Athi River (town)

"Athi River" redirects here. For the river, see Athi-Galana-Sabaki River.
Athi River
Mavoko
Municipality

Photo of Athi River
Athi River

Location in Kenya

Coordinates: 1°27′S 36°59′E / 1.450°S 36.983°E / -1.450; 36.983
Country  Kenya
County Machakos County
Area[1]
 • Total 693 km2 (268 sq mi)
Population (2009)
 • Total 139,380[2]
Time zone EAT (UTC+3)
Climate Cwb
Website mavokomunicipal.or.ke

Athi River is a town outside Nairobi, Kenya in Machakos County. It is also known as Mavoko. The town hosts Mavoko Municipal Council and headquarters of Mavoko division which is part of Machakos County. It has a total population of 137,211 (2009 census[3]), and is relatively industrialised,with six cement factories located within its vicinity. These include Bamburi Cement, Mombasa Cement, East Africa Portland Cement Company, Savannah Cement, National Cement and Athi River Mining. The town is also a growing residential area due to its proximity to the capital.


Towns in Machakos County

Town Population (2009) Rank in Kenya (Population Size)
Kangundo-Tala 218,557 9
Machakos 150,041 13
Athi River 139,380 15
Kathiani 3,365 195
Masii 2,501 211

* 2009 census. Source:[2]

Transport

Athi River has a railway station built in 1920 along the Mombasa – Nairobi line. The Daystar University has a campus in the town. The town is named after Athi, the first part of the Athi-Galana river system.lt also has the 6th longest bridge in Africa or 2nd longest railway bridge in Africa at 2.8 km. This is part of the Standard Gauge Railway project.Athi river super major bridge

Athi River town is adjacent to and three kilometres from Kitengela town, but is part of the Machakos County in the former Eastern Province, while Kitengela belongs to Kajiado County in the former Rift Valley Province.

Mavoko was carved off the Nairobi County Council in 1963, when the latter was disbanded. Mavoko municipality has six wards (Athi River West, Katani, Kinanie/Mathani, Makadara, Muthwani and Sophia). All these wards belong to Kathiani constituency, which has a total of ten wards. The remaining four wards are within Masaku County Council.[4]

References

  1. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 13 May 2013. Retrieved 2013-08-13.
  2. 1 2 https://www.opendata.go.ke/Population/2009-Census-Vol-1-Table-3-Rural-and-Urban-Populati/e7c7-w67t/1
  3. ↑ http://kenya.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/profiles/Machakos%20County%2023%20Jan%202012.pdf
  4. ↑ Electoral Commission of Kenya: Registration centres by electoral area and constituency

External links

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