Machakos

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Not to be confused with Machakos County.
Machakos
Masaku
Municipality
Machakos
Machakos
Machakos is located in Kenya
Machakos
Machakos
Location in Kenya
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Country  Kenya
County Machakos County
Population (2009)
 • Total 150,041 [1]
Time zone EAT (UTC+3)
The semi-arid terrain of Machakos.

Machakos is a town in Kenya, 63 kilometres southeast of Nairobi. It is the capital of the Machakos County, Kenya. Machakos Town is a major urban centre. Its population is rapidly growing and is 150,041 [1] as of 2009. People who live here are mostly the Akambas though it is a cosmopolitan town. Machakos is surrounded by hilly terrain, with a high number of family farms.

History

Machakos was established in 1887, 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.[2] Town and the county were named after Masaku, an Akamba chief.

On 26 March 2001, a fire was set at Kyanguli Secondary School after the final exam results were annulled and payment of their outstanding school fees was demanded. Some 67 people perished in the flames and another 19 were injured, including one of the perpetrators. The two perpetrators, Felix Mambo Ngumbao, 16, and Davies Otieno Onyango, 17, were charged with murder.[3]

Sudan-related peace talks were held in Machakos, resulting in the Machakos Protocol on 20 July 2002. Machakos is named after Masaku wa Munyati who arrived in the area in 1816 from the around Sultan Hamud

Geography

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Towns in Machakos County

Town Population (2009) Rank in Kenya (Population Size)
Kangundo-Tala 218,557 9
Machakos 150,041 13
Athi River 139,380 15
Kathiani 3,365 195
Masii 2,501 211

* 2009 census. Source:[1]

Economy, transport and tourism

Office of the Governor of Machakos County at Machakos
One of Machakos' busiest areas, Ngei Rd.

Machakos open air market. Fruits, vegetables and other food stuffs like maize mbemba, beans mboso, etc. are sold here. Major market days are Mondays and Fridays. One can buy second hand clothes mutumba in the open air market, situated differently from the market marikiti.

Machakos has a number of banks such a Barclays, Equity, Standard Chartered, K-rep, Co-operative and Kenya Commercial in the CBD. It also has the larger administrative offices in lower Ukambani.

Machakos town also has good road infrastructure and town planning. It also has a well planned bus terminal at the heart of the town. 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.

Machakos has a beautiful hilly scenery that is perfect for camping and hiking. This consists of tricky terrain that would challenge any camper. It is also the home town of some of the world's most beautiful sculptures made in Wamunyu. Kaloleni near Ngelani, is famous for "water flowing against gravity". It is located on Kituluni Hill, 12 east of Machakos town.[4]

Culture and sports

Entrance to Machakos People's Park
Machakos People's Park

Major sports grounds include the Machakos Sports Club spread over a large lush area including a 9-hole golf course. There is the Kenyatta Stadium that also has the Machakos Social Hall. This is the main sports center in the county. Gelian Hotel is the biggest hotel in the town but one can get a nice breakfast or lunch at T-Tot hotel or a drink at either Ikuuni, bulls, buddies,Club Wizard or New Boma. Other hotels and Guest houses are Lysak Haven Park, Shanbad house or le technish. The town also boasts of the classy Garden Hotel with lush green outdoor sitting and five star decor.

Education

Primary schools in Machakos include Machakos Primary, St. Mary's Boys and girls, Muthini Primary, Township Muslim Primary School, St. Teresas primary, Machakos academy, ABC Girls academy, one hill academy Premese academy, Lukenya academy, Makutano academy, Mumbuni primary, baptist primary, Highrise School Mks, ABC girls Academy and Katoloni. High schools include Machakos Girls, Machakos School, St. Monica, St. Valentine Girls, Mumbuni High School and Katoloni among others.

Tertiary education is still growing, with new colleges like Machakos University College (a constituent college of Kenyatta University) Machakos Teachers Training college, [Machakos Institute of Technology], Copperbelt college, Century Park College, Scott Christian University and Computers for school Kenya. Students who successfully complete the diploma in "Computers for School Kenya" are granted credits towards BIT and BSc.(Computer Science) courses at Maside Muliro University of Science and Technology (MMUST).

Century Park College is located at the far end of Makueni Road in Machakos and offers an extensive Early Childhood Education and Development, Information Technology, P1 Primary School Teacher, Catering and Hospitality, Business Management, Accounting, Guidance and Counseling, and Business Administration programs, including short-term management courses. CPC offers a cyber cafe and instruction from an illustrious and multicultural faculty.

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 https://www.opendata.go.ke/Population/2009-Census-Vol-1-Table-3-Rural-and-Urban-Populati/e7c7-w67t/1
  2. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  3. ↑ [1] Archived 7 November 2004 at the Wayback Machine
  4. ↑ [2] Archived 15 January 2010 at the Wayback Machine

External links

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