Nyeri

Nyeri is a town and a district in Kenya about 120km north of the capital Nairobi. It lies at the eastern base of the Aberdare a.k.a. Nyandarua Range that form part of the eastern end of the Great Rift Valley and on the leeward (western) side of Mount Kenya. Nyeri town is the administrative headquarters of Central Province.

Related Topics:
Kenya - Aberdare - Nyandarua - Great Rift Valley - Mount Kenya

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In the early colonial days Nyeri was a garrison, but it soon burgeoned into a trading centre for the white farmers who produced cattle, wheat and coffee. They also came into town to drink and socialize. The White Rhino Hotel, Outspan Hotel and the Aberdare Country Club at nearby Mweiga are living reminders of the old days.

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The local scenery includes Mount Kenya. The main industry is farming. Coffee and tea are the main cash crops and maize is the staple food. There are many tourist destinations nearby.

Related Topics:
Scenery - Mount Kenya - Farming - Coffee - Tea - Cash crop - Maize

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Nyeri is the burial place of Lord Robert Baden-Powell a hero of the Boer War and the founder of the Boy Scout movement. He once wrote "The nearer to Nyeri the nearer to bliss". Powell's Paxtu cottage, now a small museum, stands on the grounds of the Outspan Hotel. He and his wife are buried in the town cemetary.

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A number of renowned people have hailed from Nyeri most notably Wangari Maathai Nobel Peace Prize winner in 2004, Mwai Kibaki Kenya's third president, Dedan Kimathi, a general in the Mau Mau war against the British colonizers, and Catherine Ndereba Olympic marathon silver medallist, four time Boston Marathon winner and multiple time winner of Chicago and other marathons.

Related Topics:
Wangari Maathai - Nobel Peace Prize - 2004 - Mwai Kibaki - Dedan Kimathi - Mau Mau - Catherine Ndereba

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