Nyahururu | |
|---|---|
Town | |
 Thomson's Falls in Nyahururu. | |
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| Country |  Kenya |
| County | Laikipia County |
| Nyahururu Sub County | 58,943[1] |
| Elevation | 2,303 m (7,556 ft) |
| Website | http://www.nyahururu.net/ |
Nyahururu (formerly known asThomson Falls) is a town inKenya, lying north east ofNakuru. The town derives its name from theMaasai word e-naiwurruwurr, meaning waterfall or windy or place of storms.[2] It is located inLaikipia County. Nyahururu formerly functioned as the administrative capital ofNyandarua District, before it became a county and until the headquarters were shifted toOl Kalou.The town has an estimated urban population of 36,450.[3] The town still continues to be a central economic power of the immediate former district of Nyandarua. For that reason, the town has strong economic ties to the two counties.
Nyahururu was founded asThomson's Falls, being named after the 74 metres (243 ft) highThomson's Falls on Ewaso Narok river, a tributary of theEwaso Nyiro River, which drains from theAberdare mountain ranges. It is on the Junction ofOl Kalou-Rumuruti road and the Nyeri-Nakuru road. Settlers were more interested in the rich lands of the neighboring environments. Lord Maurice Egerton had the largest allocation of land neighboring the town. The town grew around arailway fromGilgil opened in 1929 (now effectively abandoned). The town was once an important player in the timber milling industry, and the now defunct National Pencil Company had a factory there. It is also an important milk processing hub.
The region around Nyahururu is mainly agricultural. To the North, Ol Ngarua is famous for its maize, while Shamata to the south is a major producer of potatoes. Lately, flower farming has brought new life to Nyahururu. Suera Flowers is a pioneer in this venture. The cool temperate weather, land availability and cheap labor may be some of the attractions to flower farming.
The town is also a commercial centre. It has many supermarkets such as Spears and Mugo supermarkets. Large banks in Kenya also have their branches situated in the town. Some of the banks in Nyahururu town are Absa Bank, Equity, Kenya Commercial Bank, Cooperative Bank, Family Bank, Faulu Kenya and Kenya Women Microfinance Bank Limited.
The town has a number of hotels, including The Panari Resort, Eastwards Hotel, Kawa Falls Hotel, Laikipia Comfort Hotel, and Thompson Falls Lodge Hotel.
The town heavily relies on the transport industry. There are major highways linking the town to cities such as Nairobi, Nakuru and Nyeri. Most of these roads are now in good condition, and properly paved.
Nyahururu is also frequented by marathon and cross-country runners for practicing before major events due to its high altitude.
Samuel Wanjiru, the Olympic Marathon Record holder and the first Kenyan to win the Marathon at the Olympics, called Nyahururu home until his death on May 16, 2011. Other notables from Nyahururu areBedan Karoki,John Ngugi andGodfrey Gitahi Kariuki.
Laikipia University has two campuses, one inNakuru, and the other on the outskirts of Nyahururu town. It also has several highly sought-after private schools. It has a National Polytechnique, Nyandarua Institute of Science and Technology, located on the outskirts of the town, on your way to Ol Kalau, two medical colleges, Nyahururu Medical Training College (NMTC) and Kenya Medical Training College (KMTC). Some of the large private schools within Nyahururu Town are Nyahururu Highway Schools, Busara Forest View Academy and Nyahururu Elite Schools. Large public schools include Nyandarua Boarding Primary School, District Education Board, Bishop Louis Ngarenarok, Ndururumo High School, Nyahururu Boys High School, and Ndururi High School.
ThePan African School of Theology, anevangelicaltheological college founded in 2006, is located near the town. Another Bible school is the Emmanuel Bible Institute. The Institute offers diplomas and certificates in theology.
Nyahururu is predominantly Christian, with Catholic and Protestant churches. Redeemed Gospel Church is one of the major Pentecostal Churches with its Regional Headquarters in town and many other branches in the outskirts.
In 2010, Nyahururu was the site of an internationally reported incident in which police rescued a woman who was under threat oflynching after sheshoplifted twoBibles from asupermarket.[4]
In September, 2008, residents of the town were shocked to see a blanket ofhail resembling snow covering their land following a thunderstorm. "I have not seen such a thing ever since I was born," said one surprised resident of Nyahururu. Cold weather kept the hailstones from melting quickly, as hail usually does in western Kenya.[5]
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0°2′N36°22′E / 0.033°N 36.367°E /0.033; 36.367
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