Kitui
Encyclopedia
Kitui is a town in Kenya
, 130 kilometers east of Nairobi
and 75 kilometers east of Machakos
. It used to be the capital of the Kitui District
in Eastern Province of Kenya
. Due to political reforms, Kitui is now the headquarters of Kitui County, which covers a larger area than the former district did. As a consequent the city has become a natural meeting point for politicians and businessmen. And most of the hotels are therefore expanding. In addition, people have noticed that Kitui town is suitable for a pit-stop or a sleep on the way from Mt. Kenya to Mombasa.
Kitui town had a population of 13,244 in 1999, but has grown substantially since this. According to the local Non-Governmental Organization KICABA, there are now about 60,000 living in the city, whereas 1,000,000 if you include the outskirts. A large majority of the people are Akamba's, but there are also sizable Swahili and Somali population. The Akamba people of Kenya speak Kamba language- Kikamba, and are considered as friendly and welcoming people.
Although most of the sights are located in the outskirts of town, Kitui is a busy trading center, its streets lined with arcaded shops. Every Monday and Thursday is a market day. All sorts of vegetables can be bought, in addition to goats, hens and sometimes even cows.
The two major secondary schools are Kitui High School and St. Charles Lwanga Boys High School. For girls, there is Mulango Girls High and St. Angelas High. Other secondary schools are Tungutu, Chuluni, Changwithya Boys, Matinyani and Katulani Mixed Secondary School.
Although there are many shops in town, finding clothes of western style may be challenging, same with shoes. The more expensive stores are located in the Muli Mall, which is situated in the middle of the town center. There are some bookstores in Kitui, but they mostly sell schoolbooks, so if you need something to read for leisure, be sure to buy this in advance of your arrival in Kitui.
Nzambani Rock is the premium scenic tourist attraction in Kitui. Situated about ¾ hour (more in the rain season) away from the town, it is truly a special sight. In the middle of the relatively flat landscape, suddenly the 60 feet tall rock is rising from the ground. To reach the top, it was built a staircase some years ago. There is a small fee to enter the staircase, which can be bought at the Nzambani Rock parking lot office for 100/200 KSH (Kenyans) or 200/400 KSH (foreigners) for children/adults. The prices can vary a bit with the season.
In addition, Kitui is a district with strong culture and a rich history. Therefore there are many traditional dance groups, whom all appreciate visitors. If you contact them and ask for a dance show or even a lesson, for a small fee they'd be happy to welcome you into their home. Visiting schools, orphanages or even the university can also be an experience, and as hospital as the Kitui people are – if you ask, you're most likely to be welcomed.
Information site created by volunteers working and living in Kitui, summer 2011 - "Help to Self-help in Africa" (http://www.selvhjelpiafrika.org)
Kenya
Kenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east...
, 130 kilometers east of Nairobi
Nairobi
Nairobi is the capital and largest city of Kenya. The city and its surrounding area also forms the Nairobi County. The name "Nairobi" comes from the Maasai phrase Enkare Nyirobi, which translates to "the place of cool waters". However, it is popularly known as the "Green City in the Sun" and is...
and 75 kilometers east of Machakos
Machakos
Machakos is a town in Kenya, 64 kilometres southeast of Nairobi. It is the capital of the Machakos District in Eastern Province of Kenya. Machakos Town is a major rural centre, and also a satellite town due to its proximity to Nairobi. Its population is rapidly growing and is 192,117...
. It used to be the capital of the Kitui District
Kitui District
Kitui District is an administrative district in the Eastern Province of Kenya. Its capital town is Kitui. The district has a population of 515,422 and an area of 20,402 km² .- Government :...
in Eastern Province of Kenya
Kenya
Kenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east...
. Due to political reforms, Kitui is now the headquarters of Kitui County, which covers a larger area than the former district did. As a consequent the city has become a natural meeting point for politicians and businessmen. And most of the hotels are therefore expanding. In addition, people have noticed that Kitui town is suitable for a pit-stop or a sleep on the way from Mt. Kenya to Mombasa.
Kitui town had a population of 13,244 in 1999, but has grown substantially since this. According to the local Non-Governmental Organization KICABA, there are now about 60,000 living in the city, whereas 1,000,000 if you include the outskirts. A large majority of the people are Akamba's, but there are also sizable Swahili and Somali population. The Akamba people of Kenya speak Kamba language- Kikamba, and are considered as friendly and welcoming people.
Although most of the sights are located in the outskirts of town, Kitui is a busy trading center, its streets lined with arcaded shops. Every Monday and Thursday is a market day. All sorts of vegetables can be bought, in addition to goats, hens and sometimes even cows.
