Embu

Location: Located in Eastern Kenya, it borders the following counties; Tharaka Nithi to the North, Kitui to the East, Machakos to the South, Muranga to the South West, Kirinyaga to the West, and Meru to the North West.

Area (Km 2): 2,818 Km 2

Climate/Weather: The temperature ranges from a minimum of 12 °C to a maximum of 27.0 °C. The average annual rainfall is 1495mm.

Road Network: Bitumen Surface (120 Km), Gravel Surface (402 Km), Earth Surface (914.3 Km)

• Manyatta
• Runyenjes
• Gachoka
• Siakago

Population: 516,212 (Male – 49 %, Female – 51 %)

Population Density: 183 people per Km 2

National Percentage: 1.34 %

Annual Growth Rate: 1.7 % (Embu) 3.0 % (Mbeere)

Age Distribution: 0-14 years (37.5 %), 15-64 years (57.3 %), 65+ years (5.2 %)

Number of Households: 131,683

Some Strengths of Embu County include:

• Natural resources as wildlife, livestock, arable land, water, pasture, forests, hills, Mwea Rice Irrigation which is the largest producer of rice in Kenya
• Tourist Attractions as waterfalls- Mbui Njeru waterfalls & Nthenge Njeru waterfalls, Kimiriri and Karue Hills
• Main Economic Activities include dairy farming, coffee, tea, pyrethrum Maize, Beans, Yams, Cassava, Millet, Sorghum, Bananas and rice

Potential Minerals: garnet, beryl, muscovite, graphite, asbestos, iron ore

Number of Institutions (2007): Primary (494), Secondary (147)

Primary: Enrolment (125,418)

Teacher to Pupil Ratio: 1:32 (Public Schools)

Secondary: Enrolment (27,173)

Teacher to Pupil Ratio: 1:23 (Public Schools)

Tertiary: Over 15 (Includes a University Affiliate College, Youth Polytechnics, Teacher Training Colleges, Technical Colleges, and Several Commercial Colleges)

Adult Literacy Classes: Enrolment; Over 1,500

Health Facilities: 133 – Provincial General Hospital (1), District Hospitals (2), Sub- District Hospitals (2), Dispensaries (74), Health Centres (12), Medical Clinics (34), Nursing Homes (2), Maternity Home (1), Others (5)

Doctor to Population Ratio: 1:10,474 (Embu), 1:57,000 (Mbeere)

Infant Mortality Rates: 56/1000 (Embu), 71/1000 (Mbeere)

Under Five Mortality Rates: 6/1000 (Embu), 119/1000 (Mbeere)

Prevalent Diseases: Malaria, URTI, Skin Diseases, Intestinal Worms, Eye Infections, Diarrhoea

Notable Hospitals: Embu Provincial General Hospital, Mbeere District Hospital, Runyenjes District Hospital