Machakos County is county 016 of Kenya’s 47, in the former Eastern Province and on Nairobi’s south-eastern doorstep. Machakos town is the county capital, and the Athi River–Mlolongo belt is the largest built-up area. The 2019 census counted 1,421,932 residents across 6,043 km².
| Fact | Value |
|---|---|
| Capital | Machakos town |
| County code | 016 |
| Population (2019 census) | 1,421,932 |
| Area | 6,043 km² |
| Former province | Eastern |
| Sub-counties | 8 |
| County assembly wards | 40 |
| Main languages | Kikamba, Kiswahili, English |
Towns and Villages in Machakos County
Machakos is the most urban county in the former Eastern Province. Just over half its people live in towns, most of them along the Nairobi–Mombasa road.
| Town | Type | Population |
|---|---|---|
| Mlolongo | Town | 136,351 |
| Athi River (Mavoko) | Town | 81,302 |
| Machakos | Town, county capital | 63,767 |
| Makutano | Market town | 12,396 |
| Matuu | Market town | 12,073 |
| Tala | Market town | 11,446 |
| Kangundo | Market town | 10,258 |
| Masii | Market town | 3,653 |
| Kithimani | Market town | 2,923 |
The gazetteer records 223 named settlements in Machakos County, listed A–Z below.
- Athi River
- Ekarakara
- Githunguri
- Iiuni
- Ikalaasa
- Ikombe
- Imilimi
- Isinga
- Isooni
- Isuvya
- Isyukoni
- Ithaeni
- Itikoni
- Itithini
- Iuuma
- Iviani
- Kaani
- Kabaa
- Kaewa
- Kaguku
- Kaiani
- Kaingutu
- Kaitha
- Kakalia
- Kakayuni
- Kalama
- Kalanzoni
- Kalasa
- Kali
- Kalia
- Kaliluni
- Kambiti
- Kamuthwa
- Kandumbu
- Kangethe
- Kango
- Kangonde
- Kangondi
- Kangundo
- Kanzalu
- Kaonyweni
- Kasaini
- Kasolongo
- Katangi
- Katangini
- Katelembo
- Kathaana
- Kathama
- Katheka
- Katheka-Kai
- Kathiini
- Kathithyamaa
- Katitu
- Katoloni
- Katulani
- Katuluni
- Kaviani
- Kavumbu
- Kavyuni
- Kawaa
- Kawethei
- Keaa
- Kenplains
- Kenyatta
- Kiatuni
- Kikawani
- Kikombe
- Kikuuni
- Kilala
- Kilembwa
- Kingatuani
- Kingongo
- Kinoi
- Kinyaata
- Kiseuni
- Kisovo
- Kisukioni
- Kitanga Settlement
- Kitangani
- Kiteta
- Kithangaini
- Kithayoni
- Kithembe
- Kithii
- Kithimani
- Kithunguini
- Kithyoko
- Kitie
- Kitonyini
- Kitooni
- Kitueni
- Kituli
- Kitulu
- Kitwii
- Kiu
- Kiunduani
- Kivaa
- Kivandini
- Kivani
- Kivi
- Kivumbuni
- Kivuthi
- Koma
- Kombe
- Konza
- Kundu
- Kunikila
- Kusyomuomo
- Kwa Mutula
- Kwakathule
- Kwakyumbu
- Kwamuathe
- Kwandani
- Kwandoo
- Kwauni
- Kyaani
- Kyakivoa
- Kyamatula
- Kyambusya
- Kyandili
- Kyangala
- Kyanganga
- Kyanzavi
- Kyawango
- Kyethivo
- Kyevaluki
- Kyondoni
- Kyua
- Kyuluni
- Lelanthi
- Lema
- Liani
- Machakos
- Maiyuni
- Makakoi
- Makandara
- Makaveti
- Makilwa
- Makutano
- Mananja
- Mangauni
- Mango
- Manooni
- Manyata
- Masaani
- Masaku
- Masii
- Masinga
- Matetani
- Mathatani
- Matheini
- Mathingau
- Matithini
- Matungulu
- Matuu
- Mbaikini
- Mbee
- Mbelini
- Mbiuni
- Mbuani
- Mbukuni
- Mbusyani
- Mbuuni
- Mikuini
- Misakwani
- Miseleni
- Misyani
- Mitaboni
- Miu
- Miumbuni
- Miwani
- Mlolongo
- Mua Hills Settlement
- Muisuni
- Muka Mukuu
- Mukuyuni
- Mulaani
- Mumbuni
- Mungala
- Muthesia
- Muthetheni
- Muthwani
- Mutondoni
- Mutuyu
- Muumandu
- Mwaasua
- Mwala
- Mwambathana
- Mwanga
- Myanyani
- Myondoni
- Ndalani
- Ndithiini
- Ngamba
- Ngangani
- Ngelani
- Ngiini
- Ngoleni
- Ngukaimwe
- Nguluni
- Nyaani
- Nzaikoni
- Nzaini
- Nzeveni
- Nzukini Estate
- Ol Donyo
- Potha
- Sengani
- Syanthi
- Tala
- Thatha
- Thinu
- Tuoloni
- Uamaini
- Utithini
- Vyulia
- Wakaela
- Wamunyu
- Wetaa
- Yamalwa
- Yathui
- Yatta
- Zaikone
Geography
Machakos rises from about 700 m on the Athi plains to 1,800 m on the Iveti, Mua and Kanzalu hills. The Athi River crosses the county from west to east and feeds the Fourteen Falls near the Thika boundary. The Tana River touches the north-east, where the Masinga dam holds the largest reservoir in Kenya.
