Runyenjes is a market town in Embu County, in Kenya's central highlands, sitting in the fertile territory between Embu town to the south and the foothills of Mount Kenya to the north. The town takes its name from Chief Runyenje, a colonial-era leader who held authority across the territory between the Thuchi River and Sagana in the early 20th century.
The town functions primarily as a trading hub for the surrounding agricultural area — the farms here grow coffee, tea, maize, and bananas, and Runyenjes hosts one of the larger weekly open-air markets in the district. Buyers from across Embu County converge on market day, which is the most animated and interesting time to visit.
For travellers, Runyenjes is a stopping point rather than a destination in itself, though the Nthenge Njeru Falls — a double waterfall in the Kirimiri Forest — are a worthwhile short detour. The Mwene Ndega grove, 3 km from town, is an important cultural site for the Embu people, a remnant of the indigenous forest where oral tradition locates the origins of the community. Embu town, 20 km south, has more accommodation options and a wider range of services.