Murang'a

{{Short description|Town in Muranga County, Kenya}}

{{Distinguish|Murang'a County}}

{{Use Kenyan English|date=January 2023}}

{{More citations needed|date=June 2020}}

File:Muranga County Office.jpg

File:Muranga map.png

Murang'a is a town in Murang'a County of Kenya. It is the administrative headquarters of Murang'a County and is mainly inhabited by the Kikuyu community. Before the Kenyan independence in 1963, the town was known as Fort Hall. Fort Hall was originally a British colonial trading post and administrative centre established in the early 1900s during the colonial period in Kenya. It was named after a British colonial administrator Francis George Hall. The fort served as a strategic military and administrative hub in the region. Over time, the settlement around the fort grew into a town. After independence, Fort Hall was renamed Murang'a to reflect local heritage and a move away from colonial names. The area played a significant role in Kenya’s struggle for independence, being part of the Central Kenya region where the Mau Mau uprising was strong.

.{{Cite web |title=Muranga(021) {{!}} Maarifa Centre |url=https://maarifa.cog.go.ke/node/822 |access-date=2024-09-02 |website=maarifa.cog.go.ke}}

{{Cite book |last=Anderson |first=David M. |title=Histories of the Kikuyu |year=2005 |publisher=James Currey |page=45}}

{{Cite web |title=History of Murang'a County |url=https://muranga.go.ke/history/ |website=Murang'a County Government |access-date=2025-06-04}}

According to the 2019 census, the town had a population of about 110,000.

== Overview ==

Murang'a is located between Nyeri and Thika. The town of Maragua is located 10 kilometres south of Murang'a while Sagana town is 15 kilometres northeast.

It lies on a latitude of -0.7167 (0° 43’ South) and longitude of 37.1500 (37° 8’ East)

The town is low, hilly, small but picturesque with an altitude of 4120 ft (1255 metres) above sea level. As a result of the varying altitudes, Murang'a can get quite cold from May to mid-August, and can experience hail. To the west of the town are the rolling Kikuyu farmlands that extend into the distance.

Murang'a is a fast-growing town that attracts traders and farmers from the neighbouring districts. It has banks, petrol stations, a post office, lodges, nightclubs playing the latest local and Western music, restaurants serving local and exotic dishes, supermarkets, dry cleaners, and lively marketplaces. It also has a relatively busy bus and matatu transportation terminal. A subcounty general hospital is located in the northern corner of the town. The town is accessible from Nairobi by Thika-Murang'a road and from Nyeri.Murang'a has a rich musical heritage, particularly in Kikuyu Benga music, with several prominent artists originating from the region. Odi Wa Muranga has been known for his energetic productions and is featured in various music videos and mixes,.Also Lets dont forget Selektar King Rebel (Peter Kamau Waithera)one of the Reggae Dj in Kenya.Murang'a has a rich musical heritage, particularly in Kikuyu Benga music, with several prominent artists originating from the region. Some notable musicians from Murang'a include Joseph Kamaru, the late Queen Jane,John De Matthew, Daniel Kamau "DK",Joyce Wamama,Shiru ka Muranga and Simon Kihara,among others who have been influential figures in the Kikuyu music scene.

Murang'a County got its first governor in the year 2013 when H.E Mwangi Iria was elected on a TNA ticket to be the first constitutional governor.

Mwangi wa Iria{{Circular reference|date=January 2018}}