Thika is a
market townMarket town or market right is a legal term, originating in the medieval period, for a European settlement that has the right to host markets, distinguishing it from a village and city...
in Central Province,
KenyaThe Republic of Kenya is a country in East Africa. Lying along the Indian Ocean, at the equator, Kenya is bordered by Ethiopia , Somalia , Tanzania , Uganda plus Lake Victoria , and Sudan . The capital city is Nairobi. Kenya spans an area about 85% the size of France or Texas...
, lying on the A2 road 40 km north east of
NairobiNairobi is the capital and largest city of Kenya. The city and its surrounding area also forms the Nairobi Province. The name "Nairobi" comes from the Maasai phrase Enkare Nyirobi, which translates to "the place of cool waters"...
, and on the
Thika RiverThe Thika River flows through central Kenya and is a tributary of Tana River. The Thika River is a significant source of hydroelectric power in Kenya and provides most of the water supply for Nairobi, Kenya's capital and largest city....
. Thika has a population of 88,265 (1999 census)
and is growing rapidly, as is the entire greater Nairobi area. The elevation of Thika is 1531 meters (5026 feet) in altitude.
Thika, Kenya is home to the Chania Falls and the Thika Falls, while Ol Donyo Sabuk National Park lies to its south east.
The town has a railway station, but there is only limited passenger service.
Thika is a
market townMarket town or market right is a legal term, originating in the medieval period, for a European settlement that has the right to host markets, distinguishing it from a village and city...
in Central Province,
KenyaThe Republic of Kenya is a country in East Africa. Lying along the Indian Ocean, at the equator, Kenya is bordered by Ethiopia , Somalia , Tanzania , Uganda plus Lake Victoria , and Sudan . The capital city is Nairobi. Kenya spans an area about 85% the size of France or Texas...
, lying on the A2 road 40 km north east of
NairobiNairobi is the capital and largest city of Kenya. The city and its surrounding area also forms the Nairobi Province. The name "Nairobi" comes from the Maasai phrase Enkare Nyirobi, which translates to "the place of cool waters"...
, and on the
Thika RiverThe Thika River flows through central Kenya and is a tributary of Tana River. The Thika River is a significant source of hydroelectric power in Kenya and provides most of the water supply for Nairobi, Kenya's capital and largest city....
. Thika has a population of 88,265 (1999 census)
and is growing rapidly, as is the entire greater Nairobi area. The elevation of Thika is 1531 meters (5026 feet) in altitude.
Thika, Kenya is home to the Chania Falls and the Thika Falls, while Ol Donyo Sabuk National Park lies to its south east.
The town has a railway station, but there is only limited passenger service. The town is headquarters of the
Thika DistrictThika District is an administrative district in the Central Province of Kenya. Its capital town is Thika. The district is adjacent to the northeastern border of Nairobi. The district has a population of 645.713 ....
. The district is the prime
pineapplePineapple is the common name for an edible tropical plant and also its fruit. It is native to the southern part of Brazil, and Paraguay. Pineapple is eaten fresh or canned and is available as a juice or in juice combinations. It is used in desserts, salads, as a complement to meat dishes and in...
-growing region in Kenya.
Thika is close to "Fourteen Falls" which is a popular picnic site.
Thika was formerly a center for light industry, but the focus has shifted to the
Athi RiverAthi River is a town outside Nairobi, Kenya in Eastern Province. It is also known as Mavoko. The town hosts Mavoko municipal council and headquarters of Mavoko division which is part of the Machakos District. The town has an urban population of 22.000 and a total population of 48,260...
. The decline of the textile industry has hit local firms, including Thika Cloth Mills (TCM), which is a cotton to fabric manufacturer that competes against Egyptian & Chinese manufacturers.
The Flame Trees of Thika (Memories of an African Childhood)The Flame Trees of Thikais a British television mini-series of seven hour-long episodes made by Euston Films for Thames Television in 1981. It was adapted by John Hawkesworth from the 1959 book of the same title by Elspeth Huxley, and is set in and around the town of Thika in Kenya's Central Province...
is a book by
Elspeth HuxleyElspeth Joscelin Huxley CBE was a polymath, writer, journalist, broadcaster, magistrate, environmentalist, farmer, and government advisor....
, later adapted for television by
Euston FilmsEuston Films was a British film and television production company. It was a subsidiary company of Thames Television, and operated from the 1970s to the 1990s, producing various series for Thames, which were screened nationally on the ITV network...
for
Thames TelevisionThames Television was a licensee of the British ITV television network, covering London and parts of the surrounding counties on weekdays from 30 July 1968 until 31 December 1992. It was both a broadcaster and a producer of television programmes, making shows both for the local region it covered...
. It describes the life of English settlers in the "
White HighlandsThe term White Highlands describes an area in the central uplands of Kenya, so-called because, during the period of British Colonialism, white immigrants settled there in considerable numbers. The main motivation was to take advantage of the good soils and growing conditions, as well as the cool...
" in Edwardian times. A
flame treeFlame tree is a common name used in various parts of the world to refer to several different species of tree:* Delonix regia - Royal Poinciana* Brachychiton acerifolius - Illawarra flame tree* Koelreuteria bipinnata - Chinese flame tree...
turns entirely reddish orange in June each year, depending on the previous rainfall.
