Illicit brew, Mungiki blot Nyeri County's good record

By Francis Ngige

Nyeri County may be among the richest but it has serious social concerns to grapple with.

For instance, the issue of organised gangs such as Mungiki and vigilantes has affected growth in the region. The problem is compounded by proliferation of illicit brews that have led to high school drop-out rate and break-up of families.

Agriculture remains the county’s economic mainstay, with coffee and tea as the main cash crops.

Nyeri Town. Photo: George Mulala/Standard

Going by the poverty index countrywide, Nyeri can be said to be on the right path. However, this success is overshadowed by insecurity and proliferation of illicit brews.

Although consumption of brews has not reached alarming levels in Nyeri County, the problem, which is rampant in neighbouring Murang’a, is creeping into the county.

The Mungiki menace is also taking root in parts of Mathira and Nyeri Town and has stagnated growth in most of the urban centres.

Besides the two main cash crops, dairy industry and tourism are other economic activities.

For a long time coffee and tea boosted the local economy before a slump witnessed in the late 1990s dealt a major blow to the region.

While many expected Nyeri to improve after President Kibaki — who comes from the county — came to power, growth has been rather slow.

The major roads are generally in good condition but those in the rural areas have been neglected occasioning untold suffering to farmers during the rainy season.

Real estate is also yet to gain momentum and getting office space or rental houses in most of the urban centres in the county is a problem.

For example, for the past year no new building has come up within Nyeri Town Central Business District.

But corporates have started venturing into the county with several financial institutions setting base.

And while a 24-hour economy has been hailed as one that will hasten growth, urban centres in the county, including Nyeri Town, go to sleep just after fall of darkness.

No eateries or entertainment joints operate past 11pm, thanks to unofficial decree imposed by an administrator five years ago.

Being a typical farmers’ town, there are no major commercial enterprises like shopping malls and major supermarket chains. The only exception is Uchumi supermarket in Karatina town.

Foreign exchange

Revamping the ailing coffee and tea farming would particularly assure the county of a good stream of foreign exchange.

Generally, the county is well covered with vegetation. Land ownership is largely smallholder, but the relatively dry parts of the county are dotted by large-scale ranches and irrigation schemes.

The forest cover comprises Mt Kenya and the Aberdare forest reserves that form an important water catchment for the country.

The worst hit by the harsh climatic condition is the expansive Kieni that receives little rain and is classified as a semi-arid area.

And the county enjoys one of the best-run water companies in Nyeri Water and Sewerage Company. The company runs a well-managed water supply system and water shortages are rare.

The county comprises six constituencies, among them Othaya represented by Kibaki. Others are Nyeri Town, Tetu, Mukurweini, Mathira and Kieni.

It has four local authorities — Nyeri Municipal Council, Nyeri County Council, Othaya Town Council and Karatina Municipal Council.

Besides agriculture, the county boasts of Mt Kenya Bottlers, Highlands Beverage Company and six tea factories that provide employment to the locals.

Nyeri County hosts Kimathi University College, a constituent college of Jomo Kenyatta University of Science and Technology, Moi University, Kagochi Campus, in Mathira, Kenyatta University, Nyeri Campus, and University of Nairobi’s Extra Mural Centre.

Middle level colleges include Nyeri Technical Training College, Mathenge Technical Institute, Kagumo and Kamwenja teachers colleges.

The county that borders Nyandarua County to the west and Kirinyaga County to the east has three prominent secondary schools — Nyeri High School, Kagumo High School and Bishop Gatimu Ngandu Girls.

Tourist attractions include the Aberdare National Park, Mt Kenya and hosts world-class hotels like The Treetops, The Ark, Outspan, Aberdare Country, Mt Kenya Safari Club and Naromoru River Lodge.

Mt Kenya Lodge, Mt Kenya Leisure Lodge and Starbucks Hotel are among other notable holiday destinations.

A person who will take up the governorship of the county would be faced with the challenge of reviving the coffee sector and opening up the region for investment.

Mt Kenya Tourism Circuit Chief Executive Officer Simon Wachira says Nyeri County has enormous resources, which can boost the local economy.

"The county has many tourist attraction sites which can be exploited to boost the region’s economy. We are optimistic that Nyeri would be among the leading counties in the country," says Wachira.

A member of the Nyeri Social Forum Lydia Nyawira says: "There are many investment opportunities in Nyeri, including real estate, horticulture and hospitality industry."