school and the Bishop Gatimu Girls High school^[13] in Nyeri.

Economy

The largest formal employer in Nyeri, being until recently the administrative headquarters of the former Central Province, is the Government of Kenya. The local Municipal Council and utility providers are also significant employers. The various sectors of the service industry, including retail, hospitality, banking, insurance, the charity industry, religious bodies especially the Catholic Church and professionals are also significant employers.^{[citation needed]}

The main industrial plants are a Coca-Cola bottling plant, a water and fruit juice bottling plant, a number of tea and coffee processing factories, a milk processing and packaging factory owned and run by the Kenya Co-operative Creameries Ltd, and a number of maize millers. There is also a wide range of largely unsophisticated light industries, including motor vehicle repair garages, electronics repair shops, furniture workshops, tailoring shops, and bakeries.^{[citation needed]}

A major industry in Nyeri is farming,^[14] which is mostly unmechanized.^{[citation needed]}
The city urban area is actually part of the surrounding rural areas of greater Nyeri County, with farms within the municipality blending seamlessly into the rural area. The main cash crops are Coffee and tea, grown mainly by smallholders who are organized into quasi-private state-supported and supervised co-operatives or companies for farm input distribution, basic processing and marketing purposes.

The main food crops are maize, the staple food in most of Kenya, legumes (especially beans and peas), tubers (mainly potatoes), and vegetables (especially tomatoes, cabbage, spinach and kale). Livestock, mainly dairy cattle, goats, sheep, and chicken are also widely kept. Food crop and livestock farming are also done by smallholders, with marketing and distribution of surplus produce (after farmers' own consumption) being done privately.^{[citation needed]}

Tourism is also significant, as there are many tourist destinations nearby, including the Aberdare and Mount Kenya National Parks, and a number of hotels offering conference tourism and short upcountry holidays.^[15]

Infrastructure

Nyeri has good tarmacked roads, however the county and national government are still upgrading most of the roads.
Water provision services are quite good, with well-distributed clean and safe drinking water being available straight from the tap.^[4]

The sewage system is growing at a good pace, though the use of soak pits, pit latrines and septic tanks is still widespread. The city's topography allows nature and gravity to take care of most of the city's storm water drainage.

Phone services, especially mobile telephony, and internet services are widely available, increasingly affordable and reliable, with internet speeds and bandwidth improving rapidly following the continuing laying of a fibre optic cable network around the city linking the city to offshore submarine cables recently landed on Kenya's coast; and continued improvement and increasing affordability of phone operator internet provision services.

Electricity provision is also adequate, affordable and reliable.

Transport

Nyeri is served by a reasonably well-maintained tarmac road network connecting it to Nairobi, Nakuru, Nanyuki, Othaya and other surrounding towns.^{[citation needed]} Most transportation of cargo to and from Nyeri is by road, although the city has a largely underutilized railway station at Kiganjo (about six kilometers out of city towards Nanyuki) on the branchline of the railway from Nairobi to Nanyuki.

An airport and some airstrips serve the city: one at Mweiga (about 15 Kilometers out of city towards Nakuru) and another at Nyaribo, off the Nanyuki – Naromoru highway. The main mode of public passenger transport to, from, and within Nyeri is by way of fourteen-seater minibuses (matatu), though un-metered salon car taxis are also widely used.^{[citation needed]}

Tourism

Peacock at Outspan Hotel, Nyeri

Hotels

• Outspan Hotel


• Rhino Watch Safari Lodge


• Tafaria Castle and Country Lodge


• Aberdare Country Club


• Giraffe Ark Game Lodge


• Serena Mountain Lodge


• The White Rhino Hotel

In City

Lt.-Gen. Lord Baden-Powell's Grave

Nyeri is a popular destination for relaxation, business, entertainment, and educational/cultural tourism. Its pubs offer lively entertainment, the farms in and around it offer pristine scenery.

Nyeri is the burial place of Lieutenant-General Lord Baden-Powell, a commander in the Boer War and the founder of the Scouting Movement, who once wrote "the nearer to Nyeri the nearer to bliss".^[16] He and his wife, Olave, Lady Baden-Powell, G.B.E., are buried in the City cemetery. Lord Baden-Powell, often referred to simply as B-P, had a cottage built, which he called "Paxtu". He lived there until his death, and it is now a small museum; it stands in the grounds of The Outspan Hotel. Nyeri remains a place of pilgrimage for the worldwide Scouting and Guiding Movements, with members congregating in the city from time to time for various activities and functions.

