Murang'a County
Murang'a County is one of the counties of Kenya's former Central Province. Its largest town and capital is Murang'a, formerly referred to as Fort Hall during the colonial era. It is inhabited mainly by and is considered the home of the Gikuyu, the largest ethnic group in Kenya. The county has a population of 1,056,640 (2019 census). History. When missionaries first came to Kenya, they found the Coast Region already inhabited by Portuguese, who had taken the coast, strategic for trade, from Arab powers in the 16th century. The missionaries ventured into Kenya's rugged interior and  Murang'a was one of the first places they settled. When the British set up the East African Protectorate in 1895, their first administrative post (Fort Smith) was located in Murang'a. One of the main highlights of Murang'a's history, however, is the Mau Mau uprising that was led by the Agikuyu community who consider Murang'a their ancestral origin. Murang'a is thus considered, at least by some, the birthplace of the Kenyan independence movement. Missionaries had initially been welcomed by Karuri Wagakure who was the chief of Tuthu. They set up the first mission church in Kenya at Murang'a. Murang'a is  also the source of Rivers Maragua, which originates from the heart of the Aberdare Range, Mathioya, Kayahwe, Irati and Muriurio among others. Additionally, Murang'a is known for its fertile farming soil and good climate. Food crops such as maize, beans, sweet potatoes, arrow roots, pumpkins and bananas are grown in the region. Tea and coffee are the County's main cash crops. County Government. The Constitution of Kenya (2010) created 47 regional governments with the formerly larger Murang'a district as a county. The county government is composed of an executive branch and an assembly. Executive. The executive arm is headed  by a governor, a position currently held by Hon. Mwangi wa Iria. He is deputised by Hon. Maina Kamau. The governor is assisted by a team of ministerial members referred to as County Executive Committee (CEC), which has ten other members. The individuals and their portfolios include County Assembly. Murang’a County Assembly is located in Murang’a town along Kiria-ini Road. The Assembly is housed in the building formerly occupied by the Municipal Council of Murang’a. Murang’a County has 35 MCAs, a speaker and 16 nominated members. The current speaker of the assembly is Hon.Leonard Nduati, deputized by Hon . Moses Gachui. The Assembly is administratively managed by Clerk to the Assembly, a post currently occupied by Peter Ndegwa Mbue. The assembly's Majority Leader is Hon. Peter Irungu Kihungi. Learning Institutions. Currently, there is only one public university in the county, known as Murang’a University of Technology (MUT). MUT was established in September 2011 via Murang’a University College order legal notice No. 129 of September 2011 as a constituent College of Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology. MUT is the successor of Murang’a University College and Murang'a College of Technology. The University currently operates under the provision of  the Universities Act 2012 CAP 210 B of the laws of Kenya. The University is located 1.5 km from Murang'a town, 85 km North East of Nairobi, 70 km South East of Nyeri and 50 km South West of Embu. Another public institution is the Michuki Technical Training Institute near Karugia Shopping Centre. County subdivisions. The county has seven constituencies: The county has several towns: Central Kenya Region. Wealth/Poverty Level. Cash crops in Murang'a county: