Nyandarua County

{{Historical populations

| 1979 | 233,302

| 1989 | 345,420

| 1999 | 479,902

| 2009 | 596,268

| 2019 | 638,289

|align = none

| footnote = source:{{Cite web|title=Kenya: Administrative Division (Provinces and Counties) – Population Statistics, Charts and Map|url=https://www.citypopulation.de/en/kenya/admin/|access-date=2022-11-08|website=citypopulation.de}}

}}

Religion in Nyandarua County

{{cite web |url=https://housingfinanceafrica.org/app/uploads/VOLUME-IV-KPHC-2019.pdf |title=2019 Kenya Population and Housing Census Volume IV: Distribution of Population by Socio-Economic Characteristics |access-date=2 May 2021 |website=Kenya National Bureau of Statistics }}

The county has five constituencies and 25 wards

Nyandarua is serviced by several government hospitals; Nyahururu, Ngano. Ol Kalou -JM Kariuki Memorial subcounty hospital, Engineer subcounty hospital and Mission hospitals funded by churches and NGOs. Several dispensaries offer health services to the county's residents, an example being Mirangine Health Centre.

County hospitals receive patients from all over the county and may refer them to Nakuru or Nyeri County Referral hospital and farther to Kenyatta National Hospital.

The county is represented by 25 elected ward representatives 5 MPs, a Women representative, a Senator and a Governor.[http://www.ieebc.or.ke] {{dead link|date=December 2013}}

In 2013 presidential election the county voters voted for Uhuru Kenyatta with 237,975 a 99% of valid votes.

In the 2022 general elections, majority of the voters voted for William Samoei Ruto with 189, 513 votes, 78.76% of valid votes.{{Cite web |title=2022 Kenya General Election |url=https://www.standardmedia.co.ke/2022elections/county_results?office=1&county=18 |access-date=2022-10-07 |website=standardmedia.co.ke}}

August

Members of County Assembly (In reference to August 2022 general elections)

Current Members of parliament from constituencies in the county are;

There were three candidates for governorship during 2013 election{{Cite web |title=4th March 2013 General Election: Election Data |publisher=The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission |url=https://www.iebc.or.ke/docs/4TH%20MARCH%202013%20GENERAL%20ELECTION%20DATA.pdf |page=234 |date=2013 |access-date=2025-01-21}}

Moses Kiarie Ndirangu Badilisha and John Mathara Mwangi won the 2022 election on a United Democratic Alliance ticket both being sworn in on 25 August 2022 at the Ol Kalou Amboretum grounds as Governor and Deputy Governor of Nyandarua County respectively.{{Cite web |title=Badilisha sworn-in as Nyandarua governor in colourful event |url=https://www.the-star.co.ke/news/2022-08-25-badilisha-sworn-in-as-nyandarua-governor-in-colourful-event/ |access-date=2022-10-13 |website=The Star |language=en-KE}}

John Methu was elected Senator through United Democratic Alliance with 185,337 votes against Theuri Kinyanjui who had 34,845 votes and the former Senator Mwangi Paul Githiomi came in third with 15,015 votes.{{Cite web |date=2022-08-21 |title=Meet John Methu; Nyandarua's youngest senator |url=https://www.citizen.digital/news/meet-john-methu-nyandaruas-youngest-senator-n304246 |access-date=2022-10-13 |website=Citizen Digital |language=en-KE}}

Faith Gitau of the United Democratic Alliance won and retained her seat by 159,621 votes against her competitors Esther Muhoho of the Jubilee Party with 40,112 and followed closely by Judy Muhia with 27,819 votes.{{Cite web |title=[PHOTOS] Ruto, Gachagua meet Nyadarua leaders |url=https://www.the-star.co.ke/in-pictures/2022-09-06-photos-ruto-gachagua-meet-nyadarua-leaders/ |access-date=2022-10-19 |website=The Star |language=en-KE}}

In constituency level, Kinangop Constituency saw Mr Kwenya Thuku retain his seat by the Jubilee Party won by 39,321 votes against Chege Mugo who garnered 34, 842 votes and vied in the United Democratic Alliance party, Ol Kalou Constituency Hon. Kiaraho, David Njuguna retained his seat with the Jubilee Party having gained 24,058 votes against United Democratic Alliance contender Sammy Ngotho, who received 19,380 votes.{{Cite web |title=Members of National Assembly {{!}} The Kenyan Parliament Website |url=http://www.parliament.go.ke/the-national-assembly/mps |access-date=2022-10-19 |website=parliament.go.ke}} In Kipipiri Constituency they made history by electing the first female Member of Parliament Wanjiku Muhia who was also the First Women Representative for Nyandarua County.{{Cite web |date=2022-08-11 |title=Wanjiku Muhia beats Amos Kimunya to become Kipipiri's first woman MP |url=https://nation.africa/kenya/news/gender/wanjiku-muhia-beats-amos-kimunya-to-become-kipipiri-s-first-woman-mp-3910980 |access-date=2022-10-20 |website=Nation |language=en}} Jeremiah Kioni Jubilee Secretary lost his seat of ten years to George Gachagwa of United Democratic Alliance. George who got 30,180 votes against Kioni who had 7,227 votes in the Ndaragwa Constituency.{{Cite web |date=2022-08-10 |title=Jubilee Secretary General Jeremiah Kioni loses Ndaragwa MP seat |url=https://nation.africa/kenya/counties/laikipia/jubilee-secretary-general-jeremiah-kioni-loses-ndaragwa-mp-seat--3910534 |access-date=2022-10-20 |website=Nation |language=en}}