The two major secondary schools are Kitui High School and St. Charles Lwanga Boys High School. For girls, there is Mulango Girls High and St. Angelas High. Other secondary schools are Tungutu, Chuluni, Changwithya Boys, Matinyani and Katulani Mixed Secondary School.
Accommodation
The hotels in Kitui are of mixed standard. However, since tourism has just started blossoming, there are currently several development projects. In spring 2011 a new hotel named Cottages and Guesthouse opened. Together with Talents Hotel, it represents the hotels of higher standard in town. There are many other hotels in the area too, though the standard must be said to be a bit lower. As tourism in Kitui just started growing, the prices are still very fair.Eating out
It’s quite common that the people of Kitui eat lunch out, and therefore there are several places to eat in the Kitui area. As most customers are locals, the dishes offered are normally traditional African. Chapati (almost like tortillas), ugali, githeri or rice served with goat meat, chicken and/or cooked vegetable stew. The best restaurants are the ones connected to the better hotels in town. The prices in Kitui center are normally quite low, to fit the budget of the locals – and does not vary significantly.Banks
There are several banks in Kitui; Barcley’s, The National Bank, KCB and Family Bank – of which all have ATM’s. In addition to these you can find more banks, but the ones mentioned above are recommended.Shopping
Naivas is a new supermarket in town, which opened in December 2009. This store got everything you need, from food to furniture, office supplies and toiletries. The standard of this store is very good, so don’t be afraid if you have forgotten some necessities for the trip. There are also several pharmacies in town, of which all are clean and trustworthy, though the variety is limited. For example; the selection of bandages is very poor - so be sure to bring this on the trip in case you'll get injured.Although there are many shops in town, finding clothes of western style may be challenging, same with shoes. The more expensive stores are located in the Muli Mall, which is situated in the middle of the town center. There are some bookstores in Kitui, but they mostly sell schoolbooks, so if you need something to read for leisure, be sure to buy this in advance of your arrival in Kitui.
Churches
The Kitui people are very religious and the churches play a central role in the community. There are plenty of churches around the area, and a couple of mosques can also be spotted around the area. Most locals go to service every Sunday (usually around 10 am.), and visitors are welcomed. However, when visiting a church, you should be aware that fund-raisers or offerings are quite common – and that visitors are expected to contribute.Sights and activities
Kitui got lot to offer, but it may be a bit difficult for tourists to find these, if not shown by locals. The roads are poorly signed, and directions given may be difficult to follow. Especially since you mostly need to double the travel-time and distance they approx.Nzambani Rock is the premium scenic tourist attraction in Kitui. Situated about ¾ hour (more in the rain season) away from the town, it is truly a special sight. In the middle of the relatively flat landscape, suddenly the 60 feet tall rock is rising from the ground. To reach the top, it was built a staircase some years ago. There is a small fee to enter the staircase, which can be bought at the Nzambani Rock parking lot office for 100/200 KSH (Kenyans) or 200/400 KSH (foreigners) for children/adults. The prices can vary a bit with the season.
In addition, Kitui is a district with strong culture and a rich history. Therefore there are many traditional dance groups, whom all appreciate visitors. If you contact them and ask for a dance show or even a lesson, for a small fee they'd be happy to welcome you into their home. Visiting schools, orphanages or even the university can also be an experience, and as hospital as the Kitui people are – if you ask, you're most likely to be welcomed.
Safety
Kitui is a very safe area, and you can normally walk on your own without having to fear. There are not many “Mzungus” as white people are called, so if you're in that category – you're most likely to have some extra eyes on you regardless of where you move around. Some people have the perception that white people have money, so it might be clever not to flash your valuables – a good rule regardless of where you travel.Parking
If you visit Kitui by car, you should notice that parking is not free of charge. Although there are no signs with information, be aware that parking without a parking ticket can be expensive and complicated. There should be parking attendants strolling the streets, normally in yellow coats, so make sure one of these contact you before leaving the car. The fee for parking a full day is 40 K.Sh (July 2011), while the penalty is 500 K.Sh. In addition the car may be locked, so that you need to visit the municipal in order to release it.Gas Stations
There are several gas stations located nearby the Kitui market. These are served, and telling them in advance how much you want to fill in shillings may be a clever.Taxi
Taxis are not a very common sight in Kitui town, but according to locals – taxis can be found. However these are not marked in any special way, so can therefore be difficult to spot. The motorcycle taxis however are much more commonly used by the locals, more visible in the city – and are also less expensive. Seeing a motorbike packed with three or four people is not an unusual sight.External links
Information site created by volunteers working and living in Kitui, summer 2011 - "Help to Self-help in Africa" (http://www.selvhjelpiafrika.org)