Machakos: Everything You Need to Know About the Place, at a Glance

Machakos is one of the 47 counties in Kenya. Machakos also happens to be one of the 3 counties that border Nairobi, the other two being Kajiado and Kiambu.

As of the 2009 census, Machakos county population stood at 1.099 million.

Machakos is divided into 8 constituencies, namely: Machakos Town constituency, Mavoko constituency, Matungulu constituency, Kathiani constituency, Mwala constituency, Masinga constituency, Kangundo constituency and Yatta constituency. As of  August 2015, the MPs for these constituencies are: Dr. Victor Munyaka (Machakos Town), Patrick Makau King’ola (Mavoko), Stephen Mule (Matungulu), Robert Mbui (Kathiani), Engineer Vincent Musyoka (Mwala), Itwiku Mbai (Masinga), Katatha Maweu (Kangundo), and Francis Mwangangi (Yatta).

As of August 2015, Machakos county governor is Dr Alfred Mutua, who was previously the government spokesman, and who is regarded as one of the rising stars in Kenyan politics. The deputy government for Machakos county is Benard Kiala. Besides the Machakos County executive, the other key organ in the Machakos County government is the Machakos County Assembly. As of August 2015, the Speaker to the Machakos County Assembly was Bernard Mung’ata, a prominent lawyer in Machakos Town.

Major towns in Machakos county include Machakos Town, Tala, Athi-river and Mlolongo. Other important centers within the county include Mitaboni, Kathiani, Mwala, Masinga, Matuu, Kangundo, Masii and Kyumbi (on the Mombasa Road Junction). There were also plans to establish a new city, to be known as Machakos City. 

Machakos is home to one of the country’s major hospitals (commonly referred to as level 5 hospitals). That is the Machakos Level 5 hospital. Other important hospitals in the county include Shalom Community Hospital in Athi-river, Kangundo District Hospital and Kathiani District Hospital. There are others, like the Catholic-run Bishop Urbanus Kioko Hospital in Machakos town, Shalom Hospital in Machakos town and so on.

Machakos is also home to one of the country’s fully fledged universities: namely the Machakos University. Before it got its charter, the university was referred to as Machakos University College. The university stands where Machakos Technical Training Institute stood. Daystar University, one of Kenya's key private universities, also has its main campus in Athiriver, within Machakos County. 

Further, Machakos is home to the Machakos Teachers College - one of Kenya's major government-run teachers training colleges.Machakos TTC is adjacent to Machakos School. Machakos School (commonly referred to as Machakos Boys), is one of Kenya’s National Schools, having been upgraded to national school status recently. Other well known schools in Machakos include Machakos Girls High Schools (which is one of the oldest schools in Ukambani), Mumbuni High Schools, Kangundo High School, Tala High School, Muthetheni High School, Carmel Girls at Mbiuni, Machakos Academy, Lukenya Schools, Star Sheikh Schools, St Valentines Schools in Machakos town… to name but just a few.

The Athiriver Export Processing Zone (Athiriver EPZ) one of Kenya’s key economic zones, is found in Machakos county, near the border between Machakos County and Kajiado county. Some time ago, plans were announced to turn it into Athiriver special economic zone. Machakos county is also home to the Kenya Meat Commission.

Machakos was instrumental in the Sudan Peace process, which ultimately led to the formation of the Republic of South Sudan. A key outcome of the peace process was the Machakos Protocol.

One of the fruits of county governments in Machakos has been the establishment of the Machakos People’s Park. A beautiful park by all accounts, it draws people from far and wide, especially during the weekends.

The arts scene is Machakos is quite rich. Machakos Town is the base for Machakos Town choir -- one of the most successful choirs in the 80s and early 90s. Secular Kamba musicians from Machakos include Ken Wa Maria (of Yatta Orchestra) and Vuusya Uungu (of Ndalani Band)…among others. Although Kativui is from Makueni county, he has his base in Machakos County, at Mlolongo. Other Kamba musicians like Alex Katombi (Kasau) from Kitui also have major fan bases in Machakos.

Areas with considerable middle-class populations in Machakos include Syokimau estate, Kenya-Israel estate in Machakos town, Katani area, Senior Staff and Site estates in Athiriver… to name but just a few.

Machakos hosts one of the world's most fascinating wonders: a spot where the law of gravity doesn't seem to apply, or at least, where the law of gravity seems to work in the opposite way. The spot is to be found at Kyamwilu, near Mutituni (within Machakos Town constituency). Some people refer to it as the Machakos miracle.Pour water while there, and it flows uphill, rather than downhill!