The Italian War Memorial Chapel, located at Mathari, was built in honour of the fallen Italian soldiers and their African recruits from the Second World War. It is not used for regular worship, but only to celebrate a special Mass on every 2 November in memory of the fallen soldiers. Covering the walls of the main church building are memorials for the many Italian servicemen who died during WWII. Each memorial is in the form of a small oblong plaque indicating the name of the soldier, the battalion he served in, and the place where he died. At the far front, before the altar, is the grave of a senior Italian Royal Army officer.

Nyeri is also the burial place of the legendary hunter/conservationist Jim Corbett, the author of Maneaters of Kumaon (1944) who also spent his final years in Paxtu, B-P's cottage.

Mount Kenya

The most imposing landmark near Nyeri is Mount Kenya and Nyeri hill as well as the Tetu hills 50 km to the North East. About 20 km from the city is Mount Kenya National Park. Mount Kenya is an imposing extinct volcano lying strategically astride the Equator. The mountain has two main snow-covered peaks – Batian (5 200 m) and Nelion (5 188 m). It is the highest mountain in the country and the second, after Kilimanjaro, in Africa.

The mountain slopes are covered in forest, bamboo, scrub and moorland giving way on high central peaks to rock, ice and snow. Its U-shaped glacial valleys, rugged snow-capped peaks, Afro-alpine desert, thirty lakes and eight different natural forest types and a variety of wildlife species make it a convergence of natural attractions. The wildlife found in the park include giant forest hog, tree hyrax, white-tailed mongoose, black leopard, mountain bongo, elephant, black rhino, suni, black-fronted duiker, mole-rat and over 130 species of birds.^[17]

Activities taking place in the park include game drives, nature walks, mountain climbing, wildlife viewing, camping and cave exploration.

The Aberdares

About fifteen kilometers out of Nyeri on the opposite side to Mt. Kenya is the Aberdare National Park.

The Aberdares is an old volcanic mountain range with lower peaks due to a longer period of erosion. It offers views of Mount Kenya to the east and the Great Rift Valley to the west.

Its unusual vegetation, rugged terrain, deep ravines cutting through its forested eastern and western slopes, clear water streams and waterfalls combine to create an area of great scenic beauty.^[18] Its major attractions include the Lesatima and Kinangop peaks and many waterfalls, including the magnificent Karuru falls which drop 272 meters, Zaina falls which drop about 140 meters^[19] and the Gura Falls which drop 305 meters.^[20][21]

The park is home to many endangered species including the rare bongo, giant forest hog, packs of the now very rare wild dogs, and endemic mole-rat and mole shrew. Other game include a large population of black rhino, leopard servile, endemic bird species, reptiles and insects.^[18]

Activities include game drives and nature walks. Both brown and rainbow trout abound in the cool mountain streams and provide excellent angling. Within the Park, the Ark and the Treetops Lodges, which are located next to watering holes, offer close proximity night game viewing.^[22] It was at Treetops Lodge that The Princess Elizabeth, Duchess of Edinburgh (now Elizabeth II) was advised of the death of her father while on a honeymoon retreat, and her own ascent to the throne.^[23] The park is also known for the Kimathi hideouts, the Mau Mau Caves, and the Kimathi "post office" where agents used to drop messages for Mau Mau fighters during the guerrilla wars for Kenyan independence.

Private ranches

Close to the city are several privately owned ranches, many of which also serve as private wildlife sanctuaries like Solio Ranch ol pejeta conservancy and Lewa Wildlife Conservancy. Many higher-end tourists stay at these ranches, including celebrities such as Prince William
^[24] and Bill Gates.^[25]

Administration and government

Nyeri is now, as an administrative center, currently in transition as the new governance and administrative structures created by the new Kenyan Constitution are in the early stages of implementation.

