From Health To Tourism And Transport, Nanyukis Set For The Next 100 Years

  0  
Nanyuki derives its name from the Maasai phrase Engare Nanyuikie which translated means the River of Blood.
The town has made great strides and as it celebrates its 100th birthday this year, major milestones have been achieved.
From 73 registered landowners in 1921, the town has seen the number of inhabitants grow to over 72,000 according to the Laikipia County Statistical Abstract 2020. The business and the general economy of the town has grown in leaps and bounds.
Nanyuki has also seen the growth of medical health sector both in facilities and the quality of health care.
Nanyuki Teaching and Referral Hospital, the largest medical Centre in the county by size and workload was founded in 1930s as Nanyuki Natives Dispensary.
This dispensary has grown to the current status where it is treating an average of 500 patients per day. This is after having acquired the teaching and referral status in July 2012.
From the streamlining of community health strategies and engagement of community health volunteers in provision of key preventive interventions, the County Government of Laikipia has invested heavily in the medical sector.
Other high impact interventions have been supplementation of vitamins and iron. Immunization and other child preventive interventions have been strengthened through opening of new immunization facilities across the county.
These efforts among others have yielded fruits and placed Laikipia as the best county to live in, with a life expectancy of 72 years against a national average of 66.7 and recording the second lowest infant mortality rate. (The analysis was based on data from the economic survey 2018, GCP 2019, Kenya Integrated Household Budget Survey (KIHBS) 2015/2016 and the statistical review of progress towards the mid-term targets of the health sector strategic plan 2014-2018.)
Tourism
Other recent achievements for the town is the revival of the Nairobi-Nanyuki railway that has slept unutilized for close to thirty years. This fits well with the smart town initiative by the county government of Laikipia where the last mile connectivity from the railway station has been well taken care of by the deliberate move to upgrade the town into a smart town. The town has well-labelled streets, paved pedestrian walkways and proper drainage. The railway line opens up Nanyuki as a town to the flow of tourists and investors. It has also opened up opportunities for businessmen to take advantage of the close to 20 billion CEREB economy that has been well covered by the railway system.
With the prospects of further extension of the railway line to Isiolo, the opportunities that presents themselves to the residents of Nanyuki and the entire region are vast. This is because it will not only connect with Isiolo on the northern side and take advantage of the Isiolo International Airport but also connect to the LAPPSET corridor.
Nanyuki town has also grown as tourist destination over time. Various social economic groupings flock the town either for business or leisure. The town boasts of being home to two golf courses and the best conferencing destination away from the distractions of the city. It also offers a serene environment for people to meet and wind off after the boardroom decisions are complete.
The facilities in the town are very exclusive and in the natural setting that in some facilities the only interruption to meetings will be the chirping of birds or the beautiful stares of giraffes wondering why they never get invited to these boardroom meetings. Nanyuki also offers a variety of weekend and nightlife activities. No wonder traffic is now shifting towards Nanyuki over the weekends as local and international tourists join the motorcades going to explore the hidden gems of Laikipia.
Beef Production
From only 73 land owners in 1921, Nanyuki has grown to be a great player in the beef industry with both small holder farmers and big ranches undertaking the lucrative venture. Laikipia as a county has been known to produce the finest and highly prized premium beef.
With several community and individually owned ranches, the County remains a key producer of beef both for local and external markets. With its vast area of 9,462 square kilometers, Laikipia offers a great opportunity for both local and international investors to invest in the beef industry using feedlots and rangeland management practices. The Laikipia County development authority plays a huge roll of connecting potential investors with land owners and also guiding on the set up of the beef rearing business.
As the town gets to its second century, the future is very bright because the county has recently discovered the presence of minerals and precious stones. This will not only fuel the development of the town but also attract huge investments in the manufacturing sector.
The ongoing expansion of the Nanyuki Airport coupled with the deliberate move by the county government to make it easy to do business in Laikipia county will be a great motivation for investors to flock the town and start its next centenary journey of success that is clearly mapped out.

  Social Media

WHATS NEW