Machakos

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Machakos is a town in Kenya, 64 kilometres southeast of Nairobi. It is the capital of the Machakos District in Eastern Province of Kenya. Machakos town is a major rural centre, and also a satellite town due to its proximity to Nairobi. Its population is rapidly growing and is 144,109 (as of 1999). People who live here are mostly the Akambas. Machakos is surrounded by hilly terrain, with a high number of family farms. Machakos was established in 1889, ten years before Nairobi.

Machakos was the first administrative centre for the British colony, but they moved the capital of Kenya to Nairobi in 1899 since Machakos by-passed the Uganda Railway that was under construction [1]. Town and the district were named after Masaku, an Akamba chief.

Major spots include the Machakos Sports Club spread over a lage lush area including a 9 hole golf course. Top schools are the Machakos Primary School and Machakos Boys School. A place in one of the surrounding hills is famous for "water flowing against gravity"

[edit] Trivia

Sudan-related peace talks were held in Machakos, resulting in the Machakos Protocol in July 20, 2002.
There is a bus terminus in Nairobi popularly known as the Machakos Airport. It's a busy place where Buses and Matatus depart for Machakos and Kitui.