Central government

Provincial Administration

Nyeri, as aforesaid, had been the Provincial Headquarters of the now defunct Central Province. The fate of the Provincial Administration is now the subject of intense national debate as the country transits to the new Constitution's new governance structure. In the interim,the Central Provincial Commissioner (PC) remains in Nyeri.^[26] Under him remain the District Commissioner, Nyeri Central District (DC), the Divisional Officers (DO), the Locational Chiefs and the Assistant Chiefs.^[27]

Government Departments

Various Central Provincial and Nyeri Central District departments of the various ministries of the Government of Kenya,^[28] and central provincial offices of several Kenya Government departments and State Corporations are also still based in Nyeri.

Security

The Central Provincial Police Officer (PPO) of the Kenya Police Service, and under him, as one of the police divisional heads, the Nyeri Divisional Police Commander (OCPD)are based in Nyeri.^[29]

Local government

Nyeri is currently awaiting to be awarded the city status with a certified charter, however its recent growth proves that the it is a city. The county assembly is composed of elected MCAs and a county governor. The county legislative system is also led by a county speaker. The Council is based at the Nyeri city Hall. Since the new constitution was promulgated, the administration is handled by the County Government.

Parliamentary representation

Nyeri Municipality is a parliamentary constituency known as Nyeri Town Constituency represented in the National Assembly by an elected Member of Parliament.

Notable personalities

A number of people have hailed from Nyeri County. These include:

• 
  Mwai Kibaki, third President of Kenya from 2002 to 2013


• 
  Stanley Mathenge, Mau Mau General


• 
  Nicodemus Kirima, Archbishop of Nyeri Archdiocese


• 
  Wangari Maathai, Nobel peace prize winner


• 
  Dedan Kimathi, Mau Mau resistance leader


• 
  Waruhiu Itote, Mau Mau war general


• 
  Muthui Kariuki, Former Government Spokesman


• 
  Catherine Ndereba, Olympic marathon Silver Medalist

References

1. 
   ^ ^ab "2009 Census Vol 1 Table 3 Rural and Urban Population – Open Data Portal". Open Kenya. Archived from the original on 29 July 2016. Retrieved 10 March 2016..mw-parser-output cite.citation{font-style:inherit}.mw-parser-output q{quotes:"""""""'""'"}.mw-parser-output code.cs1-code{color:inherit;background:inherit;border:inherit;padding:inherit}.mw-parser-output .cs1-lock-free a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/65/Lock-green.svg/9px-Lock-green.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output .cs1-lock-limited a,.mw-parser-output .cs1-lock-registration a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d6/Lock-gray-alt-2.svg/9px-Lock-gray-alt-2.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output .cs1-lock-subscription a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/aa/Lock-red-alt-2.svg/9px-Lock-red-alt-2.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration{color:#555}.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription span,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration span{border-bottom:1px dotted;cursor:help}.mw-parser-output .cs1-hidden-error{display:none;font-size:100%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-visible-error{font-size:100%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration,.mw-parser-output .cs1-format{font-size:95%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-left,.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-wl-left{padding-left:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-right,.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-wl-right{padding-right:0.2em}
   


2. 
   ^ "Kenya". Retrieved 10 March 2016.
   


3. 
   ^ "Landmark Moment as New Kenyan Constitution Takes Effect". VOA. Retrieved 10 March 2016.
   


4. 
   ^ ^ab "Kenya Engineer Journal Online". kenyaengineer.or.ke. Retrieved 11 April 2018.
   


5. 
   ^ "Plans launched to turn Nyeri into 24-hour economy". Retrieved 10 March 2016.
   


6. 
   ^ ^ab S. Wachira, S. Muteithia Kibira, Nyeri Showcase, Acken media, Nairobi, 2004; p. 18
   


7. 
   ^ "Kenya Population 2009 – Statistics, Distribution and Demographics by ethnicity". Retrieved 10 March 2016.
   


8. 
   ^ "Kenya Religion – Beliefs and Faiths Practiced in Kenya". Retrieved 10 March 2016.
   


9. 
   ^ "Churches In Kenya: An Overview". Retrieved 10 March 2016.
   


10. 
    ^ "Commission for University Education". Archived from the original on 7 July 2013. Retrieved 10 March 2016.
    


