THIKA TOWN: THE RISING INDUSTRIAL GEM OF CENTRAL & MT. KENYA REGION
Located just 45 km northeast of Nairobi, Thika Town is a fast-growing urban and industrial hub in Kiambu County.
With a rich colonial past, modern infrastructure, and a vibrant business environment, Thika is set to become Kenya’s sixth city under the ambitious Thika Industrial Smart City vision.
🌍 GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION AND SIZE
Thika covers approximately 93 square kilometers, situated at about 1,500 meters above sea level in the central highlands. Its favorable climate and location make it ideal for agriculture, residence, and industry.
👥 POPULATION AND DEMOGRAPHICS
Home to an estimated 279,000 people, Thika hosts a youthful, diverse, and entrepreneurial population drawn from across the country.
🛤️ HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
Originally settled by the Agikuyu and other communities, Thika’s fertile lands and strategic rivers made it an attractive settlement area. Its name—believed to derive from the Kikuyu word “guthika” (to bury)—reflects its past as a conflict resolution site.
The arrival of the Kenya-Uganda railway in 1913 accelerated Thika’s transformation into a trading and administrative center. The railway facilitated agricultural exports, drew in settlers, and spurred the growth of commerce.
The Asian (Indian) community, originally brought in to build the railway, remained and became instrumental in retail trade, milling, and manufacturing. Their influence is still visible in the town's business sector and architecture.
European settlers developed large coffee, pineapple, and dairy farms, heavily relying on African labor, which shaped early employment patterns and town layout.
Early Landmarks
• Thika Railway Station
• Blue Post Hotel (1908)
• Chania & Thika River Bridges
• Del Monte Processing Plant
• Old Hindu temples and Goan social clubs
🏗️ MODERN INFRASTRUCTURE AND ECONOMIC GROWTH
The Thika Superhighway (Completed in 2012)
The completion of the Thika Superhighway in 2012 was a turning point. Linking Nairobi to Thika in under 45 minutes.
It:-
• Improved transport and logistics
• Opened up the town to real estate, commercial, and industrial investments
• Reduced travel time and enhanced access to markets and labor
Additional bypass roads, feeder roads, and bridges continue to make Thika more accessible and attractive to investors.
🏢 INDUSTRY AND INVESTMENT: A MANUFACTURING POWERHOUSE
Thika is one of Kenya’s most industrialised towns, often dubbed the “Birmingham of Kenya”.
It hosts over 300 factories, ranging from small-scale workshops to large multinational companies.
Factory Breakdown:
• Small-scale industries: over 200 (e.g., mechanics, food processors, metal works, printing, furniture)
• Medium-scale industries: over 60 (e.g., food manufacturing, detergents, plastic packaging)
• Large-scale and multinationals: over 40+
Notable Industries in Thika:
• Del Monte Kenya Ltd. – Pineapple processing & exports
• Broadways Group – Bread and flour milling
• Bidco Africa – Consumer goods
• Capwell Industries – Cereal and porridge flour processing
• Flamingo Tiles – Construction materials
• Kenya Vehicle Manufacturers (KVM) – Vehicle assembly
• Kevian Kenya Ltd. – Juices and beverages
• KAPI Ltd. – Cosmetics and personal care
• Spinners & Spinners Ltd. – Textiles and garments
• Thika Cloth Mills – Cotton processing
• Alliance One Tobacco – Tobacco processing
The industrial sector is a major employer, especially for informal workers from Kiandutu, Umoja, and Gachagi slums.
🗳️ POLITICAL STRUCTURE & HISTORY
Before devolution, Thika District included the following divisions:
• Thika Municipality
• Juja
• Ruiru
• Gatundu
• Gatanga (Gatanga later moved to Murang’a County)
Under the 2010 Constitution, Thika became part of Kiambu County.
