{"id":47,"date":"2026-07-02T01:18:44","date_gmt":"2026-07-02T01:18:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/townsvillages.com\/kenya\/eastern\/embu\/"},"modified":"2026-08-01T07:53:08","modified_gmt":"2026-08-01T07:53:08","slug":"embu","status":"publish","type":"eastern","link":"https:\/\/townsvillages.com\/kenya\/eastern\/embu\/","title":{"rendered":"Embu"},"content":{"rendered":"

Embu County is county 014 of Kenya’s 47, on the south-eastern slopes of Mount Kenya in the former Eastern Province. Embu town is the capital and the largest urban centre. The 2019 census counted 608,599 residents across 2,821 km\u00b2.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Key facts<\/caption>\n
Fact<\/th>\nValue<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Capital<\/th>\nEmbu town<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
County code<\/th>\n014<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Population (2019 census)<\/th>\n608,599<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Area<\/th>\n2,821 km\u00b2<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Former province<\/th>\nEastern<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Sub-counties<\/th>\n4<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
County assembly wards<\/th>\n20<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Main languages<\/th>\nKiembu, Kimbeere, Kiswahili, English<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Towns and Villages in Embu County<\/h2>\n

Embu town dwarfs the rest of the county. Runyenjes serves the coffee and tea belt, while Siakago, Ishiara and Kiritiri are the market centres of the drier Mbeere lowlands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Largest urban centres, 2019 census<\/caption>\n
Town<\/th>\nType<\/th>\nPopulation<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Embu<\/td>\nTown, county capital<\/td>\n64,979<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Runyenjes<\/td>\nTown<\/td>\n4,943<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Siakago<\/td>\nMarket town<\/td>\n4,315<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

The gazetteer records 125 named settlements in Embu County, listed A–Z below.<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Chiamanda<\/li>\n
  2. Ciangera<\/li>\n
  3. Embu<\/li>\n
  4. Ena<\/li>\n
  5. Gacabari<\/li>\n
  6. Gachoka<\/li>\n
  7. Gachuriri<\/li>\n
  8. Gakwegore<\/li>\n
  9. Gangara<\/li>\n
  10. Gategi<\/li>\n
  11. Gatunduri<\/li>\n
  12. Gichera<\/li>\n
  13. Gichiche<\/li>\n
  14. Gikuuri<\/li>\n
  15. Gitare<\/li>\n
  16. Githegi<\/li>\n
  17. Githimu<\/li>\n
  18. Gituara<\/li>\n
  19. Gituri<\/li>\n
  20. Gwakaethe<\/li>\n
  21. Igumori<\/li>\n
  22. Irabari<\/li>\n
  23. Irang<\/li>\n
  24. Iriamurai<\/li>\n
  25. Ishiara<\/li>\n
  26. Itira<\/li>\n
  27. Kabuguari<\/li>\n
  28. Kagaari<\/li>\n
  29. Kairuri<\/li>\n
  30. Kamburu Bridge<\/li>\n
  31. Kamegwa<\/li>\n
  32. Kamogo<\/li>\n
  33. Kamutongi<\/li>\n
  34. Kandare<\/li>\n
  35. Kangaru<\/li>\n
  36. Kangethia<\/li>\n
  37. Kanja<\/li>\n
  38. Kanyuambora<\/li>\n
  39. Kapundore<\/li>\n
  40. Karaba<\/li>\n
  41. Karambari<\/li>\n
  42. Karii<\/li>\n
  43. Karingare<\/li>\n
  44. Karuari<\/li>\n
  45. Karungu<\/li>\n
  46. Karura<\/li>\n
  47. Karurumo<\/li>\n
  48. Kasafari<\/li>\n
  49. Kathangari<\/li>\n
  50. Kathangariri<\/li>\n
  51. Kathanjure<\/li>\n
  52. Kathari<\/li>\n
  53. Kathigagacheru<\/li>\n
  54. Kathugu<\/li>\n
  55. Kathunguri<\/li>\n
  56. Kawanjaro<\/li>\n
  57. Kegaa<\/li>\n
  58. Kerie<\/li>\n
  59. Kerwa<\/li>\n
  60. Kevoe<\/li>\n
  61. Kevote<\/li>\n
  62. Kiambere<\/li>\n
  63. Kiamuringa<\/li>\n
  64. Kiangungi<\/li>\n
  65. Kianjokoma<\/li>\n
  66. Kianjuki<\/li>\n
  67. Kibogi<\/li>\n
  68. Kibugu<\/li>\n
  69. Kieriri<\/li>\n
  70. Kiguambiti<\/li>\n
  71. Kigumo<\/li>\n
  72. Kiriari<\/li>\n
  73. Kirigi<\/li>\n
  74. Kirigo<\/li>\n
  75. Kirima<\/li>\n
  76. Kiritiri<\/li>\n
  77. Kithunguri<\/li>\n
  78. Kogari<\/li>\n
  79. Kombos<\/li>\n
  80. Kune<\/li>\n
  81. Kyeni<\/li>\n
  82. Machanga<\/li>\n
  83. Machumo<\/li>\n
  84. Makengi<\/li>\n
  85. Manyata<\/li>\n
  86. Mariki<\/li>\n
  87. Marimari<\/li>\n
  88. Marurumo<\/li>\n
  89. Mashamba<\/li>\n
  90. Matakari<\/li>\n
  91. Mavuria<\/li>\n
  92. Mbiruri<\/li>\n
  93. Mbondoni<\/li>\n
  94. Mbonjuki<\/li>\n
  95. Mbubori<\/li>\n
  96. Mbukori<\/li>\n
  97. Muchonoke<\/li>\n
  98. Mukangu<\/li>\n
  99. Mukiria<\/li>\n
  100. Mukuria<\/li>\n
  101. Munyori<\/li>\n
  102. Muringari<\/li>\n
  103. Mushamba<\/li>\n
  104. Mutugu<\/li>\n
  105. Mutus<\/li>\n
  106. Ndundure<\/li>\n
  107. Nembure<\/li>\n
  108. Ngandure<\/li>\n
  109. Ngegiri<\/li>\n
  110. Ngenge<\/li>\n
  111. Ngiori<\/li>\n
  112. Ngoche<\/li>\n
  113. Ngovio<\/li>\n
  114. Ngunyumu<\/li>\n
  115. Nthagaiya<\/li>\n
  116. Nyangwa<\/li>\n
  117. Riachina<\/li>\n
  118. Riaitune<\/li>\n
  119. Riakanau<\/li>\n
  120. Rugumu<\/li>\n
  121. Rukuriri<\/li>\n
  122. Runyenjes<\/li>\n
  123. Siakago<\/li>\n
  124. Thambana<\/li>\n
  125. Wango<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Geography<\/h2>\n

