Gatundu is a small town in
Kiambu County
Kiambu County is a county in the former Central Province of Kenya. Its capital is Kiambu and its largest town is Thika town. Kiambu County is the second most populous county in Kenya after Nairobi County. Kiambu County borders Nairobi and Kaji ...
of
Kenya
Kenya, officially the Republic of Kenya, is a country located in East Africa. With an estimated population of more than 52.4 million as of mid-2024, Kenya is the 27th-most-populous country in the world and the 7th most populous in Africa. ...
. It is known for the first Kenyan president
Jomo Kenyatta who lived about three kilometres away from the town, as well as his son,
Uhuru Kenyatta
Uhuru Muigai Kenyatta ( born 26 October 1961) is a Kenyan politician who served as the fourth president of Kenya from 2013 to 2022. The son of Jomo Kenyatta, Kenya's first president, he previously served as Prime Minister of Kenya, Deputy Pri ...
, the 4th President of Kenya and former Member of Parliament representing
Gatundu South Constituency.
The town is located on a hill surrounded by many farms and residences.
Demographics
Gatundu has an approximate population of 20,000 people who reside and work within and near the town.
Location
Gatundu town is located west of
Thika about 29 Kilometers, road distance through
Mang'u and north of
Kiambu about 44 Kilometers, road distance through
Ruiru
Ruiru is a municipality and sub-county in Kiambu County, Kenya. It sits within the greater Nairobi#Nairobi metropolitan region, Nairobi Metropolitan region. According to the 2019 national population census, Ruiru was the 4th largest urban centr ...
. It is currently in
Kiambu County
Kiambu County is a county in the former Central Province of Kenya. Its capital is Kiambu and its largest town is Thika town. Kiambu County is the second most populous county in Kenya after Nairobi County. Kiambu County borders Nairobi and Kaji ...
. Back in the 1960s-2007, Gatundu was in
Kiambu District, which would later be elevated to
Kiambu County
Kiambu County is a county in the former Central Province of Kenya. Its capital is Kiambu and its largest town is Thika town. Kiambu County is the second most populous county in Kenya after Nairobi County. Kiambu County borders Nairobi and Kaji ...
and split into districts. Gatundu became one of the districts in
Kiambu County
Kiambu County is a county in the former Central Province of Kenya. Its capital is Kiambu and its largest town is Thika town. Kiambu County is the second most populous county in Kenya after Nairobi County. Kiambu County borders Nairobi and Kaji ...
. Gatundu town hosts the district's headquarters. Kenyatta Road connects the town to the newly constructed
Thika Highway. The road is used to access
Nairobi
Nairobi is the Capital city, capital and largest city of Kenya. The city lies in the south-central part of Kenya, at an elevation of . The name is derived from the Maasai language, Maasai phrase , which translates to 'place of cool waters', a ...
from Gatundu.
The town is located on a hill, which makes it difficult to expand.
Administration
Gatundu town is the administrative headquarters of Gatundu South constituency. It also hosts the Gatundu sub-county offices, under the County Government of Kiambu which is led by James Nyoro who is the governor.
Gatundu sub-county has two constituencies:
Gatundu North Constituency and
Gatundu South Constituency.
Gatundu South Constituency is represented by
Moses Kuria (MK) as the Member of Parliament after Jossy Ngugi Nyumu died in office in May 2014. Moses Kuria was announced as the area MP in August 2014 without a by-election after the only opponent, Kiarie Kamere stepped down.
Uhuru Muigai Kenyatta, the former president of Kenya, was the area MP for 2 terms: from 2002 to 2013.
Gatundu North Constituency is currently represented by
Anne Wanjiku Kibe as the Member of parliament.
Gatundu Law Courts are located near the Gatundu District hospital. Modern law courts were built after the old ones were consumed by fire. The law courts were officially opened in March 2014 by the then Kenya's Chief Justice Dr. Willy Mutunga.
People and religion
The Gatundu people on social media founded and registered a group to create oneness and self-reliance among the youth and the entire community. Qwetu Welfare Association aims at creating employment through development initiatives and charitable projects in Gatundu.
Gatundu belongs to rural highland north of capital
Nairobi
Nairobi is the Capital city, capital and largest city of Kenya. The city lies in the south-central part of Kenya, at an elevation of . The name is derived from the Maasai language, Maasai phrase , which translates to 'place of cool waters', a ...
. Its native inhabitants are mainly the
Kikuyu people
The Kikuyu (also ''Agĩkũyũ/Gĩkũyũ'') are a Bantu peoples, Bantu ethnic group native to Central Province (Kenya), Central Kenya. At a population of 8,148,668 as of 2019, they account for 17.13% of the total population of Kenya, making t ...