Children in Nyandarua can access school with ease. Schools are normally situated a walking distance mostly of less than 3 km (for primary school and high school) with a large number of public and private schools. For tertiary education they are a number of colleges and polytechnic but no university.

Education levels vary drastically with 61% of the population having reached primary school, 19% secondary school and only 2% have a tertiary education level.{{cite web|title=Nyandarua County Profile Data|url=https://kenya.hurumap.org/profiles/county-18-nyandarua|publisher=HURUmap|access-date=27 November 2017}}

One of the pioneer schools is Nyandarua high School which was opened 29 March 1965 with 71 students.{{cite web|url=http://www.somo.co.ke/nyhs/history.html |title=Nyandarua High School |publisher=Somo.co.ke |access-date=2013-12-09}} Other major schools include; Kangui high School, Karima Girls, Kaheho Mix Secondary, Shamata Girls, Wanjohi Girls, Magumu High School, Pasenga Secondary School, Kagondo, Kihingo, Pioneer School-Leshau, Njabini Boys, Leshau Boys High School, St. Joseph-Mkungi Boys, Ndaragwa Girls, Ndaragwa Boys,Kisima mixed Secondary school, Nyakiambi Girls High school, Mt. Kinangop Girls school, Irigithathi Secondary school, Githunguchu Secondary school, Baari Mixed Secondary School,among others.

There has been no University in Nyandarua, until Nyandarua Institute was upgraded to a university college under Dedan Kimathi University of Science & Technology. There are some Technical Institutions like Leshau Polytechnic in Ndaragwa Constituency, at Gordon Centre (Next to Kihingo Catholic Church) – Mutanga Parish And Kinagop Technical and Vocational centre in Githioro (kinagop sub county) which was launched in 2017. More Tertiary institution are needed.{{citation needed|date=June 2022}}

{{unreferenced section|date=July 2017}}

Nyandarua County is a productive area for agriculture, manufacturing and processing. There are a number of challenges including lack of a good road network and adequate distribution of electricity and water.{{Cite web |date=February 2021 |title=COUNTY FISCAL STRATEGY PAPER (CFSP) FOR 2021/2022 FY AND THE MEDIUM TERM |url=https://www.nyandarua.go.ke/NYANDARUA%20COUNTY%20FISCAL%20STRATEGY%20PAPER%20(CFSP)%20FOR%202021_2022.pdf |website=Nyandarua go.ke}}{{dead link|date=June 2023}}

Interested investors both local and in the diaspora can invest in agriculture, manufacturing, processing and housing.

Nyandarua county is famous for its agricultural productivity. Agricultural produce in terms of Maize, Beans, Irish potatoes, cabbages, spinach, kales, peas, grow in plenty, due to the fertile soils and favourable climate in the county.{{Cite web |date=2021-11-09 |title=How smart farming in Nyandarua is lifting livelihoods |url=https://nation.africa/kenya/counties/nyandarua/how-smart-farming-in-nyandarua-is-lifting-livelihoods-3613398 |access-date=2022-10-07 |website=Nation |language=en}}

Nyandarua is famous for being the home of athletics such as; John Ngugi, Catherine Ndereba, Stanley Waithaka and the late Samuel Wanjiru (a one-time Olympic champion, three-time major marathon winner, one-time major marathon silver medalist, and two-time world record holder).{{Cite web |title=Samuel Kamau WANJIRU {{!}} Profile {{!}} World Athletics |url=https://worldathletics.org/athletes/kenya/samuel-kamau-wanjiru-14209960 |access-date=2022-10-07 |website=worldathletics.org}}{{citation needed|date=June 2022}}

It is also home to Benson Kariuki and Bernard Ndung'u, who are Kenya Bowling Federation champions both in Africa and globally.{{citation needed|date=June 2022}} The county is also famous for organising cross country races at different administrative levels in attempt to nurture young athletes.{{Cite web |title=2021 Nyandarua County Cross-Country – County Government of Nyandarua |url=https://www.nyandarua.go.ke/youth-empowerment/2021-nyandarua-county-cross-country/ |access-date=2022-10-07 |language=en}}

