Tharaka-Nithi County

Tharaka-Nithi County is one of the 47 counties of Kenya located in Kenya‘s former Eastern Province. The county has an area of 2609 km² and as of the 2019 census a population of 393,177.

Tharaka-Nithi County is the home to the Chuka, Muthambi, Mwimbi and Tharaka sections of the Ameru (Meru) community. It is also home to Dr. Gasheri Mugao Thuku, proprietor of the famous haircare brand called Sheth Naturals. The people of Tharaka-Nithi County are nowo predominantly Christian with the Catholics, the Presbyterian, and the Methodists being the predominant religious communities.

The county consists of three constituencies: 60. Maara, 61. Chuka/Igambang’ombe, 62. Tharaka.

History

In 1992 Meru District, sometimes called “Greater Meru” was broken up into four pieces, Meru Central, Meru North, Meru South and Tharaka; with Meru South (also known as Nithi District) combined with Tharaka into a new Tharaka-Nithi District. In 1998, the Tharaka Nithi District was split into two districts, Nithi and Tharaka, but the Kenya Supreme Court decision of 2009 declared that split unconstitutional.^[4] Subsequently, under the revised constitution of 2010, Tharaka-Nithi became a county.

County Headquarters

The county headquarters is at Kathwana, a site that is at the intersection of the three constituencies (Maara, Tharaka and Chuka/Igamba-ngo’mbe. The headquarters is on the Mate Road, a recently tarmacked road that runs through Ena, Ishiara, Ciakariga, Tunyai, to Meru and Nkubu. The location of the County headquarters was by consensus by all the communities of the County. If well planned it can turn out to be a very beautiful city. Before the decision to locate the headquarters at Kathwana was settled, there was a disagreement between leaders from the region. The disagreement has been persisting even as recent as last year(2016) when the deputy president H.e William Ruto referred to Chuka town as the county headquarter in an official tour of the county. This was despite the president having earlier assented to a bill earmarking all county headquarters and gazetted.

Politics

Tharaka Nithi County presently has 3 constituencies in the 11th Parliament of the Republic of Kenya. They are Maara Constitutuency – Represented by Hon. Japheth Kareke Mbiuki Chuka-Igambang’ombe Constituency – Represented by Hon. patrick munene Tharaka Constituency – Represented by Hon. george Gitonga Murugara

The incumbent Senator is Hon. Prof. Kindiki A. Kithure while the County member of parliament (Women Representative) is Hon. Beatrice Nkatha.

Education

The county has many secondary schools, it has two national schools; Chogoria Girls High School and Ikuu Boys. The other county schools are: Chuka boys, Chogoria Boys, Muthambi Girls, Kajiunduthi High School and some district schools such as Kirege High School, Magumoni Girls, Mukuuni Boys, Ndagani secondary among others. The county was also the first in the former eastern province to host a public chartered university – Chuka University.

