Last modified: 2009-06-27 by bruce berry
Keywords: thika | kenya |
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image by
Eugene Ipavec, 18 Apr 2009
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Thika is a market town in Central Province, Kenya, lying
on the A2 Road and located about 40 km north of Nairobi
on the Thika River at 13 degrees South and 37.55 degrees East. The elevation of
Thika is 1420 metres to 1550 metres above sea level, with an average temperature
of maximum 25 degrees centigrade and rainfall average of 1020 mm per annum.
There are two explanations for the name Thika. One has its origin in the Kikuyu
word guthika, meaning "to bury". During a great drought, the Maasai
ventured outside of their normal territories looking for water for their huge
herds of cattle. Two rivers pass through Kikuyu land, the Thika and Chania, both
providing sustenance for the agricultural Kikuyu. With this water in
contention, and both tribes desperate for survival, they fought a bloody battle
that left few survivors. A mound, near Blue Posts Hotel supposedly is where the
dead warriors were buried.
The other explanation comes from the Maasai word sika, meaning "rubbing
something off an edge". In addition, the area was originally inhabited by
the Akamba tribe. Towards the end of the 19th Century outsiders began to settle
in this outpost, a convenient resting spot between Nairobi and upcountry for
British settlers. Europeans and Asians began to stop and remain at Thika,
the former setting up farms, and the latter setting up shops. A monument, in the
shape of a pillar, was erected by the British in the early 1900s in the central
business district of Thika. It commemorates the founding of Thika as a town. The
town was given its status by Government Gazette in 1924. Thereafter, it was
elevated to a second class municipality when Kenya gained independence in 1963,
and the first Mayor was elected in 1968.
Thika Town measures about 93 square kilometres. It has a population of 150,000
at night and 350,000 people, during the day (1999 Census). Many of the people
are employed in the factories according to the
municipal website.
thinka.gif)
image by
Eugene Ipavec, 18 Apr 2009
The municipal flag is dark green with municipal coat of arms on it. It can be
seen in a photo of the Town Clerk
here, and the coat of
arms are shown on the upper banner of the same page.
Valentin Poposki, 18 Apr 2009