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| The late Cllr. Jackson Gachanja. |
Dandora Today will be publishing a series of profiles of county assembly wards in Embakasi North and part of Embakasi West Constituency on a weekly basis. It is worth noting that a portion of Embakasi West is in Dandora Division. As such, our coverage includes Kariobangi South and Mowlem wards as well.
This week our focus is on Dandora 1 ward, which is officially known as Dandora Area 1 Ward.
Dandora 1 is one of the five county wards in Embakasi North Constituency. The ward has a population of 28,239 people according to the 2009 national census data, making it the second-least populous of the five wards in Embakasi North. The other wards in the constituency are Dandora 2, Dandora 3, Dandora 4 and Kariobangi North.
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| MCA Peter Wanyoike. |
Education in Dandora 1
Dandora 1 has one public primary school (Dandora Primary School) and one public secondary school (Dandora Girls’ Secondary School). But the ward has several privately-held schools offering primary and secondary education programs. Privately owned learning institutions in Dandora 1 include Jupiter High School, Mt. Zion High School and Jitegemea Academy, which is affiliated to PCEA Church Dandora.
Dandora 1 has one public primary school (Dandora Primary School) and one public secondary school (Dandora Girls’ Secondary School). But the ward has several privately-held schools offering primary and secondary education programs. Privately owned learning institutions in Dandora 1 include Jupiter High School, Mt. Zion High School and Jitegemea Academy, which is affiliated to PCEA Church Dandora.
Dandora Girls’ Secondary School admitted its pioneer students in 2016, which means that it first lot of KCSE candidates will seat for their national exam in 2019.
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| Dandora Girls' Secondary School. |
Vocational training centre
Dandora 1 is set to host a modern vocational training centre known as Green Light Project, which will be constructed at a cost of Sh180 million. The vocational centre is a product of a collaboration of Nairobi County Government, Kia Motors of Korea, Korea International Cooperation Agency and Good Neighbours Kenya.
Dandora 1 is set to host a modern vocational training centre known as Green Light Project, which will be constructed at a cost of Sh180 million. The vocational centre is a product of a collaboration of Nairobi County Government, Kia Motors of Korea, Korea International Cooperation Agency and Good Neighbours Kenya.
The centre will offer training in technical areas such as motor vehicle maintenance, fashion design and garment making technology. The facility will sit on a 2,000 square-meter piece of land donated by Dandora Primary School.
Business in Dandora 1
Dandora 1 is the home to the pioneer outlet of Karia Supermarket chain. The ward is also served by a Nairobi City County-owned market, which mainly renders tailoring and beauty services. Dandora 1 is also served by Jerusalem Chemist, the largest drugstore in the ward and possibly the largest drug outlet in Embakasi North.
Dandora 1 is the home to the pioneer outlet of Karia Supermarket chain. The ward is also served by a Nairobi City County-owned market, which mainly renders tailoring and beauty services. Dandora 1 is also served by Jerusalem Chemist, the largest drugstore in the ward and possibly the largest drug outlet in Embakasi North.
For financial services, residents of Dandora 1 are serviced by WAC Financial Services, which is a microcredit institution affiliated to the Catholic Church.
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| Dandora Jua-kali workshops. |
Dandora 1 leadership
The Member of County Assembly for Dandora 1 is Mr Peter Wanyoike, who was first elected in a by-election in 2009 following the death of Cllr. Jackson Gachaja in 2008. Mr Wanyoike was re-elected in the 2013 general election on the ticket of The National Alliance (TNA).
The Member of County Assembly for Dandora 1 is Mr Peter Wanyoike, who was first elected in a by-election in 2009 following the death of Cllr. Jackson Gachaja in 2008. Mr Wanyoike was re-elected in the 2013 general election on the ticket of The National Alliance (TNA).
In the 2013 election, Mr Wanyoike beat Mr Benard Mwangi of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) and Samuel Mbugua of the Alliance Party of Kenya (APK). Mr Mbugua defected to APK after losing the TNA ticket to Mr Wanyoike during party primaries ahead of the general election.
Dandora 1 county ward political leaders.
Election Year
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Cllr/MCA
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Party
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Notes
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1997
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Joel Mwangi Thayu
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General election
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2002
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Jackson Gachanja
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NARC
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General election
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2007
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Jackson Gachanja
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PNU
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General election
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2009
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Peter Wanyoike
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PNU
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By-election
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2013
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Peter Wanyoike
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TNA
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General election
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Before the 2007 general election, the current Dandora 1 ward and Dandora 2 ward made up a single civic ward.