Thika

For other uses, see Thika (disambiguation).
Thika
Municipality
Thika

Location of Thika

Coordinates: 01°03′S 37°05′E / 1.050°S 37.083°E / -1.050; 37.083Coordinates: 01°03′S 37°05′E / 1.050°S 37.083°E / -1.050; 37.083
Country  Kenya
County Kiambu County
Population (2009)
 • Total 139,853[1]
Time zone EAT (UTC+3)
Climate Cwb

Thika (pronounced [ˈθika]) is an industrial town in Kiambu County, Kenya, lying on the A2 road 42 kilometres (26 mi) north east of Nairobi, near the confluence of the Thika and Chania Rivers. Although Thika town is administratively in Kiambu County, the greater Thika area comprising such residential areas such as Bendor estate, Maporomoko, Thika Greens, Thika Golden Pearl, Bahati Ridge, Thika Sports Club, among others, are within Murang'a County. Thika has a population of 139,853[1] which is growing rapidly, as is the entire greater Nairobi area. Its elevation is approximately 1,631 metres (5,351 ft).

Thika is home to the Chania Falls, Fourteen Falls on the Athi river and the Thika Falls, Ol Donyo Sabuk National Park lies to the southeast. The town has a railway station with limited passenger service as only cargo trains operate, although there are plans to extend the proposed light rail system to Thika.

The town is currently the headquarters of Thika West district following the split of the larger Thika district (created in 1994) into five districts: Thika East and Thika West, Ruiru, Gatundu and Gatanga. It is the seat of the South Central regional commissioner (deputy Provincial Commissioner) for Central Province appointed by president Mwai Kibaki in 2009 who is in charge of the larger Kiambu, Thika and Murang'a districts. However, under Kenya's new constitution, which recognises only the 47 districts in existence before 1992 as semi-autonomous counties, Thika falls under Kiambu County. Although Kiambu Town is expected to be the new county headquarters, it should remain the main commercial centre as well as the seat of the Thika Subcounty of the Kiambu County.

The town is famous as the prime pineapple-growing region in Kenya, the Chania and Thika falls near the confluence of the respective rivers and as a gateway to the "Fourteen Falls" near Ol Donyo Sabuk National Park, which is used as a popular picnic and corporate recreation site. Thika is known as a centre for light industry, especially in food and horticulture processing. However, the decline of the textile industry has hit local firms such as Kenya Textile Mills (KTM), which was a cotton-to-fabric manufacturer that competed against Egyptian and Chinese manufacturers. Nevertheless, recent growth has been accentuated by the growth of the service sector, especially in education and finance.

The Flame Trees of Thika (Memories of an African Childhood) is a book by Elspeth Huxley, later adapted for television by Euston Films for Thames Television. It describes the life of English settlers in the "White Highlands" in Edwardian times.

History

There are two explanations for the origin of the name Thika. One has it coming from the Kikuyu word Guthika, meaning "to bury". During a great drought, the Maasai people ventured outside of their normal territories looking for water for their huge herds of cattle. Two rivers pass through Kikuyu land, the Thika and the Chania, providing sustenance for the agricultural Kikuyu. With both tribes desperate for survival, they fought a bloody battle that left few survivors. A mound near Blue Posts Hotel supposedly marks where the slain warriors were buried. Thika was also used a memorial burial site for soldiers who fought in World War II.

The other theory claims it was derived from the Maasai word Sika meaning "rubbing something off an edge".

In addition, the area was inhabited by the Akamba tribe and hence was a border region between three communities.

Towards the end of the 19th century, outsiders began to settle in this outpost as a convenient resting spot between Nairobi and the upcountry highlands for British settlers. Europeans and Asians settled in Thika, the former setting up farms and the latter shops. A monument in the shape of a pillar was erected by the British in the early 1900s in the central business district of Thika, commemorating the founding of Thika as a town. The town was given its status by the government gazette in 1924. Thereafter it was elevated to a municipality when Kenya gained independence in 1963, and the first mayor was chosen in 1968.

The town has historical sites like the Mugumo Gardens, which is named for the giant fig tree where the ancient legendary seer Mugo wa Kibiro prophesied. Believers claim that all of his prophesies have come to pass. According to legend, the fall of the tree would symbolise the fall of British rule in Kenya. The British government reinforced the tree to prevent it from falling but it split into two parts and fell in two stages in 1963. This land is said to have belonged to the first president, Mzee Jomo Kenyatta.

