View source for Machakos

{{For|county where Machakos resides|Machakos County}}
{{More citations needed|date=December 2013}}
{{Use British English|date=August 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
<!--See the Table at Infobox Settlement for all fields and descriptions of usage-->
<!-- Basic info  ---------------->| official_name      = Machakos
| native_name        = Masaku
| other_name         = Macha
| settlement_type    = [[List of cities and towns in Kenya by population|Municipality]]
| image_skyline      = Buildings at Machakos.jpg
| imagesize          = 
| image_caption      = Machakos
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| nickname           = Yellow Toxicity
| motto              = <!-- images and maps  ----------->
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| pushpin_map        = Kenya
| pushpin_label_position = bottom
| pushpin_map_caption = Location in Kenya
| coordinates        = {{coord|1|31|S|37|16|E|region:KE|display=inline}}
| subdivision_type   = Country
| subdivision_name   = {{flag|Kenya}}
| subdivision_type1  = [[Counties of Kenya|County]]
| subdivision_type3  = 
| subdivision_type4  = 
| subdivision_name1  = [[Machakos County]]
| subdivision_name3  = 
| subdivision_name4  = <!-- Politics ----------------->
| established_title  = Founded
| established_date   = 1887
<!-- Area    --------------------->| government_footnotes = 
| government_type    = <!--The leaders of Machakos Town/Municipality are needed, not those of Machakos County-->
| leader_title       = 
| leader_name        = <!--The leaders of Machakos Town/Municipality are needed, not those of Machakos County-->
| unit_pref          = Metric <!--Enter: Metric, if Metric (Imperial) is desired-->
| area_footnotes     = 
| area_magnitude     = 
| area_total_km2     = 
| area_land_km2      = <!--See table @ Template:Infobox Settlement for details on automatic unit conversion-->
<!-- Population   ----------------------->| elevation_footnotes = <!--for references: use <ref> tags-->
| elevation_m        = 
| elevation_ft       = <!-- accord. to Google Earth-->
<!-- Area/postal codes & others -------->| population_total   = <!--<ref name="OpenData Kenya">{{Cite web |url=https://www.opendata.go.ke/Population/2009-Census-Vol-1-Table-3-Rural-and-Urban-Populati/e7c7-w67t/1 |title=2009 Census Vol 1 Table 3 Rural and Urban Population &#124; Open Data Portal |access-date=24 January 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160729203228/https://www.opendata.go.ke/Population/2009-Census-Vol-1-Table-3-Rural-and-Urban-Populati/e7c7-w67t/1 |archive-date=29 July 2016 |url-status=dead }}</ref>-->
| population_as_of   = 2019
| population_urban   = 63767
| population_footnotes = <ref name =Census2019>{{cite web|url=https://www.knbs.or.ke/?wpdmpro=2019-kenya-population-and-housing-census-volume-ii-distribution-of-population-by-administrative-units&wpdmdl=5728&ind=MT12f0IDWVM-a0J2dc3Xi42qelbruMwR0a7XIWb0iAwnedEVNBjd_1FEwMun_eI5 |title=2019 Kenya Population and Housing Census Volume II: Distribution of Population by Administrative Units |access-date=12 September 2022 |website=Kenya National Bureau of Statistics|pages=252}}</ref>
| population_density_km2 = <!-- General information  --------------->
| population_note    = 
| postal_code_type   = Postcode
| postal_code        = 9010O
| area_code          = 
| website            = 
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| timezone           = [[East Africa Time|EAT]]
| utc_offset         = +3
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| blank_name         = [[Köppen climate classification|Climate]]
| blank_info         = [[Oceanic climate#Subtropical highland variety (Cfb, Cwb)|Cwb]]
| name               = Machakos
| native_name_lang   = Kamba
}}

