Tharaka-Nithi County is one of the 47 counties of Kenya located in Kenya's former Eastern Province. The county has an area of 2609 km² and as of the 2019 census a population of 393,177. Tharaka-Nithi County is the home to the Chuka, Muthambi, Mwimbi and Tharaka sections of the Ameru community. The people of Tharaka-Nithi County are now predominantly Christian with the Catholics, the Presbyterian, and the Methodists being the predominant religious communities. The county consists of three constituencies: 60. Maara, 61. Chuka/Igambang'ombe, 62. Tharaka.
History
In 1992 Meru District, sometimes called "Greater Meru" was broken up into four pieces, Meru Central, Meru North, Meru South and Tharaka; with Meru South combined with Tharaka into a new Tharaka-Nithi District. In 1998, the Tharaka Nithi District was split into two districts, Nithi and Tharaka, but the Kenya Supreme Court decision of 2009 declared that split unconstitutional. Subsequently, under the revised constitution of 2010, Tharaka-Nithi became a county.
County Headquarters
The county headquarters is at Kathwana, a site that is at the intersection of the three constituencies when the deputy president H.e William Ruto referred to Chuka town as the county headquarter in an official tour of the county. This was despite the president having earlier assented to a bill earmarking all county headquarters and gazetted.
Politics
Tharaka Nithi County presently has 3 constituencies in the 11th Parliament of the Republic of Kenya. They are Maara Constitutuency - Represented by Hon. Japheth Kareke Mbiuki Chuka-Igambang'ombe Constituency - Represented by Hon. patrick munene Tharaka Constituency - Represented by Hon. george Gitonga Murugara The incumbent Senator is Hon. Prof. Kindiki A. Kithure while the County member of parliament is Hon. Beatrice Nkatha.
Education
The county has many secondary schools, it has two national schools; Chogoria Girls High School and Ikuu Boys. The other county schools are: Chuka boys, Chogoria Boys, Muthambi Girls, Kajiunduthi High School and some district schools such as Kirege High School, Magumoni Girls, Mukuuni Boys, Ndagani secondary among others. The county was also the first in the former eastern province to host a public chartered university – Chuka University.
Academics
While holders of PhD degree were few or none 2 decades ago, in the last 10 years Tharaka-Nithi County has had a major development in terms of PhD holders with notable figures as Dr. Mzalendo Kibunjia, Prof Kithure Kindiki, Prof Erastus Njoka and, Prof Micheni J. Ntiba. Notably some are serving as Heads of Government Institutions, VCs, PS's and University Principals among others.
Economy
Like Other Counties surrounding Mount Kenya, the primary economic activities in Tharaka-Nithi County are tea and coffee planting, subsistence dairy farming, as well as keeping of other livestock such as goats and sheep.
Vision
to be a competitive, dynamic, environmentally-friendly county for quality education advancement and investment, economically stable and enrichment of innovation and creativity in all fields.
Prominent personalities
Bernard Mate - The County's most notable "son". He was an active politician in Kenya's independence struggle, who resided in Majira, near Chogoria. He represented Central in the LegCo of 1957, as well as being a member of parliament in the 1960s and 1970s.