History of Thika
There are two explanations for the name Thika. One has its origin in the
KikuyuThe Kikuyu are Kenya's most populous ethnic group. 'Kikuyu' is the Swahilized form of the proper name and pronunciation of Gĩkũyũ although they refer to themselves as the Agĩkũyũ people....
word
Guthika, meaning
to bury. During a great drought, the
MaasaiThe Maasai are an indigenous African ethnic group of semi-nomadic people located in Kenya and northern Tanzania. Due to their distinctive customs and dress and residence near the many game parks of East Africa, they are among the most well known of African ethnic groups...
ventured outside of their normal territories looking for water for their huge herds of cattle. Two rivers pass through
KikuyuThe Kikuyu are Kenya's most populous ethnic group. 'Kikuyu' is the Swahilized form of the proper name and pronunciation of Gĩkũyũ although they refer to themselves as the Agĩkũyũ people....
land, River Thika and Chania, both providing sustenance for the agricultural Kikuyu. With this water in contention, and both tribes desperate for survival, they fought a bloody battle that left few survivors. A mound near Blue Posts Hotel supposedly is where the dead warriors were buried.
The other explanation come from the
MaasaiThe Maasai are an indigenous African ethnic group of semi-nomadic people located in Kenya and northern Tanzania. Due to their distinctive customs and dress and residence near the many game parks of East Africa, they are among the most well known of African ethnic groups...
word
Sika meaning
rubbing something off an edge.
In addition, the area was originally inhabited by the Akamba tribe.
Towards the end of the 19th century, outsiders began to settle in this outpost, a convenient resting spot between
NairobiNairobi is the capital and largest city of Kenya. The city and its surrounding area also forms the Nairobi Province. The name "Nairobi" comes from the Maasai phrase Enkare Nyirobi, which translates to "the place of cool waters"...
and upcountry for British settlers. Europeans and Asians began to stop and remain at Thika, the former setting up farms, and the latter setting up shops. A monument in the shape of a pillar was erected by the British in the early 1900s in the central business district of Thika, it commemorates the founding of Thika as a town. The town was given its status by the government gazette in 1924. Thereafter it was elevated to a second class municipality when Kenya gained independence in 1963, and the first Mayor was enthroned in 1968.
The town has historical sites like the Mugumo Gardens which is named for the giant fig tree where the ancient legendary seer "Mugo wa Kibiro" prophesied. Believers claim that all of his prophesies have come to pass. According to legend, the fall of the tree would symbolise the fall of British rule in Kenya. The British Government re-inforced the tree to prevent it from falling, but it split into two parts and fell in two stages in 1963. This Land is said to belong to the first president Mzee Jomo Kenyatta Who Get it all to himself.
Economic Activities
Thika is externally serviced by a dual carriage way to
NairobiNairobi is the capital and largest city of Kenya. The city and its surrounding area also forms the Nairobi Province. The name "Nairobi" comes from the Maasai phrase Enkare Nyirobi, which translates to "the place of cool waters"...
, a highway to Garissa and also a railway line. Internally, the town has a well-maintained road network. The economic activities of the town include agriculture, particularly in the horticulture (exports mainly to Europe) and coffee industry (exports mainly to the USA and Europe). Other industries include textile (cotton), food processing (pineapples, macadamia nuts, wheat), tannery, motor vehicle assemblies and cigarette manufacturing. About one hundred small scale industries and about twenty major factories exist in and around the town.
Thika also has a bustling nightlife, ultra-modern recreational centers, including Thika Arcardes.
Schools in Thika
- Bambini School
- Chania High School
- Equator High School
- Gatumaini Primary School
- Gatanga CCM School
- Gatanga Girls High School
- Gatuanyaga Primary School
- General Kago Primary School
- Imani School (Kindergarten - Form IV)
- Jamhuri Primary School
- Joytown primary school
Joytown Primary School is a special school for physically handicapped children. The school is situated in Thika Municipality in Thika District in the Central Province of Kenya. It is about 45 kilometers from Nairobi, the capital of the Republic of Kenya...
- Kilimambogo Primary School
- Kianjahi Primary School
- Kirwara Boys High School
- Kiunyu High School
- Mang'u High School
Mang'u High School is a national high school established in 1925, now located near Thika, Kenya.- Early History :The school was started in 1925 by the Holy Ghost Fathers at Kabaa...
- Moi Academy Thika
- Mugumoini Primary School
- Muthiga High School
- St David's Primary School
- St Patrick's Primary School
- Thika High School
Thika High School is one of the oldest high schools in Kenya. Thika High school, also referred to as 'Hae', was built in colonial Kenya by the Presbyterian Church of East Africa . it was originally set at the site of the current Thogoto teachers college, but due to its proximity with another PCEA...
- Thika Primary School
- Thika Muslim Primary School
- Thika High School for the Blind
- Ngatho Primary School
- Thika Memorial Church School
- Trikha Girls High School
- Thika Complex Primary School
- Queen of Holy Rosary Primary School
thika barracks primary school
Colleges in Thika
External links