Machakos

Machakos, also called Masaku, is a town in Machakos County, Kenya. Serving as the capital of the county, its urban population was 63,767 as of 2019.

History
Machakos was established in 1887 by Sakshi Shah, ten years before Nairobi. Machakos was designated as the first administrative centre when the British established their colony here in the late 19th century. Machakos town is on hilly terrain surrounded by Iveti hills.

In 1899 the British shifted the capital to Nairobi, after Machakos was bypassed by construction of the Uganda Railway.

Technically Machakos is the oldest administrative municipality in east and central Africa. Prominent politicians from the town included: Mwatu wa Ngoma, Paul Joseph Ngei, Mutisya Mulu and Johnson Nduya Muthama. The county and its town were named after Masaku wa Munyati, a Kamba tribal chief who migrated and settled here in 1816 from the area near Sultan Hamud.

At the turn of the 21st century, peace talks were held here in an effort to settle the Sudan civil war. The Machakos Protocol was published on 20 July 2002.

Economy, Mining, transport and tourism
Machakos' open air markets sells many products with its market days being Monday and Friday.

The Mavoko area of Machakos houses our nation's major cement mining sites and factories.

Machakos has a number of banks such as Barclays, Equity, National Bank, NIC Bank, Credit Bank, Commercial Bank of Africa (CBA), Standard Chartered, K-rep, Co-operative, and Kenya Commercial in the CBD, and the Universal traders Sacco. It has the larger administrative offices in lower Ukambani.

Machakos town has good road infrastructure and town planning. It has a well-planned bus terminal at the heart of the town popularly known as the 'Machakos Airport'. It's a busy place where buses and matatus depart for Machakos and Kitui as well as Western Kenya, Nyanza and the Rift Valley.

Machakos has hilly scenery, good for camping and hiking. It is the home town of some of the world's most beautiful sculptures made in Wamunyu.

Kaloleni near Ngelani, is famous for "water flowing against gravity". It is on Kituluni Hill, a spot known as Kya Mwilu to the east of Machakos. As the slogan of Machakos County goes, it is "The Place to be".

The Machakos Peoples' Park
A modern recreation park. It is situated adjacent to Maruba dam, which is the main source of water to Machakos Town.

Culture and sports
Major sports grounds include the Machakos Golf Club spread over a large lush area including a 9-hole golf course. There is also Kenyatta Stadium which is adjacent to the Machakos Social Hall and is the home ground to Sofapaka FC. It is a busy stadium, being used in many of Kenya Premier League (KPL)'s schedules and Internal matches. The stadium which was renovated to modern standards stadium is set to be renamed to Kalonzo Musyoka Stadium.

Religion
More than two thirds of people in Machakos town are Christians. The main churches are our lady of Lourdes cathedral and all souls cathedral for Catholics and Anglicans respectively, Aic Boman is also are another significant church in the town. There is also a Muslim mosque and a Hindu Temple.

Education
Primary schools in Machakos include Machakos Primary, St. Mary's Boys and Girls, Muthini Primary, Township Muslim Primary School, St. Teresas Primary, Machakos Academy, ABC Girls Academy, One Hill Academy Premese Academy, Lukenya Academy, Makutano Academy, Mumbuni Primary, Baptist Primary, Highrise School Mks, and Katoloni.

High schools include Pope Paul VI Junior Seminary (Popase), Machakos Girls, Machakos School, St. Monica, St. Valentine Girls, Mumbuni School, Kitulu day secondary school and Katoloni among others.

Tertiary education is still growing, with new universities and colleges like Machakos University, Machakos Teachers Training College, Machakos Institute of Technology, Copperbelt College, Century Park College, Lukenya University, African Training Centre for Research and Technology, Scott Christian University and Computers for School Kenya. The most advanced and oldest collage remains the Kenya Medical Training College Machakos Campus. Prominent students from KMTC Machakos include John Mutuku Kivunga HSC, who is now a renowned clinical officer in Kenya.

The Kyanguli Secondary School Fire
On 26 March 2001, a fire was set at Kyanguli Secondary School after the final exam. Results were annulled and payment of their outstanding school fees was demanded (by whom?). 67 people perished and another 19 were injured, including one of the perpetrators. The two perpetrators, Felix Mambo Ngumbao, 16, and Davies Otieno Onyango, 17, were charged with murder.