Machakos

Machakos is a town in Kenya, 64 kilometres southeast of Nairobi. It is the capital of the Machakos District in Eastern Province of Kenya. Machakos town is a major rural centre, and also a satellite town due to its proximity to Nairobi. Its population is rapidly growing and is 144,109 (as of 1999). People who live here are mostly the Akambas. Machakos is surrounded by hilly terrain, with a high number of family farms.

History

Machakos was established in 1889, ten years before Nairobi. Machakos was the first administrative centre for the British colony, but they moved the capital of Kenya to Nairobi in 1899 since Machakos by-passed the Uganda Railway that was under construction [ [http://www.greywall.demon.co.uk/rail/Kenya/nrm.html Nairobi Railway Museum ] ] . Town and the district were named after "Masaku", an Akamba chief.

Sudan-related peace talks were held in Machakos, resulting in the "Machakos Protocol" in July 20, 2002.

Economy, transport and tourism

Machakos open air market. Fruits, vegetables and other food stuffs like maize "mbemba", beans "mboso", etc are sold here. Major market days are Mondays and Fridays. Those who are financially disadvantaged can buy second hand clothes "mutumba" in the open air market, situated differently from the "marikiti".

There is a bus terminus in Nairobi popularly known as the "Machakos Airport". It's a busy place where Buses and Matatus depart for Machakos and Kitui.

A place in one of the surrounding hills is famous for "water flowing against gravity". It is located on Kituluni Hill, 12 east of Machakos town [ [http://www.book-of-thoth.com/article966.html The Book Of THoTH - Ghosts & Spirits - Weird goings on at Kituluni hill Kenya ] ] .

Culture and sports

Major spots include the Machakos Sports Club spread over a large lush area including a 9-hole golf course.

Education

Primary schools in Machakos include Machakos Primary, St. Mary's Boys and girls, Muthini Primary, Township Muslim Primary School and Katoloni. High schools include Machakos Girls, Machakos Boys, St. Monica, St. Valentine Rirls, Mumbuni High, Pope Paul VI Junior Seminary and Katoloni among others.

Tertiary education is still growing, with new colleges like Machakos Teachers Training college, Machakos Institute of Technology and Scott Theological University.

Machakos is one of the towns known to cater for the physically handicapped and impaired. Schools like the APDK for the physically handicapped, school for the deaf, school for the blind and the special unit for the mentally retarded have gone a long way in providing education for these disadvantaged folks.

References

* http://www.bluegecko.org/kenya/tribes/kamba/history2.htm