Machakos

Traveling east along the A109 from Athi River one begins to see carefully landscaped lantana flowers lining the roads and large signs indicating that you are approaching the county of Machakos. Just in case you are still unsure, sleek Machakos County Police vehicles let you know that you have arrived at the gates to county 016. Machakos County is one that is emerging boldly into a new chapter.

But before we get comfortable in the present lets go back into the past.

Paukwa? Pakawa. Sahani?…

Hapo zamani za kale paliishi kaka wawili, Kyalo na Mwilu.

Kyalo na Mwilu walimpenda mwanamke moja na wote wawili walitaka kumwoa. Kwa sababu Kyalo na Mwilu walimpenda huyu mwanamke kwa moyo dhati waliamua kuishi katika maeneo tofauti wa mto. Mmoja aliishi kaskazini wa mto na mwingine aliishi kusini. Huyu mwanamke naye alikuwa anawatembelea wapenzi wake siku tofauti. Haya yaliendelea hadi Kyalo na Mwilu wakafa.

Lakini hata kutoka makaburi yao, bado penzi lao liliendelea kuzusha mgogoro dhidi yao na hali hii iliendelea kwa karne nyingi na bado unaendelea hadi leo.

Welcome to KyaMwilu Hill, at Kituluni range in Machakos County, better known as the Magnetic Hill where the eternal battle between Kyalo and Mwilu rages on. Here, everything seems to defy gravity: water flows upwards, cars on neutral gear drift up the hill and if you place a cylindrical bottle of water at the lower end of the hill, it will roll uphill instead of downhill! During the rainy season, there’s no problem of pools or floods at the bottom of the hill because the water flows upstream, even forming a lovely waterfall where it finds escape over the edge of the hill somewhere on the upper end!

KyaMwilu is only 10 km from Machakos town on Kangundo Road. It lies squarely on the main road and has been an income-generator as well as entertaining pastime for local youth who wait patiently for curious folk to arrive so they can demonstrate the intrigues of the ‘magical’ hill. KyaMwilu is just one of two gravity hills listed in Africa and is a source of both amazement and wonder in county 016.

Back to the present and as we said, Machakos is growing. From the days that it was Kenya colony’s capital between 1908 and 1910, to today when it hosts the rugby games and talent shows at the Machakos People’s Park, the county has always been on the move.

For those looking to do some easy hiking county 016 offers you Kiima Kya Mbo… otherwise known as Kia Njahi…otherwise known as Ol Donyo Sabuk…otherwise known as Kilimambogo … generally the name changes depending on where you are looking at the mountain from! The mountain offers hikers a stimulating three-hour trek up and easy walk down. Easily done in a day, access is through Ol Donyo Sabuk Park at the northern end of Machakos County off the Thika-Garissa Road.

Our featured photographers for this stunning county are a group of photographer friends better known as One Touch Media Kenya. “OneTouch” simply put means bringing excellence and brilliance to the industry and Africa, One click at a time. Find more picture stories from this talented group on Instagram – onetouchlive

Need to escape? County 016 is it! Please just send us a picture of the buffalo on the mountain of many names or your bicycle moving up the magnetic hill unaided!