Machakos County
Machakos County
Background Information
Machakos county is an administrative county in the Eastern Province of Kenya. Its capital town is Machakos. The county has a population of 1,098,584 (2009 census).
The local climate is semi arid. The terrain is hilly, the county has an altitude from 1000 to 1600 metres above sea level. Akamba people are the dominant tribe.
The county borders the city and Thika County to the northwest, Kitui ad Mwingi County to the east, Kajiado County to the west, Makueni County to the south, Maragwa County to the north and Mbeere County to the northeast. It stretches from latitudes 0º 45’ south to 1º 31’ south ad longitudes 36° 45’east to 37° 45’ east.
Geography of Machakos County
The county covers an area of 6,281.4kms most of which is semi-arid. High and medium potential areas where rain fed agriculture is carried out consist of 1,574km2 or 26 percent of the total area. Administratively, the county is divided into twelve divisions, sixty-two locations ad two hundred ad twenty, five sub locations
Machakos Municipal Council covers Central Division while Mavoko Municipal covers Athi River Division. Kagundo Town council covers Matugulu and Kagundo Division while Matuu town council covers Matuu ad Kathiani locations The Masaku County Council covers all the others areas of the County.
Kagundo and Kathiani Divisions had the highest population densities of 512 ad 462 persons per km2 respectively during the 1999 census ad 539 ad 486 persons per km2 projected for 2002 as they have relatively high economic potential than the other divisions. These divisions though covering the least areas have fertile soils that support other cash ad food crops ad receive moderate rainfall. Athi river Division which is among the biggest in the area, had the lowest density of 51 ad 54 persons per km2 (1999 ad 2002) although over 50% of the population is concentrated Athi River Town. The densely populated divisions have a scattered type of settlement with small farms raging from 1 to 10 hectares while Athi River Division the majority of the people are food rural settlements.
Demographic and Population Profile of Machakos County
The average population density of the county was 126 persons per km2 in 1989 while in 1999 it was 144 persons per km,2 representing an increase of 14.3 percent. This increase is attributed to overall population growth rate and migration of people to towns, especially along the major highways.
Divisions with fertile soils ad high agricultural potential have higher population densities than the rest of the county. These include the hill masses of Central, Kagundo, Kathiani ad Matungulu Divisions. This population has however put much pressure o the land and will continue to increase over the years. Marginal divisions have relatively low population densities. Athi River Division has the lowest density of 51 persons per km2. Over 50percent of this population is, however, concentrated around Athi River town, where labour can seek employment in the industries. Over the years, the density is expected to increase up to 59 persons per km2 at the end of the plan period.
The county has a population of 1,098,584 (2009 census).The majority of the population of the county is young with 510,507 or 56.3% being below 20 years. Table 3 below provides the population projections for 1999 to 2010 by age and sex cohorts.
Education in Machakos County
Machakos County has close to 850 primary schools. The primary school enrolment rate is 81% for both boys and girls. School drop out was reported to be 5.5%. The Primary school going population (6-13 years) makes up to 20.3% of the county total population and was estimated to be 237,338 in 1999. This age cohort is expected to increased to 276,576 in year 2008Although the enrolment rate is high (81%), the county will need to invest in the provision of additional educational facilities.
The county has 154 secondary schools and an enrolment rate of 32% for both boys and girls. The secondary school going age group comprises about 9% of the total population and was estimated to be 98,680 in 1999. It is projected to rise to 114,996 by year 2008.The secondary school drop out rate was estimated to be 4.7%. Many children drop out of primary and secondary school mainly due to in ability to afford cost of education and the limited number of schools.
Labour Force Machakos County
The labour force in Machakos County is increasing rapidly. According to the 1999 Population and Housing Census the total population of this age group represented 47.6% (465,432) of the total population and comprised 221,403males and 244,029 females. This number is projected to increase to 542,379 comprising of 258,006 males and 284,373 females by year 2008. The high increase in labour force has led to increase in unemployment and this could lead to escalation of crimes as a result of non-absorption of this active population in services of gainful employment.
Poverty Analysis of Machakos County
According to the welfare monitoring survey (WMS II) of 1994 ad WMS III of 1997, the county had 68.7 per cent ad 63.3percet respectively of its population below the poverty lie. During the poverty assessment exercise carryout in year 2000, the county was estimated to have 66.2 percent of the population as poor.
From the surveys it may not be possible to set out a trend. However, it is worth noting that the surveys were carried out under different circumstances, which may have influenced the results. The 1994 survey was carried out when the county was experiencing very severe drought ad as such most of the households could not afford basic essential needs. The1997 survey was carried in March-May, a period when the county had just harvested the crops and as such most of the households were food secure while the 2000 poverty assessment was carried out against a background of severe drought when most of the households were dependent o relief food.
From the three results, however, it can be deduced that over 63 per cent of the people in the county are poor. This compares well with poverty assessment, which put the figure at 63.3 percent. The results indicate also that the county contributed about 4.4per cent to the national poverty. Table 4 below presents the social-economic indicators of the county
Health in Machakos County
In the year 2001, Machakos had over 110 health facilities spread across the county. The doctor/population ratio is about 1:62,325 showing over-utilization of doctors. The average distance to a health facility is 5 Km. The most prevalent diseases are Malaria and Skin diseases while the childhood diseases include anaemia, marasmus, eye infection, pneumonia, malaria, Kwashiorkor etc. HIV/AIDs in Machakos is a major health problem with the prevalence averaging 15%. With regard to bed occupancy, about 50% of the hospital beds are occupied by patients with HIV/AIDs related diseases. HIV\AIDS in the county was diagnosed in June 1989 and 4 males and 5 females tested HIV positive. In December of the same year, 42 cases had been reported ad since then the numbers have continued to increase.
Majority of HIV\AIDS patients are found in Machakos Town and its environs and in all towns along the Mombassa highway. Cases are being reported in the small up-coming towns in the county like Wamuyu and, Matuu. HIV\AIDS incidences along the major highway and upcoming towns are attributed the long distance truck drivers\touts and, the commercial, sex workers.
The biggest challenge facing the county is the increasing cases HIV\AIDS in spite of the awareness level of over 85 per cent. It also faces the challenges of providing medical care for the infected and support for the affected. Currently the county estimates that there are over 15,000 children who are in need of special care (CSP) ad this numbers is expected to rise due to the increasing number of HIV\AIDS orphans. The table below summarizes the health indicators of the county.