Kitengela is a municipality in the Kajiado County of Kenya, located 30 Kilometers south of the capital Nairobi, forming part of the greater Metropolitan Area. It is approximately 7,439.50 hectares
The Kitengela municipality is part of a larger rangeland ecosystem called the Athi-Kaputei Plains. It is in a region of Undulating slopes, which become rolling and hilly towards the Ngong Hills. It lies at an altitude of about 1,700m above sea level and is characterized by gender slopes. The main rivers & drainage areas are; Athi River, include Kisaju, Green valley, and Ilkeek Lemedungi River most are seasonal.
Kitengela begun as The Kitengela group ranch, made up of 18,292 ha and 214 registered members which was subdivided in 1988 in efforts by the Government to encourage private land ownership in pastoral systems, with the aim of intensifying and commercializing livestock production. After subdivision of the group ranch, land fragmentation and sales have continued at a steady and escalating pace.
About Us
In Kenya municipalities are devolved units of county governments created under the urban and cities Act 2012 and further elaborated in various policy documents. The Act identifies urban and cities areas as the main contributors of the GDP accounting for about 70% of the GDP.
Kitengela municipality is located 30 kilometers from Nairobi city. It is approximately 7,439.50 hectares. Kitengela comprises of 2 Wards with 2 sub-locations.
The wards include
- Kitengela and Oloosirkon Sholinke ward.
- Kaputei north ward
Sub-locations include:
- Kitengela sub location and
- Kisaju sub location.
Kajiado County with an area of 21,292 Km2 and a population of 687, 312 (2019 population census) is mother to 5 constituencies and 3 municipalities.
Mission
To promote a peaceful, and sustainable society for the youth to ensuring that every young person reaches potential.
Vision
A peaceful and sustainable society in which young people thrive, contribute effectively to governance, socio-economic development, and achieve their potential.
Goal
To empower majority of young people promote peace and live peaceful and meaningful lives.
Kitengela In Brief
Topography and drainage
The Kitengela municipality is part of a larger rangeland ecosystem called the Athi-Kaputei Plains. It is in a region of Undulating slopes, which become rolling and hilly towards the Ngong Hills. It lies at an altitude of about 1,700m above sea level and is characterized by gender slopes.The main rivers & drainage areas are; Athi River, include Kisaju, Green valley, and Ilkeek Lemedungi River most are seasonal.
Climate
The Kitengela municipality is part of a larger rangeland ecosystem called the Athi-Kaputei Plains. It is in a region of Undulating slopes, which become rolling and hilly towards the Ngong Hills. It lies at an altitude of about 1,700m above sea level and is characterized by gender slopes.The main rivers & drainage areas are; Athi River, include Kisaju, Green valley, and Ilkeek Lemedungi River most are seasonal
Water Sources
Area gets its water mainly from Export processing zone. (EPZ). Water from the source undergoes full treatment before supply. Most of the rivers are seasonal hence unreliable. The other sources of water provision are boreholes, wells and water pans.Use of rainwater harvesting is underutilized mainly due to poor rainwater harvesting mechanisms.
Water Pollution
Water pollution experienced in the Municipal area is caused by improper domestic and industrial wastewater disposal. Most of the wastewater is generated from the household, farms and companies.In the urban centers and directed into the nearby rivers.
Population Size
The Kitengela municipality is both urban and rural. The informal sector is the major employer of the population in Kitengela. Most of the self-employed persons engage in trade, industrial activities, horticulture/floriculture and tourist sector sale of beads. However, we have a huge productive population in the Municipality that is unemployed.There is also a huge population that works in the neighboring counties of Nairobi and Machakos.
Employment
Services sector is the main source of employment followed by manufacturing. In terms of gender, formal sector employment is still male-dominated, with women accounting for about 30 per cent of total formal employment.Of female employees in the modern/formal sector, about 60 per cent work in the community, social and personal services.
Transportation
Kitengela is dominated by transportable Road and Rail transport. The Namanga transnational highway is the major road. Light and heavy transporters are busy throughout.
Flora & Fauna
The planning area has relatively homogenous vegetation consisting primarily of dry savannah, scattered Acacia and banalities bushes. Open grassland with scattered trees dominated by the acacia species and the whistling thorn shrub
Education
There exist a lot of public primary and secondary schools that are not adequate to the growing population. Private investors have also established schools of at different levels. These schools include international schools, colleges and universities.
There are more opportunities in this sector.
Library Facilities
The nearest library facilities are located in Nairobi. With emergence of universities, colleges, primary schools, and a relatively young population, it is imperative to have adequate space for library facilities in major residential and commercial zones. According to planning Standards, a population of 80,000 persons is supposed to be served by a library.
Firm and non-porous soils ate should be considered when allocating the cemeteries
Sports and Recreation
Sports including athletics and soccer arc a major industry and of great interest to the youth and the municipal has set aside land to develop a modern stadium.The plains are a great sport for those interested in athletics.
Investment Opportunities
Kitengela municipality offers numerous investment opportunities in the manufacturing sector, infrastructural development, financial sector, agro-processing, agro-chemicals, chemicals, pharmaceutical, mining and mineral processing, electrical and electronics, engineering, and construction industry.There is a big market in Nairobi metropolis for products such as industrial machinery, agriculture, transport. Other opportunities exist in tourism sector, financial services, textile sector, food industry, commercial dairy farming, LPG supply and distribution, and fertilizer sub-sector.
In recent years, economic recovery has been spurred by the buoyancy performing hospitality industry hotels and restaurants), transport and communication, as well as commerce (wholesale and retail trade), that have reported double-digit growth rates. The performance of the hospitality industry and, to certain extent, transport and communication, reflects the rapid growth of the tourism industry.
The on-going liberalization and privatization present enormous investment opportunities to private investors depending on interest.
Solid Waste Management
Each individual plot and household manages its own solid waste. Refuse collection and disposal is currently Undertaken by private garbage collection firms even though there is provision of a public dumpsite in the western Edge of Kitengela in Noonkopir area. Other residents dispose waste in open spaces; riparian, and along the Roadside, hence polluting the environment. Kajiado County has subcontracted solid waste management to private Service providers. This is yet to be properly managed.The main wastewater disposal systems are septic tanks, pit latrines and main sewer. We need to reorganize this sector for maximum benefit taking advantage of the new technologies in waste management and recycling.
Air Pollution
In kitengelamajor sources of these pollutants include Manufacturing plants, power plants, waste incinerators, motor vehicles, construction activities, fuels, neutral windblown conduits
Trade and Markets
There are broad areas of collaboration in this sector. It has not been fully maximized