Kangema Town otherwise translated from local native language(Kikuyu) to a “location of Columbus monkeys” was a traditional colonial administrative center, synonymous with a colonial “Whitney” with a local pronouciation “Wa-itina” which was so pronounced due to the locals lack of education. in local dialect mean “Ass man” The European who was Briton was known for castrating men who joined the then criminal terrorists “Maumau” and so the name fitted. Whitney was also known for having big dogs whose tails had been cut off, it was said that he argued that it made them more compliant.
The town is also known for a MauMau General “General Kago” who was well known a a fearless general who made daytime attacks on colonial masters, attacking sometimes fortified camps for chiefs, Divisional officers, and even attempting on District commissioners. at a particular time general Kago attacked a camp and a school at Kandara where some men like Joseph Kanyi Gatore were studying forcing them to stop their education. General Kago was killed at Kayahwe river in March 1954 in what was widely known as “Muitiko wa Kayahwe”. This was after he had made an attack at Kandara, and was pursued by colonialist, on realizing this He and his generals hid under the waters of River Kayahwe in upper present Murang’a county( then mbiri/Fort hall) but the colanialist were on to him on a plane and sprayed the River with bullets Killing him and his soldiers. It is said that that day the waters of Kayahwe turned red. the colonialist on the same plane flew over all of Murang’a county and over the Aberdare Forest(the suspected hide outs of Mau mau) announcing the death of General Kago.
Kangema also prides itself with a former Kibaki administration(2003-2013) minister the late John Njoroge Muchuki who was identified with traffic rules that brought sanity to public transport “The Michuki rules” and the strongest Minister for Internal security in the Then Government.
In the periods 2010 to date Kangema town has seen improved infrastructure development and has been upgraded to Sub-county Head quarters…