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.
 
...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. 

Sunrise with the backdrop of Mt Kenya as one enters Meru from Nanyuki
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.

 
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. 


A section of the Meru-Maua Road from Kaaga
I love the Meru –Maua road. Not only because it takes me home but it’s also smooth and beautifully sandwiched in beautiful sceneries.  As you enter Meru-Maua road is Mafuko industries that welcome you with a satisfying smell of freshly baked bread. You drive your way down to find a hub of learning institutions such as Kenya Methodist University, Meru School, Kaaga Girls High School, Meru School, and Meru School for Boys, Kaaga School for the Deaf and Meru University of Science and Technology. Then there is Ncheru forest that reminds me good old days in Maua Girls High School. Here you will find elephants; cows and goats graze in most friendly environment that is how you get to understand Shamba La Wanyama slogan wanyama wote wako sawa! A few minutes from here you get to beautiful scenery with acacia trees and Muruta a semi-permanent river. I guess all the domestic animals from the area meet here to quench their thirst.


The Nkunga Forest along the Meru- Maua Road


Whether it a few minutes walk, or a long drive along the Meru-Maua road is a thrill. The journey gets mesmerizing as you pass through Muthaara and Kianjai especially on market days- it a beehive of activities. Donkeys transporting supplies to and from the market is also a common and spectacular sight here. You will pass by farms, small to medium beautiful homes. Smoke from the chimneys is a common thing especially in the evenings, I guess families preparing mukimo oo nchaabi ( mashed potatoes and black bean) for dinner (it’s our traditional food and we don't mind it dry or with stew). Next is Karama- it beautiful, small hills amid big ones, some that seem so far, yet so close  such that one feels as if they are touchable from the window of a moving vehicle. Your journey cannot be complete without small towns like Kaithe, Nkinyang’a, Kangeta, Maili Tatu and Laare. There is a lot of elegance and simplicity to fall in love with in discovering Meru County. The temptation is continue is luring but got to stop anyway.  See you in the next post.

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