Lower eastern region (Kenya)
The Lower Eastern region of Kenya, commonly referred to by its indigenous name, Ukambani, is a geographic and cultural zone covering the counties of Machakos, Kitui County, and Makueni County. Lying to the east of the capital, Nairobi, south east of Mount Kenya region and stretching toward Tsavo, this region forms the southeastern part of Kenya's former Eastern Province. It is predominantly inhabited by the Kamba people, a Bantu ethnic group whose language and traditions strongly define the area. As of 2023 it has a population of 3.76 Million people with Machakos Town being the largest urban center in the regions, other urban centers include Wote, Kitui, Mwingi and others.
The landscape of Ukambani is largely rural, with the regional population spread across semi-arid plains, rolling hills, and small urban centers. Machakos County is the most populous of the three, followed by Kitui and Makueni. The communities of Lower Eastern Kenya maintain a distinct identity based on Kamba culture, known for its rich traditions of wood carving, music, and farming, despite frequent drought.
History
The history of Lower Eastern Kenya is rooted in the movements and social organization of the Kamba people. Oral traditions and historical research suggest that the Kamba migrated into this region several centuries ago, gradually spreading from the Kilimanjaro area through the Taita Hills and onward into the plains and hills of eastern Kenya.17th & 18th centuries
By the 17th and 18th centuries, Kamba communities were well established in what is now Machakos, Kitui and Makueni districts. In these pre-colonial times, the Kamba lived in clan-based communities governed by elders and chiefs. They practiced mixed farming and cattle herding, hunted wildlife, and produced distinctive crafts such as wood carvings and iron tools.Crucially, the Akamba became noted as long-distance traders: caravans of Kamba porters and merchants traveled from the interior toward the Indian Ocean coast, exchanging ivory, beeswax, honey, and animal skins for cloth, beads, metal goods, and other imported items. Famous Kamba figures from this era include Chief Kivoi Mwendwa, an 18th-century trader from the Kitui area who guided European missionaries into the interior.
The region’s religion was traditionally centered on a single sky god with ancestral spirits, and initiation ceremonies were important social rites. Kamba folklore also speaks of prophetesses and rituals like the Kilumi rain-dance performed to end droughts.
Colonial era
British colonial influence arrived in the late 19th century. In 1887–1888, the British East Africa Company established an outpost at Nzoi and soon moved its station to Machakos, making it the first inland administrative center of the protectorate. Machakos was even envisioned as a possible future capital until the Uganda Railway was routed through Nairobi instead. Under colonial rule, Ukambani was officially divided among Machakos and Kitui districts.Missionaries and traders arrived, and cash-crop farming was encouraged, although the region’s poor soils and irregular rains made large-scale plantation agriculture difficult. Colonial authorities imposed taxes and occasional livestock control measures, leading to resistance.
Notably, in 1938, the Kamba people organized a major protest against a “destocking” campaign, led by local leaders including Muindi Mbingu. This nonviolent resistance ultimately forced the colonial government to withdraw the policy. During the broader struggle for Kenyan independence, several Kamba leaders like Paul Ngei and Jackson Dalmaso “J.D.” Kali joined national movements. After Kenya gained independence in 1963, politicians from Ukambani continued to play roles in national affairs.
Post-independence era
In the post-independence era, the Lower Eastern region saw gradual growth and administrative change. Initially part of a larger Machakos District in the old Eastern Province, Makueni became its own district in 1992 and the three counties gained devolved governments under the 2010 constitution. Local development has since focused on improving infrastructure to combat chronic challenges like drought and poverty. The counties have invested in climate-resilient agriculture, water-harvesting schemes and forest conservation in the higher hills, while also leveraging their proximity to Nairobi. Machakos Town, founded in colonial times, remains a regional hub, while new urbanizing areas such as Athi River and Syokimau have grown with industry and commuter traffic.Overall, the Lower Eastern region has transitioned from its colonial past to a modern Kenyan context, with continued emphasis on agriculture and cultural heritage.
Geography
Lower Eastern Kenya occupies a plateau region in the southeast of the country. Its three counties span roughly from about 1° S to 3° S latitude and 37° E to 38° E longitude. To the northwest, the region borders Kenya’s capital region and to the west it meets Embu County and Murang'a county. The southern boundary approaches the Tsavo Conservation Area and Taita–Taveta County, while the arid plains extend eastward toward Tana River County. The terrain is varied: much of Kitui and eastern Makueni are low-lying plains with elevations often below 1,000 meters, while western Machakos and northern Makueni include higher hills and ridges reaching 1,500–2,000 meters.Notable upland features include the Kilungu Hills, Mbooni Hills and Nzaui Hills, and the Iuani Hills. To the southwest the region approaches the volcanic Chyulu Hills near the Kajiado border.
Climate
The climate of Ukambani is predominantly semi-arid. Rainfall is sparse and highly variable, averaging from about 400 to 800 millimeters per year, with a bimodal pattern. Many areas experience frequent droughts, especially in the eastern lowlands. Temperature is generally warm year-round, though the higher hill areas can be noticeably cooler and wetter than the plains. Vegetation is mainly dry savanna and shrubland – dominated by acacia trees, baobabs, and low grasses – transitioning to thicket and forest in the wetter hill zones. The region’s soils are often shallow and red or sandy, which, combined with erratic rain, makes farming challenging without irrigation.Water
Water resources in Ukambani are limited. Some permanent rivers such as the Athi and seasonal tributaries of the Tana run through the area. Several rocky riverbeds only flow during rains, but dams and wells have been developed for local water supply. Groundwater in parts of Machakos and Kitui is exploited via boreholes. Because of its marginal climate, water scarcity is a perennial issue for households and farming.Despite these constraints, the region holds natural and economic assets. The eastern fringes of Kitui County border Tsavo East National Park, linking the landscape to Kenya’s wildlife conservation areas. Geologically, parts of Kitui have deposits of coal and limestone, though these are of limited commercial scale. Woodlands in hill areas are valued for fuelwood and medicinal plants. Overall, the geography of Lower Eastern Kenya creates a distinctive environment: semi-arid bush country with pockets of highland fertility, shaping the lifestyle and economy of its people.