Machakos County is one of the 47 counties of Kenya, which came into being because of the devolved system of governance occasioned by the 2010 constitution of Kenya. The country's first administrative headquarters are in Machakos Town, which is the largest town in the county. The county had a population of 1,421,932 as of 2019. The county borders Nairobi and Kiambu counties to the west, Embu to the north, Kitui to the east, Makueni to the south, Kajiado to the south west, and Muranga and Kirinyaga to the north west.
Machakos County Masaku | |
|---|---|
 Road in Machakos County showing the landscape | |
 Flag | |
| Nickname: Masaku | |
| Motto: "the Place to be" | |
 Location in Kenya | |
| Coordinates: 01°14′S 37°23′E / 1.233°S 37.383°E | |
| Country |  Kenya |
| Formed | 4 March 2013 |
| Capital | Machakos |
| Government | |
| • Governor | Wavinya Ndeti |
| • Speaker | Ann Kiusya |
| • Senator | Agnes Kavindu Muthama |
| • Women Representative | Joyce kamene |
| Area | |
| • County | 6,043 km2 (2,333 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 1,138 m (3,734 ft) |
| Population (2019) | |
| • County | 1,421,932 |
| • Density | 240/km2 (610/sq mi) |
| • Metro | 150,041 |
| Time zone | UTC+3 (EAT) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+3 |
| Website | [6] |
Religion
Religion in Machakos County [1]
| Religion (2019 Census) | Number |
|---|---|
| Catholicism | 500,115 |
| Protestant | 582,456 |
| Evangelical Churches | 217,122 |
| African instituted Churches | 55,175 |
| Orthodox | 2,405 |
| Other Christian | 23,935 |
| Islam | 12,984 |
| Hindu | 976 |
| Traditionists | 987 |
| Other | 6900 |
| No ReligionAtheists | 9,384 |
| Don't Know | 1,377 |
| Not Stated | 166 |
Government
The Machakos County Government is composed of two arms, the County Executive and the County Assembly. County Executive is headed by a Governor. The office of the Governor of Machakos was created on 27 March 2013. Alfred Mutua, served as the inaugural holder of the office. following his election in 2012. He was re-elected in the 2017 general elections.[2] The Machakos County Assembly is headed by a Speaker elected by its members. The incumbent Speaker is Mrs. Florence Mwangangi.
Hon Wavinya Ndeti was in 2022 elected as the second governor of Machakos County, becoming the first female governor in the county and also among the 8 female governors that were historically elected in the 2022 elections, an historic rise from the 3 that were elected in the 2017 elections.
Office of the Governor is located at White House along Peoples Park road, Miwani area in Machakos town environs. The first Director of Administration and Special Programmes and White House Administrator was Dr. Dominic Musembi PhD.
Education
There are many primary schools in Machakos County, including Machakos Primary School, Kathiini primary School and Machakos Academy.
Machakos County has giant secondary schools such as Machakos School (boys), Machakos Girls' School, Mumbuni Boys' Secondary School, Mumbuni Girls' Secondary School, Masii Boys' Secondary School, Tala Girls' School, Matungulu Girls' High School, Mwala School,ST. Teresa Mwala Girls, Kitulu Day Secondary School and Kabaa High School (boys), which boasts of a castle which was left behind by Christian missionaries. This castle is now a museum.
Kwanthanze Secondary School, which is also found in Machakos County, is famous for its volleyball championship in the country.
Universities and colleges within Machakos County include Machakos University[3] Scott Christian University, South Eastern Kenya University (SEKU), St. Paul's University, Kenya Institute of Management, African Training Center for Research and Technology,[4] Century Park College, Machakos Institute of Technology, Kenya Medical Training College (KMTC) Machakos campus and Machakos Technical Training Institute for the Blind.
Climate
The local climate is semi-arid with hilly terrain and an altitude of 1000 to 2100 metres above sea level.
Tourist-related activities include camping, hiking safaris, ecotourism and cultural tourism, dance and music festivals.[2]
Economy
Subsistence agriculture is mostly practiced with maize and drought-resistant crops such as sorghum and millet being grown due to the area's semi-arid state. The county also plays host to the open air market concept with major market days where large amounts of produce are traded. Fruits, vegetables and other food stuffs like maize and beans are sold in these markets.[2]
Future
The county is banking on projects such as the Konza Technology City, a new Machakos City[5] and its proximity to Nairobi County to boost output in the economy.
