town, south-central Kenya. It lies in the highland region just northeast of the capital city of Nairobi, at an elevation of 4,943 feet (1,507 metres) above sea level. Situated in a fruit-growing area, Thika specializes in fruit canning (notably pineapples); the production of textiles and the manufacture of matches and tinplate cans are other leading industries. Thika is the site of the National Horticultural Research Centre, which engages in agronomic research. Pop. (2004 est.) 96,600.