The Mt Kenya Powerhouse Counties

The Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry is registered as a not-for-profit private company limited by guarantee under of the laws of Kenya. Before the promulgation of the current Kenya Constitution in August 2010, the KNCCI had its main operations at the head office in Nairobi with regional offices in the major towns in Kenya. However, after the promulgation of the constitution, the Chamber amended the legal instrument to establish a National Office and County Chamber offices in all the 47 Counties.

The KNCCI Central region has five counties but our key mandate of branding of the Mt. Kenya region covers ten counties including Kiambu, Kirinyaga, Laikipia, Nyeri, Embu, Nyandarua, Meru, Murang’a, Tharaka Nithi and Nakuru. These are the member counties of the the Central Kenya Regional Economic Block (CEKREB) that is defined by a common heritage. Historically these counties bore the brunt of colonization for being part of the central Kenya highlands that were deemed ideal for European settlement. As a result these counties suffered massive alienation of land and denial of civic and basic human rights to the residents. In the ensuing struggle to reclaim their land, basic human rights and self determination these counties were the main theatre of armed struggle for indepedence.

On the brighter side, the settler economy meant that at the time of independence the region was already ahead of many others in agricultural production, tourism development and commerce. These sectors have since grown manifold as the residents worked overtime to recover the forty years lost under colonization. Together these counties account for close to 30 per cent of the country’s gross domestic product, quite a remarkable feat considering the region occupies only about a sixth of Kenya’s total area.

According to data from the inaugural Gross County Product 2019 report by the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) the Central Kenya Economic Bloc counties cumulatively contributed 26.2% to Kenya’s GDP in 2017. The Mt Kenya region contribution per county was quoted as follows: Kiambu (5.5%), Kirinyaga (1.4%), Laikipia (1.0%), Nyeri (2.2%), Embu (1.4%), Nyandarua (2.6%), Meru (2.9%), Murang’a (2.3%), Tharaka Nithi (0.8%) and Nakuru (6.1%). Thus the Gross County product (read County GDP) 2019 makes it clear that Nakuru and Kiambu are the powerhouses of the region.

The leadership of the two counties is to be expected because in addition to having the highest concentration of cash crop and dairy farming Nakuru and Kiambu host the manufacturing and agricultural processing plants, and the greater number of sizeable commercial enterprices of the region. Nakuru also has the added advantage of being home to some of the most popular tourist destinations in the region and the country. Following are brief economic profiles for each of the counties:.

KIAMBU: THE INDUSTRIAL HUB

Kiambu is currently the industrial hub of the Mt. Kenya Region. It hosts a sizeable number of manufacturing and agricultural processing plants most of which are based in Thika and Ruiru towns both of which are a stone throw away from the national capital of Nairobi. The oldest manufacturing outfit in the region is the Bata Shoe factory in Limuru that has been in production since 1939 and is also the leading shoe manufacturing plant in the East African region.

The other fast growing sector is construction especially in the area of housing. The proximity to the capital city has favoured Kiambu’s development as a dormitory county for city workers. Migration of workers into the area has spurred corresponding growth of the commercial sector as evidenced by the presence all major banks and heavy representation of leading retail brands such as Naivas, Carrefour, Quickmart and and Textbook Centre. Most of the retail outlets are tenants in expansive malls such as Thika Road Mall, Spur Mall, Carrefour Mall, Juja Mall and many others.

Kiambu is also a leader in the field of education. With 1,133 primary schools, 313 secondary schools the county most likely has the greatest number of educational institutions in the country. In addition to the schools kiambu plays host to many tertiary institutions and university colleges. Prominent university campuses include Mt. Kenya University College, Gretsa University, Kenyatta University, Jomo Kenyatta University College of Agriculture and Technology, St. Pauls University and Presbyterian University.

NAKURU: POWERED BY TOURISM AND HORTICULTURE

Nakuru is slated for a commercial and industrial boom following the arrival of the Standard Gauge Railway and the on going development of a special economic zone in Naivasha, the second most important sub county in terms of earnings from agriculture, commerce and tourism. This will further raise the county’s level of contribution to the regional and national gdp.The zone whose infrastructures are currently under construction has already attracted investors both local and international. Companies that will be situated within the zone are expected to enjoy direct connection to cheaper geothermal power from the neighbouring Olkaria plant and special tax incentives-in line with provisions of the Fiscal Incentives Act, 2015. The SEZ is expected to be operational by March incorporates an industrial park and an inland container depot It is expected to raise the areas profile, with investors, residents and leaders upbeat that the projects will open up Nakuru as a commercial hub in East Africa region.

Agriculture and tourism are the backbones of the economy of Nakuru. Horticulture is actually the most important farming activity in Nakuru. One of the major areas where horticultural farming has thrived over the years is the Lake Naivasha basin, which lies in Rift Valley, 90km north-west of Nairobi. Most of flower farming in Naivasha is done around the lake that is the largest fresh water lake in the country, covering a surface area of 160 square kilometres. A total number of  4450 hectares  around the lake is covered by irrigated farming, with flower farms occupying a total of 1900 hectares, with 1200 hectares under green house farming. These flower farms now account for 70% of all Kenya’s flower exports. It is estimated the Naivasha flower farms have employed about 25,000 people directly and benefits approximately 500,000 indirectly.  There are both large and small flower farming around Lake Naivasha.

Before the introduction of horticulture Naivasha revolved around tourism. In addition to the lake that gave the town its name the area teams with tourist attractions. Crescent Island is a bird watchers paradise with no equal in the country. Next door is Hells Gate and the accompanying hot springs from where on sunny days one is caressed by the breeze from the lake while in the evening the opposite is true, the breeze heading to the lake from Mt. Longonot and Mt. Margaret. Naivasha has also received many tourists who come to witness firsthand the panoramic landscapes captured and stored for posterity in Joy Adamsons twin movies Born Free and Living Free.

