Embu, Kenya
| Embu | |
|---|---|
| Town | |
 |
|
 Embu
|
|
| Coordinates: 0°32′S 37°37′E / 0.533°S 37.617°E | |
| Country |
 Kenya
|
| County | Embu County |
| Wards | Blue Valley, Itabua, Kamiu, Kangaru, Majengo, Matakari and Njukiri |
| Government | |
| • Type | Municipal Council |
| Elevation | 4,429 ft (1,350 m) |
| Population (1999) | |
| • Total | 41,092 |
| Time zone | EAT (UTC+3) |
| Postal Code | 60100 |
| Area code(s) | 068 |
| Climate | Aw |
Embu is a town located approximately 120 kilometres (75 mi) northeast of Nairobi towards Mount Kenya. Embu serves as the provincial headquarters of Eastern Province in Kenya and is also the county headquarters of Embu County. Located on the south-eastern slopes of Mount Kenya, the town of Embu had a population of 41,092 in 1999.
Embu town is a major trading centre in Eastern Kenya. For a long time, it was the main economic center for the Embu and Mbeere communities as well as other communities from central Kenya. Mbeere was carved out of the former Embu district in the 1990s and Siakago town, about 25 km (16 mi) east of Embu town was made its headquarters.
Embu has an elevation of 1,350 metres (4,429 ft), and is itself located on the foothills of Mount Kenya. It is the former provincial headquarters of the Eastern province, and now the Embu County Headquarters, hosting major public provincial offices including Embu Provincial General Hospital.
The area around Embu Town has conducive altitude for endurance training by athletes. As such, Kenyan athletes utilise the altitude and climate advantage of Embu for training, with specialised facilities at Kigari Teachers' Training College, about 15 km (9.3 mi) outside Embu Town.
The town of Embu, Kenya is known for its jacaranda trees that literally turn the municipality into a purple shower when in bloom. The Jacaranda trees usually bloom in October–November each year, depending on the rainfall.
The town of Embu slopes from west to east, with the highest elevation at the Ruvingaci River, up to the Kangaru School as well as from Njukiri forest in the west to Muthatari in the east, a radius of about 10 km (6 mi) in size. Embu has a small airstrip (1 km (0.62 mi) long), which is 7.1 km (4.4 mi) southeast of the heart of the town.
Way past Kigari Teachers College approximately 25 km from Embu Town is a small town known as Kianjokoma that is a centre for other shopping centres like Miandari, Kathande, Kiriari, Irangi and others; This town is fast growing due to the situated Tea factory - Mungania Tea Factory and now a County Hospital as well as a police line in the area. Other small towns in Embu are Kibugu, Karurumo, Rukuriri, Mukuuri, Kathageri, Kanja and Manyatta among others.
...
Wikipedia