Overview of Meru County
Overview of Meru County
Muugeni
kairi antu Ameru. Ageni ibobui? Greeting to you all Ameru, and how are our
visitors? Remember we have had earlier posts about meru as a place and how it came to be. So, what's in an origin? Not just knowing who we are, where we are from and
how we came to be. Personally, I now know more. One might be thinking,
is this really important? Yes, it is, and not as a by the way. It
is both pure and inspiring- one develops a sense belonging thus you are able to
identify yourself with certain places, people and culture. It’s more than this,
it tells our children and the generations in future something; it explains why our
forefathersrisked for us- they were brave, wise, creative,
patient and even canning. It speaks to the county to stand for more than just
survival- passing the gift of knowledge to our children, living beyond
survival, standing for social welfare, driven science and technology and… it
the only way we can be sure our interests are invested in the future.
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...Meru County |
Meru
County sits on the ring road of Mt. Kenya 0.047035 degree on the north and
37.649803 degrees on east. Isiolo County borders Meru County to the North,
Laikipia County to the West, Nyeri County to the South West and Northeast to
the Kenyan capital. Approximately, it covers an area of 6,936 square kilometres
with the headquarters at Meru County under Governor Hon. Kiraitu Murungi. Meru
County comes as number 12 and is located in the former Eastern Province with
headquarters in Meru Town. The County’s population is approximately 1.4 million
people-where men are more than women- I guess this is why men are more
economically empowered and wife battering is so prevalent.
Meru County is mainly home to Ameru also known as Ngaa people. For other
ethnicities such as Kikuyu, Embu, Kamba and Meru is home and away In fact, they
are as close cousins unlike others such as Mijikenda, Bajuni, Swahili, Taita
Taveta, Luhya and Kiisi who are distant Meru relatives. Other ethnicity groups
like Asians, Borana, Cuacasian Whites and Somali call Meru County home having
lived there for years mostly engage in different types of businesses. Meru
County residents communicate in Ki-Meru as the indigenous language, Kiswahili
and English.![]() |
Sunrise with the backdrop of Mt Kenya as one enters Meru from Nanyuki |
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Indians of Meru thresh dry bean stalks at their home at Kathama Ka Aindi (Indian Bazaar) village at Kianjai in Tigania West. |
Looking at the electoral constituencies Meru County has nine parliamentary constituencies. Among them are Buuri, Central Imenti, South Imenti, North Imenti, Igembe Central, Igembe North, Igembe South, Tigania East and Tigania West. The constituencies have been further divided into 45 wards as shown below borrowed from…
Buuri (4) Timau, Kisima,Kiirua and Ruiri
Igembe North ( 5) Antubetwe Kiongo, Antuambui, Ntunene, Nathui and Amwathi
Igembe Central (5) Akirangondu, Kangeta, Athiru, Ruujine and Igembe East Njia
Igembe South (6) Maua, Kiegoi, Athiru, Gaiti, Akachiu and Kanuni
Imenti South (5)- Mwanganthia, Abothuguchi Central, Abothuguchi West, Kiagu and Kibirichia
North Imenti (5) Municipality, Ntima East, Ntima West, Nyaki East and Nyaki West
Tigania West (5) Athwana , Akithi, Kianjai, Nkomo and Mbeu
Tigania East (5) Thangatha, Mikinduri, Kiguchwa, Muthara and Karama
South Imenti (6)-Mitunguu, Igoji East, Igoji West, Abogeta East, Abogeta West and Nkuene

The distance from Isiolo to Meru is estimated at 53km

Accessing Meru County is extremely easy as you enter any town from any side of Mount Kenya; from Nyeri, through Nanyuki and Timau, via Embu from Northeast and Isiolo County from the North. The Meru- Nairobi road is approximately 250kms from the city centre. Matatus and buses are the most convenient means of transport accessed from Accra Road or as commonly known as Tea Room in Nairobi. The journey to from Meru to the capital city takes between 5-6 hrs. The road is considerably smooth road snaking at one point and straightening at another so as you travel your vehicle is a top the mountain, down the hill and a ground flat like a pancake! Mwea, Chuka, Chogoria and Nkubu are some of the main towns one will find along the way before getting to headquarters. Those traveling to others places like within Tigania West and East, Igembe Central, North and South should be prepared to take more hours. The two airstrips in Meru triggers memories of a village girl- maybe I was six, and Josephat Karanja a then Vice President was coming to my town (Laare) for a political rally, for once my village was empty apart from me and my little sister. We too had to experience this ki-something. I carried my little sister who was 2 years ending to town and a neighbor asked us go back home but later told my mum who was also away on the same 'mission, and I got wrath of an upset mum. So when the other day the I heard some teenage boys bragging of our airstrips "Meru County tuko mbele; tuna uwanja mbili za ndege- Kinna Airstrips in Meru National Park and Elsa Kopje Luxury Safari Tent, I know how far we have come.
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A section of the Meru-Maua Road from Kaaga |
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