The area surrounding the city of Nakuru is known for its vast agricultural production with numerous small farms and also vast agricultural enterprises. The main crops grown around Nakuru  include coffee, wheat,barley, maize, beans and potatoes.The crops provide the primary raw materials for some of the manufacturing industries found in Nakuru. Dairy farming is a key economic activity and provides the inputs for various milk processing plants. Other manufacturing industries include Menengai soap factory, Car&General Motorcycle plant, Eveready Battery plant, Fertiplant East Africa and many more. Commerce is booming in the towns of Nakuru county. They play host to  of Kenya’s largest retail supermarket chains including Naivas, Tuskys, and Gilanis supermarkets that were all founded in Nakuru. According to a UN study released in 2011, Nakuru is Africa’s fastest growing city and the fourth in the world.

Still Nakuru has much more to offer in tourist attractions. Travelling from Naivasha towards Nakuru City popular tourist pullers include the Kariandusi prehistoric site in Gilgil, Lake Elementaita with its flamingoes and scenic landscape, including the mummy-like hill popularly refered to as the Sleeping Warrior because it looks like one. And then we come the Mt Kenya regions premier tourist destination, Lake Nakuru National Park the real home of the colourful flamingos and other birdlife. The park also plays host to a variety of wildlife including buffalo, lion, leopard, hyena, baboons, monkeys, and wild beast among others.

MURANG’A: THE HOME OF CO-PERATIVES

Murang’a is the headquarters of the agricultural co-operatives in the Central Kenya. Although all the other counties have c-operatives Muranga’a has the largest number and the most successful countrywide. Majority of the co-operatives are for processing and marketing of tea, coffee and dairy products that are the main cash earners for the county’s farmers. A recent addition to the cash crops is macadamia nuts.

Like Kiambu Murang’a is a leader in the field of education. It is home to 739 primary schools, 271 secondary schools. The county may only one university campus, Murang’a University, but it hosts many middle level colleges such as Murang’a Teachers College, Murang’a Technical Institute, Kenya Medical Training College and Murang’a College of Technology.

Murang’a too has its share of tourist attractions including Mukurwe wa Nyagathanga, the Agikuyu garden of Eden which is considered the original home of the ancestors all the communities of Mt. Kenya Region. Another crowd pulling shrine is the Tuthu Catholic Church that is one of the oldest places of Christian worship in the country. In addition the county is in the proximity of both the Aberdare and Mt. Kenya National parks.

KIRINYAGA: THE NATIONAL RICE BASKET

Kirinyaga borders the counties of Embu to the East, Machakos to the South, Murang’a to the South West and Nyeri to the West. Noteably it is the county that bears the original name of the Mt. Kenya. Kenya is derived from the pronounciation of Kirinyaga (Kiinyaa) by the Kamba community. If the European who named the mountain had encountered the Kikuyu before the Kamba the name of the mountain and the country would certainly be different.

Unlike the other counties of the region that have common key cash crops in tea and coffee Kirinyaga has an additional cash crop in rice. Horticulture and dairy farming are also practiced.

To tourists Kirinyaga offers the Mt. Kenya National Park with mountain climbing and trekking being highly popular activities. The Kirinyaga trek, known as the Kamweti route, commences from the town of Kutus and passes through castle forest affording trekkers an opportunity to sample the wide variety of indigenous tree species and other flora.

Kirinyaga has 300 primary schools, and 100 secondary schools. Colleges include Kirinyaga University and Ahiti Ndomba Veterinary Training Institute.

NYANDARUA: HOME OF POTATOES

Nyandarua farmers are getting closer to realising their dream of having a factory to process their potatoes, add value and life as well as improve returns from the county’s main cash crop. The project has received Sh254 million World Bank funding under the Devolution Support Programme. The the new factory will end decades of suffering for the farmers who have always been exploited by middlemen for lack of alternative markets. The county produces between 33 per cent and 35 percent of the total potato yield in the country. Alongside potatoes the other main economic activity in Nyandarua is dairy farming.

Up to about 1990 Nyandarua was a leading producer of pyrethrum. Unfortunately the parastatal that was given the role of purchasing, processing and marketing the crop collapsed and the growing of the crop almost ceased. There are plans to revive production and processing

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 there are a number of colleges and polytechnics 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.^[10]

NYERI: A BOUNTY OF FARM PRODUCE

Nyeri county is has a bounty of natural and manmade resources that the county government is harnessing to generate wealth, create jobs and generally grow the economy. Most important of the natural resources include forests, wildlife, minerals (stone, sand, Kaolin), livestock, pasture, water and medicinal plants. Nyeri is within the Mt. Kenya ecosystem and is therefore well endowed with a host of tourist attractions including the mountain itself, the Mt. Kenya National Park and Aberdare National Park.

However agriculture is the main economic activity. Farming is dominated by tea and coffee as the main cash crops supported by dairy farming. Other crops include maize, potatoes and horticulture. Industrial production is mainly in the area of milk processing and stone quarrying. Agriculture directly contributes 26% of Kenya’s annual GDP and another 25% indirectly. The sector currently employs 32.84 per cent of the population. With an agricultural potential of 758.5 square kilometres of arable land, agribusiness is one of the main economic activities within the county. This has given rise to other opportunities within the sector. According to governor Mutahi Kahiga (pictured) top of the investment opportunities that the county government is marketing are:

• Fruit processing and canning
• Water purification and packaging plant
• Vegetable drying plant
• Coffee, Tea and Dairy value addition infrastructure
• Macadamia Processing Plant
• Meat processing and canning
• Aquaculture and fisheries – including fish farming, caged fish farming and freshwater fish growth