Nyahururu

Nyahururu
—  Town  —
Thomson's Falls
Country	Kenya
Province	Rift Valley
District	Laikipia
Elevation	2,303 m (7,556 ft)
Population
- Total	24,751
Website	http://www.nyahururu.tk/

Nyahururu is a town in Kenya, lying east of Nakuru. It is part of Laikipia District in Rift Valley Province. Despite this, Nyahururu formerly functioned as the administrative capital of Nyandarua District, one of seven districts that constitute Central Province in Kenya, until the headquarters was shifted to Ol Kalou. There have been calls for a reversal^{[1][dead link]}. The town has an urban population of 24,751^{[2][dead link]}.

Nyahururu was founded as Thomson Falls after the 70 metre high Thomson's Falls on the nearby Ewaso Nyiro River, which drains from the Aberdare mountain ranges. It is on the Junction of Nyeri-Rumuruti road and the Nyeri-Nakuru road. The town grew around a railway from Gilgil opened in 1929 (now effectively abandoned). The town was once an important player in the timber milling industry, and the now defunct National Pencil Company had a factory there. It is also an important milk processing hub.

Egerton University's Laikipia campus is on the outskirts of Nyahururu town. With high quality education offered by private schools, most children from this area have gone on to lead successful lives.

The region around Nyahururu is mainly agricultural. To the North Ol Ngarua is famous for its maize, while Shamata to the south is a major producer of potatoes. Lately, flower farming has brought new life to Nyahururu. Suera Flowers is a pioneer in this venture. The cool temperate weather, land availability and cheap labor may be some of the attractions to flower farming.

Nyahururu is also frequented by marathon and cross-country runners for practicing before major events due to its high altitude.

Samuel Wanjirŭ, the Olympic Marathon Record holder and the first Kenyan to win the Marathon at the Olympics, called Nyahururu home until his death on May 16th, 2011. Other notables from Nyahururu are John Ngŭgĭ and Godffrey Gitahi Kariuki.

The Pan African School of Theology, an evangelical theological college founded in 2006, is located near the town. Another Bible school is the Emmanuel Bible Institute. The Institute offers diplomas and certificates in theology. It also offers courses in music and various instruments.

In 2010, Nyahururu was the site of an internationally reported incident in which police rescued a woman who was under threat of lynching after she shoplifted two Bibles from a supermarket.^[3]

Notes

1. ^ [1]
2. ^ [2]
3. ^ James Munyeki, Mob attacks woman caught stealing Bible in the Standard (Kenya), 2010 June 25 (accessed 2010 June 24).

Coordinates: 0°2′N 36°22′E / 0.033°N 36.367°E / 0.033; 36.367

See also

• List of highest towns by country