List of Secondary Schools in Tharaka Nithi County

1. Chuka Boys High School – Boys Boarding – 19308301
2. Ndagani Secondary School – Mixed Boarding – 19308302
3. Kambandi Secondary School – Mixed Day & Boarding – 19308303
4. Chuka Girls’ Secondary School – Girls Boarding – 19308304
5. Kirege Secondary School – Mixed Day & Boarding – 19308305
6. Karamugi Secondary School – Girls Boarding – 19308306
7. Kiereni Secondary – Mixed Day & Boarding – 19308307
8. Ikawa Secondary School – Mixed Day & Boarding – 19308308
9. Makawani Day Secondary School – Mixed Day – 19308310
10. Kiang’ondu Secondary School – Mixed Day – 19308311
11. Kathigiririni Mixed Day Secondary School – Mixed Day – 19308313
12. Kibumbu day Mixed Secondary School – Mixed Day – 19308314
13. Kiunguni Day Secondary School – Mixed Day – 19308315
14. ACK Kaanwa Sec School – Mixed Day – 19308316
15. Kiamuchii Secondary School – Mixed Day – 19308317
16. St. Paul’s Njaina Secondary School – Mixed Day – 19308318
17. Kajuki Secondary School – Mixed Day & Boarding – 19308401
18. Kamwimbi Secondary School – Mixed Day & Boarding – 19308402
19. KAajiampau Mixed Secondary School – Mixed Day & Boarding – 19308403
20. Itugururu Secondary School – Mixed Day & Boarding – 19308404
21. M.C.K Kiangiri Sec Sch – Mixed Day & Boarding – 19308405
22. Kiaritha Mixed Day Secondary School – Mixed Day – 19308406
23. Ntumbara Secondary School – Mixed Day – 19308407
24. Makanyanga Secondary School – Mixed Day – 19308408
25. Ikuu Boys High School – Boys Boarding – 19308501
26. Mukuuni High School – Mixed Boarding – 19308502
27. Ikuu Girls Secondary School – Girls Boarding – 19308503
28. Njuri High School – Mixed Boarding – 19308504
29. Magumoni Girls – Girls Boarding – 19308505
30. Rubate Secondary School – Mixed Day – 19308506
31. Mpukoni Secondary School – Mixed Day – 19308507
32. Ndagoni Girls Secondary School – Girls Boarding – 19308509
33. Kiamuriuki Secondary School – Mixed Day – 19308510
34. Ibiriga Secondary School – Mixed Day – 19308511
35. Magenka Secondary School – Mixed Day & Boarding – 19308512
36. Magumoni Day Secondary School – Mixed Day – 19308513
37. Kanyuru Sec School – Mixed Day – 19308514
38. P.C.E.A Mutuguni Mixed Day Secondary School – Mixed Day – 19308515
39. Chief Petro Day Secondary School – Mixed Day – 9308516
40. Maabi Day Secondary School – Mixed Day – 19308517
41. Kangoro Day Mixed Secondary School – Mixed Day – 19308518
42. Ndagoni Mixed Secondary School – Mixed Day – 19308519
43. Tharaka Secondary School – Boys Boarding – 19313101
44. Gatunga Secondary School – Boys Boarding – 9313102
45. Nkondi Sec. School – Girls Boarding – 19313103
46. Marimant Girls High School – Girls Boarding – 19313104
47. Turima Mixed Day Secondary School – Mixed Day – 19313105
48. Kaanyaga Secondary School – Mixed Day – 19313106
49. Karocho Day Mixed Secondary School – Mixed Day – 19313108
50. MiomponiMixed Day and Boarding Secondary School – Mixed Day & Boarding – 19313109
51. Matakiri Mixed Day Secondary – Mixed Day – 19313110
52. Kaarani Day Secondary School – Mixed Day – 19313111
53. Materi Boys’ – Boys Boarding – 19313203
54. Chiakariga Girls Secondary School – Girls Boarding – 19313204
55. Tunyai Day Secondary School – Mixed Day – 19313205
56. Chiakariga Secondary School – Mixed Day – 19313206
57. Muthambi Girls High School – Girls Boarding – 19326101
58. Muthambi Boys Secondary School – Boys Boarding – 19326102
59. Kiini Secondary School – Mixed Day & Boarding – 19326103
60. Our Lady of Mercy Girls Sec School – Girls Boarding – 19326104
61. Kajiunduthi High School – Mixed Boarding – 19326105
62. Muraga Technical Secondary School – Mixed Boarding – 19326106
63. St. Augustine Ruguta Secondary School – Mixed Day & Boarding – 19326107
64. Mugona Girls Secondary School – Girls Day & Boarding – 19326108
65. ST. Bonventure Mumbuni Secondary School – Mixed Day & Boarding – 19326109
66. ACK Igangara Secondary School – Mixed Day & Boarding – 19326110
67. Gituja Mixed Day Secondary School – Mixed Day – 19326111
68. Itara Day Secondary School – Mixed Day – 19326112
69. Gituntu Day Secondary School – Mixed Day & Boarding – 19326113
70. Karigini Day Secondary School – Mixed Day – 19326114
71. Chogoria Boys High School – Boys Boarding – 19326201
72. Kiriaini Boys High School – Boys Boarding – 19326203
73. Chief Mbogori Girls Secondary School – Girls Boarding – 19326204
74. Thigaa Secondary School – Mixed Boarding – 19326205
75. Igwanjau Secondary School – Mixed Day & Boarding – 19326206
76. Iruma Girls Secondary School – Girls Boarding – 19326207
77. Kiuani Secondary School – Mixed Day & Boarding – 19326208
78. Ngeru Secondary School – Boys Day & Boarding – 19326209
79. Nturiri Boys’ Secondary School – Boys Day & Boarding – 19326210
80. Makuri Girls Secondary School – Girls Boarding – 19326211
81. Ngaita Girls Secondary School – Girls Day & Boarding – 19326212
82. Wiru Secondary School – Mixed Day – 19326214
83. Kieganguru Girls Secondary School – Girls Day & Boarding – 19326215
84. St Ann Girls Secondary School – Girls Day & Boarding – 19326216
85. Mutrindwa Mixed Day Sec School – Mixed Day – 19326217
86. Gianchunku Secondary School – Mixed Day – 19326218
87. Kimucia Secondary School – Mixed Day – 19326219
88. Munga Day Secondary School – Mixed Day – 19326221
89. Kieni Mixed Day Secondary School – Mixed Day – 19326222
90. Kalewa Secondary School – Mixed Day – 19326223
91. Kianjagi Mixed Secondary School – Mixed Day – 19326224
92. Iruma Mixed Day Secondary School – Mixed Day – 19326225
93. Igakiramba Mixed Day Secondary School – Mixed Day – 19326226
94. Maguma Mixed Day Secondary School – Mixed Day – 19326227
95. Kiamaogo Day Secondary School – Mixed Day – 19326228
96. Kiriani Mixed Day Secondary School – Mixed Day – 19326229
97. Ikumbo Day Secondary School – Mixed Day – 19326230
98. Mukui Day Secondary School – Mixed Day – 19326231
99. Kabui Secondary School – Mixed Day – 19326232
100. Gaciongo Secondary School – Mixed Day & Boarding – 19342101
101. Kamwathu Secondary School – Mixed Day – 19342103
102. Mukothima Mixed Day Secondary School – Mixed Day – 19342104
103. Kathangachini Mixed Day Secondary – Mixed Day – 19342105
104. Ntoroni Mixed Day Secondary School – Mixed Day – 19342106

