Kiambu

Kiambu is a county in the central region of Kenya, lying immediately north of Nairobi. It forms part of the Nairobi metropolitan area and encompasses both urban towns and rural highland landscapes. The county capital is Kiambu Town, with other major towns such as Thika, Ruiru, Limuru, Kikuyu, Juja and Githunguri.

Historically inhabited by the Kikuyu, the area became a prominent coffee-producing region during the colonial era. The highland climate and fertile soils supported large estates, later diversified into tea, horticulture and dairy farming. After Kenya’s independence, agriculture remained the backbone of the economy, with growth in services and small-scale manufacturing.

Today Kiambu's economy combines agriculture, manufacturing, and services. Horticulture and dairy farming are prominent, with fruits, vegetables, and flowers grown for domestic and export markets. The county is traversed by major roads, including the Thika Superhighway, which links Kiambu to Nairobi and eastern Kenya, and several rail lines and bus networks serve the urban centers.

The population is predominantly from the Kikuyu community, with Swahili and English widely used in education and government. The county hosts a mix of urban neighborhoods and rural settlements, and communities maintain rich cultural traditions and local markets.

Kiambu County was created in 2013 as part of Kenya’s devolved government system. It is governed by a county assembly and a governor, with sub-counties and wards providing local representation. The county works to address urban development, land use, and social services across its towns and rural areas.