Thika District

Thika District is a former administrative district in the Central Province of Kenya. Its capital town was Thika. The district was adjacent to the northeastern border of Nairobi. The district had a population of 645,713.[1] The district existed in two uncontinuous periods—in the colonial period through the early years of independent Kenya, and later in its reestablishment 1994. It was initially established in 1927 as a sub-district by colonial authorities. It later acquired district status in 1934 by reorganizing portions of Nairobi and Machakos and Fort Hall districts.[2] The district was curved out to cater to the European settlers who had established large agricultural lands. In 1963, as the colony was transitioning to independence, Thika District was one of the six district of Central Province.[3] In 1966, a motion in parliament was passed to abolish the district due to its overlapping jurisdictions with the neighbouring Kiambu and Murang'a districts. The area that covered the district was transferred to Kiambu and Murang'a.[4][5] The district only constituency, Thika–Gatundu, was shared with Kiambu.

In 1994, Thika District was reestablished by curving out eastern regions of Kiambu District and Gatanga from Murang'a District. The new district included Gatundu which had historically been in Kiambu.[6]

In 2009, the district was among those that were declared unlawfully created. In 2010, the district was absorbed into Kiambu and Murang'a counties which were effected in 2013.

The district was predominantly rural, but its urban population was soaring as Nairobi was growing rapidly. Kikuyu were the dominant tribe in the district.

Local authorities (councils)
Authority Type Population* Urban pop.*
Thika Municipality 88,265 82,665
Ruiru Municipality 109,349 79,741
Thika county County 448,099 5,968
Total - 645,713 168,374
* 1999 census. Source: [1]
Administrative divisions
Division Population* Urban pop.* Headquarters
Gatanga 103,048 0
Gatundu 113,699 0 Gatundu
Kakuzi 71,622 0
Kamwangi (Gatundu north) 99,460 0 Kamwangi
Ruiru (Juja) 150,710 81,709 Ruiru
Thika municipality 107,174 75,893 Thika
Total 645,713 157,602
* 1999 census. Sources: [1][7]

The district had four constituencies:

References

  1. ^ a b "Annex 1: Status of Coverage of Communications Services" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 30 May 2009. Retrieved 21 January 2026.
  2. ^ Gregory, Robert G.; Maxon, Robert M.; Spencer, Leon P. (1969). "Description of the Districts and Provinces". A Guide to the Kenya National Archives to the Microfilms of the Provincial and District Annual Reports, Record Books, and Handing-Over Reports; Miscellaneous Correspondence; and Intelligence Reports. Program of Eastern African Studies, Syracuse University. p. 10.
  3. ^ "Gazette Notice No. 1482 - The Kenya (Electoral Provisions) (Elections) Regulations, 1963 - (L.N. 206 of 1963)" (PDF). Kenya Gazette. Vol. LXV, no. 16. 9 April 1963. p. 377. Retrieved 13 January 2026.
  4. ^ Kamau, John (5 July 2020) [1 September 2013]. "How Thika Identity Crisis Ended Up in Parliament". Daily Nation. Retrieved 13 January 2026.
  5. ^ Hornsby, Charles (July 2020). "A Political History of the Southern Kikuyu of Kiambu, Murang'a and Thika" (PDF). charleshornsby.com. Retrieved 13 January 2026.
  6. ^ Hemedi, Juma (23 February 2023). "How an Anomaly and Historical Politics Played to Deny Thika Its Own County Government". Thika Town Today. Retrieved 13 January 2026.
  7. ^ "Urban Poverty Estimates For Kenya's Provinces, Districts, Divisions and Locations". Archived from the original on 28 September 2006.

1°02′S 37°05′E / 1.033°S 37.083°E / -1.033; 37.083

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