Gatundu


Gatundu is a small town in Kiambu County of Kenya. It is known for the first Kenyan president Jomo Kenyatta who lived about three kilometres away from the town, as well as his son, Uhuru Kenyatta, now the 4th President of Kenya and former Member of Parliament representing Gatundu South Constituency.
The town is located on a hill surrounded by many farms and residences.

Demographics

Gatundu has an approximate population of 20,000 people who reside and work within and near the town.

Location

Gatundu town is located west of Thika about 29 Kilometers, road distance through Mang'u and north of Kiambu about 44 Kilometers, road distance through Ruiru. It is currently in Kiambu County. Back in 1960s-2007, Gatundu was in Kiambu District, which would later be elevated to Kiambu County and split into districts. Gatundu became one of the districts in Kiambu County. Gatundu town hosts the district's headquarters. Kenyatta Road connects the town to the newly constructed Thika Highway. The road is used to access Nairobi from Gatundu.
The town is located on a hill, which makes it difficult to expand.

Administration

Gatundu is the administrative headquarters of Gatundu and constituency. It also hosts the Gatundu sub- county offices, under the County Government of Kiambu which is led by Ferdinand Waititu who is the governor.
Gatundu sub-county has two constituencies: Gatundu North Constituency and Gatundu South Constituency. Gatundu South Constituency is represented by Moses Kuria as the Member of Parliament after Jossy Ngugi Nyumu died in office in May 2014. Moses Kuria was announced the area MP in August 2014 without a by-election after the only opponent, Kiarie Kamere stepped down.
Uhuru Muigai Kenyatta, the current president of Kenya, was the area MP for 2 terms: from 2002 to 2013.
Gatundu North Constituency is currently represented by Kigo Njenga as the Member of parliament.
Gatundu Law Courts are located near the Gatundu District hospital. Modern law courts were built after the old ones were consumed by fire. The law courts were officially opened in March 2014 by the then Kenya's Chief Justice Dr. Willy Mutunga.

People and religion

The Gatundu people on social media founded and registered a group to create oneness and self-reliance among the youth and the entire community. Qwetu Welfare Association aims at creating employment through development initiatives and charitable projects in Gatundu.
Gatundu belongs to rural highland north of capital Nairobi. Its native inhabitants are mainly the Kikuyu people, also called the Agikuyu. The town is also a home for many people from other ethnic groups in Kenya who are in the region for business purposes.
The people in this town are mostly Christians. Several churches are present, including
among others.

Economy

The main economic activity in Gatundu town is trade. Businessmen and businesswomen in this town are engaged in various businesses. A two storey modern market in the town attracts many buyers and sellers from the neighboring villages and towns. There is only one supermarket called Happy Supermarket and several general stores.
The neighboring villages are agriculturally productive and therefore feed the market with fresh agricultural commodities.

Financial institutions

Due to investments and businesses in the town, there are various banks, microfinace institutions and SACCO'S including:
  1. Equity Bank
  2. Family Bank
  3. KCB
  4. Co-operative Bank
  6. Tai SACCO
  7. Eekuria SACCO
  8. Unaitas SACCO

    Transport and communication

The local public service vans, minibuses and taxis play a major role in transport industry of this town. Vans transport passengers from the town to other towns including Nairobi city, Thika, Ruiru, Juja and Kamwangi towns. A big challenge is the road network. Except the roads connecting the town to Nairobi and Thika, all the other roads are dry weather roads, which makes it impassable during rainy seasons and difficult to connect to the highly productive villages.
Motorbikes also called "boda bodas" are common mode of transport in the town. Together with tuk tuks, they offer transport services within the town and the surrounding villages.
The area is covered well by the local mobile service providers in Kenya, namely safaricom, Orange and Airtel. Mobile phones are therefore the most common means of communication. Several cyber cafes also offer the town with internet services.
There is also Gatundu Post Office.

Academic institutions

The town does not have adequate institutions of higher learning. There is Gatundu Primary School, a public school. Private primary schools are many including:
  1. Happy Times
  2. Gloria Primary School
  3. Good Luck Primary school
  4. Harti Primary School

    Higher Institutions of Learning

The town lacks major institutions of higher learning like universities and colleges. However, Mama Ngina University College has been proposed in the region. Currently, there is Gatundu Institute of Business Studies.

Health institutions

Gatundu Level 4 Hospital serves almost all health needs of the people in this region.
On 13 August 2013, a Chinese-funded construction was launched to expand and elevate the Gatundu District Hospital to Gatundu Level IV Hospital. The 5300 square meter expansion included a modern medical wing with five-floors, four elevators, outpatient services, an emergency department, 12 ICU beds, 84 beds, medical laboratory, maternity unit, operating theater, wards, and several units of medical equipment, including CT scanners and X-ray scanners. The assistance by China was in response to a request for funding of about US$ 11 million made by President Uhuru Kenyatta in 2011. On 13 April 2016, President Uhuru Kenyatta officially opened the new wing of Gatundu Level 4 hospital.
St. Jude Nursing Home located at Gatundu-Juja road is a private hospital. Other private clinics are also established in the region including:
  1. Health Watch
  2. Uzima