Gilgil

The town of Gilgil, Kenya is north of Nairobi, between Naivasha and Nakuru (click map to enlarge)

Gilgil, Kenya is a town in the Rift Valley Province of Kenya. The town is located between Naivasha and Nakuru and along the Nairobi - Nakuru highway. Gilgil has a population of 18,805 (according to the 1999 census) [2]. Gilgil is also the center of the Gilgil division in Nakuru District.

History

During the 1920s - 1940s, some members of the Happy Valley set lived in Gilgil. In the 1940s it also contained a British internment camp for Irgun and Lehi members.^[1]

Economy

Agriculture is the main local industry while Gilgil Telecommunications Industries was a notable employer but is now closed down as it was sold by the government. There are a few industries within the outskirts of the town, namely the Gilgil Diatomite Industries which is located further to the west along the Gilgil Nakuru main road, the industry mines diatomite which is used for various industrial purposes. The other industry is the Ndume Farm Machineries, which manufactures farm equipment;the industry is famous for its maize milling machines and ploughs.

Military

A main employer in the town remains the Ministry of defense as the town hosts two major barracks, the Gilgil barracks located about 2 km on the old Nakuru road and the Kenyatta Barracks which is also located about 2 km along the main Gilgil-Nyahururu road. The latter barracks, also known as Second Brigade barracks are located in Langa Langa estate and are the headquarter Gilgil residents in the line of fire cry out for helps of Kenya Army’s Western Command ^[2]

Maps

• [3]

Statistics

• Elevation = 2,626 meters above sea level
• Population = 21,081

See also

• Railway stations in Kenya
• Nyeri, Kenya - another town from colonial times.
• Alice de Janzé - lived in Gilgil until 1941.

References