Igembe District Development Plan 2008-2012

Abstract

The district is in Eastern Province and ties within Latitudes 0° 00' and 0° 40' North, and Longitudes 37° 50' East, with the southern boundary lying along the equator. It covers an area of 1939 and borders Tigania East to the West, Tharaka Districtto the South, Isiolo and Garba Tula Districts to the North East and and Mwingi Districts to the South East. The district has 9 administrative divisions, which are further sub-divided 34 locations and 79 sub-locations. The district has two constituencies, Igembe North and Igembe South. There are two local authorities namely Nyambene County Council and Maua Municipal Council which is subdivided into 9 administrative divisions, and this are further subdivided into eighteen wards. Land use and settlement patterns are influenced by agro-ecological zones, soil fertility, rainfall, agricultural potential and availability of social amenities and facilities. The high-density settlement is along the Nyambene Hills. lgembe Central and East Divisions have high rainfall, fertile soils for agricultural production. lgembe Central is the most densely populated division with a population density of 1130 persons per square kilomentre while the least populated division is Mutuati with a population density of 108 persons per square kilometer Spatial settlement is generally found in the low plains of lgembe North, Laare and Mutuati where ranching and dairy farming is the main economic activities. The divisions, though covering the least area have fertile soils that support both cash and food crops. This population has, however put pressure on land and will continue to increase over the years. There is, therefore, · need to institute aggressive land management programs that will ensure reduced land degradation while increasing agricultural production...