Electoral Boundaries:
From the 1980s to 2013, the town was part of the vast Juja Constituency. In 2013, it was split into:
• Thika Town
• Juja
• Ruiru
Thika Town Constituency Wards
• Thika East – Ngoliba, Gatuanyaga
• Thika West – Township, Hospital, Kamenu
Kamenu Ward is among Kenya’s most populous wards with over 49,000 registered voters)
🗺️ Summary of Estate Categories:
Estate/Area Status Notable Feature
• Section 9 – Middle to High – Planned housing, close to town
• Ngoingwa – Middle to High – Modern suburb, popular with Nairobi commuters
• Makongeni – Low to Middle – Industrial-residential mix
• Majengo, Biafra, Ofafa, Starehe, Jamhuri, Pilot, Ziwani, Kimathi, UTI – Low to Middle – Historical estates, close to hospital/town centre
• Landless – Mixed – Expanding residential area
• Gatuanyaga, Muguga, Ngoliba – Low to Middle – Peri-urban with growing housing schemes
• Kiandutu, Gachagi, Umoja – Low-income / Informal – Largest informal settlements, labour hubs
🏚️ INFORMAL SETTLEMENTS: THE LABOUR BACKBONE
Thika is home to three major slums:
• Kiandutu – One of the largest informal settlements in Kenya
• Gachagi
• Umoja
These areas provide thousands of workers in:
• Factories
• Homes (domestic work)
• Retail markets
• Transport and logistics
🎓 EDUCATION: A REGIONAL ACADEMIC CENTER
Primary Education
Thika has over 120 primary schools with a learner population of over 68,000 pupils
Secondary Schools
Thika boasts of over 40 secondary and high schools with a student population of over 22,000 students
Major Schools:
Thika High, Chania Boys & Girls, Broadway Secondary, Kenyatta High (Makongeni), Mary Hill, Thika School for the Blind among others.
Tertiary Institutions:
Thika has over 20 tertiary institutions, with an estimated 40,000 students.
Leading colleges include:
• Mount Kenya University – 25,000+ students
• Gretsa University
• Thika Technical Training Institute (TTTI)
• KMTC – Thika Campus
• Jodan College
• TIBS – Thika
• International Centre of Technology
• Cascade Institute of Hospitality among others
🏥 PUBLIC AMENITIES AND FACILITIES
• Thika Level 5 Hospital – Referral health facility
• Sub-county hospitals and clinics
• Thika Main Prisons
• Thika Police Station
• Thika DCC & Government offices
• Thika Law Courts
• Public libraries & ICT hubs
• Thika Stadium
• Thika & Makongeni bus stations
• Thika Railway Station
• Efficient transport system (matatus, bodabodas, and buses), among others
🏬 TRADE AND MARKETS: REGIONAL BUSINESS HUB
Key markets:
• Madaraka Market – Makongeni
• Jamhuri Market – Town center
Thika’s markets serve traders from: Kiambu (Gatundu, Juja, Ruiru), Murang’a (Gatanga, Kabati, Kenol, Kandara), Ukambani (Kitui, Machakos) and Garissa County.
🛠️ CHALLENGES FACING THIKA RESIDENTS
• Despite its growth, Thika faces several challenges, among them:-
• Rapid Urbanization – Straining housing, roads, water, and sewer systems
• Unemployment & Underemployment – Especially among youth
• Inadequate Housing – Particularly in informal settlements
• Poor Waste Management – Limited capacity to handle industrial and domestic waste
• Flooding and Poor Drainage – Especially in low-lying and unplanned areas
• Pressure on Public Facilities – Schools, hospitals, and markets often overcrowded
• Insecurity – Rising petty crime in some estates and slums
• Limited Land for Expansion – Urban sprawl vs. agricultural preservation
• Poor leadership bugged with populist politics, corruption and lack of foresight
• Unplanned business structure leading to poor town CBD planning and efficiency.
🌆 THE FUTURE: THIKA INDUSTRIAL SMART CITY
Plans are underway to elevate Thika to city status. The Thika Industrial Smart City initiative focuses on:
• Smart infrastructure
• Eco-friendly housing
• Integrated transport
• Tech-driven public services
• Innovation and manufacturing zones
This transformation aims to position Thika as a model African city — combining industry, innovation, business and sustainability.
✅ CONCLUSION
From a railway stop in 1913 to a bustling industrial hub in 2025, Thika Town’s journey is remarkable. With rich history, youthful energy, strong education, and a booming industrial base, Thika is well on its way to becoming Kenya’s next great city — modern, inclusive, and forward-looking.
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