How The Name Muchatha Came About

Muchatha is a name familiar with many Kenyans because it is used to imply shags.

A person saying he/she is heading to Muchatha they don’t necessarily mean the place in Kiambu but also talking about their villages.

Interestingly is how the name Muchatha was coined from a tree.

The place in Kiambaa was initially called Gituamba but after colonialists ejected indigenous people they affected people moved to nearby areas full of Michatha trees.

Musician Paul Wanganangu.

They cleared these trees and started living there and named the place Muchatha (A place of Michatha).

However this name remained insignificant until it was popularised by the legendary musician and resident Paul Wanganangu.

“In 1960 I did Gituamba Kia Muchatha song and then Ndiari Rui Maithinga that I praised Muchatha ladies. They were my hit songs and they made name Muchatha popular. Locals liked it and we made it the name of this area” Wanganangu recalls.

Posh side of Muchatha.

After independence some people went back to Gituamba and changed it to Muchatha. Today it is an expanse area that houses low and middle-class people.