The most direct route from Nairobi to
Kitui is down Mombasa Road and through Machakos town. One crosses about ten permanent and seasonal rivers along the way. Some of these are Athi, Thwake, Mwita Syano, and Tiva. On this drive one crosses the Athi River twice.
Athi River
ReplyDeleteA small, dusty town located about 30 kilometres south of Nairobi. The town is named after Kenya’s second longest river, the Athi River, which traverses the area. Limestone mining and the related manufacture of cement takes place here. The Kenya Meat Commission slaughterhouse and processing plant is also located here. An export processing zone is also found in the area, as are schools, supermarkets, and county government offices that serve the thriving local population.
Machakos
ReplyDeleteFrom Athi River one drives down Mombasa Road past Lukenya Hill and eventually encounters Kyumvi market at the Machakos turn-off. 16 kilometres from this junction is found Machakos town. Referred to as Masaku in the Kamba language, the flourishing town is located 65 kilometres south east of Nairobi. Banks, national schools, universities, hotels, hospitals, and recreation parks are some of the amenities available here. The town is strategically located in Kenya’s lower eastern province, being the confluence of roads leading to Wote in Makueni, Tala-Kangundo, and Kitui.
Masii
ReplyDeleteThis is a small but fairly busy town that serves as the Mwala sub-county county government headquarters. Schools and small hotels are to be found here. At the roadside, on your way to Kitui, you will be met by eager hawkers selling fruits and vegetables such as tomatoes and bananas.
Wamunyu
ReplyDeleteA small town located 48 kilometres from Machakos, along the Machakos-Kitui Road. The legendary Kamba politician of the Moi era, Mulu Mutisya, hailed from this area. Noticeable here is a thriving wood carving industry. Not long after this town one crosses the Athi River and encounters the steep climb to the top of the Yatta Plateau, the world’s longest lava plateau.
Katangi
ReplyDeleteA small market town located at the top of the Yatta Plateau. From here a road branches off to Matuu town found on the Thika-Mwingi Road. A number of churches and schools are found here. A small dam provides area residents with water for domestic and livestock use.
Kyua
ReplyDeleteA small market centre located a couple of kilometres after the gentle drop from the Yatta Plateau. The most notable thing about Kyua is the near-perfect layout of the buildings that make up the Centre. At Kyua the road has two very large speed bumps, the biggest I have ever seen on a Kenyan road.
Kwa Vonza
ReplyDeleteA small market Centre about 20 kilometres from Kitui town. Located a few kilometres from this Centre, off the Machakos-Kitui Road, is Kenyatta University’s Kitui Campus. Not far from Kwa Vonza, also, is the South Eastern Kenya University (SEKU), Main Campus.
The Kitui County Government is constructing the Governor’s official residence around the hill at Kwa Vonza. A university city is also to be developed at the vast SEKU campus.
Kitui
ReplyDeleteLocated 160 kilometres from Nairobi is this important town which serves as the capital of Kitui County. Kitui is predominantly inhabited by the Kamba ethnic community. A small Arab community is also found at the town centre. The climatic conditions are semi-arid, with fairly sandy soils. Mangoes are to be found in abundant supply in the months of January to March. Maize, beans, pigeon peas, cow peas, pumpkins, sugarcane, sweet potatoes, and bananas do quite well in the region.
From Kitui it is possible to access Embu, Mwingi, and Kibwezi towns.