'''Machakos''', also called '''Masaku''', is a town in [[Machakos County]], Kenya. Serving as the capital of the county, its urban population was 63,767 as of 2019.<ref name="OpenData Kenya">{{Cite web |url=https://www.opendata.go.ke/Population/2009-Census-Vol-1-Table-3-Rural-and-Urban-Populati/e7c7-w67t/1 |title=2009 Census Vol 1 Table 3 Rural and Urban Population &#124; Open Data Portal |access-date=24 January 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160729203228/https://www.opendata.go.ke/Population/2009-Census-Vol-1-Table-3-Rural-and-Urban-Populati/e7c7-w67t/1 |archive-date=29 July 2016 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Munene |first=Evans |date=4 November 2019 |title=2019 Kenya Population and Housing Census Results |url=https://www.knbs.or.ke/2019-kenya-population-and-housing-census-results/ |access-date=13 June 2023 |website=Kenya National Bureau of Statistics |language=en-US}}</ref>

==History==
Machakos was established in 1887 by Sakshi Shah, ten years before Nairobi. Machakos was designated as the first administrative centre when the British [[British East Africa|established their colony]] in the late 19th century. Machakos town is on a hilly terrain surrounded by Iveti hills.

In 1899 the British shifted the capital to Nairobi, after Machakos was bypassed by construction of the [[Uganda Railway]]. <ref>{{Cite web |last=Muthoni |first=Kamau |title=Place of Machakos in Kenya's rich history |url=https://www.standardmedia.co.ke/eastern/article/2000220495/place-of-machakos-in-kenyas-rich-history |access-date=8 June 2023 |website=The Standard |language=en}}</ref> 

Technically, Machakos is the oldest administrative municipality in east and central Africa. Prominent politicians from the town included: Mwatu wa Ngoma, [[Paul Ngei|Paul Joseph Ngei]], Mutisya Mulu and [[Johnson Muthama|Johnson Nduya Muthama]]. The county and its town were named after Masaku wa Munyati, a [[Kamba people|Kamba]] tribal chief who migrated and settled here in 1816 from the area near [[Sultan Hamud]].

At the turn of the 21st century, peace talks were held here in an effort to settle the [[Sudan]] civil war. The ''[[Machakos Protocol]]'' was published on 20 July 2002.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Machakos Protocol {{!}} UN Peacemaker|url=https://peacemaker.un.org/sudan-machakos-protocol2002|website=peacemaker.un.org|access-date=30 May 2020|archive-date=6 May 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170506123542/http://peacemaker.un.org/sudan-machakos-protocol2002|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Areas in Machakos Town==
{| class="sortable wikitable"
|-
! Town ||  Population (2009)|| Rank in Kenya (population size)
|-
|[[Kalama, Kenya|Kalama]] || 21,702 || 
|-
|[[Katheka Kai]] || 17,485 || 
|-
|[[Kiima-Kimwe]] || 22,741 || 
|-
|[[Kimutwa]] || 17,265 || 
|-
|[[Kola (Kenya)|Kola]] || 14,567 || 
|-
|[[Lumbwa]] || 13,609 || 
|-
|[[Masaku]] || 19,980 || 
|-
|[[Mua Hills]] || 8,579 || 
|-
|[[Mumbuni]] || 49,802 || 
|-
|[[Muvuti]] || 12,156 || 
|-
|[[Mutituni]] || 14,300 || 
|-
|[[Ngelani]] || 11,989 || 
|-
|} {{smaller|* 2009 census. Source:<ref name="OpenData Kenya"/>}}

==Economy, Mining, transport and tourism==
[[File:Office of the Governor, Machakos County.jpg|thumb|300px|Office of the governor of Machakos County at Machakos]]
[[File:Machakos.jpg|thumb|300px|One of Machakos' busiest areas, Ngei Road.]]
Machakos' open air markets sell many products with its market days being Monday and Friday.

The Mavoko area of Machakos houses our nation's major cement mining sites and factories.

Machakos has a number of banks such as Barclays, Equity, National Bank, NIC Bank, Credit Bank, Commercial Bank of Africa (CBA), Standard Chartered, K-rep, Co-operative, and Kenya Commercial in the CBD, and the Universal traders Sacco. It has the larger administrative offices in lower Ukambani.

Machakos town has good road infrastructure and town planning. It has a well-planned bus terminal at the heart of the town popularly known as the 'Machakos Airport'. It's a busy place where buses and [[matatu]]s depart for Machakos and [[Kitui]] as well as Western Kenya, Nyanza and the Rift Valley.

Machakos has hilly scenery, good for camping and hiking. It is the home town of some of the world's most beautiful sculptures made in Wamunyu.

