Nkubu is a town 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. ...

. It is located on the eastern slopes of

Mount Kenya Mount Kenya (Meru people, Meru: ''Kĩrĩmaara,'' Kikuyu people, Kikuyu: ''Kĩrĩnyaga'', Kamba language, Kamba: ''Ki nyaa'', Embu language, Embu: ''Kĩ nyaga'') is an extinct volcano in Kenya and the Highest mountain peaks of Africa, second-highe ...

, within

Meru County Meru County is one of the 47 counties of Kenya located in the former Eastern Province. It borders Isiolo County to the north, Tharaka-Nithi County to the South, Nyeri County to the southwest and Laikipia County to the west. Meru County has a ...

. It falls in one of the most-fertile and best-watered parts of Africa, with tea, coffee and dairy farming as the main economic activities in the area. It is also the lead town in

South Imenti Constituency South Imenti is an electoral constituency in Kenya. It is one of nine constituencies of Meru County Meru County is one of the 47 counties of Kenya located in the former Eastern Province. It borders Isiolo County to the north, Tharaka-Nithi Co ...

Location

Nkubu is from

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 ...

on the Nairobi-Embu-Meru road. The town is situated on the southern banks of the river Thingithu, which has its origins on

. Transport includes public service minibuses, taxis and

boda boda Boda bodas are bicycles and motorcycle taxis commonly found in East Africa. While motorcycle taxis like boda bodas are present throughout Africa and beyond, the term ''boda boda'' is specific to East Africa. In Kenya, they are more frequently ca ...

motorbikes. The town is connected to surrounding towns, by tarred roads to Chuka,

Meru Meru may refer to: Geography Kenya * Meru, Kenya, town in Meru County in the republic of Kenya * Meru County, one of Kenya's 47 counties that was created by the 2009 merger of 3 districts: ** Meru Central District ** Meru North District ** Meru S ...

and Mikumbune, Kithurine, Kionyo towns to the west and a tarred toad to Mitunguu town to the east.

Economy

The town is a trade hub with several businesses, and several banks: Equity Bank, Family Bank, Cooperative bank,

Kenya Commercial Bank KCB Bank Kenya Limited is a financial services provider headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya. It is licensed as a commercial bank, by the Central Bank of Kenya, the national banking regulator. The bank has also been running an agency banking ...

and the Yetu Sacco Bank, Capital Sacco Bank, Times U Sacco and Bimas. There are three major hospitals, Nkubu Consolata Mission hospital jekim hospital and Kanyakine district hospital, away. The infrastructure developments initiated by the Senator

Kiraitu Murungi Kiraitu Murungi (born 1 January 1952) is a Kenyan politician, lawyer, and civil rights advocate. He is the Chairman of the National Oil Corporation of Kenya. He has previously held roles including Governor of Meru County, Senator for Meru, a ...

has made the place attractive to entrepreneurs and buildings are coming up overnight. Nkubu is the home of

South Imenti Tea Farmers Sacco South is one of the cardinal directions or compass points. The direction is the opposite of north and is perpendicular to both west and east. Etymology The word ''south'' comes from Old English ''sūþ'', from earlier Proto-Germanic ''*sunþaz' ...

, a bank with the tallest building in East and Central Kenya. The building houses the Nkubu campus of

Mount Kenya University Mount Kenya University (MKU) is a private, multi-campus university in the municipal town of Thika, Kenya. It was established by Prof. Simon N. Gicharu and has become one of the most significant private universities in Kenya. MKU has a student ...

Educational institutions

Education institutions in the town include, Nkubu High school, St.Pius x Seminary, Nkubu Primary school, Stella Maris mission day and boarding primary school, Winners Academy, Kenrama Educational Centre, Nkubu Youth Polytechnic, Kanyakine Boys' Boarding school and Kaguru Agricultural Training Centre. The town is involved in commercial banana production. Some of the estates in the town's outskirts include Taita, Kiigene, Kaguru and Muthaiga (Muguru).

References

Populated places in Eastern Province (Kenya) {{EasternKE-geo-stub