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Ruiru

Coordinates: 1°08′54″S 36°57′38″E / 1.148326°S 36.960436°E / -1.148326; 36.960436
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Ruiru
Town & Municipality
Zetech University, Ruiru
Zetech University, Ruiru
Ruiru is located in Kenya
Ruiru
Ruiru
Location in Kenya
Coordinates: 1°08′54″S 36°57′38″E / 1.148326°S 36.960436°E / -1.148326; 36.960436
Country Kenya
CountyKiambu County
Area
 • Land292 km2 (113 sq mi)
Elevation
1,565 m (5,135 ft)
Population
 (2019)
 • Total
371,111
Time zoneUTC+3 (EAT)
Area code145
ClimateCwb

Ruiru is a municipality and sub-county in Kiambu County, Kenya. It sits within the greater Nairobi Metropolitan region. According to the 2019 national population census, Ruiru was the 4th largest urban centre in Kenya by population.[1][2] The name Ruiru is of the Kikuyu origin and possibly relates to the black cotton soil that is found in most parts of Ruiru.[3]

Location

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Ruiru is about 20 kilometres (12 mi) by road northeast of the central business district of Nairobi, the nation's capital city.[4] The sub-county measures 292 km2 (113 sq mi) and is connected to Nairobi by road and rail.[5][6] The geographical coordinates of Ruiru are 1°10'04.0"S, 36°58'24.0" E (Latitude: −1.167778; Longitude: 36.973333).[7] The municipality sits at an average elevation of 1,565 metres (5,135 ft) above sea level.[8]

History

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This area was a sisal and coffee-growing district with sisal on either side of the river to the right of the main road to Thika. It is now a housing area. There used to be four main manager houses on the estate on the south side of the river. The area was given over to an African consortium to be developed into smallholdings in the 1970s.[9]

Before Kenya's independence, Ruiru was administered under the Nairobi City Council and referred to as the Western Rural District.[10] After independence, the area was put under the administration of the Kiambu County Council before being elevated to a town council in 1986. In 1997, Ruiru was upgraded to municipality status comprising nine elective wards: Biashara, Gitothua, Gatongora, Kahawa Sukari, Githurai, Kimbo, Jacaranda, Theta, Viwanda, and Murera.[10]

The creation of the Nairobi Metropolitan Region (NMR) by an Executive Order in May 2008 put the town under its broader urban integrated plan.[11]

Neighbourhoods

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Landscape in Mwihoko Ward

The expansive Ruiru municipality sprawl comprises many neighbourhoods including Ruiru Town, Tatu City, Kahawa, Githurai 45, Mwihoko, Membley, Kamakis, Varsity Ville, and Northlands City.

Ruiru Area Map with Northlands and Tatu City
Ruiru Constituency Area, 2022

Economy

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East African Power & Lighting building in Ruiru on the Nairobi-Thika highway, taken in about 1960

Ruiru is an industrial town with several major factories, including Devki Steel Mills, Super Foam Limited, Spinners & Spinners Garment Factory, Ruiru Mabati Factory, and Ruiru Feeds Limited.

The Tatu City Industrial Park is found within Ruiru and is home to many factories, including BIDCO, Copia, Dormans, Davis & Shirtliff, Tianlong, Stecol, and Dr. Mattress.

Banks and shopping malls serve the town. It has seen a housing boom, with many coffee estates converted into residential areas, including an upcoming multi-billion Tatu Estate. Information and communication technology businesses are also emerging, including SmartEdge PASHA Center, a digital village where the community can buy computers and find free training.[5]

Several banks have opened their branches in Ruiru, particularly in the Kamakis area, including NCBA,[12] Sidian Bank,[13] Diamond Trust Bank,[14] Equity Bank and Co-operative Bank.

Infrastructure projects

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Ruiru is home to major government and private infrastructure developments, including Tatu City, a 5,000-acre mixed-use project.[15][16][17] The proposed Northlands City project[18][19] is also found in this area.

Prominent government-led infrastructure projects in Ruiru include the Ruiru Sewer Plant,[20] the Nairobi Eastern Bypass Highway dualling, and the Nairobi commuter rail service project.

