Nyeri County
Nyeri County | |
|---|---|
![]() | |
![]() Flag | |
![]() Location in Kenya | |
| Country | |
| Formed | 4 March 2013 |
| Capital | Nyeri |
| Government | |
| • Governor | Mutahi Kahiga |
| Area | |
• Total | 3,325.0 km2 (1,283.8 sq mi) |
| Population (2019) | |
• Total | 759,164[1] |
| • Density | 228.32/km2 (591.3/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+3 (EAT) |
| GDP (PPP) | |
| Per Capita (PPP) | |
| Per Capita (nominal) | |
| GDP (nominal) | |
| HDI (2023) | 0.678 (3rd) - medium [6] |
| Website | nyeri.go.ke |
Nyeri County is a county located in the Mount Kenya region of Kenya. Its capital and largest town is Nyeri.[7] It had a population of 759,164 according to the 2019 census and an area of 2361 km2. Mutahi Kahiga was governor as of 2022.[8] Previous governors include Nderitu Gachagua, who died while receiving treatment in London,[9] Wamathai Samuel Githaiga, and Wahome Gakuru, who died in a road accident at Kabati near Kenol heading towards Thika Super Highway.[10] It is also the home county of the third president of Kenya, the late President Mwai Kibaki.[11]
Religion
Religion in Nyeri County [12]
| Religion (2019 Census) | Number |
|---|---|
| Catholicism | 210, 407 |
| Protestant | 285,723 |
| Evangelical Christianity | 145,046 |
| African Instituted Churches | 68,441 |
| Orthodox | 4,772 |
| Other Christian Groups | 21,342 |
| Islam | 4,501 |
| Hindu | 171 |
| Traditionists | 575 |
| Other | 4,578 |
| Atheists | 6,102 |
| Don't Know | 1,001 |
| Not Stated | 36 |
People
The county is located on the southwest flank of Mount Kenya. Local people are predominantly of the Kikuyu ethnicity.

| Year | Pop. | ±% |
|---|---|---|
| 1979 | 486,477 | — |
| 1989 | 607,292 | +24.8% |
| 1999 | 661,156 | +8.9% |
| 2009 | 693,558 | +4.9% |
| 2019 | 759,164 | +9.5% |
| source:[13] | ||
Local authorities
| Authority | Type | Population* | Urban pop.* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nyeri | Municipality | 98,908 | 46,969 |
| Karatina | Municipality | 6,852 | 6,852 |
| Othaya | Town | 21,427 | 4,108 |
| Nyeri county | County | 533,969 | 10,047 |
| * 1999 census. Source: [1] | |||
LOCAL GOVERNMENT
In reference to the 2022 general elections, the 3rd County Assembly was successfully formed. Its members are as follows:
Speaker – Hon. James Gichuhi Mwangi
Deputy Speaker - Hon. Samuel Kariuki Gichuki, MCA Ruring'u Ward
Majority Leader - Hon. James Kanyugo Mwangi, MCA Mahiga Ward
Majority Whip - Hon. Sabastian Mugo Theuri, Majority Whip, MCA Wamagana Ward
Elected MCAs
| Name | Ward | Political Party |
|---|---|---|
| Hon. Atanasio Kabaire Gichohi | Mukurwe-ini West | UDA |
| Hon. Gathagu Stephen Kigotho | Gikondi | UDA |
| Hon. Gichuhi Jackson Kabingu | Magutu | UDA |
| Hon. Kabatha David Mwangi | Iria-ini | UDA |
| Hon. Kagwi Cyrus Ngure | Rugi | UDA |
| Hon. Kamau Martin Matu | Naromoru-Kiamathaga | UDA |
| Hon. Kanyi Patrick Wachira | Thegu River | IND |
| Hon. Kawanjiku Njuguna Wanjiku | Mweiga Ward | UDA |
| Hon. Kibiru Cyrus Ndiritu | Mukurwe-ini Central | IND |
| Hon. Kiragu Simon Mbogo | Rware | UDA |
| Hon. Kuruga Margaret Muthoni | Kiganjo/Mathari | IND |
| Hon. Mbichi Christopher Wambugu | Mwiyogo/Endarasha | UDA |
| Hon. Muriuki Erastus Karanja | Ruguru | UDA |
| Hon. Mwangi Johnstone Kamau | Mugunda | UDA |
| Hon. Ndagita Anthony Muriithi Maina | Kirimukuyu | UDA |
| Hon. Ndaini Julius Kamiri | Konyu | UDA |
| Hon. Ndegwa Clement Warutere | Gatarakwa | UDA |
| Hon. Njithi Ziporah Wangechi | Gatitu Muruguru | UDA |
| Hon. Nyaga Wilfred Wambari | Iria-ini | UDA |
| Hon. Taiti Jonah Kamau | Kamakwa/Mukaro | UDA |
| Hon. Thuku Meshack Kiruga | Chinga | UDA |
| Hon. Wachira Charity Wangui | Gakawa | UDA |
| Hon. Wahinya Gibson Kuria | Dedan Kimathi | UDA |
| Hon. Wakibia Stanely Ngaru | Aguthi/Gaaki | IND |
| Hon. Wambui Patrick Muriithi | Kabaru Ward | UDA |
| Hon. Wanderi Eunice Wagaki | Karima | ANC |
| Hon. Weru Watson Mburungo | Karatina Town | UDA[14] |
Nominated MCAs
| Name | Position | Party |
|---|---|---|
| Hon. Gichuki Pauline Nyokabi | People With Disabilities | UDA |
