Tharaka Nithi

In 1992, the old Meru district was split  into four and a new district was born with the name Tharaka and Nithi. Nithi was for the area previously known as Meru South.

County 13 is one of four Kenyan counties with a suave double barrel name! Sandwiched between many larger counties Tharaka Nithi still holds its own. Mountaineers hoping to scale Mount Kenya on the eastern side of the mountain take off from Chogoria base.
While we are on the subject of Chogoria town – did you know that it grew largely as a result of the mission hospital that was set up in 1922? It started off with a few beds and has grown to a fully-fledged hospital, and in 1951, the hospital added the Clive Irvine College Nursing School that has graduated hundreds of nurses now serving across the country. Tharaka Nithi is quite the hilly area, with glories such as Kiera, Munuguni, Njuguni, Kijege and Ntugi Hills dotting its landscape.

Travelling across Tharaka-Nithi one finds other major centres such as Chuka and the county headquarters Kathwana. Originally a market place, Kathwana has grown and is slowly becoming a fully-fledged town. Keep watching this space; this idyllic space that lies between the rivers Maara and Mutonga, tributaries of our largest river – the Tana.

The county is well known for its educational institutions including  Chogoria Girls, Chuka Girls and Ikuu boys, as well as Chuka University, which was established in 2007. Set in over 500 acres of pristine land, the University offers several academic degree programmes spanning the natural and health sciences, education and business.

Rare game can be spotted at Mutejwa National Reserve. If you are keen on the spooky, Inanduru Bat Cave should be a definite stopover for you. There are plenty of other activities for adventure-seekers, including camping, bird watching, and mountain climbing.

Tharaka Nithi, the county that describes itself as the haven of value addition, definitely has a buffet of options for those seeking value!