Population

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In 2009, Ruiru's population was 238,858.[21] Ten years later, the 2019 national census found that the population was 490,120, making it the fourth-largest urban center in Kenya by population.[1]

The rapid population growth is attributable to several factors: the shortage of affordable residential housing in Nairobi; the infrastructure development, especially Thika Road and Nairobi Eastern Bypass Highway, and the associated commercial and residential development that followed the new highways; and the presence of university campuses in or near Ruiru.[5]

Historical population
YearPop.±%
19691,674—    
19791,718+2.6%
198923,316+1257.2%
199979,741+242.0%
2009238,329+198.9%
2019490,120+105.6%
source:[22]

Education

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Two universities have their main campuses in Ruiru: Zetech University and Kiriri Women's University of Science and Technology. The Kenyatta University (Main and Ruiru Campuses) is also near the municipality. The University of Nairobi and other higher education institutions have campuses in or near Ruiru.[5] Danjose Academy, one of the leading academic primary institutions, is located in Ruiru. In July 2022, the President of Kenya, Uhuru Kenyatta, broke ground in Ruiru for the Amref International University.[23] The Health Science University will be hosted within the expansive Northlands City land in the municipality's southern wing.

Politics

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Ruiru was originally part of the greater Juja Constituency until it was hived off and made into an independent electoral area. It is separated from Juja by the Ruiru River as it flows downstream to the confluence with the Nairobi River.

Esther Gathogo was a Member of Parliament from 2013 to 2017. Simon Ng'ang'a King'ara won the seat in the August 2017 general election.[24]

References

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  1. ^ a b http://housingfinanceafrica.org/app/uploads/VOLUME-II-KPHC-2019.pdf [bare URL PDF]
  2. ^ "Census 2019: Ruiru area 4th most populous urban center in Kenya". YouTube. 28 February 2020.
  3. ^ "Nairobi geological map with geotechnical sites, distress (D) sites and VES (V) sites" – via ResearchGate.
  4. ^ "Distance between Nairobi, Kenya and Tatu Estate, Kenya". Globefeed. 5 March 2020. Retrieved 5 March 2020.
  5. ^ a b c d James Kahongeh (4 March 2020). "Why Ruiru is Kenya's sixth most populated urban area". Daily Nation. Nairobi. Retrieved 5 March 2020.
  6. ^ "Trains Transport A Relief To Ruiru Residents". Nairobi: Kenya News Agency. 7 October 2019. Retrieved 5 March 2020.
  7. ^ "Location of Ruiru, Kiambu County, Kenya" (Map). Google Maps. Retrieved 5 March 2020.
  8. ^ "Elevation of Ruiru, Kenya". Floodmap. 2020. Retrieved 5 March 2020.
  9. ^ "Ruiru". WorldPOI. Retrieved 29 May 2020.
  10. ^ a b https://kiambu.go.ke/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Ruiru-Municipality-Spatial-plan.pdf [dead link‍]
  11. ^ "Nairobi Metro 2030" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 25 June 2022. Retrieved 13 May 2022.
  12. ^ "Sidian Bank unveils its 43rd branch in Ruiru, Kamakis Eastern Bypass Area". 15 March 2022.
  13. ^ "NCBA opens branch in Ruiru, gets debt B+ rating from Fitch - People Daily". 6 October 2021.
  14. ^ "DTB Kenya opens three new branches". 12 July 2022.
  15. ^ "Gov't, Tatu City Partner To Undertake Projects". Kenya News Agency. 17 November 2021. Retrieved 23 April 2022.
  16. ^ "Slow dream to Kenya's technocities, Tatu City taking shape". Retrieved 23 April 2022.
  17. ^ "State agency lauds Tatu City special economic zone for one-stop facility". Retrieved 23 April 2022.
  18. ^ "Northlands City plots sell for Sh40m". 27 September 2020. Retrieved 23 April 2022.
  19. ^ "Kenyatta family seeks approval for its dream city outside Nairobi". 22 December 2020. Retrieved 23 April 2022.
  20. ^ https://www.sipa.columbia.edu/file/3277/download?token=C-kXwioM[permanent dead link‍] [bare URL]
  21. ^ "Kiambu County: Population of Major Urban Centers: Ruiru" (PDF). United States Agency for International Development. 2009. Archived from the original (PDF) on 23 February 2013. Retrieved 5 March 2020.
  22. ^ Ruiru population statistics
  23. ^ "Amref International University Groundbreaking Ceremony". 9 July 2022.
  24. ^ Naomi Wanjiku (22 February 2018). "Why Ruiru MP is popular among women, youths and street urchins". Hivisasa. Retrieved 28 May 2020.
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