Limuru is a municipality in Kiambu County, located on the eastern edge of the Great Rift Valley, approximately 30 kilometers northwest of Nairobi City. Covering an area of 285.1 km², Limuru has a population of 159,315 according to the 2019 census.
Limuru is a significant hub for economic activities, particularly in tea production and processing. The town is home to major tea factories like Karirana Tea Estates and Mabroukie Teas Estates, which are situated on the outskirts of the town. The tea plantations established around Limuru from 1903 onwards laid the foundation for Kenya’s thriving tea industry. In addition to its tea industry, Limuru hosts the BATA shoe company, the largest shoe factory in East and Central Africa. In recent years, the town has attracted more businesses, including Procter and Allan, Polypipes, and Fruit ‘n’ Juice, contributing to its growing industrial base.
Kikuyu is a municipality in Kiambu County, that originated as a colonial missionary settlement and is named after the Kĩkũyũ people, the area’s predominant ethnic group. The town is Located about 20 kilometers northwest of Nairobi, it is accessible within a 20-minute drive from Nairobi via multiple routes, including a dual carriage road, and has a railway station on the Mombasa–Malaba Railway Line.
According to the 2019 census, Kikuyu has a population of 323,881 and spans an area of 172.9 square kilometers. The town’s fertile soils and favorable geology make it ideal for livestock and crop farming, the main economic activities. The recent completion of the Southern Bypass, connecting Mombasa to Nairobi through Kikuyu, enhances the town’s growth potential as the sole urban center along this important route.
Karuri Municipality, located in Kiambu County, is a town with historical significance and modern growth. Positioned about 20 km north of Nairobi, it is bordered by Nairobi to the south, Kikuyu to the west, Limuru to the north, and Kiambu to the east. Covering an area of 46 km², Karuri is home to a population of 194,342 as per the 2019 census.
Historically, the main town of Karuri was established as a significant meeting center during the pre-colonial era, where Kikuyu paramount chiefs would gather for important deliberations. The town’s name honors Principal Chief Karuri Wa Gakure, who would travel from Tuthu on the slopes of the Aberdare Range to meet with other influential leaders like Kinyanjui Gathirimu. This historical legacy continues to shape the identity of Karuri Municipality today.
Juja, a municipality in Kiambu County, Kenya, is situated about 30 kilometers north of Nairobi, nestled between Thika and Ruiru. Under the Nairobi Metropolitan Authority as envisioned in Vision 2030, it is developing into an important industrial and educational hub.
Juja’s history dates back to around 1900 when Lord William Northrop Macmillan arrived in Nairobi with two West African statues named Ju and Ja. Believing these statues brought him good fortune, Macmillan settled along the Thika road, purchasing about 19,000 acres—far exceeding the legal limit of 5,000 acres—and naming his estate Ju-Ja Farm. However, the area soon gained a reputation for superstition, leading locals to consider it cursed. To dispel these fears, Macmillan’s wife buried the idols in Ndarugu Valley near Thika Town, and the name Juja gradually replaced the original name, Weru wa Ndarugu.
Today, Juja is a Municipality, which comprises five wards: Juja, Murera, Theta, Kalimoni, and Witithie. The Municipality is home to Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) and hosts various industries, including Pulp and Paper (which recycles brown paper), Star Plastics (producing water drums and plastic products), Safari Stationers (stationery products), and Hydro Aluminum (aluminum profiles). Key landmarks include Juja City Mall, Juja Preparatory School, Kalimoni Primary School, Mang’u High School, and a segment of the Thika Superhighway.
Ruiru Municipality, located approximately 20 kilometers northeast of Nairobi’s central business district, spans an area of 201.1 square kilometers. According to the 2019 census report, it has a population of 490,120.
Ruiru is a key industrial hub with several major factories, including Devki Steel Mills, Super Foam Limited, Spinners & Spinners Garment Factory, Ruiru Mabati Factory, and Ruiru Feeds Limited, among others. Additionally, Tatu Industrial City Park within Ruiru hosts numerous factories such as BIDCO, Copier, Dormans, Davis & Shirtliff Group, Tianlong, and Dr. Mattress. As a dormitory town for Nairobi, Ruiru is well-connected to the capital by both rail and road networks, facilitating commuter access and industrial transport.
Kiambu Municipality is a lively town in Kiambu County, Kenya, and is part of the Nairobi Metropolitan Region. Covering an area of 98.3 square kilometers, Kiambu had an urban population of 145,903 as per the 2019 census. As the capital of Kiambu County, the town is strategically located on Nairobi’s northern edge and borders key towns, including Ruiru, Gatundu, Limuru, and Kabete, reinforcing its role as a central hub within the region.
Thika Municipality, located in Kiambu County, Kenya, is an industrial hub lying on the A2 road about 42 kilometers northeast of Nairobi, near the confluence of the Thika and Chania Rivers. With a population of 279,429 (as of the 2019 census), Thika is experiencing rapid growth, in line with the greater Nairobi area’s expansion. The town is known for its scenic attractions, including Chania Falls, Fourteen Falls on the Athi River, and Thika Falls, while Ol Donyo Sabuk National Park lies to the southeast. Thika also has a railway station, serving both passenger and cargo trains.
Thika’s economy is primarily driven by agricultural processing, with significant production in horticulture and pineapples exported mostly to Europe, coffee to the United States and Europe, cooking oils for Kenyan and East African markets, and animal feed processing. Other prominent industries include textiles macadamia nuts, wheat, tannery, motor vehicle assembly, cigarette manufacturing, bakeries, packaging, and industrial chemicals. The town hosts approximately 100 small-scale industries and around 50 major factories.
Additionally, Thika’s service sector is well-established, with multiple educational and financial institutions, including three universities, numerous middle-level colleges, and hundreds of secondary and primary schools. The town is externally connected by an eight-lane superhighway, highways linking to Garissa in northeast Kenya and the central highlands, and a railway line, with plans for a passenger light rail to Nairobi.
