History of Makueni
About Makueni Way Back When
Brief History of Makueni County
Renowned through history as skilled hunters, traders, and artisans, with a rich cultural heritage for intricate wood carvings, medicinal practices, and a strong sense of community, the Kamba nation, estimated at about 4.6 million, make up, by sheer weight of numbers, one-tenth of Kenya’s peopling. Bantu by origin, living in the eastern and southeastern regions, primarily in Makueni, Kitui and Machakos counties, the genial and soft spoken Kamba, mingled with the quiet hospitality of the neighboring Swahili nation, also have a history rooted in long-distance trade.
For eons the Kamba were known as long-distance traders, exchanging goods with the coastal communities and neighboring societies, erstwhile developing a strong agricultural foundation. A figure often credited as the first Kamba to foster wood carving commercially was Mutisya Muge, who started carving in 1916 and sold his work to soldiers during World War I, although many scholars believe this art had been passed on for generations prior. Bearing many wits about the coastal Bantus, the Akamba are believed to have migrated from the Mount Kilimanjaro area, first settling in the Taita region alongside the Mijikenda. Their migration, around 1300 AD, coincides with the migration patterns of their present neighbours, the Ameru.
They next wave of migration came in 15th to 17th Century when many of the groups around Taita spread further inland. Population pressures led to further migrations, including movements through the plains to the coast and up the Tana river through Shimba hills. While the Ameru first headed west before eventually venturing north, the Akamba headed north then east to Mbooni Hills, noted at their nexus of dispersal in Ukambani. The earliest maps of Kenya indicate their present enclave as Ukamba Province, bordered Seyyid Said Province to the south, Maasailand to the west, Tanaland in the east and the Kenia Province in the north.
Stills and all, the Akamba community have their say about their origins in their homeland. The myth centers around the creation of the maiden man and woman, their placement on Nzaui rock, and subsequent events leading to the dispersal of the Kamba people. The footprints of the first couple, and their livestock, are said to be visible on Nzaui rock to this day. Mulungu then summoned another couple from the earth, the initiators of the “spirits clan” known as the Aimo. The couple from heaven only had sons, while the Aimo couple had only daughters, leading to intermarriage and an extended, prosperous family. In their abundance, they forgot to thank Mulungu, who then punished them with a famine – and they dispersed.
The region was divided into clans and sub-clans, with leadership under elders and local chiefs. The Kamba resisted external domination, including incursions by the Maasai and other neighboring communities. British colonization of Kenya began in the late 19th century, and the Ukambani region, including Makueni, came under British control. Agriculture is the main economic activity, with crops like maize, beans, green grams, and fruits (mangoes, oranges).
Between 1925-1936 the colonial government declared as Crown Land the areas settled by the Akamba around Ngulia Hills (present day Ngulia Lodge) in Tsavo. Although European farms had little impact on the Kamba, they did attract a few industries like Kenya Meat Corporation at Athi River and East African Portland Cement Company. Makueni District was hived-off Machakos District, in 1922, as one of thirteen districts forming Eastern Province. Much of Makueni County was not inhabited until the 1930’s due to low agricultural productivity. Owing to the semi-aridity to arid with low and erratic rainfall, hence highly prone to frequent drought, severe food shortages and scarcity of water, it was of little interest to early settlers but, surprisingly, of much interest to the early missioners in Kenya.
The whole of the area was native reserve, the portion east of the Athi River being part of the Kitui district, and that west of the river part of the Machakos district. Where inhabited the area was occupied by natives of the Akamba nation. Farming of crops and stock-keeping was practised in the northern, western and, to a lesser extent, in the eastern sections. Due to erratic rainfall, general poverty of the soil, and the primitive agrarian methods used, crop yields was low. Later, attention was focused on the south-eastern region where, under the aegis of the African Land Settlement Board, the Makueni Settlement Scheme was being developed.
The object of the scheme was to resettle members of the Akamba nation, hitherto living in the congested localities in the western part of the area. Presently, bush-clearing and cultivation schemes were put into practice under the supervision of European officers to prevent the deterioration of soil as had happened in nearby cultivated areas. It appears that these energetic efforts by those responsible did make possible an increasing amount of settlement in areas uninhabited till then.
After Kenya gained independence in 1963, Makueni remained part of Machakos District until 1992 when it was split to form Makueni District. Under the 2010 Constitution, it became one of Kenya’s 47 counties, with its own government. Makueni County has evolved from a pre-colonial Kamba settlement to a modern devolved government unit. While it faces challenges like drought and poverty, ongoing development projects and devolution offer hope for growth.
Flanked by the A109 Nairobi-Mombasa Road on its eastern flank, Makueni County is part of the Lower Eastern Kenya region. Major towns like Mtito Andei and Emali serve as trade hubs along the A109, the former being the traditional halfway stop and rest. Other towns enroute are; Sultan Hamud and Kibwezi. Home to Akamba people, it is so commonly referred to Ukambani – alongside Kitui and Machakos.
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Explore Destinations in Makueni County
A Guide to Makueni County
A Summa Digest of Makueni
About Makueni Way Back When
50 Destinations in Makueni County , arranged as one would visit these - north, east, west then south - with aid of narratives, images, strip maps and distance chart:
Mbooni Hills , Konza Technopolis , Kilima Kiu Manor , Mulima Dam , ACK Resort Salama , Makongo View Point , Katithini, Wote Green Public Park , Thwake Dam , R. Kaiti Bridge , Kampi ya Mawe , Kusyombunguo Hotel , Nzueni Hill , Nzaui Heritage Trail , Nzaui Rock , Mii Project, Makueni Cultural Center , AIC Kalamba , Kalamba Fruit Factory , Virgin Mary Rock , Emali Hills , Emali Trig , Ka Kindui Falls , Dare Devil's Rock , Kyanzizi Falls , Ilovoto Falls , Kyale Catholic Church , The Kenze Gorges , Kilungu Hills, Hunter's Lodge , Makindu Handicrafts , Makindu Sikh Temple , Mbiu Nzau Hills , Kambua Resort , Kivungoni Springs , Kibwezi Forest , Umani Springs , Chyulu Hills National Park , Kisula Caves , Tsavo West National Park , Tsavo East National Park , Yatta Plateau , Ngai Ndethya National Reserve , Kilalinda Conservancy , Tsavo Safari Camp , P. Cameron Camp , Patterson's Safari Camp
Know More About Makueni County: Its Geography, Land-Use, Highlights, Population, Roads - with the aid of strip maps, Airports, Climate & National Monuments
What’s The Lay Of The Land In C.17?
Makueni County’s terrain is generally low-lying, falling to 600 ms near Tsavo at the southern region. It lies within the arid and semi arid zones.
What’s The Air Like In Makueni?
Climate about Makueni varies based on altitude – with the north being cooler – 20 o C to 24 o C, while the south, more so during the dryer months, between May and October, experience generous heat.
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