Athi River Mavoko | |
|---|---|
 Photo of Athi River | |
  Athi River Location in Kenya | |
| Coordinates:1°27′S36°59′E / 1.450°S 36.983°E /-1.450; 36.983 | |
| Country |  Kenya |
| County | Machakos County |
| Area | |
• Total | 693 km2 (268 sq mi) |
| Population (2019)[2] | |
• Total | 81,302 |
| • Density | 120/km2 (300/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+3 (EAT) |
| Climate | Cwb |
| Website | mavokomunicipal.or.ke |
Athi River is a town outsideNairobi,Kenya inMachakos County. The town is named after theAthi River, which passes through. It is also known asMavoko.
Athi River hosts the Mavoko Municipal Council and is the headquarters of Mavoko division, which is part ofMachakos County. The town's population is 81,302 (2019 census), and it is still growing due to its proximity to the Kenyan capital city ofNairobi.
Athi River is part of the Greater Nairobi Metropolitan area.
Athi River, also known as Mavoko, was carved off theNairobi County Council in 1963, when the latter was disbanded. Mavoko municipality has six wards (Athi River West, Katani, Kinanie/Mathani, Makadara, Muthwani and Sophia). All these wards belong to Mavoko constituency, which has a total of ten wards. The remaining four wards are within Masaku County Council.[3]
The town is relatively industrialised for Kenya. There are six cement factories located within the town:Bamburi Cement,Mombasa Cement,East Africa Portland Cement Company,Savannah Cement,National Cement, Kenya Meat Commission andAthi River Mining.
The town is home to a chewing gum factory owned by theWrigley Company.
There are also other notable companies within the town's outskirts such as Doshi Steel, Mabati Rolling Mills, Seed Co., Kapa Oil Refineries and Devki Steel.
Athi River is ambient with sprouting businesses. Some of the most notable businesses include theColoho Mall, Crystal Rivers Safaricom Mall, Trailink Logistics, and the Wattle Blossom Retreat Centre. Some of the factors influencing the rapid growth of businesses in the area include the increased real estate development in the region and the proximity to Nairobi City and mining companies.
TheDaystar University has a campus in the town. Meat Training Institute is also located in the town.
Athi River has a railway station built in 1920 along theUganda Railway, fromMombasa toKisumu. There is also a new railway station on theMombasa–Nairobi Standard Gauge Railway.
Athi River is also linked to Nairobi via the Nairobi-Mombasa Highway (commonly known asMombasa Road), a tarmacked dual carriageway, and to nearbyKitengela by Namanga Road, a tarmacked single carriageway. Residents of Athi River are served by Routes 110 and 120 to the Nairobi CBD.
Nairobi metropolitan area | ||
|---|---|---|
Population -7.8 million | ||
| Counties |  | |
| Major city 3.8 million | ||
| Urban Centres over 200K | ||
| Other major Urban Centres | ||
| Future developments | ||
