Nyandarua County stands at the heart of Kenya's agricultural economy, producing much of the nation's food while undergoing a remarkable political realignment. From its fertile highlands and thriving farming communities to its decisive embrace of UDA in 2022, this profile explores its leadership, electoral trends, economy, development priorities, and future political direction.
Hon. Dr. Moses Ndirangu Badilisha Governor Nyandarua County / PHOTO | COURTESY /: Hon. Dr. Moses Ndirangu X Account
Nyandarua County is an integral part of Kenya's agricultural centre in the Central Region.
It is known as the "food basket of Kenya" due to its fertile soils and high production of potatoes, milk, and horticultural crops, making it a major contributor to national food security.
Politically, the county shifted from Jubilee dominance to solid support for the Kenya Kwanza coalition through the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) in 2022, a move that also reflects voting patterns at the national level.
County Overview
Nyandarua County covers an area of 3,245.2 km² and, according to the 2019 Population and Housing Census, had an estimated population of 638,289. The County is partitioned into five constituencies: Kinangop, Kipipiri, Ol Kalou, Ol Joro Orok, and Ndaragwa.
Political Leadership
2013 General Election
There were 256,425 registered voters, and this was the first year Nyandarua had a county government after the change of the constitution.
Gubernatorial Race:Daniel Waithaka Mwangi of TNA won the race, garnering 162,418votes, with Waithaka Mwangi Kirika as his running mate. The second candidate was Peter Mwangi Gathimba of NRC with 55,896 votes.
Senatorial Race:Muriuki Karue (TNA) carried the day with 211,315 votes, whereas his opponent Patrick Kimani Wairiri had only 24,315 votes.
2017 General Election
The number of registered voters rose to 335,696, reflecting greater political participation.
Gubernatorial Race:Francis Thuita Kimemia of Jubilee received the highest votes of 228,219, with Mbuthia Cecilia Wanjiru as the running mate. Independent candidate Badilisha Moses Ndirangu Kiarie got 34,472 votes and came second.
Senatorial Race: Mwangi Paul Githiomi of Jubilee won by a very wide margin, benefiting from the Jubilee wave that was all over the country.
2022 General Election
There were 361,165 registered voters.
Gubernatorial Race: Moses Ndirangu Badilisha of UDA polled 158,263 votes (66.00%), making him the winner. He ran together with John Mathara Mwangi. The sitting Governor, Francis Kimemia of Jubilee, received 52,197 votes, and his running mate was Isaac Gitura.
Senatorial Race:John Methu (UDA) was the winner with 185,337 votes. The runner-up, Kinyanjui Theuri (IND), got 34,845 votes, while the sitting Senator, Mwangi Githiomi, came third with 15,015 votes.
Political Dynamics
It is evident that Nyandarua has experienced party realignment over time. Jubilee kept the County under its powerhouse from 2013 to 2022, largely because of the strong Kikuyu bloc loyalty to the ruling national coalitions.
Since 2022, the County has gone to the political side of UDA and Kenya Kwanza. Voter mobilisation is largely carried out through agricultural cooperatives, church networks, and concerns about youth unemployment.
Economic & Social Significance
Agriculture remains the mainstay of Nyandarua’s economy. The County is a leading producer of potatoes, milk, and horticultural crops, and it plays a very important role in Kenya's overall food security. Tourism is possible through attractions such as the Aberdare Ranges, Lake Ol Bolossat, and other eco-tourism sites.
Persistent Challenges
Nyandarua County has strong agricultural potential; however, the county faces several challenges. Land disputes arising from historical settlement schemes remain a major source of tension.
Infrastructural deficits, such as poor rural roads, have delayed the smooth marketing of farmers’ produce. Youth unemployment remains very high despite the county's farming base. Climate stress, including water variability, continues to negatively affect farming activities and local ecosystems, such as Lake Ol Bolossat.
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