Ongata Rongai (also known as Ronga in local slang) is a town located in Kajiado North, Kajiado County, Kenya. The town is situated 17 km (10.6 mi) south of the Nairobi CBD and East of the Ngong hills and within the greater Nairobi Metropolitan Region.[1] It lies 1,731 meters (5,682 feet) above sea level. According to the 2019 Census, it is the most populous town in Kajiado County and eleventh largest urban centre by population in Kenya.
Historically occupied by the Maasai community, the name Ongata Rongai is a Maasai phrase which translates to "narrow plains".
Present-day Ongata Rongai grew from a meeting of a cattle market in the northernmost tip of Kajiado county and the quarry township in present-day Kware.[4] The cattle market and the quarry spread rapidly and joined in the late 1950s.
Due to rapid real estate development starting in the 1990s, Ongata Rongai has evolved into a high-population Nairobi suburb covering around 16 square kilometres. Greater Ongata Rongai[5] is a medium-to-low population area. The neighborhoods of Kandisi, Rimpa, Nkoroi, Merisho, Olekasasi, Tuala, Rangau and Maasai Lodge are located to the south and east of Ongata Rongai.
Ongata Rongai has a diverse population due to its proximity to Nairobi. Ethnic communities represented include Kalenjin, Maasai, Kikuyu, Kamba, Luhya, Luo and Kisii.
One of Rongai's oldest founders is Olekyalosingi
Education
This area is home to a number of institutions of higher learning, such as the Africa Nazarene University, Eagle Air Aviation College, Belmont International College (located at the junction of Magadi/Gataka road in Ongata Rongai Town), Adventist University of Africa, Nairobi Institute of Business Studies (NIBS College) and the nearby Multimedia University of Kenya in Mbagathi. Other learning institutions are Ongata Academy, Laiser Hill Academy, Azuri School Ltd Nkaimurunya Secondary School, Prime Junior School, Nakeel Primary, Nakeel Boys, Arap Moi Primary, Olekasasi Mixed School, and Maxwell Adventist Academy, which together with the Adventist University sit on the property of the headquarters of the Seventh-day Adventist Church for the East-Central African Division. There are also St. Mary's Primary School, Olerai School, P.C.E.A Educational Centre and the latest school in the region, The Champions Academy located at House of Grace Church Ongata Rongai; 300 meters from Laiser Hill School.
Cuisine
Ongata Rongai serves as a primary entry point where most fresh produce is transported directly to the towns from the farms. It has a major market for fresh produce around the area of Kware known as Soko Mjinga. The large number of butcheries across Ongata Rongai also bear testimony to the popularity of meat and precisely nyama choma. Sellers of fresh fish are also making their presence felt, citing its immense benefits to the health of consumers.
Urban Culture
Catalyst Best Matatu in Kenya at Nganya Awards 2016 and Hulla Oop.
Rongai is popular for its pimped matatu's. Matatu's are the main mode of public transport in most urban areas in Kenya. Matatus in Nairobi are identified by a route number, the route number for Rongai is 125 and they operate from a terminus in Nairobi CBD along Moi Avenue next to Haille Selassie roundabout. Rongai matatus are very colorful and are decorated with graffiti representing the latest or popular pop culture: artists, brands or anything trending. Interior is decorated with flashy lights, multiple TV screens and speakers that entertain the commuters with very loud music, there is also free WIFI onboard and mobile charging ports.
Foreigners and tourists usually refer to them as moving discos or night clubs on wheels. Matatus are a part of Nairobi's urban culture, you can not visit the city of Nairobi and fail to ride in a Rongai matatu for an experience of a lifetime.
American RnB singer Trey Songz riding in a rongai matatu when he visited Nairobi in 2016.
Some popular matatus that have operated in Rongai are: Catalyst (which won the Best Matatu of the year at Nganya Awards 2016), Boombox, Bond 007, Shakur, Bumblebee, Batman and Superman, Emperor, Amaru, Phantom e.t.c Rongai also won the best route at the Nganya Awards event.
Sports
The town has several sports grounds like Nakel Stadium which is an arena for Men and women's football. The stadium is still under renovation.
There is amateur boxing, taekwondo, judo and kungfu at the social hall. However, there is a shortage of equipment for these combat sports. Fitness facilities are available as are several fields for jogging and other outdoor fitness.
^"Chapter 3: the Maasai: Socio-historical context and group ranches". Maasai herding – An analysis of the livestock production system of Maasai pastoralists in eastern kajiado north, Kenya. FAO. Retrieved 15 June 2011.
^"Ongata Rongai (Kajiado, Rift Valley, Kenya) – Population Statistics, Charts, Map, Location, Weather and Web Information". citypopulation.de. Retrieved 7 March 2020.
^"Directory of Cities, Towns, and Regions in Kenya: Langata Rongai". Global Gazetteer Version 2.2. Falling Rain Genomics. Retrieved 15 June 2011.
^"ISoCaRP Congress Case Studies Platform" (PDF). 2011. Retrieved 6 November 2016.
^MASESE, WINSLEY. "Rongai is no longer too far". Standard Digital News. Retrieved 6 November 2016.
