Kiambu County: Nairobi’s Bedroom and Hub for Untapped Investment Opportunities
Kiambu County, formerly considered to have been a part of Central Kenya, most likely given that the majority of the inhabitants were Kikuyu is currently governed by Governor Ferdinand Waititu.
Kiambu, unlike a decade ago when it was considered to be like any other rural town, is an urban town considered to be Nairobi’s, capital city, bedroom as it is a few minutes away drive.
The distance between Nairobi and Kiambu enables its residents to commute to and from on a daily basis with bus fares estimated to be between 50 shillings and 100 shillings.
Considering the congestion experienced in the capital city, Nairobi, and Kiambu’s close location to Nairobi, Kiambu has found itself hosting Kenyans who work in Nairobi.
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Kiambu Headquarters
Kiambu County’s largest town is Thika, actually, Thika is considered larger than Kiambu town which houses the County Government offices.
The issue of where Kiambu County Headquarters is located or should be was a matter in discussion in 2015 when the then Senator Kimani Wamatangi and the then Kabete Member of Parliament, Ferdinand Waititu pushed to have the offices moved from Thika town.
William Kabogo who was the Governor then and in 2015, he bowed to pressure and facilitated the move of the County Headquarter offices from Thika town to Kiambu town.
William Kabogo, however, lost the governorship of the County to Ferdinand Waititu on 26th October 2017 when the Country went to the poll.
Kiambu’s Population
The population of Kiambu County has largely grown within the last decade as Nairobi’s congestion began to spill over to its neighbors.
Kiambu County, being adjacent to the northern border of Nairobi County, has a population of 1,623,282 as per the 2009 census which is a decade ago. The population of Kiambu is likely to be double as a decade has passed and within which the County has grown as a residential alternative for Nairobians.
Kiambu County was 40 percent rural and 60 urban in 2009 which owed to Nairobi’s consistent growth Northwards and can be estimated to be at vice versa considering the growth it has experienced within the last decade.
Communities Inhabiting Kiambu County
A decade ago, Kiambu was home to a large majority of the Kikuyu community. Kiambu is today home to diverse communities and has taken into the footsteps of Nairobi.
Though members of the Kikuyu community remain significantly many, it is no longer regarded as a Kikuyu area residents only.
Kiambu’s Infrastructure
Kiambu, probably given its location, has a great infrastructure network. Basic amenities like the hospitals, schools, banks and public offices are easy to locate.
The road network in Kiambu County prides of a total of 2,033.8 kilometers of roads considered to be of bitumen standards.
Kiambu County has 1,480.2 kilometers under gravel surface and 430.1 kilometers under earth surface easing movement by road in the County.
Major highways such as the Thika-Nairobi and the Eastern Bypass cut across Kiambu County adding to the 131 kilometers of a railway line and four railway stations in Ruiru, Thika, Kikuyu and Limuru towns.
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Academic Facilities