Although it has a rich history, Njoro looks like any other upcountry town. It’s clumsy and still shrouds her fine successes.
However, being about 20 kilometers from Nakuru town, one of the fastest developing towns in Kenya, Njoro is attracting investors especially in the hotel industry.
Njoro, named from the Maa word, ol-corro meaning spring, is home to Egerton University, which is just five kilometers south of town centre, Rift Valley Institute of Science and Technology and the Kenya Agricultural Research Institute.
According to the treasureblog.wordpress.com, the area was first inhabited by Maa community before the British settlers to the Kenya highlands arrived. Today, the place beams with people from various tribes.
The main economic activities are agriculture-based industries including vegetable and milk processing, large-scale wheat and barley farming. Light manufacturing industries such as timber milling and quarrying are also a mainstay of the local economy.
Neighbouring the town are farms owned by large-scale farmers some by whites who also rear horses.
Among the first British settlers in Njoro is Lord Delemare who invested a lot in infrastructure and agriculture, eventually attracting other noble settler families into the area.
In the 1920s, Delamere's sporting associate, Lord Egerton of Tatton settled in Kenya and today his then Lord Egerton’s School of Agriculture has boomed and expanded to become a fully fledged University.
Old settler houses that once graced the area are still dotted around, writes treasureblog.wordpress.com.
It is said Lord Delamere’s ambition was to turn Njoro into the capital of the Kenya/Uganda Protectorate, the hub of East Africa ¬ but it never became.
A first timer visitor to the town may not get easily to know much about it owing to its shambling state that shrouds its rich history. Kiosks dot Njoro streets that lack drainage system.
Njoro airstrip is being renovated by the county government and once it becomes operational, will see the town get more development.
The town has several financial institutions and private academies.
Tourism has a insignificant but important role on Njoro's economy.
Njoro Country Club still remains and its golf course is well set along the banks of the Njoro River.
Among it is challenges include consumption and sell of illegal brews especially in low income areas around the town such as Kiwanja Ndege slum.
Njoro River, the main water supply to Lake Nakuru and home to ‘sacred caves’, faced numerous threats that prompted Egerton University to initiate a plan for its rehabilitation. The river is also source of water to many residents of Njoro.
The town’s population has been increasing and in a few years time the town’s future is bright.
Njoro is currently a sub-county and constituency. The area MP is Joseph Kiuna while its MCA is Hezekiah Kariuki.