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MACHAKOS COUNTY PROFILE
Machakos County, nicknamed ‘Macha,’ was the first capital city of Kenya and now, it is an administrative county in Kenya. Machakos has eight (8) constituencies including Machakos Town, Mavoko, Masinga, Yatta, Kangundo, Kathiani, Matungulu, and Mwala. Machakos Town is the administrative capital of the county. Machakos County borders Nairobi and Kiambu counties to the West, Embu to the North, Kitui to the East, Makueni to the South, Kajiado to the South West, and Murang’a and Kirinyaga to the North West. Machakos County stretches from latitudes 0º 45’ South to 1º 31’ South and longitudes 36° 45’ East to 37° 45’ East. The county has an altitude of 1000 - 1600 meters above sea level.
It has a Total Population of 1,098,584 people, 264,500 Households and covers an area of 6,208 SQ. KM. The Population density is 177 persons per SQ. KM. The Akamba people are the dominant habitants of Machakos County.
The local climate is semi arid with a hilly terrain covering most parts of the county. The beautiful hilly scenery is perfect for tourist related activities such as camping, hiking safaris, ecotourism and cultural tourism, dance and music festivals among many more. A number of establishments ensure the region has a well rounded hospitality industry.
Subsistence agriculture is practiced with Maize and drought-resistant crops such as sorghum and millet being grown. However, the County also plays host to the open air market concept with major market days where large amounts of produce are traded. Fruits, vegetables and other food stuffs like maize and beans are sold in these markets.
The county has been selected as the home to the upcoming Konza Technology City due to its proximity to Nairobi, good infrastructure and availability of massive chunks of land. Machakos County, Nairobi’s Eastern neighbour, is home to important industrial and residential centers like Athi River and Mlolongo. Sadly, the developments do not extend to most parts of the huge county, but that is about to change when a planned technology city development is finalized.
Down the road from the junction town of Makutano ya Chumvi will be what is billed as the continent’s first techie city. Built to the book, it will become the world’s third IT magnet after Silicon Valley in California, USA, and Bangalore in Eastern India. This project will attract talent from all over the world through a range of incentives, and it is planned to have state-of-the-art shopping facilities as well as a university.
Some of the strengths in the county are:
Besides Konza Techno City, the county government also has an ambitious master-plan that will see the face of the county lifted by the envisioned planned Machakos City that will be adjacent to Machakos Town. Plans for the ground breaking ceremony are underway after investors expressed a lot of interest and Memorandums’ of Understanding signed.
What all these will do in the end is create a modern economic centre with a cosmopolitan outlook whose impact on the country, Africa and the world is massive. Machakos will obviously become the biggest beneficiary as the home county. Already, the benefits are being felt around the site in Konza, where land prices have reached a record high.
The county government under the able leadership of the visionary, youthful and energetic Governor, Dr. Alfred Mutua has set pace in county governance and was the first to constitute his cabinet. It was also the first county to hold one of its kind investor’s conference that saw investors from different parts of the world participate in the multi sectoral event and identify areas of investment. By day two of the conference, Ksh.56.3 billion was already pledged.
With all these happening within a very short period of the county government’s existence, it has truly won the hearts and minds of many and its now regarded as the trend setter in county governance.
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Investment Opportunities In order to achieve our manifesto targets,The Government of the County of Machakos has identified tourism and culture as a priority sector in which it intends to concentrate its efforts and resources and invites investors to partner with us on the following strategic focal areas: Entertainment, hotels and recreation centers Entertainment, hotels and recreation centers hospitality is a universal industry affecting vast number of hotels, bars, restaurants, resorts, conference centers, fast food outlets and coffee shops making this industry one the largest job provider in the world. The demand for decent restaurants and accommodation is very...
PROFILE
BORN: 22nd August, 1970
POLITICAL PARTY: Wiper Democratic Movement
RESIDENCE: Machakos County
ALMA MATER: University of Western Sydney, Australia
Eastern Washington University, U.S.A
Whitworth College, U.S.A
WEBSITE: www.alfredmutua.com
IN-OFFICE: Government Spokesperson and Public Communications Secretary, 2004 - September 2012
PRESENT: Governor, Machakos County, Kenya
EARLY LIFE AND EDUCATION
Dr. Alfred Nganga Mutua was born in Masii, a remote part of Machakos District in Kenya's Eastern Province. He attended Dagoretti High School for his O’ levels.
A family man, he has studied, lived and worked in Kenya, United States, Australia and United Arab Emirates. He holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Journalism from Whitworth College, U.S.A, a Master of Science Degree in Communications from Eastern Washington University, U.S.A and a Doctorate in Communication and Media from the University of Western Sydney, Australia.
PROFESSIONAL CAREER
In 2002, when the Kibaki administration came to power under National Rainbow Coalition (NARC), there was loads of hope and optimism from Kenyans. One of the biggest promises made to Kenyans was the Establishing of a Public Communications Department that would see the public access all Public Information held by the government as well as keep the masses informed on how the government was Fairing on its duties.
The new NARC government created the Office of Public Communications Secretary, popularly known as Government Spokesman and appointed Dr. Alfred Mutua as its first holder. Much was expected of him due to his job experience and educational background. He was charged with the duty of collecting information and analyzing events within the set-up of the government. Essentially, his work entailed communicating information to and from media, government ministries, state corporations and the public on behalf his employer, the State.
Prior to his appointment, Dr. Alfred Mutua served as an Assistant Professor in the College of Communication and Media Sciences, Zayed University in Dubai where he conducted extensive research on the use of “Media for Democracy and Development.”
POLITCAL CAREER
After close to nine years as the Government Spokesperson, Dr. Alfred Mutua resigned in September 2012 and joined the race for Machakos County Gubernatorial seat competing against a seasoned politician Wavinya Ndeti, who was then the Member of Parliament for Kathiani Constituency (now split to Mavoko and Kathiani).
He became the flag bearer of the Wiper Democratic Movement Party and eventually won the election with a landslide, 71% of the vote.
Dr. Alfred Mutua is the only governor who has hit the ground running in implementing the devolved Government system. He has set the pace on how county governments should be managed and run. Through his focus and leadership, he was the first governor to constitute his county government and barely two months after his election into office, he spearheaded the first ever County Investment Forum that attracted investors from all corners of the world. The conference saw the signing of Memorandums of Understanding amounting to Ksh.56.3 billion.
Indeed, from being the FIRST Government Spokesman to the FIRST Governor of Machakos County he has been a trail blazer with enviable leadership skills.
CONTACT THE GOVERNOR
Email: governor@machakosgovernment.com