Figure 2-1 – Location of Wote Municipality

2.1 Study Area

Makueni County is situated in South-eastern Kenya. The County lies south of the equator, west of Kenya’s Indian Ocean Coastline, north of Mt Kilimanjaro and along the Eastern edge of the Great Rift Valley. The County forms part of the South-eastern Kenya Economic Bloc (SEKEB) which includes the Counties of Makueni, Machakos and Kitui. Makueni County has six sub-counties, which are further divided into 30 electoral wards. Makueni sub-County has the highest number of wards with nine, followed by Mbooni with six, Kaiti, Kibwezi and Kibwezi West with four and Kilome with three.

The County is anchored on the Trans-African railroad corridor consisting of the A109 / A8 highway and railway that connects Central Africa and Nairobi to the Indian Ocean port of Mombasa. The corridor, which runs mostly along the southwestern boundary of the County, see Figure 2 2. Makueni County is also connected to Tanzania through the Emali-Loitokitok Road (C102). The County is bordered by Machakos to the North, Kitui to the East, Taita Taveta to the South and Kajiado to the West.

The focus of this UEP is Wote Municipality, which comprises of Wote Township and the other market centres of Mukuyuni, Kilala, Nziu and Kalamba in the west and Kwa Kathoka, Kathonzweni and Mbuve in the east, see Figure 2 2. The Municipality covers an area of around 1,082 km2 and is situated in the northwest of Makueni County, making up around 13.47% of the County’s land mass. The Municipality sits within three sub-Counties, Makueni, Mbooni and Kaiti. The Municipality lies within seven wards: Wote/Nziu, Muvau/Kikumini, Ukia, Kathonzweni, Nzaui/Kilili/Kalamba, Mavindini and Kako/Waia.

Figure 2-1 – Location of Wote Municipality

Source: Atkins analysis