By
The Mountain Journal Reporters in Laikipia
Nanyuki
celebrate 100 years since it gained township status
from the British administrators.
On this day( November 24, 1920), British
Governor Edward Northey declared Nanyuki in Kenya Colony a township, as the
whites hurriedly settled along the banks of rivers Likii and Nanyuki.
The outskirts of town are famous for farms,
ranches, game parks, and wildlife conservancies that earn the investors millions
of shillings monthly.
The town is a tourist destination as it
home for climbing Mt Kenya and a gateway to Northern Kenya.
As the residents led by the Nanyuki branch of the
Kenya National Chambers of Commerce and Industry has organized a gala
breakfast and Laikipia Business Award, as part of the celebration.
The celebration involves several activities
among them tree planting along the river banks, and will end on December 12.
The late Mayor Kiama Ruheni who guided the growth of Nanyuki town
The residents led by Governor Ndiritu Muriithi
appreciate the gesture by President Uhuru Kenyatta, through the revival of Kenya
Railway Service between Nanyuki and Nairobi after two-decade
of closure.
Transport and Infrastructure Cabinet Secretary
James Macharia was behind the scene implementing the rehabilitation of the
Nanyuki Nairobi railway line.
Chamber activity
In
the past one month, the chamber through its secretary David Ngugi has been
working on the logistics to facilitate the centenary celebrations, Ngugi added.
The town has seen major expos held The Realtors that has done three editions, the
fourth missed due to Covid 19.
In the expos trade fairs, Laikipia County has
been marketed.
“It
is only this year we have not been able to hold the annual exhibition due to
Covid 19 protocols,” said Ngugi adding that Chamber National Chairman Richard Ngatia
will attend the celebrations.
Laikipia
County Trade executive Nicholas Biwott said Nanyuki is a prime investment followed by major infrastructural
development by the national government estimated at millions of shillings.
The
county government has moved to light the streets for a 24-hour economy to match
with the status of the historical town.
“In addition the national government
has revived the railway and improvement and expansion of Nanyuki airstrip is a
testimony that the town is growing” said Mr Biwott.
In 1907, foreign British
immigrants settled in Nanyuki, some of whose descendants still live in and
around the town.
Majengo remains historic as hundreds of those
who worked for the whites lived and more so women who followed the soldiers.
Nanyuki is currently the main airfield (Laikipia
Air Base) of the Kenya Air Force and British Army Training Unit Kenya (BATUK).
The British immigrants settle there during the
early days of colonial Kenya in 1907 and some of their descendants still live
in or around the town.
According to history, British Army officer Major
Digby Tatham Walter famed for carrying an umbrella into battle moved to Nanyuki
after the war and lived on his farm until his death in 1993.
During the native Kenyan Mau Mau rebellion
against foreign British rule, the late Digby raised a volunteer mounted police
force at his own expense and led them to suppress and oppress the Mau Mau
(Kenyans).
A photo of the historic Majengo area
Tens of former British soldiers and white administrators have retreated to
Nanyuki for their retirement.
In the national population census of 2009, the town had 49,233 residents, which grew to 523,735 according to the 2019 national population
census, with most members earning money through trade.
Most of the shops were owned by Indians, who
still form a sizable part of the population.
Climbing Mt Kenya
The climbers and backpackers visit Nanyuki
on their way to or from the mountain along the Sirimon and Burguret routes, and
many other tourists pass through the town.
There are tens of tourist class hotels
which Mount Kenya Safari Club, Sportsman’s Arms Hotel, Sport’s Club, Le
Rustique, Kongoni Camp, Mount Kenya Paradise Hotel, Joskaki Hotel among others.
The oldest restaurant in town is The Marina that closed some years ago.
Several years ago, a restaurant was opened south
of Nanyuki built inside a huge tree. Named “Trout Tree Restaurant” its main
attraction is obviously trout prepared in various ways.
Another notable restaurant is
“Barneys” located at the historical Nanyuki Airfield, once the
location of the No. 1340 Flight RAF, which flew Harvards during the Mau Mau war uprising.
One of the oldest white shop
Nanyuki Airfield lies 6.5 km south of the town
along the highway to Nairobi and is served by light aircraft.
There are regular flights operated by
Nanyuki-based Tropic Air, Air Kenya, and Safari Link which ferry hundreds of
businessmen and tourists.
Water and Environment
Nanyuki Water and sewerage Company (Nawasco) has
the cleanest water in Kenya because the source originates on Mt. Kenya.
The
entire water system is gravity fed, from the supply to the sewer system.
Education
Academic institutions are Nanyuki High School,
Braeburn International School Nanyuki, Mary Immaculate Primary School,
Brickwoods School, Nanyuki, Ndururi, Thingithu, Muslim, and DEB primary schools.
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