Economic activities

Thika is externally serviced by an eight-lane superhighway, a highway to Garissa and the rest of north-east Kenya, a highway to the central highlands and a railway line (with plans to add a passenger light rail to Nairobi). Internally, the town has a well-maintained road network.

The main economic activities include agricultural processing, particularly in horticulture and pineapple (exported mainly to Europe), coffee (exports mainly to the United States and Europe), cooking oils (to the rest of Kenya and eastern Africa) and animal feed processing. Other industries include textile (cotton), macadamia nuts, wheat, tannery, motor vehicle assemblies, cigarette manufacturing, bakeries, packaging and industrial chemicals. About 100 small-scale industries and about 20 major factories exist in and around the town. The service sector is well represented with the establishment and growth of a number of educational and financial institutions. Thika is home or close to three universities, tens of middle level colleges, hundreds of secondary and primary schools and dozens of financial institutions.

Thika has a bustling nightlife, modern recreation centres and significant retail trading operations. The growth of the greater Nairobi region and improved infrastructure and services has led to new residential estates.

Bidco Oil Refineries

Bidco oil Refineries, headquartered in Thika, is East Africa's leading edible oil, soaps & detergents, margarine and baking powder marketer with more than 30 brands. A number of brands have majority market share in their domain. Some of their brands that are household names include (Edible Oils) Elianto, Sun Gold, Soya Gold, Olive Gold and Golden Fry; In the fats section Kimbo and Cowboy, Chipsy; in the Laundry Segment are Power Boy Pro Activ Liquid and Powder detergent, Gental, the Star Series soaps; The personal care segment include Pure n Natural Woman and Man; Margarines are Gold Band and Biddy's and Mariandazi baking powder. The plant at Thika employs more than 2000 people.

Del-Monte Pineapples

Del Monte is one of the world's producers, marketers and distributors of fresh and fresh-cut fruit and vegetables, as well as a leading producer and distributor of prepared fruit and vegetables, juices, beverages, snacks and desserts in Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

Top Companies

Company
1 Delmonte Kenya Ltd.
2 Bidco Oil Refineries
3 Thika Coffee Mills
4 Broadway Bakeries
5 Kenblest Ltd.
6 Metal Box
7 Chania Food Mills
8 Equity Bank
9 Muramati Sacco
10 Kakuzi
11 Tuskys
12 Nakumatt
13 United Textile Industries
14 Tamatanga
15 Optica
16 Klub Liquid Cash
17 Baba McCurdy
18 Pizza Inn
19 Ding Dong Enterprises
20 Auto Express
21 Monalisa Hotel Thika
22 Family Bank Limited

Geography

The town is located on a gentle plain before the ascent into the central highlands. Small valleys are on the western and northern edges following the Chania and Thika Rivers that have waterfalls and meet on the northwestern edge of Thika.Thika Town is also home to Kenya's magical and breathtaking Fourteen Falls which is located 65 kilometres North East of Nairobi off the Thika-Garissa Road. The Fourteen Falls consist of 14 distinct waterfalls on the broad section of the famous Athi River.

Climate

Thika has a subtropical highland climate (Köppen: Cwb) with sunshine most of the year round and an average annual temperature of 19.8 °C, with the hottest period in March and April leading to the long rains and the coldest in July. The "long rains" season lasts from March/April to May/June. The "short rains" season is from October to November/December.

Local government

The local government consists of a thirteen-member Municipal Council, with responsibilities for governmental functions delegated to appointed committees. The mayor is chosen from among the elected or nominated councillors for one-year terms. However, with the new constitution, the mayor will be directly elected by the populace for a five-year term starting in 2012. The council sets the policies and bylaws while the day-to-day running is managed by the town clerk seconded from the local government ministry.

The town in 2008 signed a sister city agreement with Dixon, Illinois to create new economic, cultural and social opportunities.[2]

Universities and major colleges

See also

Notes

  1. 1 2 https://www.opendata.go.ke/Population/2009-Census-Vol-1-Table-3-Rural-and-Urban-Populati/e7c7-w67t/1
  2. ↑ Sister Cities, Municipal Council of Thika.
  3. ↑ amboseliinstitute.com
  4. ↑ thikainstitute.ac.ke
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