Nyeri Governor H.E Mutahi Kahiga expressed gratitude over Nyeri County being chosen as the host of this year’s national event.
Officials and representatives from all the 47 counties have been in Nyeri for the past one week for this national event.
Other upcoming national events expected in Nyeri are the music and drama festivals that will commence next week followed by the WASCO games (all the water service providers companies).
The Universal Health Coverage conference and symposium will also be held in Nyeri in September 2018.
Nyeri County is located in the former Central Province of Kenya, about 150 kilometers north of Nairobi.It covers an area of 3,337 square kilometers. Nyeri shares its borders with five other counties; Kirinyaga to the east, Nyandarua to the west, Muranga to the south, Laikipia to the north and Meru to the northeast.
The name Nyeri is derived from the Maasai word nyiro, meaning red. The Maasai people, who once lived in the county, called the area nyiro – after it’s red volcanic soil. The named was later changed to Nyeri by white settler farmers.
Nyeri County constitutes six constituencies; Nyeri Town, Othaya, Tetu, Kieni, Mathira and Mukurwe-ini.
The county’s top leaders are Nderitu Gachagua (Governor), Michael Mwangi (County Commissioner), Mutahi Kagwe (Senator) and Priscilla Nyokabi (Women Representative).
Other top leaders in Nyeri County include Esther Murugi (MP-Nyeri Town), Mary Wambui (MP-Othaya), James Gethenji (MP-Tetu), Kanini Kega (MP-Kieni), Peter Kinyua (MP-Mathira), Kabando wa Kabando (MP-Mukurwe-ini).
Majority of people living in Nyeri county are Christians. Notable among Christian faith are the Presbyterian, Methodist, Catholic, Anglican Pentecostals and Akorino denominations. There’s a small number residents, mainly found in major towns, who prophesy to the Muslim and Hindu religions.
The Kikuyu people speak Gikuyu; a language widely spoken across the country even in towns where a majority of people speak Kiswahili. English language is primarily used in the education system and in the employment sector.
Gikuyus traditionally believed in a single god, called ngai (the provider), living at the top of Mount Kenya. However, most Kikuyus have abandoned their traditional beliefs for Christianity.
Set on the foothills of the Aberdare Mountain Ranges, about 150km from Nairobi, Nyeri is the headquarters of Nyeri County.
Tourism and agriculture are the backbone of the town’s economy as it neighbours rich agricultural fields and popular tourist attractions such as the Aberdare National Park and Mount Kenya.
Located on Nairobi-Nyeri road, about 20km from Nyeri town, Karatina is known for its large vegetable and food market.
The Karatina Market, which operates on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, is reputed to be the second largest open-air market in Africa after Addis Ababa’s Merkato Market.
Othaya is located 120km north of Nairobi. It is a small agricultural town with coffee and tea as the main cash crops grown in the farms. Othaya is home to former President Mwai Kibaki
Nyeri county has some of the lowest temperatures in Kenya which range between 12°C in the cold months (June and July) and 27°C in the hot months (January-March and September-October) with high precipitation all year round.
The rainfall average lies between 500 mm and 1500 mm during the short and long rains periods making it conducive for its diverse agricultural activity.
There are several hospitals and health centres in Nyeri. Notable healthcare facilities include the Nyeri Provincial General Hospital, Karatina District Hospital, Mukurwe-Ini Sub District Hospital and Othaya Sub-District Hospital.
Church-run health facilities include Consolata Hospital, PCEA Tumutumu and Mary Immaculate Hospital in Mweiga. Private hospitals include the Outspan hospital, Mt. Kenya Hospital, Jamii Nursing Home, Nyeri Surgicare Centre, and Waka Ruring’u Maternity.
As of 2013, there are 584 primary schools and 194 high schools in Nyeri County, serving 145,906 and 47,524 students respectively. The county’s Teacher to Pupil Ratio is 1: 35 for public primary schools and 1:25 for public high schools.
Some of the top high schools in Nyeri include Kagumo High School, Nyeri High School, Bishop Gatimu Ngandu Girls and Othaya Boys High school among others. The county has several renowned schools, colleges and universities. These include the Dedan Kimathi University, Moi University Campus, Kenyatta University Campus, and University of Nairobi Distance Learning Center.
Other top colleges include Nyeri Technical Training College, Mathenge Technical Institute, Kamwenja Teachers College and Kagumo P1 Teachers College.