Nyandarua County is the fastest growing in Kenya with a gdp growth of 10.6% as of 2022. {{Cite web|title=GCP|url=https://www.knbs.or.ke/gross-county-product/|year=2024}}

Nyandarua County is the 17th largest Economy in Kenya with a gdp of $4.6B at PPP and $1.6B at Nominal , Its the 5th richest county in kenya by gdp per Capita, with a gdp per Capita of $2,482 {{Cite web|title=GCP|url=https://www.knbs.or.ke/gross-county-product/|year=2024}}

The main economic activity in Nyandarua is farming (crop cultivation and dairy farming). In late 1990s Nyandarua was a leading producer of pyrethrum, however Kenya Pyrethrum Board the parastatal that was given the role of purchasing, processing and marketing the crop collapsed because of poor management and corruption, severely undermining the livelihood of many farmers. Nyandarua county is well known as a giant in potato farming. However, there has been a number of challenges that are associated with farming such as fluctuation of the market, poor roads, and crop diseases. Aberdare forest which covers a larger area of the country, attract local and international tourist who make a positive income to the local society.{{citation needed|date=June 2022}}

The time is now ripe for the people of Nyandarua to initiate new ways of Agribusiness. Constituencies like Ndaragwa should initiate Agribusiness that does well in semi arid areas like mangoes, millet, cassava, pumpkins and other such crops and a processing factory should be established so that the farmers get maximum returns.{{citation needed|date=June 2022}}

Nyandarua county is famous for various tourism destination sites attracting both local and international tourists. This include the Aberdare National Park,{{Cite web |title=Aberdare National Park {{!}} Kenya Wildlife Service |url=http://www.kws.go.ke/content/aberdare-national-park |access-date=2022-10-13 |website=kws.go.ke}} Mount Kipipiri, Lake Ol Bolossat, Kinangop Plateau and Elephant Hill Hiking Trail.{{Cite web |last=Kagai |first=Danson |date=2015-03-16 |title=Wealthy Koreans to build Sh22bn golf resort in Nyandarua |url=https://www.constructionkenya.com/3231/koreans-build-sh22bn-golf-resort-in-nyandarua/ |access-date=2022-10-13 |website=CK |language=en-US}}

{{Bar chart

| float = center

| title = Urbanisation in Central Kenya

| table_width = 70

| bar_width = 50

| data_max = 100

| label_type = County

| data_type = {{center|Urbanisation in Central Kenya (Per cent)}}

| label1 = Kiambu County | data1 = 60.8

| label2 = Nyeri County | data2 = 34.7

| label3 = Nyandarua County | data3 = 8.9

| label4 = Muranga County | data4 = 36.3

| label5 = Kirinyaga County | data5 = 25.8

| label6 = {{flag|Kenya}} Average | data6 = 32.3

| caption = {{resize|88%|Urbanisation by County in Central Kenya}}

}}{{cite web |url=https://kenya.socrata.com/Counties/County-Urbanization-Nairobi/g4vq-85ds/ |title=County Urbanization: Nairobi | Open Kenya | Transparent Africa |publisher=Kenya.socrata.com |access-date=2013-12-09 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131212082037/https://kenya.socrata.com/Counties/County-Urbanization-Nairobi/g4vq-85ds/ |archive-date=12 December 2013 }}

{{Bar chart

| float = center

| title = Poverty Level in Central Kenya

| table_width = 75

| bar_width = 50

| data_max = 100

| label_type = County

| data_type = {{center|Poverty Level in Central Kenya (Per cent)}}

| label1 = Kirinyaga County | data1 = 34.2

| label2 = Muranga County | data2 = 28.5

| label3 = Kiambu County | data3 = 19.9

| label4 = Nyeri County | data4 = 26.3

| label5 = Nyandarua County | data5 = 76.6

| label6 = {{flag|Kenya}} Average | data6 = 45.9

| caption = {{resize|88%|Poverty level by County}}

}}{{cite web |url=https://kenya.socrata.com/Poverty/Poverty-Rate-by-District/i5bp-z9aq/ |title=Poverty Rate, by District | Open Kenya | Transparent Africa |publisher=Kenya.socrata.com |access-date=2013-12-09 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131212082035/https://kenya.socrata.com/Poverty/Poverty-Rate-by-District/i5bp-z9aq/ |archive-date=12 December 2013 }}{{cite web |last=Al |first=Edward |url=http://data.worldbank.org/country/kenya/ |title=Kenya | Data |publisher=Data.worldbank.org |date=2013-09-30 |access-date=2013-12-09 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131211044508/http://data.worldbank.org//country//kenya |archive-date=11 December 2013 }}

{{Reflist}}

• [https://web.archive.org/web/20110216013436/http://www.nyandaruacounty.co.ke/ Nyandarua Coun]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20110216013436/http://www.nyandaruacounty.co.ke/ ty]

{{First and second-level administrative divisions of Kenya}}

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Category:Counties of Kenya