Runyenjes is the second largest town in

Embu County Embu County is a Counties of Kenya, county in the Mt Kenya region in Kenya. As of 2024 its estimated population is 608,599. The county borders Kirinyaga County, Kirinyaga to the west, Kitui County, Kitui to the east, Tharaka Nithi County, Tharak ...

, Kenya. It is located about 150 km from Nairobi, and 75 km from Mount Kenya, at an altitude of 1500m.The population is estimated at 58,000 people, the majority of which are the

Embu People The Embu or Aembu (sometimes called Waembu) are a Bantu people indigenous to Embu county . The region is situated on the southern slopes of Mount Kenya in the former Eastern province. To the West, Embu neighbours the Kikuyu, The Meru people ...

who speak

Kiembu Embu, also known as Kîembu, is a Bantu language of Kenya. It is spoken by the Embu people, also known as the Aembu (sg. Muembu). Speakers of the Embu language can also be found in neighboring districts/counties and in the diaspora. The langua ...

, a

Bantu language The Bantu languages (English: , Proto-Bantu language, Proto-Bantu: *bantʊ̀), or Ntu languages are a language family of about 600 languages of Central Africa, Central, Southern Africa, Southern, East Africa, Eastern and Southeast Africa, South ...

, as well as

Kiswahili Swahili, also known as as it is referred to in the Swahili language, is a Bantu language originally spoken by the Swahili people, who are found primarily in Tanzania, Kenya, and Mozambique (along the East African coast and adjacent littoral i ...

and

English English usually refers to: * English language * English people English may also refer to: Culture, language and peoples * ''English'', an adjective for something of, from, or related to England * ''English'', an Amish ter ...

, the two official languages 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. ...

. The area offers scenic views, with densely wooded hills, gentle valleys, flowing streams and rivers, waterfalls, as well as small-scale

farms A farm (also called an agricultural holding) is an area of land that is devoted primarily to agricultural processes with the primary objective of producing food and other crops; it is the basic facility in food production. The name is used fo ...

Etymology

Runyenjes derives its name from a popular Chief Runyenje of the colonial era who ruled from Thuci River to

Sagana Sagana is a small industrial town in Kirinyaga District, Kenya. It is along the Nairobi-Nyeri Nyeri is a town situated in the Central Highlands of Kenya. It is the county headquarters of Nyeri County and was the central administrative he ...

Geography

Runyenjes is located at an altitude of 1495.62 m (4906.89 ft) and lies on the windward side of Mt. Kenya. It is about 150 km 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 ...

city and about 25 km from Embu town along the Nairobi-Meru-Isiolo road. The road from Runyenjes to Nairobi is tarmacked and well-maintained. A drive along this road from Runyenjes town towards

Embu Embu may refer to: Places ; in Brazil * Embu das Artes * Embu-Guaçu ; in Kenya * Embu, Kenya * Embu County Other

*Embu people of Kenya *Embu language, the Bantu language spoken by them {{Disamb, geo ...

offers scenic views of the Karue and

Kirimiri Kîrîmîri Forest Is an area dominated by tree vegetation in the Mukuuri locality of Runyenjes, Embu, in the country of Kenya. It is recognised as an Ecologically Sensitive Site in Africa by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. ...

hills, nearby waterfalls, and on a clear sky, a great view of Mt. Kenya. The section of this road from Runyenjes town to

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 ...

town via Chuka town is also quite scenic offering views ranging from densely wooded hills, gentle valleys, flowing streams, and rivers, as well as, tea and coffee small-scale

. According to Google Maps, you can walk non-stop from Runyenjes town to the top of Mt. Kenya in approximately 18 hours and 31 minutes, a distance of about 74 km. Towns surrounding or nearby Runyenjes include Kianjokoma, Karurumo, Kigumo, Kathageri,

Mukuuri Mûkûûrî is an administrative Location and township in Runyenjes Division, in Embu County, Kenya, with a population of about 25,000 people. It is named for a large, strong Sycamore Fig Tree (Mûkûû in Kiembu. Scientific name: Ficus Sycomorus ...

Kanja Kanja is a small settlement in Embu County 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 cou ...

Mufu Mufu (), a secretariat,Spector, Stanley (1964). Li Hung-chang and the Huai Army. Seattle: University of Washington Press. LCCN 64-11052. p. 19 was a system for hiring able advisers and military staff, the muliao (), by and for the imperial Chinese ...

, Rukuriri, Ena,

Gichiche The Eastern Province () of Kenya was one of 8 Provinces of Kenya The provinces of Kenya were replaced by a system of counties in 2013, after the 2010 constitution was effected. History Before the new constitution of Kenya that came ...

, Kathanjuri, Kyeni, Makutano, Kiaragana, Kigaa and Nthagaiya.

Demographics

The population of Runyenjes is estimated to be 58,000 people, majority of which are of the

heritage and speak

, a

, as well as

and

, the two official languages in

Government

Runyenjes serves as constituency and municipality.

Religion

Similar to the rest of Embu County, most of the residents identify as Christians. There are several major Christian denominations churches located in or around the municipality, including but not limited to, the

Anglican Church of Kenya The Anglican Church of Kenya (ACK) is a province of the Anglican Communion, and it is composed by 41 dioceses. The current Leader and Archbishop of Kenya is Jackson Ole Sapit. The Anglican Church of Kenya claims 5 million total members. Accordin ...

, The Roman Catholic Church of Kenya, the SDA Church, and the Salvation Army Church. Well-known church buildings include ACK St. Philips Rukuriri and St. Joseph Mukasa Catholic Church, Mbiruri among, many others.

References

{{coord, 0, 25, S, 37, 34, E, display=title, region:KE_type:city_source:GNS-enwiki Embu County Populated places in Kenya