Embu, Kenya
Town in Embu County, Kenya
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Embu is the largest town in Embu County, Kenya, with a population of 64,979. It is the 36th largest urban center in Kenya and the 11th largest in the Mount Kenya region.[1] Located approximately 125 kilometres (78 mi) northeast of Nairobi towards Mount Kenya. A major economic hub in the Mount Kenya region, Embu served as the provincial capital of the former Eastern Province and currently serves as the headquarters of Embu County in Kenya. It provides a place for trade, tourism and highway transit between the Nairobi and the Northern Frontier.
Embu | |
|---|---|
  Embu Location in Kenya | |
| Coordinates: 0°32′20″S 37°27′30″E | |
| Country |  Kenya |
| Region | Mount Kenya region |
| County | Embu County |
| Founded | 1906 |
| Government | |
| • Type | Municipal Board |
| • Chairperson | Ken Mwige |
| Area | |
| 100 km2 (39 sq mi) | |
| Elevation | 1,350 m (4,430 ft) |
| Population (2019)[1] | |
| • Density | 649.79/km2 (1,682.9/sq mi) |
| • Urban | 64,979 |
| • Metro | 204,979 |
| Demonym | Embian |
| Time zone | UTC+3 (EAT) |
| Postal Code | 60100 |
| Area code | 068 |
| Climate | Aw |
| Website | municipalityofembu |
History
Embu town is a major trading centre in Eastern Kenya. For a long time, it was the economic centre for the Embu, Kikuyu, Meru and Kamba communities as well as other communities from central Kenya. Mbeere was carved out of the former Embu district in the 1990s and Siakago town, about 25 km (16 mi) east of Embu town, was made its headquarters.
The origins of the Embu people are cited from North West Africa. They moved south to the Congo, and later moved Eastwards to the coast of Kenya via Tanganyika. The Embu intermarried with natives and migrants from farther south (mostly Bantus), and later moved North towards Meru leaving their relatives, the Gikuyu, at Ithanga. They then crossed Igambang'ombe ford. They settled at Gikuuri near the Maranga hills. Others settled at Tharaka but later left due to famine and moved to the current Embu
It is believed as they moved towards the slopes of Mt Kenya, they encountered pygmy tribes such as the Agumba and the Zimba in the forest; some of whom were cannibalistic. They were cultivators, planted crops like sorghum, millet and sweet potatoes. Today, they have cash crops like coffee, tea, miraa and macadamia nuts.
Geography
The Municipality of Embu has an elevation of 1,350 metres (4,429 ft), and is located on the foothills of Mount Kenya. It was the provincial headquarters of the defunct Eastern province, and is currently the Embu County Headquarters, hosting major public offices and institutions, including Embu Provincial General Hospital.
The area around the Municipality of Embu has conducive altitude for endurance training by athletes. As such, Kenyan athletes use the altitude and climate advantage of Embu for training, with specialised facilities at Kigari Teachers' Training College, about 15 km (9.3 mi) north of Embu Town.
Embu Town is known for its jacaranda trees that turn the municipality into a purple shower when in bloom. The jacaranda trees usually bloom from October to November each year, depending on rainfall.[2]
The municipality slopes from west to east, with the highest elevation at the Ruvingaci River, up to the Kangaru School as well as from Njukiri forest in the west to Muthatari in the east, a radius of about 10 km (6 mi) in size. Embu has a small airstrip (1 km (0.62 mi) long), which is 7.1 km (4.4 mi) southeast of the heart of the town.
