Gilgil
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Gilgil, Kenya, is a town in Nakuru County, Kenya. The town is located between Naivasha and Nakuru and along the Nairobi - Nakuru highway. It is to the west of the Gilgil River, which flows south to feed Lake Naivasha.
Gilgil has a population of 18,805 according to the 1999 census.
Gilgil is the centre of the Gilgil Division in Nakuru County. In 2022, Gilgil town received a charter from Governor Lee Kinyanjui to become a municipality.[1]
History
During the 1920s - 1940s, some members of the Happy Valley set lived in Gilgil. From 1944 to 1948, it also contained a British internment camp for Irgun and Lehi members.[2] The first soldiers that arrived in the town were advance parties of the South African Army preparing for the arrival of the 1st South African Infantry Brigade, which was training in the area by mid-1940.[3] Gilgil was made the brigade headquarters.
In July 1958 Gilgil G1 Camp was occupied by the 1st Battalion, the
In the 1950s and 1960s, Gilgil was used as a base for the rotation of British infantry units who, typically, would progress from the United Kingdom to the British Army of the Rhine (BAOR) in Germany, to Kenya (with detachments left en route in the nascent Gulf states) and then on to Hong Kong.
3rd Regiment Royal Horse Artillery was located at Alanbrooke Barracks, Gilgil, from September 1961 to September 1964. After the handover to Kenya the barracks was rechristened Kenyatta Barracks.
Economy
Agriculture is the main local industry. While Gilgil Telecommunications Industries was a notable employer, it is now closed down as it was sold by the government. There are a few industries within the outskirts of the town, namely the Gilgil Diatomite Industries which is located further to the west along the Gilgil-Nakuru main road. The industry mines
The towns population has grown considerably since 2007 as many of the
The community also hosts two large Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) barracks, the headquarters of
The National Youth Service (NYS) is run as a military-style operation and provides a 3-6 month basic training for the youth who must undergo a two-year national service before they are provided with a tuition-free training in most engineering technical fields. The Anti-Stock-Theft unit (ASTU), a paramilitary outfit, is a rapid response police unit to track down cattle rustlers mainly among the pastoral communities.
Tourism
Tourism is also a small-scale contributor to the town's economy. Nearby destinations include
The
Dr Leakey, a
Military
The main employer in the town remains the Ministry of Defense as the town hosts two major barracks, the Gilgil barracks (located about 1 km from the Gilgil town center on the old Gilgil - Nakuru road) and the Kenyatta Barracks (located about 2 km along the main Gilgil-Nyahururu road). The latter barracks is also known as Westcom or Western Command. The Gilgil barracks is home to the 5th Kenya Rifles (Kenya Army Infantry) also known as "the fighting five", while the Kenyatta Barracks is home to Kenya's only airborne battalion, the 20th Battalion and also home to the 66 Artillery brigade, the 76 Armoured Recce Battalion and the 1st Mortar Battalion. Most of the townsfolk thus largely rely on the military community in economic terms. In the recent past, members of the military both active and retired personnel have invested significantly in the town's property market and also in retail business.
Statistics
- Elevation = 1,981 metres (6,497 ft approx.) above average sea level - measurement at Gilgil Train Station.
- Population = 21,081
See also
- Railway stations in Kenya
- Nyeri, Kenya- another town from colonial times.
- Alice de Janzé - lived in Gilgil until 1941.
References
- ^ "Gilgil elevated to municipality, raising hopes for greater investment". Nation. 2022-07-09. Retrieved 2024-04-03.
- ^ Plaut, Martin (2002-08-06). "Britain's 'Guantanamo Bay'". BBC. Retrieved 2008-03-20.
- ^ Ketter, Nekesa & Muiruri 2018, p. 5.
- ^ "Gilgil Camp, Kenya (Hansard, 2 December 1959)". api.parliament.uk. Retrieved 2022-10-03.
- Ketter, David K.; Nekesa, Catherine B; Muiruri, Daniel; et al. (2018). A Historical View of Gilgil Military Barracks,. Kenya Army, Ministry of Defence Kenya. ISBN 978-9966-814-53-1.