Services
| County | Stats for the county (per cent) | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Literacy | 88 | ||||||||
| Attending school (15-18 Yrs) | 75.9 | ||||||||
| Paved roads | 6.9 | ||||||||
| Good roads | 26.9 | ||||||||
| Electricity access | 17 | ||||||||
Stats for the county | |||||||||
Source: USAid Kenya
Subdivisions
| Local authorities (councils) | |||
| Authority | Type | Population* | Urban pop.* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Machakos | Municipality | 144,109 | 28,891 |
| Mavoko (Athi River) | Municipality | 48,260 | 22,167 |
| Kangundo | Town | 187,389 | 9,122 |
| Matuu | Town | 44,922 | 5,321 |
| Masaku | County | 481,964 | 9,088 |
| * 1999 census. Source:[6] | |||
| Administrative divisions | |||
| Division | Population* | Urban pop.* | Headquarters |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kalama | 41,000 | 0 | |
| Kangundo | 91,238 | 3,786 | Kangundo |
| Kathiani | 95,096 | 2,929 | Mitaboni |
| Machakos Central | 143274 | 26,438 | Machakos |
| Masinga | 74,478 | 654 | Masinga |
| Matungulu | 99,731 | 4,734 | Tala |
| Mavoko | 48,936 | 19,177 | Athi River |
| Mwala | 89,211 | 2,708 | |
| Ndithini | 32,358 | 0 | |
| Yathui | 65,567 | 481 | Wamunyu |
| Yatta | 125,755 | 4913 | Matuu |
| * 1999 census. Sources:[7][8] | |||
The county has eight constituencies:
Nairobi Metro
Machakos County is within Greater Nairobi which consists of 4 out of 47 counties in Kenya, but the area generates about 60% of the nation's wealth.[9][10] The counties are:
| Area | County | Area (km2) | Population Census 2019 | Cities/towns/municipalities in the county |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Core Nairobi | Nairobi County | 694.9 | 4,397,073 | Nairobi |
| Northern Metro | Kiambu County | 2,449.2 | 2,417,735 | Kiambu, Thika, Limuru, Ruiru, Karuri, Kikuyu |
| Southern Metro | Kajiado County | 21,292.7 | 1,117,840 | Kajiado, Olkejuado, Bissil, Ngong, Kitengela, Kiserian, Ongata Rongai |
| Eastern Metro | Machakos County | 5,952.9 | 1,421,932 | Kangundo-Tala, Machakos, Athi River |
| Totals | Nairobi Metro | 30,389.7 | 9,354,580 |
Source: NairobiMetro[permanent dead link]/ Kenya Census
Statistics
Nairobi Metro
Urbanisation
| County | Urbanisation in Nairobi Metro (per cent) | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nairobi County | 100 | ||||||||
| Kiambu County | 60.8 | ||||||||
| Machakos County | 52 | ||||||||
| Kajiado County | 41.4 | ||||||||
| Kenya average | 32.3 | ||||||||
Urbanisation by county within Nairobi Metro | |||||||||
Source: OpenDataKenya
Wealth/poverty Level
| County | Poverty level in Nairobi Metro (per cent) | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kajiado County | 11.6 | ||||||||
| Kiambu County | 21.8 | ||||||||
| Nairobi County | 22 | ||||||||
| Machakos County | 59.6 | ||||||||
| Kenya average | 45.9 | ||||||||
Poverty level by county | |||||||||
Source: OpenDataKenya Worldbank
South Eastern Kenya Region
Urbanisation
| County | Urbanisation in South Eastern Kenya (per cent) | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Machakos County | 52 | ||||||||
| Kitui County | 13.8 | ||||||||
| Makueni County | 11.8 | ||||||||
| Kenya average | 32.3 | ||||||||
Urbanisation by county in South Eastern Kenya | |||||||||
Source: OpenDataKenya
Wealth/poverty Level
| County | Poverty Level in South Eastern Kenya (per cent) | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Machakos County | 59.6 | ||||||||
| Kitui County | 63.1 | ||||||||
| Makueni County | 64.1 | ||||||||
| Kenya average | 45.9 | ||||||||
Poverty level by county | |||||||||
Source: OpenDataKenya Worldbank
Notable People
- Prophetess Syokimau - Kamba Medicine Woman and prophetess
- Paul Ngei - Anti-colonial activist
- Jackson Mulinge - former Chief of the General Staff of the Kenya Defence Forces
- Raphael S. Ndingi Mwana a'Nzeki - former Archbishop of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Nairobi
- Crispus Makau Kiamba - 5th Vice-Chancellor of the University of Nairobi
- Peter Mbithi - 7th Vice-Chancellor of the University of Nairobi
- Kakai Kilonzo - Benga musician of Les Kilimambogo Brothers
- Mike Sonko - former Governor of Nairobi County
- Martin Kivuva Musonde - Roman Catholic Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Mombasa
- Patrick Makau - former marathon world record holder
- Jackson Kivuva - Kenyan middle-distance runner
- Alfred Mutua - Cabinet Secretary for Tourism and Wildlife
- Johnson Muthama - former Chairman of United Democratic Alliance
- Daniel Ndambuki - Kenyan comedian who hosts the comedy television show Churchill Show
- Caleb Ndiku - Kenyan middle- and long-distance runner
- Joseph Mutua - former African Indoor 800 metres record holder
- David Mulwa - Writer, theatre director and lecturer
- Wavinya Ndeti - Governor of Machakos County