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Ruiru
Urban Area in Kiambu County, Kenya

Ruiru

Ruiru is a municipality and sub-county in Kiambu County, Kenya.

Plan a trip to Ruiru→From Eldoret

It sits within the greater Nairobi Metropolitan region. According to the 2019 national population census, Ruiru was the 4th largest urban centre in Kenya by population. The name Ruiru is of the Kikuyu origin and possibly relates to the black cotton soil that is found in most parts of Ruiru.

How locals move

Getting around Ruiru the local way

  • Get inKiambu is easily accessible from downtown Nairobi via matatu (public minibuses).
  • Get inFrom the Nairobi CBD (around Commercial/Koja roundabout), take Route 100 matatus to get to Kiambu Town.
  • Get inFor towns further into Kiambu County like Limuru (Route 114 or 116) or Thika (Route 237), you can also catch matatus from the CBD.
  • Get inExtreme caution should be exercised with valuables in crowded matatu stages in Nairobi before boarding.
  • Get aroundA 4x4 is rarely necessary unless it has been raining heavily.
  • Get aroundThe taxi services Uber, Bolt (formerly Taxify), Little, and MaraMoja Local matatus (public minibuses/commuter buses) connect Kiambu town to surrounding villages, estates and attractions (like Ndumberi, Banana, or Ruaka).
  • Get aroundMotorcycle taxis (boda-bodas) are the most common and convenient way to navigate the smaller, unpaved roads leading into the coffee and tea estates or specific natural attractions where cars might struggle.

From Wikivoyage: Kiambu, CC BY-SA. Not yet checked by us. Last edited 2026-09.

Text adapted from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. Photograph: Wikimedia Commons (see file page), Wikimedia Commons.