If someone asked me a few years ago to describe Machakos county, I probably would have repeated hearsay—what others often say about it. Dusty, dry and bare.
But then one day I visited the place and all my expectations were short-lived.
Of all the counties I have explored in Kenya, Machakos remains one of the most underrated. Covering approximately 6,208 square kilometres, the county borders Nairobi to the west and carries a rich history.
Founded in 1887, Machakos became Kenya's first administrative headquarters under British rule before the capital was later moved to Nairobi.
When I visited Machakos, the first thing that surprised me was the farms. All I could see were patches of green stretched across the hilly landscape and farms with various vegetables, fruits and other horticultural crops.
For a county often described as dry, the amount of agricultural activity thriving in the region is the complete opposite of what I thought.
Then came the mangoes. Ask anyone familiar with Machakos and they will tell you the county produces the sweetest mangoes in Kenya.
But the moment that stays with me to this day is the sunflower garden I saw outside someone’s home. I had never seen sunflowers in real life before. Only in photographs online.
I couldn’t help but smile and take lots of pictures of the stunning view. It felt ironic that the first sunflower garden I would ever see happened to be in a county I had for so long underestimated.
That single moment reminded me how dangerous assumptions can be. Sometimes the places we dismiss hold the most beautiful surprises.
Interestingly, Machakos doesn’t only thrive in agriculture. It has quietly grown into a destination for leisure, adventure and holiday getaways. Athi River, for example, which is located in Machakos, offers a number of entertainment spots.
Just about 35 kilometres from Nairobi, roughly an hour's drive, lies Lukenya getaway and other recreation centres. Set against the backdrop of the famous Lukenya Hills, the resort offers swimming, cycling, nature walks, conferences, team-building activities, children's play areas and relaxing accommodation for anyone looking to escape the city's fast pace without travelling too far.
The entertainment spots and hotels in this region are numerous that you cannot finish exploring them in a week. Many of them offer an exquisite experience with different services, from work conferences to family getaways to couple retreats.
What makes it even better is that you get a high-class experience in the midst of wildlife, with animals such as antelopes, gazelles, zebras and birds.
For adrenaline junkies, several facilities in Athi River and the wider Machakos also offer quad biking, zip-lining, archery and obstacle courses, making the area ideal for group adventures.
Further into the county lies another spot I discovered and visited recently. Machakos People's Park.
The best part? Entry is absolutely free. I expected an ordinary public park. Instead, I found one of the cleanest and most beautifully maintained recreational spaces I have visited in Kenya.
Everything about the park felt intentional. The lush green lawns were perfectly manicured. Decorative fountains added a calming touch to the landscape while colourful flowers and well-kept pathways created an atmosphere that instantly encouraged visitors to slow down.
The entire experience I have had at Machakos made me wonder whether I should relocate there. Getting here is also part of the fun experience. The roads were so smooth and the fresh countryside air drifting through the car window, accompanied by the beautiful view, made the journey very enjoyable.
Then there is Machakos town itself. If you expect a boring rural centre, prepare to be surprised. The town is vibrant and buzzes with energy. Vendors fill the streets selling different commodities, restaurants overflow with customers enjoying lunch, and vehicles move constantly in and out of town.
Nothing about it matches the image I had created in my mind. Perhaps that's the biggest lesson Machakos taught me. Sometimes we inherit opinions about places we have never truly experienced ourselves. The only way to know the truth is to experience them yourself and be the judge.
After all, the greatest destinations are not always the loudest. They are the ones quietly waiting to be discovered. So, the next time you are planning a weekend getaway, don't just think of the usual destinations. Give Machakos a chance.