Academics

While holders of PhD degree were few or none 2 decades ago, in the last 10 years Tharaka-Nithi County has had a major development in terms of PhD holders with notable figures as Dr. Mzalendo Kibunjia, Prof Kithure Kindiki, Prof Erastus Njoka and, Prof Micheni J. Ntiba. Notably some are serving as Heads of Government Institutions, VCs, PS’s and University Principals among others.

Economy

Like Other Counties surrounding Mount Kenya, the primary economic activities in Tharaka-Nithi County are tea and coffee planting, subsistence dairy farming, as well as keeping of other livestock such as goats and sheep.

Vision

to be a competitive, dynamic, environmentally-friendly county for quality education advancement and investment, economically stable and enrichment of innovation and creativity in all fields.

Prominent personalities

• Bernard Mate – The County’s most notable “son”. He was an active politician in Kenya’s independence struggle, who resided in Majira, near Chogoria. He represented Central in the LegCo of 1957, as well as being a member of parliament in the 1960s and 1970s.
• James Njeru Gituriandu – Former assistant minister in Jomo Kenyatta government and MP in both Kenyatta and Moi governments.
• Samuel Ragwa – First Governor of Tharaka Nithi County
• Muthomi Njuki – Second and Incumbent Governor
• Prof. Kindiki A. Kithure– Current Senator