Rainfall is bimodal and unreliable, between 500 mm and 1,300 mm a year, with the hills getting the most. Eight counties border Machakos: Nairobi County and Kiambu County to the west, Embu County to the north, Kitui County to the east, Makueni County to the south, Kajiado County to the south-west, and Murang’a County and Kirinyaga County to the north-west.
Demographics
The 2019 census recorded 710,707 men, 711,191 women and 34 intersex persons. Density is about 235 people per km², rising steeply in Mavoko sub-county, where Mlolongo and Syokimau absorb commuters working in Nairobi.
The Kamba are the majority community and Kikamba the first language of most residents. The industrial towns near the county line are mixed, and Kiswahili is the working language there. Athi River sub-county alone grew from 139,502 people in 2009 to 322,499 in 2019.
Economy and Local Life
Two economies sit side by side. In the west, Athi River and Mavoko carry cement works, steel rolling mills, an export processing zone and warehousing for Nairobi. Konza Technopolis, the state technology city, is being built on the county’s southern plains.
Elsewhere the county farms. Maize, beans, pigeon peas, cowpeas and sorghum are the staples. Mangoes, oranges, French beans and tomatoes are the cash crops, much of it irrigated from the Athi and Thika rivers. Yatta and Masinga grow mangoes at scale. Sand harvesting, quarrying and dairy round out rural incomes. The busiest markets are Machakos, Tala, Kangundo, Matuu, Mwala and Masii.
History
The county takes its name from Masaku wa Munyeti, the Kamba leader whose settlement stood where Machakos town now is. In 1889 the Imperial British East Africa Company opened a station there under John Ainsworth, making it the first inland administrative centre in what became Kenya.
Machakos lost that role when the Uganda Railway ran 60 km to the west and administration moved to Nairobi in 1899. It remained the district headquarters of Ukambani through the colonial period. Makueni District was split from it in 1992, and Machakos County was formed under the 2010 constitution, with its first county government sworn in during 2013.
Getting There
The A8 Nairobi–Mombasa highway runs through Mlolongo, Athi River and Salama, and carries most traffic into the county. Machakos town lies about 63 km from Nairobi, reached by the branch road that leaves the A8 at Athi River. Kangundo and Tala are served by the Nairobi–Kangundo road, and Matuu by the A3 towards Garissa.
The standard gauge railway stops at Athi River and Konza, both with passenger services between Nairobi and Mombasa. Jomo Kenyatta International Airport is 20 km from Mlolongo. Matatus for Machakos leave Nairobi’s Machakos Country Bus and Railways termini every few minutes.
FAQ
What is the capital of Machakos County?
Machakos town, which had 63,767 residents at the 2019 census and hosts the county assembly and governor’s offices.
What is the largest town in Machakos County?
By census population it is Mlolongo, with 136,351 residents, followed by Athi River with 81,302.
How many towns and villages are in Machakos County?
Gazetteer records name 223 settlements, all listed on this page.
Which sub-counties make up Machakos County?
Masinga, Yatta, Kangundo, Matungulu, Kathiani, Mavoko, Machakos Town and Mwala, holding 40 county assembly wards.
How far is Machakos town from Nairobi?
About 63 km, roughly an hour by road through Athi River.
Who is the governor of Machakos County?
The county governor is Wavinya Ndeti, elected in August 2022.