April 29, 2023
ongata, rongai, lead, section, this, article, need, rewritten, lead, layout, guide, ensure, section, follows, wikipedia, norms, inclusive, essential, details, january, 2018, learn, when, remove, this, template, message, also, known, ronga, local, slang, town, . The lead section of this article may need to be rewritten Use the lead layout guide to ensure the section follows Wikipedia s norms and is inclusive of all essential details January 2018 Learn how and when to remove this template message Ongata Rongai also known as Ronga in local slang is a town located in Kajiado North Kajiado County Kenya The town is situated 17 km 10 6 mi south of the Nairobi CBD and East of the Ngong hills and within the greater Nairobi Metropolitan Region 1 It lies 1 731 meters 5 682 feet above sea level According to the 2019 Census it is the most populous town in Kajiado County and eleventh largest urban centre by population in Kenya Ongata RongaiOngata RongaiLocation of Ongata RongaiCoordinates 1 24 S 36 46 E 1 4 S 36 77 E 1 4 36 77 Coordinates 1 24 S 36 46 E 1 4 S 36 77 E 1 4 36 77Country KenyaCountyKajiado CountyPopulation 2019 172 570Time zoneUTC 3 EAT Known locally as Rongai or simply Ronga the populated town is a fast growing community with an approximate population of 172 590 2 3 Contents 1 History 2 Education 3 Cuisine 4 Urban Culture 5 Sports 6 See also 7 ReferencesHistory EditHistorically occupied by the Maasai community the name Ongata Rongai is a Maasai phrase which translates to narrow plains Present day Ongata Rongai grew from a meeting of a cattle market in the northernmost tip of Kajiado county and the quarry township in present day Kware 4 The cattle market and the quarry spread rapidly and joined in the late 1950s Due to rapid real estate development starting in the 1990s Ongata Rongai has evolved into a high population Nairobi suburb covering around 16 square kilometres Greater Ongata Rongai 5 is a medium to low population area The neighborhoods of Kandisi Rimpa Nkoroi Merisho Olekasasi Tuala Rangau and Maasai Lodge are located to the south and east of Ongata Rongai Ongata Rongai has a diverse population due to its proximity to Nairobi Ethnic communities represented include Kalenjin Maasai Kikuyu Kamba Luhya Luo and Kisii One of Rongai s oldest founders is OlekyalosingiEducation EditThis area is home to a number of institutions of higher learning such as the Africa Nazarene University Eagle Air Aviation College Belmont International College located at the junction of Magadi Gataka road in Ongata Rongai Town Adventist University of Africa Nairobi Institute of Business Studies NIBS College and the nearby Multimedia University of Kenya in Mbagathi Other learning institutions are Ongata Academy Laiser Hill Academy Azuri School Ltd Nkaimurunya Secondary School Prime Junior School Nakeel Primary Nakeel Boys Arap Moi Primary Olekasasi Mixed School and Maxwell Adventist Academy which together with the Adventist University sit on the property of the headquarters of the Seventh day Adventist Church for the East Central African Division There are also St Mary s Primary School Olerai School P C E A Educational Centre and the latest school in the region The Champions Academy located at House of Grace Church Ongata Rongai 300 meters from Laiser Hill School Cuisine EditOngata Rongai serves as a primary entry point where most fresh produce is transported directly to the towns from the farms It has a major market for fresh produce around the area of Kware known as Soko Mjinga The large number of butcheries across Ongata Rongai also bear testimony to the popularity of meat and precisely nyama choma Sellers of fresh fish are also making their presence felt citing its immense benefits to the health of consumers Urban Culture Edit Catalyst Best Matatu in Kenya at Nganya Awards 2016 and Hulla Oop Rongai is popular for its pimped matatu s Matatu s are the main mode of public transport in most urban areas in Kenya Matatus in Nairobi are identified by a route number the route number for Rongai is 125 and they operate from a terminus in Nairobi CBD along Moi Avenue next to Haille Selassie roundabout Rongai matatus are very colorful and are decorated with graffiti representing the latest or popular pop culture artists brands or anything trending Interior is decorated with flashy lights multiple TV screens and speakers that entertain the commuters with very loud music there is also free WIFI onboard and mobile charging ports Foreigners and tourists usually refer to them as moving discos or night clubs on wheels Matatus are a part of Nairobi s urban culture you can not visit the city of Nairobi and fail to ride in a Rongai matatu for an experience of a lifetime American RnB singer Trey Songz riding in a rongai matatu when he visited Nairobi in 2016 Some popular matatus that have operated in Rongai are Catalyst which won the Best Matatu of the year at Nganya Awards 2016 Boombox Bond 007 Shakur Bumblebee Batman and Superman Emperor Amaru Phantom e t c Rongai also won the best route at the Nganya Awards event Sports EditThe town has several sports grounds like Nakel Stadium which is an arena for Men and women s football The stadium is still under renovation There is amateur boxing taekwondo judo and kungfu at the social hall However there is a shortage of equipment for these combat sports Fitness facilities are available as are several fields for jogging and other outdoor fitness See also EditGithurai Kahawa Kasarani Dandora Kiserian Kitengela RuiruReferences Edit Chapter 3 the Maasai Socio historical context and group ranches Maasai herding An analysis of the livestock production system of Maasai pastoralists in eastern kajiado north Kenya FAO Retrieved 15 June 2011 Ongata Rongai Kajiado Rift Valley Kenya Population Statistics Charts Map Location Weather and Web Information citypopulation de Retrieved 7 March 2020 Directory of Cities Towns and Regions in Kenya Langata Rongai Global Gazetteer Version 2 2 Falling Rain Genomics Retrieved 15 June 2011 ISoCaRP Congress Case Studies Platform PDF 2011 Retrieved 6 November 2016 MASESE WINSLEY Rongai is no longer too far Standard Digital News Retrieved 6 November 2016 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Ongata Rongai amp oldid 1148397693, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
