Ihwagi
| Ihwagi | |
|---|---|
  Ihwagi Location of Ihwagi | |
| Coordinates: 0°27′S 37°09′E / 0.45°S 37.15°ECoordinates: 0°27′S 37°09′E / 0.45°S 37.15°E | |
| Country | Kenya |
| Province | Central Province |
| Time zone | UTC+3 (EAT) |
Ihwagi is a settlement in Kenya's Central Province. Currently, it is a shopping center as well as one of the sub locations in Kairia Location of Kirimara Division, Mathira East District,Mathira Constituency, Nyeri County. It is on the Karatina town- Karatina University (Kagochi Road), approximately 5 kilometers from Karatina Town (CBD) and roughly 130 kilometers from Nairobi city.
Ihwagi has one of the nicest weather in Kenya compared to other regions. Despite being a smaller region than most, Ihwagi's access to the Ragati river also makes it one of the best places to farm. Due to the subtropical climate, it is known to rain a lot and which often causes the Ragati river flood. However, the most damage caused by the river is the destruction of crops. Most locals in Ihwagi are subsistence farmers and tea-pickers.
Mt. Kenya snow capped peak, the second highest point in Africa can be seen from here. Aberdare ranges can also be seen on the horizons, western side of Ihwagi.
Current Iria-ini MCA David Mwangi Kabatha Muthiri hails from the area.
Neighbourhoods
It covers such areas as the trading center, Gitige,Kiambaa, Gathima,Kamugoiri,kiawaiguru, Kihururu , Kirima among others. Its neighboring areas are: Miiri, Gatura, Kiamwangi, Ihwagi, Itundu, Thenge-ini, Kariki, Kangocho,Kiaritha-ini, Kiaruhiu, Giakaibei, Ndumanu, Giti-maini, Gikumbo, Gathehu, Gaikuyu, Kanjurri, Karura,Ragati, Kiamucheru
Maumau
The area has a long history being the center of Mau Mau activities during the freedom struggles: Some of the Mau Mau freedom fighters and operatives from this area include: Njogu Guandaru, Rukanga Kanyoro, Ngatia Kanake, Thimbui Guandaru,Munyua Mathenge,Kanja Mathenge, Githinji Muhato, Munyaga Meru, Mumbi Thoithi,Betha Gichanga,Wanjiru Kanake, Gathigia Muchiri, Njoka Kanake, Wangu Ngatia,Kihara Mathenge,Gachie Kiragu, Mwarari Kimaru among many others°. A trench, locally known as Mukaro wa Gumba, believed to have been dug by Gumba and Athi people can be found in the area at James Muchunu’s farm.
Shopping center
The shopping center has a number of businesses including: several food stores, general shops, hardware stores, agrovets, Mobile Money transfer agencies, barber shops popularly known as Kinyozi, chemists, kerosene and petrol pump stations, L.P. gas refill points, pubs including the famous Hague Bar and Restaurant,CCF among others, there are several Medical clinics and a county managed dispensary located at Ihwagi ACK Church. There is an open air market which mostly operates in the evenings.
Other activities
There are several churches such as: Ihwagi Catholic Church, Ihwagi PCEA, PEFA, Full Gospel Church, Independent Church,Antioch Baptist among others. It is home to Ihwagi primary school which is currently undergoing a facelift courtesy of Okoa Ihwagi Primary school, a group of former students and friends of the school. Ihwagi Secondary is hosted by Ihwagi Primary. Other schools in the area include: Highway academy and Waithanji’s. The area is agriculturally rich, famous for horticulture (cabbage, French beans, tomatoes among others) cash crop farming – tea and coffee, dairy farming , small scale fish farming, poultry keeping and bee keeping. Superior water, a popular mineral water brand is sourced from Kihururu springs, located one and half kilometers from the trading center.
Features
Ragati River, a tributary of Tana River passes near the area; it is the main source of water for Ihwagi and surrounding areas. Kamugoiri stream located eastern side of Ihwagi trading center also provides the people of Ihwagi with water. The road infrastructure in the area is average with the main road being the bitumen level Karatina- Kagochi , others include Ihwagi –Karura, Ihwagi -Gatondo and paths serving the neighborhoods.
Beauty and culture
The area is evergreen, with coffee and tea farms, though shrinking, spread all over especially at Kirima, Kihururu, Kamugoiri and Gathima; cabbage, tomatoes, French beans, maize, beans and some other crops in the farms allover also add to the beauty. There area has lots of trees too, both exotic and indigenous. There are several Mugumo trees (rare features in the country) in the area, one of them is found at Gitige farm.
News
https://www.nation.co.ke/counties/nyeri/Hague-Pub-Nyeri-Ihwagi/1954190-2480244-o7cwss/index.html
https://www.standardmedia.co.ke/article/1144014629/police-declares-war-on-mungiki-and-vigilantes
https://www.sde.co.ke/thenairobian/article/2000158661/carjacking-couple-arrested-in-nyeri
External links
https://www.nyeriassembly.go.ke/members-wards/
http://www.nyeri.go.ke/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/FINAL-ADP-2018.2019.pdf
https://www.kenyaprimaryschools.com/nyeri/ihwagi-primary-school-iria-ini-mathira
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mau_Mau_Uprising Kenyatta Jomo (2011) Facing Mt Kenya, Random House; ISBN 1846555523, 9781846555527