Ruiru is a town in the Kiambu County in Kenya. According to the 2019 national population census, as reported by the Daily Nation, Ruiru is the 6th largest urban center in Kenya.
Location
Ruiru is located about, by road, northeast of the central business district of Nairobi, the nation's capital city. The town measures and is connected to Nairobi by both road and rail. The geographical coordinates of Ruiru are: 1°10'04.0"S, 36°58'24.0"E. The town sits at an average elevation of, above sea level.
History
This area was a sisal and coffee growing district with sisal on either side of the river to the right of the main road to Thika. As can be seen it is now a housing area. There used to be four main manager houses on the estate on the South side of the river. The area was given over to an African consortium to be developed into small holdings in the 1970s.
Population
In 2009, Ruiru's population was enumerated at 238,858 residents. Ten years later, the 2019 national census enumerated the population of the town at 490,120. The rapid population growth is attributable to several factors. One factor, is the shortage of affordable residential housing in Nairobi. Another factor being the infrastructure development especially Thika Road and Nairobi Eastern Bypass Highway. as well as the associated commercial and residential development that followed the new highways. A third factor is the presence of university campuses in or near Ruiru.
Ruiru is also an industrial town with several major factories, including Devki Steel Mills, Super Foam Limited, Spinners & Spinners Garment Factory and Ruiru Feeds Limited. The town is well served by banks and shopping malls and currently is enjoying a housing boom, as many coffee estates are converted into residential areas, including an upcoming multi-billion Tatu Estate. Information and Communication Technology businesses are also emerging, including SmartEdge PASHA Center, a digital village where the community can buy computers and get free computer training.
Politics
The former Member of Parliament was Hon Esther Gathogo from 2013 to 2017. Hon. Simon Ng'ang'a King'ara is the current area Member of Parliament after winning the August 2017 General elections.
