Chogoria
Chogoria is a town located in Mwimbi Division of Maara District of Tharaka-Nithi County of Kenya. It is located roughly 140 Miles (about 225 km) from Nairobi. It is connected to the rest of the country by the all-weather, tarmacked Meru-Embu road. The closest town to Chogoria is Chuka. Other surrounding towns are Egoji, Nkubu, Meru and Embu. The town has a total population of 28,637 and an urban population of 2,500 (1999 census [1])
Healthcare
Chogoria town grew primarily due to the presence of the Chogoria Hospital. The hospital was established in 1922 by Dr. Clive Irvine, a Scottish missionary and it has grown to one of the leading hospitals in the region
Chogoria Hospital is a general hospital providing adult and paediatric medical and surgical services; outpatient clinics including several subspecialist clinics such as diabetes and HIV medicine; obstetric and gynaecology, oncology and palliative care. The hospital has a level 2 neo-natal nursery attached to the obstetric unit. Basic laboratory services are also available on site. Residents of Chogoria also access medical care from Egoji St. Ann Hospital, Chuka Consolata Hospital, and the Chuka District Hospital-a Government-run Hospital,
Religion
Chogoria is pre-dominantly Christian with the a majority of the residents being members of the Presbyterian Church. The Catholic Church has also recently consolidated its presence in the area by commissioning a town Church and a Parish (Christ the King). Several evangelical ministries also exist.
Education
Chogoria is also an educational hub, featuring several primary and secondary schools within the urban area. These include Chogoria Girls Boarding Primary School, Chogoria Boys Boarding Primary School, Among the high schools are Chogoria Boys and Chogoria Girls and The Chogoria Senior School. There are also several private schools including Chogoria Academy, Milimani Academy, Chogoria Junior, Santa Ritz and Gateway. The town also hosts the Clive Irvine Nursing College. There are some very good public schools, both secondary and primary, established in the last 10 years where there were none. Links with West Dorset schools has been ongoing since 2000, this involves teachers visiting their partner schools. There are many inspirational headteachers. Some credit for the development of good education in the Chogoria area must be given to Martyn & Josie Hastings. Martyn has been awarded an MBE for his work in this field. Visit the schools; Kiriani, Wiru, Kalewa, Kairuni, Mutindwa, Thigaa, Kianjagi, Makuri Gianchuku & St.Augustine, Majira to see the progress.
Recreation
Chogoria town is also one of the routes to the World Famous Mount Kenya. Mountain climbers often use Transit Motel in the outskirts of the township as their base.
Politics
Chogoria and the surrounding area politics were dominated by the Democratic Party that was led by Kenya's third president, President Mwai Kibaki from 1992 to 2002. When NARC was formed in 2002, the population shifted their allegiance to NARC. If follow then that the local residents shifted to PNU in the contested 2007 elections and overwhelmingly voted for the PNU candidate - Mwai Kibaki. In the four elections that Kibaki contested, the area overwhelmingly supported him.
Chogoria is currently part of Maara Constituency. The area MP Japhet Kareke Mbiuki was initially elected as the MP for Nithi. The constituency was later split into two(2), Maara and Chuka-Igambang'ombe. Hon Mbiuki was re-elected to the National Assembly to represent Maara during the 4th March 2013 elections through the The Nationa Alliance Party (Jubilee Coalition). Chogoria is also the hometown of the late Bernard Mate, a philosopher-politician who was one of the prominent Kenyan leaders at independence.
Economy
Chogoria is basically an agriculture-reliant economy. The area is endowed with a climate that is suited to production of many types of crops including Coffee and Tea. Dairy farming is also practiced in the area.Other sources of employment and income include the timber industry, tourism and retail trade in household goods.
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