Embu, Kenya

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Town in Embu County, Kenya

title: "Embu, Kenya" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["embu-county", "populated-places-in-eastern-province-(kenya)", "county-capitals-in-kenya"] description: "Town in Embu County, Kenya" topic_path: "general/embu-county" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Embu,_Kenya" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary Town in Embu County, Kenya ::

::data[format=table title="Infobox settlement"]

FieldValue
nameEmbu
settlement_typeMunicipality
image_skyline{{multiple image
borderinfobox
total_width250
perrow1/2/2/2/1
caption_aligncenter
caption1Aerial view of Embu Town
caption2A view of Embu Town
caption3University of Embu
flag_size100px
pushpin_mapKenya
pushpin_map_captionLocation in Kenya
pushpin_reliefyes
subdivision_typeCountry
subdivision_nameKenya
subdivision_type1Region
subdivision_name1Mount Kenya region
subdivision_type2County
subdivision_name2Embu County
established_titleFounded
established_date1906
government_typeMunicipal Board
leader_titleChairperson
leader_nameKen Mwige
area_total_km2100
population_as_of2019
population_footnotes
population_urban64,979
population_metro204,979
population_density_km2649.79
population_demonymEmbian
postal_code_typePostal Code
postal_code60100
area_code068
website
timezoneEAT
utc_offset+3
coordinates
elevation_footnotestags--
elevation_m1350
elevation_ft4429
blank_name_sec1Climate
blank_info_sec1Aw
::

| name = Embu | official_name = | settlement_type = Municipality | image_skyline = {{multiple image | border = infobox | total_width = 250 | perrow = 1/2/2/2/1 | caption_align = center | image1 = | caption1 = Aerial view of Embu Town | image2 = | caption2 = A view of Embu Town | image3 = | caption3 = University of Embu | motto = | image_flag = | flag_size = 100px | image_shield = | shield_size = | pushpin_map = Kenya | pushpin_map_caption = Location in Kenya | pushpin_relief = yes | mapsize = | map_caption = | subdivision_type = Country | subdivision_name = Kenya | subdivision_type1 = Region | subdivision_name1 = Mount Kenya region | subdivision_type2 = County | subdivision_name2 = Embu County | subdivision_type3 = | subdivision_name3 = | subdivision_type4 = | subdivision_name4 = | established_title = Founded | established_date = 1906 |government_footnotes = |government_type = Municipal Board |leader_title = Chairperson |leader_name = Ken Mwige | area_total_km2 = 100 | area_land_km2 = | area_water_km2 = | population_as_of = 2019 | population_footnotes = | population_urban = 64,979 | population_metro = 204,979 | population_density_km2 = 649.79 | population_demonym = Embian |postal_code_type = Postal Code |postal_code = 60100 |area_code = 068 |blank_name = |blank_info = |website = | timezone = EAT | utc_offset = +3 | timezone_DST = | utc_offset_DST = | coordinates = |elevation_footnotes = tags-- |elevation_m = 1350 |elevation_ft = 4429 |blank_name_sec1 = Climate |blank_info_sec1 = Aw | footnotes = Embu is the largest town in Embu County located approximately 125 km northeast of Nairobi towards Mount Kenya. With a population of 64,979 its the 36th largest urban center in Kenya and the 11th largest in Mount Kenya region . Its a major economic hub in the mount kenya region. Embu served as the provincial capital of the former Eastern Province and currently serves as the headquarters of Embu County in Kenya.It provides an avenue for trade, tourism and highway transit between the national capital and the Northern Frontier.

History

Embu town is a major trading centre in Eastern Kenya. For a long time, it was the main economic centre for the Embu, Kikuyu, Meru and Kamba communities as well as other communities from central Kenya. Mbeere was carved out of the former Embu district in the 1990s and Siakago town, about 25 km east of Embu town, was made its headquarters.

Origins of Embu people are cited from North West Africa. They moved south to Congo. Then later moved Eastwards to the coast of Kenya via Tanganyika. While in Tanganyika the Embu intermarried with both natives and migrants from farther south (mostly Bantus). They later moved North towards Meru leaving their relatives, the Gikuyu, at Ithanga. They then crossed Igambang'ombe ford. They settled at Gikuuri near Maranga hills. Others settled at Tharaka but later left due to famine and moved to the current Embu

It is believed as they moved towards the slopes of Mt Kenya, they encountered pygmy tribes such as the Gumba and the Zimba in the forest; some of whom were cannibalistic. They were cultivators, planted crops like sorghum, millet and sweet potatoes. Today they have cash crops like coffee, tea, miraa and macadamia

Geography

The Municipality of Embu has an elevation of 1350 m, and is located on the foothills of Mount Kenya. It was the provincial headquarters of the defunct Eastern province, and is currently the Embu County Headquarters, hosting major public offices and institutions, including Embu Provincial General Hospital.

The area around the Municipality of Embu has conducive altitude for endurance training by athletes. As such, Kenyan athletes use the altitude and climate advantage of Embu for training, with specialised facilities at Kigari Teachers' Training College, about 15 km north of Embu Town.

Embu Town is known for its jacaranda trees that turn the municipality into a purple shower when in bloom. The jacaranda trees usually bloom from October to November each year, depending on rainfall.

