Tharaka Nithi County
Tharaka-Nithi County is home to the Chuka, Muthambi, Mwimbi and Tharaka subgroups of the Ameru community. The people of Tharaka-Nithi County are predominantly Christian, with Catholics, Presbyterians, and Methodists being the predominant religious communities.
The county consists of three constituencies: Maara, Chuka/Igambang'ombe, and Tharaka.
History
In 1992, Meru District was broken up into four new districts: Meru Central, Meru North, Meru South and Tharaka. Subsequently, Meru South, also known as Nithi, combined with Tharaka into the Tharaka-Nithi District. In 1998, the Tharaka-Nithi District was split into two districts, Nithi and Tharaka, but a 2009 High Court decision declared that split unconstitutional and re-combined the two. Subsequently, under the revised constitution of 2010, Tharaka-Nithi became a county.
Economy
Like other counties surrounding Mount Kenya, the primary economic activity in Tharaka-Nithi County is farming. Farmers have planted tea and coffee in the higher areas of the county and sorghum, maize, green grams and millet in the low altitude areas. Dairy farming and fish farming are also carried out in the area.
Religion
Religion in Tharaka-Nithi County
| Religion (2019 Census) | Number |
|---|---|
| Catholicism | 108,266 |
| Protestantism | 172,266 |
| Evangelical churches | 70,043 |
| African-instituted churches | 18,749 |
| Orthodoxy | 2,656 |
| Other Christian | 9.114 |
| Islam | 724 |
| Hinduism | 9 |
| Traditionism | 251 |
| Other | 4,082 |
| No religion or atheism | 4.461 |
| Don't know | 615 |
| Not stated | 67 |
Prominent personalities
- Bernard Mate, politician; member of the Legislative Council and Parliament
- Muthomi Njuki, governor of Tharaka-Nithi County
- Kithure Kindiki, politician; Senator, and Cabinet Secretary of Interior and Administration of National Government
- Mzalendo Kibunjia, archaeologist and museum director
- James Ngugi, entrepreneur and economist
- prof. Erastus Njoka, politician and former and founding vice chancellor of chuka university.
- Prof. Peter K. Muriungi, the first and founding vice chancellor of Tharaka University.