ORIGIN OF THE NAME - NKUBU
The name Nkubu was derived from the Maasai term I’lkubu, a nickname initially used to describe the Meru people’s way of life.
The term was meant to poke fun at the Meru people’s habit of tilling the land, comparing their industriousness to that of squirrels.
The Maasai, passing through Meru lands with their herds, observed the locals busily tending to their farms and storing surplus food in granaries.
To the pastoralists, this behavior resembled the survival tactics of squirrels, which hoard food for lean seasons. Thus, they began referring to the Meru agriculturalists as I’lkubu—a term both descriptive and dismissive in tone.
Meru people have a fascinating linguistic trait—they often add the letter ‘n’ to words, a habit that shapes how they pronounce and adapt names.
This quirk of the Kimeru language came into play when the Maasai word I’lkubu was adopted and transformed into Nkubu. The addition of the ‘n’ made the term easier to pronounce in Meru.
(It is the same Meru people who will proudly say ngabana instead of gavana or ngod instead of God.)
And so, the town that grew at the heart of this industrious community adopted the name Nkubu, a localized adaptation of the Maasai term. What was once meant as an insult evolved into a symbol of resilience and pride for the Meru people.
Today, Nkubu is a vibrant town that exemplifies the industrious spirit its name inadvertently celebrates.
Strategically located along the Nairobi-Meru highway, it serves as a commercial hub for agricultural produce like bananas, mangoes, maize, and other valuable food items.
The same dedication to hard work that the Maasai observed centuries ago continues to define Nkubu’s character.