The municipality slopes from west to east, with the highest elevation at the Ruvingaci River, up to the Kangaru School as well as from Njukiri forest in the west to Muthatari in the east, a radius of about 10 km in size. Embu has a small airstrip (1 km long), which is 7.1 km southeast of the heart of the town.

Past Kigari Teachers College approximately 25 km from Embu Town is a small town known as Kianjokoma that is a center for other shopping centers like Miandari, Kathande, Kiriari, Irangi and others. This town is fast growing due to the situated Mungania Tea Factory and as well as a county hospital and a police line in the area. Other small towns in Embu are Kibugu, Karurumo, Rukuriri, Mukuuri, Kathageri, Kanja and Manyatta.

Climate

|location = Embu, Kenya |single line = Yes |metric first = Yes |Jan high C = 28.7 |Feb high C = 30.3 |Mar high C = 30.4 |Apr high C = 28.6 |May high C = 27.2 |Jun high C = 26.4 |Jul high C = 25.1 |Aug high C = 25.4 |Sep high C = 28.2 |Oct high C = 29.5 |Nov high C = 27.5 |Dec high C = 27.2 |year high C = 27.9 |Jan low C = 13.7 |Feb low C = 14.3 |Mar low C = 16.3 |Apr low C = 17.4 |May low C = 17.2 |Jun low C = 15.6 |Jul low C = 15.2 |Aug low C = 15.2 |Sep low C = 15.8 |Oct low C = 16.9 |Nov low C = 16.4 |Dec low C = 14.7 |year low C = 15.7 |precipitation colour = green |Jan precipitation mm = 41 |Feb precipitation mm = 34 |Mar precipitation mm = 64 |Apr precipitation mm = 218 |May precipitation mm = 139 |Jun precipitation mm = 21 |Jul precipitation mm = 28 |Aug precipitation mm = 11 |Sep precipitation mm = 17 |Oct precipitation mm = 86 |Nov precipitation mm = 189 |Dec precipitation mm = 45 |year precipitation mm = 893 |Jan precipitation days = 4 |Feb precipitation days = 3 |Mar precipitation days = 7 |Apr precipitation days = 13 |May precipitation days = 10 |Jun precipitation days = 3 |Jul precipitation days = 3 |Aug precipitation days = 4 |Sep precipitation days = 2 |Oct precipitation days = 8 |Nov precipitation days = 15 |Dec precipitation days = 5 |year precipitation days = 77 |source 1 = World Meteorological Organization | url = http://worldweather.wmo.int/en/city.html?cityId=1794 | title = World Weather Information Service – Embu | publisher= World Meteorological Organization | access-date = 31 August 2016}}

Religion

There are numerous Christian churches and ministries in Embu, including the Seventh Day Adventist, East African Pentecostal Churches Dallas, Gakwegori, Kigumo, Kanginga, Kathari, Karurumo, Kiritiri among others Anglican Church of Kenya's St. Paul's Cathedral, the Presbyterian Church of East Africa's Blue Valley, PCEA, the national independent church of Africa, the African independent Pentecostal church of Africa, Majimbo, Kangaru Kathangariri, Kibugu, Kavutiri, Ndunduri, Itabua, Gichera, Makengi, Kirigiri and the Roman Catholic Diocese of Embu's Sts. Peter and Paul Cathedral. The latter cathedral has a unique African-inspired design and is among the largest in Africa. Missions for Christ Ministries office and churches in Embu county. Churches under Missions for Christ Ministries includes Kevote Family Church, Embu town Family Church, Runyenjes Family Church, Kamugere Family Church and Kianjokoma Family Church. The national Independent church of Africa is located at Gakwegwori (Mwamba Imara), Kianjokoma, Kiriari, Kithunguriri, Kamugere, Mukuuri, Keria, Kibugu, and Kavutiri.

Another Protestant church, the first encountered, on entering Embu from Kirinyaga county is that of the Kenya Assemblies of God (KAG). It is better known as the Eastern Gate assembly as it is also the first church encountered on crossing into Eastern Province from all the Provinces except North Eastern.

Family Worship Church Inc is a Protestant Christian church founded in the early 1970s. It has the headquarters at Nembure and branches in Manyatta, Kithimu, Kiandundu, Gaikiro, Makengi and is in the process of starting a branch in Embu town.

Electoral subdivisions

Embu forms a municipality that has seven wards (Blue Valley, Itabua, Kamiu, Kangaru, Majengo, Matakari and Njukiri). All of them belong to Manyatta Constituency, which has a total of eleven wards. The remaining four are located within Embu County Council, the rural council of Embu.

Notable residents

University education

References

References

  1. "2019 Kenya Population and Housing Census Volume II: Distribution of Population by Administrative Units (Table 2.5: Distribution of Population by Urban Centres, Sex* and County, p. 241)". Kenya National Bureau of Statistics.
  2. "Embu’s wobbling growth".
  3. "County Overview {{!}} EMBU".
  4. Electoral Commission of Kenya: [http://www.eck.or.ke/downloads/pollingcentres.pdf ''Registration centres by electoral area and constituency''] {{webarchive. link. (June 28, 2007)

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