Geography, Land-Use, Highlights, Population, Roads, Airports, Climate & National Monuments in Muranga County
Geography of Muranga County
The topography and geology of Muranga County is both an asset and liability to its development. The highest areas, west, form the rain catchment from where most of rivers draining it originate. The terrain is highly dissected, creating the menace of landslides and gulley erosion. These numerous streams and valleys necessitate the construction of a great many bridges, to connect one ridge to the other, which is difficult and expensive. Still, the rich volcanic soils in the county are generally fertile and important for agriculture, particularly for tea growing. The highest areas to the west have dissected topography and are drained by several rivers. All flow from the Aberdare Range to the west, south eastward bound, to join Tana River.
Land Use in Muranga County
Muranga has a wide range of land use, thanks to the disparate agro-cological zones. The forests occupy the highest grounds. Cash crops immediately follow the forests. Horticultural and subsistence crops are found in the mid and lower zones. The major cash crops in Muranga County include tea, coffee, avocado, mangoes and macadamia. Horticultural crops include tomatoes, kales, spinach and French beans; while subsistence crops include maize, bananas, potatoes and cassava. Population pressure has engendered settlements along the steep slopes of Aberdares, laid with much softer soils and cliffs that often succumb to gravity when the soil becomes too wet to hold together resulting-in repeated landslides.
Highlights in Muranga County
Muranga County has no National Game Parks or National Reserves. However, there’s potential for harnessing the existing cultural and historical sites. Some of the big attractions in Muranga are Mukurwe wa Nyagathanga and Tuthu Church. These have the potential to attract large number of travellers, on account of their unrepeatable history, if good marketing and upgrading of access roads is done.
Population in Muranga County
According to the 2009 Population and Housing Census, Muranga recorded a population of 936,228 persons consisted of 451,751 males and 484,477 females, with an annual growth rate of just 0.4% – projected to rise to 947,530 in 2012; 958,969 in 2015 and 966,672 persons in 2017. Kandara constituency has the highest population density of 672 persons / km2, closely followed by Kigumo constituency with 517 persons / km2. The third is Kangema, with a population density of 449 persons / km2, which is followed by Kiharu constituency with 447 persons/ Km2. Mathioya has the lowest population density of 254 persons / km2 – following both Gatanga and Maragwa with 276 and 282 persons / km2.
Airports in Muranga County
There is no established air strip in the county. However, plans are underway to construct an airstrip at Kambirwa in Kiharu constituency. It is served by JKIA.
Roads in Muranga County
Murang’a County has 2,934 km of road. Of these 387.5 km are bituminized, 1313 km are gravelled and 1234 km are earth surface. Most roads are sinuous.
Climate in Muranga County
Muranga has two rainfall seasons: long rains in March-May and short rains in October-November. The highest amount of rainfall is recorded in the month of April with reliability of rainfall during this month being very high. The highest potential areas receive an average annual rainfall of between 1400 mm and 1600 mm. Low potential receive rainfall less than 900 mm per annum. Rainfall in high and medium potential areas is reliable and well distributed throughout the year.
The same is not adequate, for cultivation, in the low potential areas rainfall is unevenly distributed and unsuitable for cash crop production. Temperatures vary with altitude. In the eastern lower areas, maximum annual temperatures range between 26°C and 30°C while the minimum annual temperature range between 14°C and 18°C. In the western area, which is mostly high altitudes, the minimum temperatures can be as low as 6°C, but at no time rising over 30°C year-round.
National Monuments in Muranga County
- Mukurwe wa Nyagathanga
- Fort Hall
Murang’a County is a rich agricultural and cultural hub, known for its historical significance, beautiful landscapes, and important role in Kenya’s tea and coffee industries. The scenic hillscapes and cultural heritage makes Murang’a County a fascinating destination for visitors interested in nature, history, and agriculture.
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40 Destinations in Muranga County, arranged as one would visit these - south, north, west then east - with aid of narratives, images, strip maps and distance chart:
Gatura Greens Purple Tea Farm Tours, Kimakia Tea Cottage, Kimakia Falls, Kanunga Falls, Ndakaini Dam, Ndakaini Dam Marathon, Muchiri's Resort, Aberdare Forest, Elephant Hill, Aberdare Bongo Ecolodge, Ranges View Lodge, Manguyo Falls, Mathioya River, Kenya Fly Fishers (Southern Camp), Aberdare Cottages and Fishing Lodge, Mathioya River Lodge, Karuri Gakure Grave Site, Tuthu Catholic Church, Mukurwe Wa Gathanga, Karia Ka Mbari Ya Ngware, Wangu Wa Makeri Shrine, C70 Gacharage-Kangema Road, Maragua Dam, Maragua Falls, Old A2 Route, Muranga town, Kakuzi Boran Barn, Makuyu Golf Club, Makuyu Ridge, Eco Farmhouse, Muranga Gorges, Mathioya Dam, Muranga (St. James & All Martyrs) Church, Stanley’s Haven, Sagana Getaway Retreat, Tetura Sagana Camp, Laibon Gardens & Campsite, Jangwani Camp
Know More About Muranga County: Its Geography, Land-Use, Highlights, Population, Roads - including strip maps, Airports, Climate & National Monuments
Maximum temperatures ranges between 26°C and 30°C, while the minimum ranges between 14°C and 18°C. In the western area, which is mostly high altitudes, the minimum temperatures can be as low as 6°C in July.
The topography and geology of Muranga is more or less sloping westerly towards the long Aberdare Range, the rain catchment from where most of rivers draining it originate. All these rivers flow south-eastward bound, to join Tana.