Introduction

 It is located in the central region of Kenya. Its capital and largest town is Nyeri.

 It has a population of 661,156 and an area of 3,356 km².

Constituencies

The county has six constituencies namely:

1. Tetu Constituency
2. Kieni Constituency
3. Mathira Constituency
4. Othaya Constituency
5. Mukurweini Constituency
6. Nyeri Town Constituency

Physical features

Rivers

• River Chania
• Gura River
• Muringato River
• Gikira River
• Thego River
• Naro Moru River
• Burguret River

Lakes

• Lake Hohne

Mountains

• Mt. Kenya
• Mt. Satima

Hills

• Sangare Hills
• Nyeri hill

Plains

• Nyeri plains

Valleys

• The Trout Valley Nyeri
• Mackinder’s valleys

Importance of physical features

• Provided places for worship for example hill tops, caves and forests.
• They attract tourist hence bringing revenue.

Types of natural vegetation

• Forest vegetation

Importance of vegetation

• The forests act as water catchment areas
• The contribute to the climate of the place
• Home to wild animals

Map of distribution of the physical features.

People and population

Language groups found.

• Local people are predominantly of the Kikuyu ethnicity.

Areas of high population density.

• Nyeri town
• Nanyuki
• Othaya
• Karatina

Areas of low population density.

• Kiganjo
• Ndathi
• Muruguru
• Kabaru

Social relations and cultural activities

Traditional way of life of the people

Food

• In most homes Kikuyu homes, typical traditional Kikuyu food includes githeri (maize and beans), mukimo (mashed green peas and potatoes), irio (mashed dry beans, corn and potatoes), roast goat, beef, chicken and cooked green vegetables such as collards, spinach and carrots.

• Food “Irio" means food 1. A porridge made of maize, legumes and plantains (cooking bananas).

• A gruel "ucuru" made from millet flour and water (beverage) and were eaten by both men and women  corn cobs yams sweet potatoes plantains taro legumes.

Dressing

• The kikuyu have different types of clothing for different age sets and functions, the clothing are vary from the young to the old.

• Children in the traditional kikuyu tribe wear skins around their waist, they normally wear no cloth on their upper body.

• Men also wear skins on their waist and walk bare chested but during the cold seasons, they cover themselves up to the knees with shukas.

• Women in the kikuyu tribe normally have their whole bodies covered with a shuka that is tied on their left shoulder and extends all the way to their ankles. The also wear earrings, necklaces, bracelets and anklets that are made from colored beads and cowrie shells.

Songs and dances

• The have dance troupes or tribal groups that perform certain dance rituals or routines. It is a single functioning unit that involves representing its tribe, community, and nation. These dances also tend to represent their values and beliefs.

Traditional medical practices

• Old wise men and women with more experience were responsible for treatment in the community. They knew herbs for every illness.

Medical practices

• Herbs were used for medicinal practices.

Ceremonies

• Birth and naming

In the Kikuyu naming is done after the child’s grandparents. The father’s parents first then the mother’s parents. After that the parent’s siblings can be named starting with the oldest depending on how many children are born. The father’s side is always given priority.

• Initiation

Circumcision for the boys is compulsory, but the girls is voluntary. However the traditional view is that all boys and girls have to be circumcised. Boys are trained by their fathers while girls are trained by their mothers and grandmothers. Normally, at age 15. This is the age when they pass from childhood to adulthood. Circumcision is normally done in open air in the field.

Festivals

• Harvest

Kikuyu made sacrifices on great occasions, such as the rites of passage, planting time, before crops ripened, at the harvest of the first fruits, at the ceremony of purifying a village after an epidemic, and most of all when the rains failed or delayed.

• Music

Music and dance, along with storytelling, were all emphasized in the past. Dancing by men and women was mandatory at initiation ceremonies. weddings and other public events. People of all ages enjoyed dancing

Resources and economic activities

Agriculture

Main cash crops and food crops grown

• They grow coffee tea, maize, beans, bananas, sugarcane, yams, millet, and a variety of other vegetables

Areas where the cash crops are grown

• Nyeri
• Othaya

Types of livestock kept

• Cattle
• Goats
• Sheep
• Poultry

Fishing

Areas where fishing is practiced 

• Diroh
• Aberdare fishing lodge 

Forestry

Major forests

• Nyeri hills Forest
• Gathiuru forest
• Nyeri forest
• Bamboo forest

Wildlife and Tourism

Types of wildlife

• Buffalo
• Gazelle
• Zebras

The game parks and reserves

• Aberdare National Park

The major tourist attractions

• Sangare Gardens in Mweiga Nyeri
• Aberdare National Park 

Industries

Traditional industries and the products

• Agriculture coffee and animal products
• Mining for building blocks

Trade

The major trading centres

• Karatina

Is Located on the Nairobi - Nyeri Road, about 20km from Nyeri town, Karatina is known for its large vegetable and food market.

• Othaya

It is an agricultural town with coffee and tea as the main cash crops grown in the farms.