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.
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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 [1]. 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. One can buy second hand clothes mutumba in the open air market, situated differently from the market marikiti.
Machakos has a number of financial institutions such a Barclays, Equity, Standard chartered, K-rep, Co-operative and Kenya commercial banks at the CBD. It also has the larger administrative offices in lower Ukambani.
Machakos town also has good road infrastructure and town planning. it also has a well planned bus termini at the heart of the town. 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.
Machakos has a beautiful hilly scenery that is perfect for camping and hiking. this consists of tricky terrain that would challenge any camper.It is also the home town of some of the worlds most beautiful sculptures made in Wamunyu. Kaloleni near Ngelani, is famous for "water flowing against gravity". It is located on Kituluni Hill, 12 east of Machakos town [2].
Culture and sports
Major spots include the Machakos Sports Club spread over a large lush area including a 9-hole golf course. There is the Kenyatta stadium that also has the machakos social hall. this is the main sports center in the district. Garden hotel is the biggest hotel in the town but one can get a nice breakfast or lunch at T-Tot hotel or a drink at either ikuuni, bulls, buddies or new boma. Other hotels and Guest houses are lysak haven park, shanbad house or le technish.
Education
Primary schools in Machakos include Machakos Primary, St. Mary's Boys and girls, Muthini Primary, Township Muslim Primary School, St. Teresas primary, Machakos academy, one hill academy premese academy, lukenya academy, makutano academy, Mumbuni primary, baptist primary, ABC girls academy and Katoloni. High schools include Machakos Girls, Machakos School, St. Monica, St. Valentine girls, springvale boys 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 copperbelt college, Century Park College and Scott Theological University. It is also home to computer for schools, Kenya.
Century Park College is located at the far end of Makueni Road in Machakos and offers an extensive Early Childhood Education and Development, Information Technology, P1 Primary School Teacher, Catering and Hospitality, Business Management, Accounting, Guidance and Counseling, and Business Administration programs, including short-term management courses. CPC offers a cyber cafe and instruction from an illustrious and multicultural faculty, which currently includes two American teachers.
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 handicapped have gone a long way in providing education for these special cildren.
References
Coordinates: 1°31′S 37°16′E / 1.517°S 37.267°E
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