| Hon. Kamiru Janet Muthoni | Gender | UDA |
| Hon. Macharia Agnes Wanjiru | Ethnicity | UDA |
| Hon. Mwangi Jane Wandia | Ethnicity | UDA |
| Hon. Mwangi Priscilla Thanji | Gender | UDA |
| Hon. Nderitu Fidelis Wangui | Gender | UDA |
| Hon. Nyawira Emma Wangui | Gender | UDA |
| Hon. Thumbi Ann Muthoni | Gender | UDA |
| Hon. Wachira Agnes Wanjiku | Gender | UDA |
| Hon. Wambui Kelvin Kariithi | Youth | UDA |
| Hon. Wanyitu Lucy Mugure | Gender | UDA[15] |
Administrative divisions
| Sub-counties | Population* | Urban pop.* | Headquarters |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kieni east | 0 | 0 | Naro Moru |
| Kieni west | 0 | 0 | Mweiga |
| Mathira east | 0 | 0 | Karatina |
| Mukurwe-ini | 0 | 0 | Mukurwe-ini |
| Nyeri Central | 0 | 0 | Nyeri |
| Nyeri South(Othaya) | 0 | 3,846 | Othaya |
| Tetu | 0 | 2,022 | Wamagana |
| Mathira West | 0 | Kaiyaba | |
| * 1999 census. Sources: [2], [3], | |||
Constituencies
The county has six constituencies:
- Tetu Constituency
- Kieni Constituency
- Mathira Constituency
- Othaya Constituency
- Mukurweini Constituency
- Nyeri Town Constituency
Central Kenya Region
Urbanisation
| County | Urbanisation in Central Kenya (Per cent) | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kiambu County | |||||||||
| Nyeri County | |||||||||
| Nyandarua County | |||||||||
| Muranga County | |||||||||
| Kirinyaga County | |||||||||
| Urbanisation by County in Central Kenya | |||||||||
Source: OpenDataKenya
Wealth/poverty level
| County | Poverty Level in Central Kenya (Per cent) | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kirinyaga County | |||||||||
| Muranga County | |||||||||
| Kiambu County | |||||||||
| Nyeri County | |||||||||
| Nyandarua County | |||||||||
| Poverty level by County | |||||||||
Source: OpenDataKenya Worldbank
Education
- Secondary schools
- Kenyatta High School (Mahiga)
- Chinga Boys High School
- Othaya Boys High School
- Karima Boys High School
- Endarasha Boys High School
- Kagumo High School (National)
- Nyeri High School
- Kanjuri Boys High School
- Dedan Kimathi Boys
- Chinga Girls High School
- Mahiga Girls High School
- Othaya Girls High School
- Naromoru Girls High School
- Gatarakwa Girls High School
- Bishop Gatimu Ngandu Girls(National)
- Tumutumu Girls High School
- Kangubiri Girls High School
- Muruguru Girls High School
- South Tetu Girls High School
- Mukurwe-ini Boys High school
- Kaheti Boys High school
- Birithia Girls
- Kiriti Day Secondary
- Naromoru Boys
- Moi Equator Girls
- Colleges
- Kamwenja Teachers college
- Kagumo Teachers college
- Kmtc Nyeri campus
- Kmtc Othaya
- Kmtc Mukurweini
- Mathenge Technical College
- Universities
- Karatina university
- Dedan Kimathi university
- Nyeri National polytechnic
See also
References
- ^ "I'm not disputing census figures, they are accurate – Governor Kahiga". The Star (Kenya). 5 November 2019. Retrieved 30 January 2020.
- ^ "Gdp ppp". 2024.
- ^ "Gdp per Capita". 2024.
- ^ "Gdp per Capita". 2024.
- ^ "Gdp". 2024.
- ^ Statista. "Kenyan counties by human development index". Retrieved 14 May 2025.
- ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 February 2013. Retrieved 27 July 2013.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ Nyawira, Lydia (19 May 2022). "Nyeri: Governor Kahiga picks David Kinarire as running mate". The Standard.
- ^ Okumu, Patel. "Nyeri Governor Nderitu Gachagua is dead". The Standard. Retrieved 11 October 2022.
- ^ Gichure, Nderitu. "Revealed: Former Nyeri Governor Gakuru's driver did not apply brakes during tragic crash". Standard Entertainment. Retrieved 11 October 2022.
- ^ Komu, Nicholas (27 April 2022). "Othaya town gets a makeover ahead of Kibaki burial". Nation. Retrieved 12 June 2023.
- ^ "2019 Kenya Population and Housing Census Volume IV: Distribution of Population by Socio-Economic Characteristics" (PDF). Kenya National Bureau of Statistics. Retrieved 2 May 2021.
- ^ KENYA: Administrative Division population statistics
- ^ "3rd Assembly – Nyeri County Assembly". Retrieved 10 November 2022.
- ^ "3rd Assembly – Nyeri County Assembly". Retrieved 2 December 2022.


