Introduction

10

Machakos County

INTRODUCTION

Machakos County has a strategic location in the southern-central area of Kenya and borders seven counties: Embu, Kajiado, Kiambu, Kitui, Makueni, Murang’a, and Nairobi counties. Machakos County covers a total area of 6,208 square kilometers, mostly on hills and small plateaus, and lies at an altitude of 1,800–2,100 meters above sea level (KNBS 2017). Machakos County’s administrative units include eight subcounties (Kangundo, Kathiani, Machakos, Masinga, Matungulu, Mavoko, Mwala, and Yatta), 22 divisions, 75 locations, and 239 sublocations. The county’s political units include eight constituencies, which are also the subcounties, and 40 wards. Machakos County was amalgamated in 2013 from two municipalities, Machakos and Mavoko, and three town councils, Kangundo, Masaku, and Matuu (map 10.1).

Machakos County had a population of 1.4 million in 2019, with an average population growth rate of 3.3 percent per annum and average population density of 235 people per square kilometer (KNBS 2019). Yatta subcounty had the highest density of 978 people per square kilometer while Kathiani had the lowest density of 116. The county also has a high population dependency ratio of 85 percent, which is above the national average (KNBS 2018).

Machakos County hosts Masinga Dam at the border of Machakos and Embu counties; it is a key national asset in the provision of water and electricity to Kenya. Masinga also hosts other downstream power plant turbines at Gitaru, Kamburu, Kiambere, and Kindaruma. Agricultural production and tourism are the main economic activities in Machakos County (World Bank 2018). Cash crops include maize, beans, and sorghum, while chicken, cattle, and goats are the most traded animals. Machakos County has 32 banks, mostly in Machakos and Athi River subcounties. The county has 5,614 wage employees, half of whom (2,800) are employed by the county government (Machakos County 2018b). The county has 16 primary schools, 7 high schools, 2 public universities (Machakos University College and South Eastern University), and 3 private universities.

The Constitution of 2010 sets decentralized functions of the counties, including agriculture, health, pollution control, cultural activities, transport, animal welfare, trade and development, county planning and development, preprimary education, village polytechnics, home craft centers and early childhood