Past the Kigari Teachers College and approximately 25 km from Embu Town is a small town known as Kianjokoma. It is central to other shopping hubs such as Miandari, Kathande, Kiriari, and Irangi. This town is fast growing due to the situated Mungania Tea Factory as well as county hospital and police line in the area. Other small towns in Embu include Kibugu, Karurumo, Rukuriri, Mukuuri, Kathageri, Kanja and Manyatta.[3]
Climate
| Climate data for Embu, Kenya | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 28.7 (83.7) |
30.3 (86.5) |
30.4 (86.7) |
28.6 (83.5) |
27.2 (81.0) |
26.4 (79.5) |
25.1 (77.2) |
25.4 (77.7) |
28.2 (82.8) |
29.5 (85.1) |
27.5 (81.5) |
27.2 (81.0) |
27.9 (82.2) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 13.7 (56.7) |
14.3 (57.7) |
16.3 (61.3) |
17.4 (63.3) |
17.2 (63.0) |
15.6 (60.1) |
15.2 (59.4) |
15.2 (59.4) |
15.8 (60.4) |
16.9 (62.4) |
16.4 (61.5) |
14.7 (58.5) |
15.7 (60.3) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 41 (1.6) |
34 (1.3) |
64 (2.5) |
218 (8.6) |
139 (5.5) |
21 (0.8) |
28 (1.1) |
11 (0.4) |
17 (0.7) |
86 (3.4) |
189 (7.4) |
45 (1.8) |
893 (35.2) |
| Average precipitation days | 4 | 3 | 7 | 13 | 10 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 8 | 15 | 5 | 77 |
| Source: World Meteorological Organization[4] | |||||||||||||
Religion
There are numerous Christian churches and ministries in Embu, including the Seventh Day Adventist, East African Pentecostal Churches Dallas, Gakwegori, Kigumo, Kanginga, Kathari, Karurumo, Kiritiri among others Anglican Church of Kenya's St. Paul's Cathedral, the Presbyterian Church of East Africa's Blue Valley, PCEA, the national independent church of Africa, the African independent Pentecostal church of Africa, Majimbo, Kangaru Kathangariri, Kibugu, Kavutiri, Ndunduri, Itabua, Gichera, Makengi, Kirigiri and the Roman Catholic Diocese of Embu's Sts. Peter and Paul Cathedral. The latter cathedral has a unique African-inspired design and is among the largest in Africa.[citation needed] Missions for Christ Ministries office and churches in Embu county. Churches under Missions for Christ Ministries includes Kevote Family Church, Embu town Family Church, Runyenjes Family Church, Kamugere Family Church and Kianjokoma Family Church. The national Independent church of Africa is located at Gakwegwori (Mwamba Imara), Kianjokoma, Kiriari, Kithunguriri, Kamugere, Mukuuri, Keria, Kibugu, and Kavutiri.
Another Protestant church, the first encountered on entering Embu from Kirinyaga county is that of the Kenya Assemblies of God (KAG). It is better known as the Eastern Gate assembly, as it is also the first church encountered on crossing into Eastern Province from all the Provinces except North Eastern.
Family Worship Church Inc is a Protestant Christian church founded in the early 1970s. Its headquarters are locared in Nembure and has branches in Manyatta, Kithimu, Kiandundu, Gaikiro, as well as Makengi, and is in the process of starting a branch in Embu town.
Electoral subdivisions
Embu forms a municipality that has seven wards (Blue Valley, Itabua, Kamiu, Kangaru, Majengo, Matakari and Njukiri). All of them belong to Manyatta Constituency, which has a total of eleven wards. The remaining four are located within Embu County Council, the rural council of Embu.[5]
Notable residents
- Jeremiah J. M. Nyagah - former cabinet minister.
- Joseph Nyagah - son of Jeremiah Nyagah and former cabinet minister.
- Norman Nyagah - son of Jeremiah Nyagah and former Kamukunji M.P.
- Justin Muturi - Former Speaker of the National Assembly and Attorney General of Kenya
- Kithinji Kiragu - public sector management consultant; retired
- Patrick Njiru - Safari Rally driver
- Cardinal John Njue - Archbishop of Nairobi and former Bishop of Embu
- Martin Nyaga Wambora - first Governor of Embu; former Runyenjes MP and chair of Kenya Airports Authority
- Cecily Mutitu Mbarire - Second and current Embu Governor.
- Peter Njeru Ndwiga - Former Manyatta M.P. and Former second Senator of Embu
- Mutava Musyimi - Mbeere South M.P.
University education
- University of Embu
- Embu College
- Jeremiah Nyagah National Polytechnic
- Kenyatta University Embu Campus
- Manyatta Technical and Vocational College