Machakos is the administrative headquarter of the County and covers an area of approx. 307 Km2. Being a small colonial town surrounded by hills, Machakos has been experiencing pressures as a result of the increasing population. There is, however, still potential for growth since there exists large chunks of agricultural land. Population was 150,041 in the 2009 population census, and projected to grow to 194,787 by 2018 and further to 206,419 by 2020.

Growth is attributed to devolution which has opened up the region, and its proximity to Nairobi (63km away), which has earned it a spot in the Nairobi Metropolitan Region. It has a fairly good road infrastructure and basic amenities that have attracted commercial investments majorly in the financial, commercial and service sectors.