11. 
    ^ "Nyeri Extra Mural Centre – Department of Extra Mural Studies". Retrieved 10 March 2016.
    


12. 
    ^ "Nyeri Campus". Retrieved 10 March 2016.
    


13. 
    ^ http://www.consolatahospital.org/index.php
    


14. 
    ^ "www.planetware.com". planetware.com. Retrieved 11 April 2018.
    


15. 
    ^ Kenya Wildlife Service – Overview Parks and Reserves
    


16. 
    ^ "Paxtu – B-P's home in Kenya". Retrieved 10 March 2016.
    


17. 
    ^ Kenya Wildlife Service – Mount Kenya National Park
    


18. 
    ^ ^ab Michael Hodd "East Africa handbook: the travel guide" Pages 127–130
    ISBN 1-900949-65-2,
    ISBN 978-1-900949-65-1
    


19. 
    ^ "Karuru Falls – World Waterfall Database". Retrieved 10 March 2016.
    


20. 
    ^ "Gura Falls – World Waterfall Database". Retrieved 10 March 2016.
    


21. 
    ^ Michael Hodd "East Africa handbook: the travel guide" Page 131
    ISBN 1-900949-65-2,
    ISBN 978-1-900949-65-1
    


22. 
    ^ "Kenya Parks and Reserves: Aberdare". Retrieved 10 March 2016.
    


23. 
    ^ "Kenya Tourist Board: KENYA'S CROWNING GLORY". tourism.go.ke. Retrieved 11 April 2018.
    


24. 
    ^ English, Rebecca, "Wills in the wilderness – with Kate AND Jecca", Daily Mail, London, 19 July 2005. retrieved 2011-1-21
    


25. 
    ^ Cyrus Kinyungu, Cyrus "Simple lodge that won the heart of richest man",Bushdrums News, 30 August 2006. Retrieved 2011-1-21
    


26. 
    ^ "provincialadministration.go.ke". Archived from the original on 5 March 2009.
    


27. 
    ^ "provincialadministration.go.ke".
    


28. 
    ^ "kenya.go.ke".
    


29. 
    ^ Super User. "Kenya Police Service". Retrieved 10 March 2016.
    

External links

v t e First- and second-level administrative divisions of Kenya
47 counties (since March 2013)	Baringo (30) Bomet (36) Bungoma (39) Busia (40) Elgeyo-Marakwet (28) Embu (14) Garissa (07) Homa Bay (43) Isiolo (11) Kajiado (34) Kakamega (37) Kericho (35) Kiambu (22) Kilifi (03) Kirinyaga (20) Kisii (45) Kisumu (42) Kitui (15) Kwale (02) Laikipia (31) Lamu (05) Machakos (16) Makueni (17) Mandera (09) Marsabit (10) Meru (12) Migori (44) Mombasa (01) Murang'a (21) Nairobi (47) Nakuru (32) Nandi (29) Narok (33) Nyamira (46) Nyandarua (18) Nyeri (19) Samburu (25) Siaya (41) Taita-Taveta (06) Tana River (04) Tharaka-Nithi (13) Trans-Nzoia (26) Turkana (23) Uasin Gishu (27) Vihiga (38) Wajir (08) West Pokot (24)
Principal cities and towns	Nairobi (capital) Athi River Baragoi Bomet Bungoma Busia Chuka Eldoret Embu Garissa Hola Homa Bay Isiolo Iten Kabarnet Kajiado Kakamega Kapsabet Kangundo - Tala Kapenguria Karuri Kericho Kerugoya Kiambu Kibwezi Kikuyu Kilifi Kisii Kisumu Kitale Kitengela Kitui Kwale Limuru Lodwar Lokichogio Loiyangalani Lamu Machakos Makindu Malindi Mandera Maralal Marsabit Masii Meru Mombasa Moyale Mtito Andei Mumias Murang'a Mutomo Mwingi Naivasha Nakuru Namanga Nanyuki Narok Nyahururu Nyamira Nyeri Ol Kalou Ongata Rongai Ruiru Siaya Thika Vihiga Voi Wajir Webuye Wote Wundanyi

Authority control	GND: 4365533-6 VIAF: 152527010 WorldCat Identities (via VIAF): 152527010

This page is only for reference, If you need detailed information, please check here