Central Province Mkoa wa Kati | |
|---|---|
| Nickname: Watu wa Murima | |
 Location in Kenya | |
| Coordinates:0°45′S37°0′E / 0.750°S 37.000°E /-0.750; 37.000 | |
| Country |  Kenya |
| Capital | Nyeri |
| Area | |
• Total | 13,199 km2 (5,096 sq mi) |
| Population (2009) | |
• Total | 4,383,743 |
| • Density | 332.13/km2 (860.20/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+3 (EAT) |
TheCentral Province (Swahili:Kati,Gikuyu:Gichigo gia Gatagati) was a region in centralKenya until 2013, when Kenya's provinces were replaced bya system of counties. It covered an area of 11,449 km2 (4,420 sq mi) and was located to the north ofNairobi and west ofMount Kenya (see maps). The province had 4,383,743[1] inhabitants according to the 2009 census. The provincial headquarters wasNyeri.
Central Province was the ancestral home of theGikuyu people.[2]
The climate of Central Province is generally cooler than that of the rest of Kenya, due to the region's higher altitude. Rainfall is fairly reliable, falling in two seasons, one from early March to May (the long rains) and a second during October and November (the short rains).
Central Province is a key producer of coffee, one of Kenya's key exports. Much of Kenya's dairy industry is also based in this province. The provincial headquarters were inNyeri. Central Province was divided into seven districts (wilaya'at) until 2007:[3]
| District | Population | Capital |
|---|---|---|
| Nyandarua | 479,902 | Ol Kalou* |
| Nyeri | 661,156 | Nyeri |
| Kirinyaga | 457,105 | Kerugoya |
| Maragua | 387,969 | Maragua |
| Murang'a | 348,304 | Murang'a |
| Thika | 645,713 | Thika |
| Kiambu | 744,010 | Kiambu |
| * former capital:Nyahururu | ||
Several new districts (declared sub-counties in 2013) were created in 2007:[3]
| District | Capital |
|---|---|
| Gatanga | Gatanga |
| Gatundu | Gatundu |
| Gatundu North | Kamwangi |
| Githunguri | Githunguri |
| Kabete | Kikuyu |
| Kandara | Kandara |
| Kiambu East (Kiambaa) | Kiambu |
| Kiambu West | Limuru |
| Kieni East | Chaka |
| Kieni West | Mweiga |
| Kigumo | Kigumo |
| Kinangop | Engineer |
| Kirinyaga Central | Kerugoya |
| Kirinyaga East | Kianyaga |
| Kirinyaga South | Wanguru |
| Kirinyaga West | Baricho |
| Lari | Lari |
| Maragua | Maragua |
| Mathioya | Kiria-ini |
| Mathira East | Karatina |
| Mathira West | Kaiyaba |
| Mirangini | Mirangini |
| Mukurweini | Mukurweini |
| Murang'a North | Murang'a |
| Murang'a South | Kenol |
| Nyandarua Central | Ol Kalou |
| Nyandarua North | Ndaragwa |
| Nyandarua South | Njambini |
| Nyandarua West | Ol Jororok |
| Nyeri Central | Nyeri |
| Nyeri South | Othaya |
| Ruiru | Ruiru |
| Tetu | Wamagana |
| Thika East | Gatuanyaga |
| Thika West | Thika |
The Central Province was replaced by 5 counties in 2013.
| Code | County | Former Province | Area (km2) | Population Census 2009 | Capital |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18 | Nyandarua | Central | 3,107.7 | 596,268 | Ol Kalou |
| 19 | Nyeri | Central | 2,361.0 | 693,558 | Nyeri |
| 20 | Kirinyaga | Central | 1,205.4 | 528,054 | Kerugoya /Kutus |
| 21 | Murang'a | Central | 2,325.8 | 942,581 | Murang'a |
| 22 | Kiambu | Central | 2,449.2 | 1,623,282 | Kiambu |
| Totals | 11,449.1 | 4,383,743 | - |
The province is inhabited by the Kikuyu speaking community almost exclusively.[4][5] They are part of the Kenya Eastern Bantus.
During Kenya's colonization by the British, much of the province was regarded as part of the 'White Highlands', for the exclusive use of the European community. Therefore, it saw political activity from the local communities who felt that they had an ancestral right to the land. This tension culminated in the 1950s with theMau Mau rebellion; which saw the region placed under a state of emergency and the arrest of many prominent political leaders.
Gitugi
{{cite book}}:|last= has generic name (help)