Tharaka District
Encyclopedia
Tharaka District is one of the seventy-one districts of Kenya
located in that country's Eastern Province
. The district has an area of 1570 km² and a population of 100,992 (1999 census), none of them classified as urban. In 1998, it was split from the Tharaka-Nithi District , itself formerly part of the larger Meru District
.
Tharaka District is the home of the Ameru
(Meru) tribe, which is related to other Bantu tribes living around the Mount Kenya
region: the Kikuyu and the Embu people
. The Ameru are generally called "Bantu" people who have been native to the Mt. Kenya area for many, many years — well before colonization of Kenya by Britain
in the 19th Century. The people of Tharaka District are now predominantly Christian
— Methodist, Presbyterian, Roman Catholic, and other denominations, reflecting the work of missionaries — with also minorities of India
n descent, who are mainly Hindu
s, and African/Arab descent, who are Muslim
s. Tharaka also has some resident Europeans predominantly British in ancestry. tharaka itself one of the several sub-tribes of greater Meru tribe. they have some different tribal and clan systems and rituals that are not common in the other sub-tribes. the tharaka are farmers but also rely a lot on pastoralism; the rearing of cattle, goats, sheep and also poultry. the tharaka are very proud people.
The district headquarters is at Tharaka
(Marimanti). Tharaka district has only one local authority, Tharaka county council and one constituency: Tharaka. The district is divided into three administrative divisions:
Districts of Kenya
The provinces of Kenya are subdivided into number of districts .- List of districts of Kenya :Following a High Court ruling in September 2009, there are 46 legal districts in Kenya :Coast Province:...
located in that country's Eastern Province
Eastern Province (Kenya)
The Eastern Province of Kenya is one of seven regions of the country. Its northern boundary is with Ethiopia; the North Eastern Province and Coast Province lie to the east and south; and the remainder of Kenya's provinces, including Central Province, run along its western border. The provincial...
. The district has an area of 1570 km² and a population of 100,992 (1999 census), none of them classified as urban. In 1998, it was split from the Tharaka-Nithi District , itself formerly part of the larger Meru District
Meru District
Meru Central District is one of the seventy-one districts of Kenya, located in that country's Eastern Province. In 1992, it was split from the large Meru District, along with Meru North District, Meru South District, and Tharaka District....
.
Tharaka District is the home of the Ameru
Ameru
The Meru people, or Ameru, are a Bantu ethnic group who mainly inhabit the Meru region of Kenya. They speak Kimîîru language.The Meru people of Kenya should not be mistaken with the Meru of neighboring Tanzania, or Wameru.-Location:...
(Meru) tribe, which is related to other Bantu tribes living around the Mount Kenya
Mount Kenya
Mount Kenya is the highest mountain in Kenya and the second-highest in Africa, after Kilimanjaro. The highest peaks of the mountain are Batian , Nelion and Point Lenana . Mount Kenya is located in central Kenya, just south of the equator, around north-northeast of the capital Nairobi...
region: the Kikuyu and the Embu people
Embu people
The Embu inhabit Embu District in Kenya. They speak Embu language. To the south of Embu are to be found their cousins, the Mbeere people, in Mbeere District. Previously, the Embu and Mbeere were in one district, Embu District, and just referred to as the Embu people. To the east, Embu neighbors...
. The Ameru are generally called "Bantu" people who have been native to the Mt. Kenya area for many, many years — well before colonization of Kenya by Britain
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
in the 19th Century. The people of Tharaka District are now predominantly Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
— Methodist, Presbyterian, Roman Catholic, and other denominations, reflecting the work of missionaries — with also minorities of India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
n descent, who are mainly Hindu
Hindu
Hindu refers to an identity associated with the philosophical, religious and cultural systems that are indigenous to the Indian subcontinent. As used in the Constitution of India, the word "Hindu" is also attributed to all persons professing any Indian religion...
s, and African/Arab descent, who are Muslim
Muslim
A Muslim, also spelled Moslem, is an adherent of Islam, a monotheistic, Abrahamic religion based on the Quran, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God as revealed to prophet Muhammad. "Muslim" is the Arabic term for "submitter" .Muslims believe that God is one and incomparable...
s. Tharaka also has some resident Europeans predominantly British in ancestry. tharaka itself one of the several sub-tribes of greater Meru tribe. they have some different tribal and clan systems and rituals that are not common in the other sub-tribes. the tharaka are farmers but also rely a lot on pastoralism; the rearing of cattle, goats, sheep and also poultry. the tharaka are very proud people.
The district headquarters is at Tharaka
Tharaka
Tharaka was a mythological king from Sri Lanka.According to legend, he designed the craft "Dandu Monara", which was able to fly, but he was unable to build it. Instead the king Ravana built it, and stories from Ramayana tell of him using it to abduct queen Seetha from Rama....
(Marimanti). Tharaka district has only one local authority, Tharaka county council and one constituency: Tharaka. The district is divided into three administrative divisions:
| Administrative divisions | |||
| Division | Population* | Headquarters | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Central Tharaka | 38,914 | Marimanti | |
| North Tharaka | 36,904 | Gatunga | |
| South Tharaka | 25,174 | Chiakariga | |
| Total | 100,992 | - | |