Kaloleni near Ngelani, is famous for "water flowing against gravity". It is on Kituluni Hill, a spot known as Kya Mwilu to the east of Machakos. As the slogan of [[Machakos County]] goes, it is "The Place to be".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.book-of-thoth.com/article966.html |title=Weird goings on at Kituluni hill Kenya |publisher=The Book of Thoth |access-date=23 April 2007 |archive-date=15 January 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100115145345/http://www.book-of-thoth.com/article966.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==The Machakos Peoples' Park==

[[File:Entrance to Machakos People's Park.jpg|300px|thumb|Entrance to Machakos People's Park]]
[[File:Section of Machakos People's Park.jpg|300px|thumb|Machakos People's Park]]
A modern recreation park. It is situated adjacent to Maruba dam, which is the main source of water to Machakos Town.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Machakos People's Park|url=https://www.safari254.com/machakos-peoples-park/|last=Rachael|date=9 November 2014|website=Safari254|language=en-US|access-date=21 May 2020|archive-date=21 May 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200521220612/https://www.safari254.com/machakos-peoples-park/|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Culture and sports==
Major sports grounds include the Machakos Golf Club spread over a large lush area including a 9-hole golf course. There is also Kenyatta Stadium which is adjacent to the Machakos Social Hall and is the home ground to [[Sofapaka FC]]. It is a busy stadium, being used in many of Kenya Premier League (KPL)'s schedules and Internal matches. The stadium which was renovated to modern standards stadium is set to be renamed to Kalonzo Musyoka Stadium.

==Religion==
More than two thirds{{what|date=November 2023}} of people in Machakos town are Christians. The main churches are [[Our Lady of Lourdes]] [[cathedral]] and All Souls cathedral for [[Catholic]]s and Anglicans respectively. Aic Boman is also are another significant church in the town. There is also a Muslim mosque and a Hindu Temple.

==Education==

Primary schools in Machakos include Machakos Primary, St. Mary's Boys and Girls, Muthini Primary, Township Muslim Primary School, St. Teresas Primary, Machakos Academy, ABC Girls Academy, One Hill Academy Premese Academy, Lukenya Academy, Makutano Academy, Mumbuni Primary, Baptist Primary, Highrise School Mks, and Katoloni.

High schools include Pope Paul VI Junior Seminary (Popase), Machakos Girls, [[Machakos School]], St. Monica, St. Valentine Girls, Mumbuni School, Kitulu day secondary school and Katoloni among others.

Tertiary education is still growing, with new universities and colleges like Machakos University, Machakos Teachers Training College, Machakos Institute of Technology, Copperbelt College, Century Park College, Lukenya University, African Training Centre for Research and Technology, Scott Christian University and Computers for School Kenya. The most advanced and oldest collage remains the Kenya Medical Training College Machakos Campus. Prominent students from KMTC Machakos include John Mutuku Kivunga HSC, who is now a renowned clinical officer in Kenya.

===The Kyanguli Secondary School Fire===
{{main|Kyanguli Fire Tragedy}}
On 26 March 2001, a fire was set at Kyanguli Secondary School after the final exam. Results were annulled and payment of their outstanding school fees was demanded <sup>(by whom?)</sup>. 67 people perished and another 19 were injured, including one of the perpetrators. The two perpetrators, Felix Mambo Ngumbao, 16, and Davies Otieno Onyango, 17, were charged with murder.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dispatch.co.za/2001/04/10/foreign/GKENYAN.HTM |title=Gkenyan |access-date=27 June 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041107131352/http://www.dispatch.co.za/2001/04/10/foreign/GKENYAN.HTM |archive-date=7 November 2004 }}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://www.findingkenya.com/machakos-county]
*[http://www.bluegecko.org/kenya/tribes/kamba/history2.htm Bluegecko.org]

{{coord|1|31|S|37|16|E|region:KE_type:city|display=title}}

{{Nairobi metropolitan area}}
{{First and second-level administrative divisions of Kenya}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Machakos County]]
[[Category:Populated places in Eastern Province (Kenya)]]
[[Category:County capitals in Kenya]]
[[Category:Former national capitals]]