Embu, Kenya

History

Embu town is a major trading centre in Eastern Kenya. It was built by the British colonial authorities using forced labor after a military campaign in 1907 subjugated the people living in the area. During the colonial period, the Rupengazi River was stocked with trout so that the British settlers could take vacations at the Izaak Walton Inn (still open as a hotel) and go fishing in the river. Only Europeans could fish -- Africans were prohibited by law from fishing for trout. Embu was also known for Kangarũ Secondary School, a well-respected high school during the 1950s and beyond.

During the Emergency, many young Embu people participated as members of the Land and Freedom Army. Thousands were detained in the infamous concentration camps for up to five years. If the detainees had land and property, both were confiscated and sold off by the colonial government. Fortified villages surrounded by deep ditches filled with sharpened sticks were created, where the families left behind -- women, children and elderly people -- were forced from their land and housed in rudimentary buildings for the remainder of the Emergency. Together with an outbreak of Rinderpest at about the same time, the Emergency devastated the economic basis for many families in Embu -- cattle. After Kenya's independence in 1963, the Embu people came to rely more on cash crops such as coffee and tea for income, supported by legions of newly-hired African employees trained by the Ministry of Agriculture. Embu remains one of the richest agricultural regions in Kenya, still providing high quality coffee and tea within Kenya and for export to the world.

For a long time, it was the main economic center for the Embu and Mbeere 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 (16 mi) east of Embu town was made its headquarters.

Geography

Embu has an elevation of 1,350 metres (4,429 ft), and is itself located on the foothills of Mount Kenya. For this reason, the Embu people (Aembu) call Embu town Kĩrĩmarĩ, which means 'at the mountain.' It is the former provincial headquarters of the Eastern province, and now the Embu County Headquarters, hosting major public provincial offices including Embu Provincial General Hospital.

The area around Embu Town has conducive altitude for endurance training by athletes. As such, Kenyan athletes utilise the altitude and climate advantage of Embu for training, with specialised facilities at Kigari Teachers' Training College, about 15 km (9.3 mi) outside Embu Town.

The town of Embu, Kenya is known for its jacaranda trees that literally turn the municipality into a purple shower when in bloom. The Jacaranda trees usually bloom in October–November each year, depending on the rainfall.

The town of Embu 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 (6 mi) in size. Embu has a small airstrip (1 km (0.62 mi) long), which is 7.1 km (4.4 mi) southeast of the heart of the town.

Way past Kigari Teachers College approximately 25 km from Embu Town is a small town known as Kianjokoma that is a centre for other shopping centres like Miandari, Kathande, Kiriari, Irangi and others; This town is fast growing due to the situated Tea factory - Mungania Tea Factory and now a County Hospital as well as a police line in the area. Other small towns in Embu are Kibugu, Karurumo, Rukuriri, Mukuuri, Kathageri, Kanja and Manyatta among others.

Religion

There are numerous Christian churches and ministries in Embu, including the Seventh Day Adventist (SDA), Anglican Church of Kenya's St. Paul's Cathedral, the Presbyterian Church of East Africa's Blue Valley. P.C.E.A,the national independent church of Africa(N.I.C.A), the African independent Pentecostal church of Africa (A.I.P.C.A) majimbo,kangaru kathangariri,kibugu, kavutiri,ndunduri,itabua,gichera,makengi,kirigiri among many others 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 located at gakwegwori(MWAMBA IMARA)kianjokoma,kiriari, kithunguriri,kamugere, Mukuuri, keria,kibugu,kavutiri...

Another Protestant church, the first encountered, on entering Embu from Kirinyaga county is that of the Kenya Assemblies of God (K.A.G), 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 early 70s. It has continued to impact the spiritual lives of Christians through the right biblical teachings. It has the headquarters at Nembure and branches in Manyatta, Kithimu, Kiandundu, Gaikiro, Makengi and focused to start 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