View source for Mukuuri

{{Use British English|date=January 2023}}
{{more citations needed|date=September 2016}}
[[File:The gates waterfall mount kenya.jpg|thumb|right|Nthenge Njeru falls in Mûkûûrî]]
'''Mûkûûrî''' is an administrative Location and township in [[Runyenjes]] Division, in [[Embu County]], [[Kenya]], with a population of about 25,000 people. It is named for a large, strong Sycamore Fig Tree (Mûkûû in Kiembu. Scientific name: Ficus Sycomorus) that stood for over 100 years at the current site of the township. The Sycamore Fig tree symbolizes strength, rejuvenation and regeneration. Mûkûû-rî region lies on the green, rolling hills of the [[Mount Kenya]] slopes.  The administrative region begins from the stone cliffs of Nthûngû waterfalls, all the way to Nthenge Njerû falls, through the famous Kirimiri Forest, stretching to the historic Gogo Salt lick, bordering Gitare. It is home to four public primary schools, including [[Kubu Kubu]] Memorial Boarding School and [[Muragari School]], which is among the oldest schools in [[Embu County|Embu]] and [[Kirinyaga District|Kîrînyaga]] districts.{{citation needed|date=May 2012}}

Mukuuri is also home to the historic [[Kirimiri|Kîrîmîri]] Forest Hill. The 800-acre forest was popular during Kenya's freedom war the Mau Mau. It's currently a major conservation area, and tourism attraction managed jointly by the Kenya Forest Service and the residents through the Kîrîmîri Community Forest Association. The Embu freedom fighter Kubu Kubu made the forest his main hideout during the pre-independence days. He was killed by the colonialists early 1950s. The colonial rulers burnt his body to ashes on the present location of Kubu Kubu Memorial School. General China,<ref>SHADLE, B. (2015). The International Journal of African Historical Studies, 48(1), 152-154. Retrieved May 18, 2020, from www.jstor.org/stable/44715408</ref> in his book ''The [[Mau Mau rebellion|Mau Mau]] General'', says women and children were forced to clap and sing as the body turned into ashes. This angered the residents and more Mau Mau fighters like Kaviu îtina were recruited.

It is also home to the historic '''[[Gogo Salt Lick, Kenya|Gogo Salt Lick]]''', well-known as a place of Mûnyû (salt) for hundreds of years in Embu land. Gogo Salt Lick is located on five-acre grassy meadows, one kilometre from Mukuuri township, at the base of a ridge called Mürurîrî.  According to the Mbeere Historical Texts by Prof Mwaniki Kabeca (2005), Gogo is the place where Mwenendega, the founder of [[Embu people|Embu]] tribe, met his wife Nthara.

The time zone in Mukuuri is Africa/Nairobi
Sunrise at 06:39 and Sunset at 18:46. 
Latitude. -0.4000°, Longitude. 37.5500° 
For Kirimiri - Latitude. -0.4167°, Longitude. 37.5500°

==Notable residents==
The area has produced a number of leaders at national and international levels. They include former Runyenjes MP and later Embu Governor and chairman of the Council of Governors [[Martin Nyaga Wambora]], [[KASNEB]] founder and former Embu North MP Hon [[Stanley Nyagah|Stanley Nyaga Kithûng'a]] and [https://www.nation.co.ke/news/Lee-Njiru--Moi-was-like-a-father-to-me/1056-5444242-75hwncz/index.html Lee Njiru], the long-serving head of the Presidential Press Service and former Private Secretary of Kenya's Second President [[Daniel Arap Moi]] . Others are academics like Kenyan geneticist [https://arm.embuni.ac.ke/index.php/faculty/academic-staff/dr-paul-njiruh-nthakanio Prof Njiruh Nthakanio], Kagaari North MCA [https://embuassembly.go.ke/committees/sectoral-committees/finance-and-economic-planning-committee/ Muchangi Mwariama], former MCA [https://embuassembly.go.ke/members/ Sicily Njiru], the journalist Peter Munaita, veteran (Retired) Embu Knut secretary general Mohammed Mwaniki Gakinya, and the long-serving Kagaari Ward councillor and Embu County Council chairman, the late Alexander Njeru Ngari. There is also the late freedom fighter General [[Kubu Kubu]] and religious leaders like former Embu Anglican Bishop [[Moses Njue]] (1992-2006),<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.globalsouthanglican.org/index.php/comments/election_of_the_second_bishop_of_embu_diocese_kenya|title=Global South Anglican - Election of the second Bishop of Embu Diocese, Kenya}}</ref> Embu Bishop of National Independent Church of Kenya (Nica) Bishop Amos Njiru (1993*-2003*), the late Archpriest John Njue Nthakanio who established the Orthodox Church in Embu County, and business leaders including [[Richard Nyaga wa Stanley]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://reports.africanfinancials.com/ke/KQ/1999/?Page=12 |title=AfricanFinancials - Page 12 |accessdate=2013-10-11 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20141221151512/http://reports.africanfinancials.com/ke/KQ/1999/?Page=12 |archivedate=2014-12-21 }}</ref> who served as MD of national carrier [[Kenya Airways]] (1981-1985) and later steered privatisation of  the airline again as its [https://www.nation.co.ke/business/996-398846-obac31z/index.html Managing Director in 1999–2003.]
. Mzee Kariuki Kobuthi, the man who  treated President [[Jomo Kenyatta]] by cutting off his [[uvula]] in 1960s when Kenyatta was very ill, also lived in Mukuuri.<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.the-star.co.ke/news/2015/07/13/traditional-surgeon-who-treated-kenyatta-marks-60-years-of-service_c1166430| title = Traditional 'surgeon' who treated Kenyatta marks 60 years of service}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20070930190032/http://www.world66.com/africa/kenya/centralhighlands/embu/day_trips Embu travel guide]

{{coord missing|Kenya}}

[[Category:Populated places in Central Province (Kenya)]]
[[Category:Embu County]]