    Land falls from about 4,570 m at the Mount Kenya peaks to 500 m where the Tana River leaves the county. The upper zone is forest and tea; the middle zone, around Embu and Runyenjes, grows coffee and macadamia; the Mbeere lowlands are semi-arid.<\/p>\n

    The Tana River forms the eastern and southern boundary and carries the Seven Forks hydropower scheme. Masinga, Kamburu, Gitaru, Kindaruma and Kiambere dams sit on or beside the county line and supply much of Kenya’s electricity. Four counties border Embu: Kirinyaga County<\/a> to the west, Tharaka-Nithi County<\/a> to the north, Kitui County<\/a> to the east and Machakos County<\/a> to the south.<\/p>\n

    Demographics<\/h2>\n

    The 2019 census recorded 304,208 men, 304,367 women and 24 intersex persons, in households averaging 3.3 people. Density is about 216 people per km\u00b2, heaviest in Manyatta and Runyenjes and lightest in Mbeere North.<\/p>\n

    The Embu and Mbeere are the two main communities. Kiembu is spoken in Manyatta and Runyenjes, Kimbeere in Mbeere North and Mbeere South. Kamba, Meru and Kikuyu minorities live along the county edges. Christianity is the religion of about 97 per cent of residents.<\/p>\n

    Economy and Local Life<\/h2>\n

    Agriculture employs roughly seven in ten working residents. The highlands produce coffee, tea, macadamia, bananas, avocados and dairy. The lowlands produce sorghum, millet, green grams, cowpeas and cotton, with goats and beehives on the drier ground.<\/p>\n

    Hydropower is the other large earner. The Seven Forks dams support fishing at Kiambere and Masinga and draw maintenance and construction work. Embu town is a regional administrative and university centre, home to the University of Embu and a level-five referral hospital. Market days pull crowds to Embu, Runyenjes, Kiritiri, Ishiara and Siakago.<\/p>\n

    History<\/h2>\n

    The Embu and Mbeere trace their settlement of the Mount Kenya foothills to migrations from the east several centuries ago. British administration reached the area in the early 1900s. Embu town then grew as a district and later provincial headquarters for the whole of Eastern Province.<\/p>\n

    Mbeere was split off as a separate district in 1996 and rejoined Embu when the county was created under the 2010 constitution. Construction of the Seven Forks dams, from Kindaruma in 1968 to Kiambere in 1988, reshaped the county’s eastern edge and displaced farming communities along the Tana.<\/p>\n

    Getting There<\/h2>\n

    Embu town lies about 120 km north-east of Nairobi on the Thika–Embu–Meru highway, a drive of roughly two hours. The same road continues north to Chuka and Meru and south-west to Thika and Nairobi.<\/p>\n

    A second route runs from Nairobi through Matuu and Kiritiri into Mbeere South, useful for the lowland centres. Buses and matatus run all day from Nairobi’s Tea Room and Machakos Country Bus stages. Embu has no scheduled air service; the nearest is Nanyuki Airstrip, about 130 km away.<\/p>\n

    FAQ<\/h2>\n

    What is the capital of Embu County?<\/h3>\n

    Embu town, with 64,979 residents at the 2019 census. It is also the county’s commercial and university centre.<\/p>\n

    How many towns and villages are in Embu County?<\/h3>\n

    Gazetteer records name 125 settlements, all listed on this page.<\/p>\n

    Which sub-counties make up Embu County?<\/h3>\n

    Four: Manyatta, Runyenjes, Mbeere North and Mbeere South, holding 20 county assembly wards.<\/p>\n

    What languages are spoken in Embu County?<\/h3>\n

    Kiembu in Manyatta and Runyenjes, Kimbeere in the two Mbeere sub-counties, with Kiswahili and English used in trade and schools.<\/p>\n

    How far is Embu from Nairobi?<\/h3>\n

    About 120 km by road through Thika, usually two hours.<\/p>\n

    Who is the governor of Embu County?<\/h3>\n

    The county governor is Cecily Mbarire, elected in August 2022.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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