Apart from the Machakos route, there is another way of accessing Kitui from Nairobi. This route goes via Thika Town, and is 187 kilometres long. From Thika, one travels along the Thika-Mwingi highway (Garissa Road).
The first significant point along this route is the Donyo Sabuk/Kilimambogo junction that leads to the twin towns of Kangundo and Tala. The junction, which branches off to the right, also leads to the 14 falls on the Athi River, and is located about 30 kilometres from Thika.
The area to the left of Garissa Road, at this point, is dominated by pineapple plantations. The next major point that one comes to is Ngoliba Market, found 13 kilometres from Donyo Sabuk. The little Centre is surrounded by vast plantations of pineapples and coffee.
5 kilometers from Ngoliba, one comes to the National Youth Service (NYS) Yatta Field Station. The institution's buildings are situated on both sides of the road.
11 kilometers from the NYS establishment, you come to the Kithimani Town junction. This is the junction to the road that leads to Makutano Market on the Machakos-Kitui highway. The road became famous when, in 2013, the Machakos County Government tarmacked the entire 33 kilometers in 3 months and at half the conventional cost.
Kithimani is an important government administrative centre. There is a police station and law courts, among other government offices. At the Kithimani junction you will be greeted by scores of eager hawkers selling fruits and vegetables. When driving, one has to be careful not to knock any of them down.
9 kilometers from Kithimani is a small town called Sofia. 7 kilometers from Sofia, and 66 kilometers from Kitui, is Matuu Town. The town has grown to be very big and busy in recent times. It is complete with schools, hotels, churches, service stations, retail shops, and government offices. It is difficult to imagine that at Kenya's independence, in 1963, there was only one shop here. Of note is the fact that the late former Commissioner of the Kenya Police, Philip Kilonzo, hailed from the Matuu area.
14 kilometers from Matuu is Kanyoonyoo Market. At this shopping centre is found the junction of the road to Masinga and Embu, which branches off to the left. There is not much in the surrounding area except vast acres of uninhabited land used for ranching.
4 kilometers from Kanyoonyoo, one comes to the junction with the road leading to Kitui and Kibwezi. The road branches off to the right, towards Kitui which is 48 kilometres away. This junction, although in the general area of Kanyoonyoo, is known as Kalandini. Kalandini is an old name for the place, which many of the younger people may not be familiar with. In the '70s and '80s, before the road to Kitui was tarmacked, there was a police barrier near this junction. This barrier is probably what was changed to be the road block we have there today.
There is no human settlement and commercial activity at all at this junction. The scenic view of the countryside, however, makes the drive worthwhile. From Kalandini one goes past the two market centres of Kathiani and Katutu before coming to Kabati, a rapidly growing town located 19 kilometers north of Kitui. Kabati is a government administrative centre that has a market. From Kabati there is an untarmacked road that branches off to Migwani Town, eventually reaching Mwingi Town.
From Kabati, the next milestone is the Syongila junction, found 3 kilometers from Kitui Town. The Syongila junction is the point at which the Kitui-Kibwezi Road meets the Machakos-Kitui Road. Not far from Syongila, to the left of the Kitui-Kibwezi Road, is the Matinyani shopping centre.
From the Syongila junction you then drive into Kitui Town.
-The End-
