Why Nanyuki town is overstretched by influx of investors, visitors
Real Estate
By
Boniface Gikandi
| Aug 27, 2026
Concerns are growing over overstretched services around Nanyuki's urban setup, owing to the influx of visitors and a surge in population.
Nanyuki Town, with an estimated 100,000 residents, is reportedly congested, with limited opportunities due to its closeness to Meru and Nyeri counties.
Nanyuki Municipal Manager Anthony Rukwaro says increased population is accompanied by the responsibilities of increased garbage and water, which the Laikipia County Government has been working to tackle.
The authority has expanded the water supply to replace a facility that was constructed in the 1950'.
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The manager says collection of garbage has been the major challenge owing to the increased population, with the community failing to engage private partnerships to ease the responsibility.
“We are forced to collect garbage daily, covering the town and the surrounding areas,” said Rukwaro.
Rukwaro said the new areas to be included in the municipality are Baraka, Nuru, Nturukuma and Ruai, after the zoning programme underwent the public participation exercise.
“Once the Municipality area is expanded, services of water and roads will be improved,” said the manager.
Jane Muthoni says the improved security has led to the influx of people in the town and the surroundings.
“ Police patrols coordinated by OCS Michael Ndirangu have helped to uplift the status of Nanyuki town compared to yesteryear,” said Muthoni, a hotelier.
Francis Gichuhi, a real estate expert, says the presence of the military barracks in Nanyuki has remained a major obstacle to the expansion of the town.
“ All the empty spaces in Nanyuki are occupied, forcing many of the town dwellers to relocate to the areas of Ichuga and Makutano in Nyeri and Meru counties,” said Gichuhi.
Nanyuki will also benefit from the 68-kilometre Nanyuki-Doldol road that will be funded by the Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA).
The road project, once completed, will give Nanyuki a facelift as it will have a pedestrian path, while those who have encroached on the road reserve will be moved.
In a public participation forum at Soko ya Mbuzi, the KeNHA officials said the project will start soon and be connected to the Nanyuki- Rumuruti project