November 16, 2024

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The is how Witeithie Name in Kiambu County came to be

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Along the Superhighway between Thika and Juja is a fast-growing estate that bears an interesting but dreaded name.

Witeithie (help/save yourself) is its name this area got in 1990s when people started occupying then empty vast land and crime became part of their lives.

Mugging even during the day was a commonplace and victims killed were dumped in a nearby dam.

So how the name came about? Whenever matatus dropped passengers there past 7pm they bid them goodbye with the warning “Witeithie”.

The estate seen from Thika Superhighway.

“Matatu operators dreaded this place. From late evening they dropped their passengers like a hot potato and few metres after speeding off they would hear them screaming for help” Says John Kamau, a resident since 1990s.

Small and hardcore thugs lived here and police had a hard time patrolling Witeithie.

It was also the home of sex workers operating in Thika, Nairobi and neighbouring towns.

Before construction of Thika Superhighway there was a slope portioning the road that gave thugs vantage point to monitor preys and lay ambush even during day time.

An abandoned dam where killed victims were dumped.

“Matatus operators feared to drop their passengers here at night. They felt remorseful to hear the person they dropped there was robbed, harmed or even killed and dumped in an abandoned dam a short distance from the highway” says Geoffrey Mwangi, a resident.

It was not until early 2000s more and more building sprouted and businesses were established, slightly taming crime.

Construction of Thika Superhighway transformed Witeithie into a busy area and “bedroom” for Thika, Juja and Nairobi workers.

Termini at Witeithie where matatu operators dreaded to drop passengers.

According to a bodaboda operator Peter Mwau the estate though with its issues is now a safe place and conducive for business and residency.

“It is now a 24-hour business area and there is even a matatu sacco operating between Thika town and Witeithie estate. More people are coming to reside here” Mwau says.