Our virtual trip today takes us to Zombe. To help us get our bearings
better we will discuss distances and directions with reference to Kitui town,
which is the largest urban centre and administrative capital of Kitui County.
Zombe (pronounced Sombe) is a small town located 47 kilometres east of
Kitui town. The road to Zombe is currently un-tarmacked but is still usable,
even in the rainy season. Some of the places that one comes across when driving
from Kitui to Zombe are:
Wikililye
Wikililye is a big market centre found 4 kilometres south of Kitui
town, along the Kitui-Kibwezi Road. At Wikililye there is a road that branches
off towards Katulani and Kavisuni markets. At Wikililye there is also another
road that leads to the Mulango area, where the Africa Inland Church (AIC) Bible
Institute and Mulango Girls School are found. The Mulango Youth Polytechnic is
also found in this area.
The Kitui-Kibwezi Road under construction at Wikililye
Chuluni
Chuluni is a market and administrative centre located 9 kilometres
south of Kitui town. In this area there is an Assistant County Commissioner’s
office, several other government offices, the Chuluni Girls Secondary School, a
number of churches, and numerous shops.
Junction to Zombe
Just after Chuluni one finds a major road junction that leads to Mbitini,
Nzambani, Mutitu, and Zombe. From the Kitui-Kibwezi Road one branches left.
About a kilometre from this junction is another junction to the right, leading
to Mbitini Market.
Nzambani Rock
About two kilometres from the Kitui-Kibwezi Road junction one comes
upon the iconic Nzambani Rock, Kitui’s most recognizable landmark. Located 11
kilometres from Kitui town, the rock is a tourist attraction and recreation
centre. One can climb to the top of the rock through a steel stairway, or relax,
eat, and socialise at a newly-established restaurant known as the Nzambani Rock
Sanctuary.
The iconic Nzambani Rock in Kitui
Kiongwe Hills
Along the way to Zombe one encounters the scenic range of the Kiongwe
Hills. The road winds again and again as it goes round the hillside. At some
points there is a steep drop to the valley below, and it is this risky drop
that gave the nickname Ngai ndethya to
the area. Ngai ndethya is Kamba for
‘God help me’. This was the silent prayer for mercy by many who used the
precarious road, especially when it was un-tarmacked. Any misstep would
probably have led to a tragic drop to the valley below.
Perhaps because of the said risks, 5 kilometres of the road around the
hills was tarmacked, and is now quite safe to drive on.
The
Kiongwe Hills as seen from the Kitui-Zombe Road
Miambani Junction
About 26 kilometres from Kitui town, after descending from the Kiongwe
Hills, one finds a junction to the left, with the road leading to Miambani.
Inyuu
Inyuu is a small and quiet shopping centre found 30 kilometres south-east
of Kitui town. Inyuu is the Kamba word for ‘nose’. It is not clear why the
place was given that name. The most outstanding thing at Inyuu is a big bridge
constructed over River Thua, one of the biggest rivers in the area.
The
bridge over River Thua
Mutitu Junction
Some 38 kilometres from Kitui town one encounters the road junction
leading to Mutitu, at an area known as Mang’ola. To get to Mutitu one branches
left, while moving straight on to Zombe. Mutitu is one of the prominent regions
of Kitui east, and is referred to as Mutitu wa Ndoa to differentiate it from
Mutitu wa Ndei in Makueni County. Popularly known as Mtito Andei, Mutitu wa
Ndei is located on the Nairobi-Mombasa highway. Ndei is the Kamba name for the secretary bird, which inhabits the
area.
Zombe
The little town of Zombe is found 47 kilometres from Kitui town. Two
kilometres before the main town you find some shops, government offices, as
well as the Zombe law courts. At Zombe town itself are many more shops, as well
as small restaurants and a service station.
One notable institution in the town
is the Africa Inland Church (AIC) Zombe Girls School, a public boarding
secondary school. The school is located next to the Africa Inland Church,
Zombe.
Perhaps the most outstanding thing about Zombe (especially to the
people of Kitui) is the fact that mangoes from Zombe are the first to mature
and ripen, ushering in the mango season in Kitui. For some reason, mangoes from
Zombe are ready more than a month before the fruit ripens elsewhere in Kitui.
For this reason, by the beginning of December the mangoes are available in
markets in Kitui town, while the rest of Kitui does not start harvesting its
mangoes until the second or third week of January.
One of the 6 electoral wards in Kitui East Constituency goes by the
name Zombe-Mwitika.
A
trading centre in Zombe
A
street in Zombe Town
The
Michelle and Rodham School, a private school located 5 kilometres from Zombe
town.
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