, also called the
Agikuyu. The town is also a home for many people from other ethnic groups in
Kenya
Kenya, officially the Republic of Kenya, is a country located in East Africa. With an estimated population of more than 52.4 million as of mid-2024, Kenya is the 27th-most-populous country in the world and the 7th most populous in Africa. ...
who are in the region for business purposes.
The people in this town are mostly Christians. Several churches are present, including
* Martyrs of Uganda Catholic Church
* Oasis of Hope
* P.C.E.A Marima
* Christian Church international C.C.I.
* Gospel Power Center
among others.
Economy
The main economic activity in Gatundu town is trade. Businessmen and businesswomen in this town are engaged in various businesses. A two storey modern market in the town attracts many buyers and sellers from the neighboring villages and towns. There are several supermarkets and general stores.
The neighboring villages are agriculturally productive and therefore feed the market with fresh agricultural commodities.
Financial institutions
Due to investments and businesses in the town, there are various banks, microfinance institutions and SACCO'S including:
# Equity Bank
# Family Bank
# KCB
# Co-operative Bank
Pamoja Women Development ProgrammeTAI Sacco Society Ltd# Eekuria SACCO
#Unaitas SACCO
Transport and communication
The local public service vans, minibuses and taxis play a major role in transport industry of this town. Vans (also called matatus) transport passengers from the town to other towns including
Nairobi
Nairobi is the Capital city, capital and largest city of Kenya. The city lies in the south-central part of Kenya, at an elevation of . The name is derived from the Maasai language, Maasai phrase , which translates to 'place of cool waters', a ...
city,
Thika,
Ruiru
Ruiru is a municipality and sub-county in Kiambu County, Kenya. It sits within the greater Nairobi#Nairobi metropolitan region, Nairobi Metropolitan region. According to the 2019 national population census, Ruiru was the 4th largest urban centr ...
,
Juja and
Kamwangi
Kamwangi town is headquarter of Gatundu North Sub County Kiambu County, Kenya, in the former Central Province.
Location
It is a town along Thika - flyover road. It's located west of Thika. There is however, a minor road connecting the town ...
towns. The town has a good road network that connects to neighbouring towns including Juja, Ruiru, Thika and Nairobi.
Motorbikes also called "boda bodas" are common mode of transport in the town. Together with tuk tuks, they offer transport services within the town and the surrounding villages.
The area is covered well by the local mobile service providers in Kenya, namely
safaricom
Safaricom PLC is a listed Kenyan mobile network operator headquartered at Safaricom House in Nairobi, Kenya. It is the largest telecommunications provider in Kenya, and one of the most profitable companies in the East and Central Africa region. T ...
,
Orange and
Airtel. Mobile phones are therefore the most common means of communication. Several cyber cafes also offer the town with internet services.
There is also Gatundu Post Office.
Academic institutions
The town does not have adequate institutions of higher learning. There is Gatundu Primary School, a public school. Private primary schools are many including:
# Happy Times
# Gloria Primary School
# Good Luck Primary school
# Harti Primary School
Higher Institutions of Learning
The town has recently seen rise in new institutions of higher learning like universities and colleges. Mama Ngina University College has been established in the near past and has since admitted a considerable number of students. The town has seen an increase in population owing to a branch of the Kenya Medical Training College, Gatundu branch. There is also Gatundu Institute of Business Studies.
Health institutions
Gatundu Level 4 Hospital serves almost all health needs of the people in this region.
On 13 August 2013, a Chinese-funded construction was launched to expand and elevate the Gatundu District Hospital to Gatundu Level IV Hospital. The 5300 square meter expansion included a modern medical wing with five-floors, four elevators, outpatient services, an emergency department, 12 ICU beds, 84 beds, medical laboratory, maternity unit, operating theater, wards, and several units of medical equipment, including CT scanners and X-ray scanners. The assistance by China was in response to a request for funding of about US$11 million made by President Uhuru Kenyatta in 2011. On 13 April 2016, President Uhuru Kenyatta officially opened the new wing of Gatundu Level 4 hospital.
St. Jude Nursing Home located at Gatundu-Juja road is a private hospital. Other private clinics are also established in the region including:
# Health Watch
# Uzima
References
{{coord, 1.05, S, 36.92, E, source:itwiki_region:KE, display=title
https://www.nation.co.ke/news/politics/IEBC-declares-Moses-Kuria-Gatundu-South-MP/1064-2411252-12q2k47z/index.html
Populated places in Central Province (Kenya)