Machakos
Encyclopedia
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 (as of 2009) (this estimation is probably too high, see Discussion). People who live here are mostly the Akambas though it is a cosmopolitan town. Machakos is surrounded by hilly terrain, with a high number of family farms.
that was under construction. Town and the district were named after Masaku, an Akamba chief.
Sudan
-related peace talks were held in Machakos, resulting in the Machakos Protocol on July 20, 2002.
Machakos has a number of financial institutions such a Barclays, Equity, Standard chartered, K-rep, Co-operative and Kenya commercial banks at the CBD. It also has the larger administrative offices in lower Ukambani.
Machakos town also has good road infrastructure and town planning. it also has a well planned bus termini at the heart of the town.
There is a bus terminus in Nairobi popularly known as the Machakos Airport. It's a busy place where Buses and Matatu
s depart for Machakos and Kitui
.
Machakos has a beautiful hilly scenery that is perfect for camping and hiking. this consists of tricky terrain that would challenge any camper.It is also the home town of some of the worlds most beautiful sculptures made in Wamunyu.
Kaloleni near Ngelani, is famous for "water flowing against gravity". It is located on Kituluni Hill, 12 east of Machakos town.
Tertiary education is still growing, with new colleges like Machakos Teachers Training college, Machakos Institute of Technology
, copperbelt college, Century Park College, Scott Theological University and Computers for school Kenya. Students who successfully complete the diploma in "Computers for School Kenya" are granted credits towards BIT and BSc.(Computer Science) courses at Maside Muliro University of Science and Technology (MMUST).
Century Park College is located at the far end of Makueni Road in Machakos and offers an extensive Early Childhood Education and Development, Information Technology, P1 Primary School Teacher, Catering and Hospitality, Business Management, Accounting, Guidance and Counseling, and Business Administration programs, including short-term management courses. CPC offers a cyber cafe and instruction from an illustrious and multicultural faculty.
Machakos is one of the towns known to cater for the physically handicapped and impaired. Schools like the APDK for the physically handicapped, school for the deaf, school for the blind and the special unit for the mentally handicapped (in TMPS) have gone a long way in providing education for these special children.
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...
, 64 kilometres southeast 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...
. It is the capital of the Machakos District
Machakos District
Machakos District is an administrative district in the Eastern Province of Kenya. Its capital town is Machakos. The district has a population of 906,644 ....
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...
. 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 (as of 2009) (this estimation is probably too high, see Discussion). People who live here are mostly the Akambas though it is a cosmopolitan town. Machakos is surrounded by hilly terrain, with a high number of family farms.
History
Machakos was established in 1887, ten years before Nairobi. Machakos was the first administrative centre for the British colony, but they moved the capital of Kenya to Nairobi in 1899 since Machakos by-passed the Uganda RailwayUganda Railway
The Uganda Railway is a railway system and former railway company linking the interiors of Uganda and Kenya with the Indian Ocean at Mombasa in Kenya.-Origins:...
that was under construction. Town and the district were named after Masaku, an Akamba chief.
Sudan
Sudan
Sudan , officially the Republic of the Sudan , is a country in North Africa, sometimes considered part of the Middle East politically. It is bordered by Egypt to the north, the Red Sea to the northeast, Eritrea and Ethiopia to the east, South Sudan to the south, the Central African Republic to the...
-related peace talks were held in Machakos, resulting in the Machakos Protocol on July 20, 2002.
Economy, transport and tourism
Machakos open air market. Fruits, vegetables and other food stuffs like maize mbemba, beans mboso, etc. are sold here. Major market days are Mondays and Fridays. One can buy second hand clothes mutumba in the open air market, situated differently from the market marikiti.Machakos has a number of financial institutions such a Barclays, Equity, Standard chartered, K-rep, Co-operative and Kenya commercial banks at the CBD. It also has the larger administrative offices in lower Ukambani.
Machakos town also has good road infrastructure and town planning. it also has a well planned bus termini at the heart of the town.
There is a bus terminus in Nairobi popularly known as the Machakos Airport. It's a busy place where Buses and Matatu
Matatu
In Kenya and neighboring nations matatu are privately owned minibuses although pick-up trucks were in the past pressed into service as these East African share taxis. Often decorated, many matatu feature portraits of the famous or slogans and sayings, some religious.These minibuses ply set routes,...
s depart for Machakos and Kitui
Kitui
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...
.
Machakos has a beautiful hilly scenery that is perfect for camping and hiking. this consists of tricky terrain that would challenge any camper.It is also the home town of some of the worlds most beautiful sculptures made in Wamunyu.
Kaloleni near Ngelani, is famous for "water flowing against gravity". It is located on Kituluni Hill, 12 east of Machakos town.
Culture and sports
Major spots include the Machakos Sports Club spread over a large lush area including a 9-hole golf course. There is the Kenyatta stadium that also has the Machakos Social Hall. This is the main sports center in the district. Garden Hotel is the biggest hotel in the town but one can get a nice breakfast or lunch at T-Tot hotel or a drink at either ikuuni, bulls, buddies,Club Wizard or New Boma. Other hotels and Guest houses are Lysak Haven Park, shanbad house or le technish.The town also boasts of the classy Garden Hotel with lush green outdoor sitting and five star decor.Education
Primary schools in Machakos include Machakos Primary, St. Mary's Boys and girls, Muthini Primary, Township Muslim Primary School, St. Teresas primary, Machakos academy, ABC Girls academy, one hill academy premese academy, lukenya academy, makutano academy, Mumbuni primary, baptist primary, ABC girls academy and Katoloni. High schools include Machakos Girls, Machakos School, St. Monica, St. Valentine girls, Mumbuni High School and Katoloni among others.Tertiary education is still growing, with new colleges like Machakos Teachers Training college, Machakos Institute of Technology
Machakos Institute of Technology
The Machakos Institute of Technology is a private institute in Machakos, Eastern Province, Kenya. MIT has six schools with a strong emphasis on social work, community development, scientific and technological research....
, copperbelt college, Century Park College, Scott Theological University and Computers for school Kenya. Students who successfully complete the diploma in "Computers for School Kenya" are granted credits towards BIT and BSc.(Computer Science) courses at Maside Muliro University of Science and Technology (MMUST).
Century Park College is located at the far end of Makueni Road in Machakos and offers an extensive Early Childhood Education and Development, Information Technology, P1 Primary School Teacher, Catering and Hospitality, Business Management, Accounting, Guidance and Counseling, and Business Administration programs, including short-term management courses. CPC offers a cyber cafe and instruction from an illustrious and multicultural faculty.
Machakos is one of the towns known to cater for the physically handicapped and impaired. Schools like the APDK for the physically handicapped, school for the deaf, school for the blind and the special unit for the mentally handicapped (in TMPS) have gone a long way in providing education for these special children.