Meru is a town in the Eastern part of Kenya. Meru town is headquarters of the Meru Central District in Eastern Province and the 8th largest City in Kenya. Meru forms a munipical council with a population of 140,900 [1]).
Meru is located on the Kathita River, on the northeast slopes of Mount Kenya. It is situated about five miles north of the equator, at approximately 5,000 feet altitude, in an area of mixed forest and clearings, small towns, villages, and rural farms. and is mainly populated by people of the Ameru people.
The town is accessible by paved road, whether from the south around the east side of Mount Kenya, via Embu, or from the northwest around the west and north side of Mount Kenya, via Nanyuki and Timau (As of February As of 2004[update], the road to Meru via Nanyuki was still fairly rough). Meru District is a jumping-off place for Samburu and Buffalo Springs National Reserves and Lewa Downs, all some distance north of Meru, with Samburu and Buffalo Springs via Isiolo, and Meru National Park, to the northeast of Meru, via Maua in the Nyambeni Hills.
Meru Town is a business, agricultural and educational center for the northeast of Kenya. It has banks and hotels, markets and transportation terminals. Coffee, tea, timber, cattle, dairy products, "french" beans and many other products are produced in Meru District. In addition there are primary and secondary schools, including the Meru High School and Kaaga Girls School, two leading Kenyan secondary educational institutions. Emory University has a partnership with the Meru High School to share computers, books, and science equipment in memory of George Brumley. There are also technical schools, the Meru Technical Institute and the Meru College of Technology being the major ones. In addition, there are teacher training colleges and the recently developed Kenya Methodist University at Meru, known as KEMU.
It is an important coffee producing area. It is virtually all smallholder-grown, and much of it shade-grown. Meru's coffee crops come twice a year, corresponding to the two rainy seasons, but the main crop in Meru comes at a somewhat different time than that elsewhere in Kenya, due to different weather patterns on the northeast slopes of Mt. Kenya and the Nyambenene ranges. It is all grown at high-altitudes in the volcanic soils of the district. It is processed by farmers cooperatives which own coffee factories near the farmers.
Meru is the prime Miraa (Khat) growing area in Kenya. Many farmers prefer miraa since it is financially lucrative to produce.
The Meru National Museum lies in the town.
List of hotels in Meru
- Hotel Incredible
- Blue towers Hotel
- White star Hotel
- Three steers hotel
- Meru County Hotel
- Meru Safari Hotel
- Hotel Royal Prince
- Simba Wells
List of prominent Ameru
- Field Marshal Musa Mwariama, Mau Mau Leader
- Hon. Justice (Rtd) Aaron Ringera, current Director Kenya Anti-Corruption Commission (KACC), Kenya [1]
- Francis Muthaura, current Head of Public Service & Secretary of the Cabinet, Kenya.
- Edward H Ntalami, immediate former Chief Executive, Capital Markets Authority, Kenya.
- David Mwiraria, former Member of Parliament for the North Imenti Constituency, former Minister for Environment and Natural Resources, former Finance Minister, Kenya.
- Kiraitu Murungi, South Imenti Constituency MP and current Minister of Energy, Kenya.
- Samuel Kobia, General Secretary of the World Council of Churches (WCC). [2]
- Silas Muriuki, currently (since December 2007 election) Member of Parliament (Mazingira Green Party of Kenya) for the North Imenti Constituency, Kenya.
- Japhet Mbiuki Kareke, Currently Nithi MP, and prominent businessman. Operates a fleet of buses and trucks.
- Gitobu Imanyara, current Member of Parliament for Central Imenti Constituency, former political activist, former Secretary General of FORD-Kenya
- Kilemi Mwiria], current member of parliament for Tigani-West and Assistant Minister for High Educational,for lecturer KKU university and UNCEF carriculum developer for Child education in Africa.
- Peter Munya Tiagnia -East MP
- Abdul Rahim Dawood, current councilor for Meru Town constituency. Businessman operates petrol stations and hotels.
- Isaac Kaimenyi Ndiira,Retired OCPD and former chief security officer in Mabati Rolling Mills company,a leading iron sheets production company in East and Central Africa.
- Jackson Harvester Angaine -1900-1999 Former Minister during Kenyatta and Moi Cabinet
- Nteere Mbogori -1934-2008 Former MP North Imenti Constituency,Assistant Minister during Moi regime a seasoned orator, and one of the co-founder of GEMA
- Bishop Lawi Imathiu - former Methodist Presiding Bishop
- Maore Maoka - former Ntonyiri MP
References
- ^ Kenya National Bureau of Statistics: Population of local authorities
Coordinates: 0°03′N 37°39′E / 0.05°N 37.65°E
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