Muranga County
| Muranga County | ||
|---|---|---|
| County | ||
|
Muranga County Landscape | ||
| ||
 Location of Muranga County (Green) | ||
| Country |
 Kenya | |
| Formed | March 4th 2013 | |
| Capital | Murang'a | |
| Government | ||
| • Governor | Mwangi Wa Iria | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 2,325.8 km2 (898.0 sq mi) | |
| Population (2009) | ||
| • Total | 942,581 [1] | |
| Time zone | EAT (UTC+3) | |
| Website | muranga.go.ke | |
Muranga County is one of the counties of Kenya's former Central Province. Its largest town is Murang'a its capital, called Fort Hall in colonial times (before 1963). It is inhabited mainly by and is considered the home of the Kikuyu, the largest community in Kenya. The county has a population of 942,581 (2009 census).[2] Many have traveled to Muranga to enjoy the lush foliage (www.planning.go.ke). On the road to the post office the road forks leading traveler to take the road to Nyeri via Kiria-ini and beyond or the road to the Muranga Technical College. As the traveler walks along the road, an old English pub sits along the road on the right. Over the course of several years Muranga became a site for placement of Peace Corps volunteers (www.peacecorps.com)
History
When missionaries first came to Kenya, they were prevented from settling on the coast by the Portuguese, who had taken the coastal area, strategic for trade, from Arab powers in the 16th century. The missionaries were forced to venture into Kenya's rugged interior, and Muranga 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 Muranga.
One on the main highlights of Muranga's history, however, is that the Mau Mau uprising was led by the Kikuyu community and the Kikuyu consider Muranga their ancestral origin. Muranga is considered by some as the birthplace of the Kenyan independence movement.
County subdivisions
| Local authorities (councils) | |||
| Authority | Type | Population* | Urban pop.* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Muranga | Municipality | 24,443 | 11,021 |
| Kangema | Town | 18,229 | 3,971 |
| Muranga County | County | 305,632 | 0 |
| Total | - | 348,304 | 14,992 |
| * 1999 census. Source: | |||
-Kigumo
The county has seven constituencies:
- Kangema Constituency
- Kiharu Constituency
- Mathioya Constituency
- Kigumo Constituency
- Kandara Constituency
- Maragwa Constituency
- Gatanga Constituency
The county has several upcoming towns:
Central Kenya Region
Urbanisation
| County | Urbanisation in Central Kenya (Percent) |
|---|---|
| Kiambu County | 60.8 |
| Nyeri County | 24.5 |
| Nyandarua County | 18.5 |
| Muranga County | 16.3 |
| Kirinyaga County | 15.8 |
| Kenya Average |
32.3 |
|
Urbanisation by County in Central Kenya | |
Source: OpenDataKenya
Wealth/Poverty Level
| County | Poverty Level in Central Kenya (Percent) |
|---|---|
| Kirinyaga County | 25.2 |
| Muranga County | 28.5 |
| Kiambu County | 28.9 |
| Nyeri County | 32.7 |
| Nyandarua County | 46.6 |
| Kenya Average |
45.9 |
|
Poverty level by County | |
Source: OpenDataKenya Worldbank
Cash crops in Murang'a county Tea Coffee
See also
References
www.peacecorps.com