Geography of Embu County
Embu County is located in Eastern Kenya, it borders the following counties; Tharaka Nithi to the North, Kitui to the East, Machakos to the South, Muranga to the South West, Kirinyaga to the West, and Meru to the North West.
Area (Km 2): 2,818 Km 2
Climate/Weather: The temperature ranges from a minimum of 12 °C to a maximum of 27.0 °C. The average annual rainfall is 1495mm.
Road Network: Bitumen Surface (120 Km), Gravel Surface (402 Km), Earth Surface (914.3 Km)
Key National Monument(s): None
Population of Embu County
Population: 516,212 (Male – 49 %, Female – 51 %)
Population Density: 183 people per Km 2
National Percentage: 1.34 %
Annual Growth Rate: 1.7 % (Embu) 3.0 % (Mbeere)
Age Distribution: 0-14 years (37.5 %), 15-64 years (57.3 %), 65+ years (5.2 %)
Number of Households: 131,683
Government of Embu County
County Capital: Embu Town (proposed)
Number of Constituencies (2010): 4 (Gachoka, Manyatta, Runyenjes, Siakago)
Registered Voters: 225,712
National percentage: 1.8 %
Number of Districts (2009): 2 (Embu, Mbeere)
Number of Local Authorities (2010): 4 (Embu and Runyenjes Municipal Councils, County Councils of Embu and Mbeere)
Economy of Embu County
Poverty Level: 40.8 %
Age Dependency Ratio: 100:74.7
Resources: Wildlife, Livestock, Arable Land, Water, Pasture, Forests, Hills
Tourist Attractions: Waterfalls, Kimiriri and Karue Hills
Financial Services: 8 Commercial Banks, 15 Micro-Finance
Main Economic Activities/industries: Dairy Farming, Coffee, Tea, Pyrethrum, Commercial Businesses
Agricultural products: Maize, Beans, Yams, Cassava, Millet, Sorghum, Bananas, Livestock Products
Education in Embu County
Number of Institutions (2007): Primary (494), Secondary (147)
Primary: Enrolment (125,418)
Teacher to Pupil Ratio: 1:32 (Public Schools)
Secondary: Enrolment (27,173)
Teacher to Pupil Ratio: 1:23 (Public Schools)
Tertiary: Over 15 (Includes a University Affiliate College, Youth Polytechnics, Teacher Training Colleges, Technical Colleges, and Several Commercial Colleges)
Adult Literacy Classes: Enrolment; Over 1,500
Health in Embu County
Health Facilities: 133 – Provincial General Hospital (1), District Hospitals (2), Sub- District Hospitals (2), Dispensaries (74), Health Centres (12), Medical Clinics (34), Nursing Homes (2), Maternity Home (1), Others (5)
Doctor to Population Ratio: 1:10,474 (Embu), 1:57,000 (Mbeere)
Infant Mortality Rates: 56/1000 (Embu), 71/1000 (Mbeere)
Under Five Mortality Rates: 6/1000 (Embu), 119/1000 (Mbeere)
Prevalent Diseases: Malaria, URTI, Skin Diseases, Intestinal Worms, Eye Infections, Diarrhoea
Notable Hospitals: Embu Provincial General Hospital, Mbeere District Hospital, Runyenjes District Hospital
