Kirinyaga County is one of the 47 counties of Kenya in the Mount Kenya region of Kenya, south of Mount Kenya. Its capital is Kutus and its largest town is Wanguru. In 2019, the county had a population of 610,411 people and has an area of 1,478.1 km2. The county is bordered to the east and south by Embu County, to the south by a tiny part of Machakos County, to the southwest by Murang'a County and to the northwest by Nyeri County.
Kirinyaga County lies between 1158m and 5199m above sea level; its highest point is the summit of Mount Kenya.
Kirinyaga County's governor is Anne Waiguru, who was elected for her first term in 2017, succeeding Joseph Ndathi. She was re-elected in 2022.
Etymology The name Kirinyaga is derived from the name of the mountain now called Mount Kenya. When the German explorer Johann Ludwig Krapf came across the mountain, his guide, Kamba trader Chief Kivoi, told Krapf that the mountain was called Kii Nyaa, the Kamba translation of the Kikuyu's Kiri Nyaga. Krapf would then record this as Kenya, a name which would be applied to the mountain and later the country.
History Kirinyaga District was established in 1963 from the western part of Embu District. Kerugoya was the district's administrative headquarters. After it became a county, Kutus was made the county Headquarters. In 2007, Kirinyaga District was divided into four new districts: Kirinyaga Central with its administrative centre in Kerugoya Kirinyaga East with its administrative centre in Kianyaga Kirinyaga South with its administrative centre in Wanguru Kirinyaga West with its administrative centre in Baricho
Administration Since April 2013, the County Government of Kirinyaga has administered all of Kirinyaga County. Formerly, the County Council of Kirinyaga administered the county excluding the area that was administered by the Municipal Council of Kerugoya/Kutus and the Town Council of Sagana-Kagio.
Kirinyaga County's governor is Anne Waiguru, who was elected to her first term in 2017, succeeding Joseph Ndathi. She was re-elected in 2022.
Subdivisions Kirinyaga District is divided as follows: Local authorities (councils) AuthorityType Population*Urban pop.* Kerugoya/Kutus Municipality 39,441 14,056 Sagana/Kagio Town 22,475 3,031 Kirinyaga County 395,189 13,103 Total - 457,105 30,190
Administrative divisions DivisionPopulation*Urban pop.*Headquarters Central 74,068 12,585 Kerugoya Gichugu 121,738 1,988 Kianyaga Mwea 125,962 7,625 Wanguru Ndia 135,337 2,960 Baricho Total 457,105 25,158 -
Electoral constituencies The county has four constituencies: Mwea Constituency Gichugu Constituency Ndia Constituency Central Constituency
Population
Religion Religion in Kirinyaga County
Religion (2019 Census)NumberCatholicism179,316Protestant 240,600Evangelical Churches 122,301African instituted Churches 34.072Orthodox2,304Other Cristian14,564Islam2,425Hindu 169Traditionists233Other3,314No Religion/Atheists5,580Don't Know721Not Stated31
Central Kenya Region
Urbanisation Source: OpenDataKenya
Poverty level Source: OpenDataKenya Worldbank
Economy
Like most counties in the Mount Kenya region, agriculture is the main economic activity in Kirinyaga County. The county is best known for rice production from the Mwea Irrigation Scheme, which is watered by canal from the Thiba River. Coffee and tea are also grown in the cooler areas of the county. Other crops grown in the area include maize, beans, tomatoes, French beans, and other horticultural crops. Due to the scarcity of land and high population, most agriculture is done on a small scale. There is also fishing in Sagana along the Sagana River.
Kirinyaga County's business sector is growing quickly. Another significant economic feature is tourism. In 2013 Kirinyaga was ranked the second richest county in Kenya.
Villages and settlements Difatha Kibingoti Kibirigwi Kinyakiiru Thumaita Mbiri Kiamutugu Muthigi-ini Kairini Mukangu Kianjege East and Kianjege West Gathoge Mururi Kianjiru Kimbimbi Part of Makutano Kathangarari Ngaru Kaitheri Kiaritha Kithioro Kerugoya town Gathambi Ndiriti Kandegwa Muragara,
Gathigiriri South Ngariama (Mumbu, Kandawa, Itangi,)
References