Meru, Kenya
Meru, Kenya
| Meru | |
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| — City — | |
 Meru
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| Coordinates: 0°03′N 37°39′E / 0.05°N 37.65°ECoordinates: 0°03′N 37°39′E / 0.05°N 37.65°E | |
| Country |  Kenya |
| Province | Eastern |
| County | Meru County |
| Founded | 13th-May-1911 |
| Time zone | EAT (UTC+3) |
| Area code(s) | 064 |
Meru is a city in central Kenya. Meru City is headquarters of the Meru County in what was formerly known as Eastern Province and the 6th largest City in Kenya. Meru forms a municipal council with a population of 240,900 ).
Meru is located at 0.047035 degrees North and 37.649803 degrees East, on the northeast slopes of Mount Kenya. The Kathita River passes through the city. 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. Meru is populated mainly by Ameru people.
The City 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. Meru City 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 Nyambene Hills.
Meru City 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 City.
Other Prominent University and Secondary schools and Hotels within and near Meru City include
- University of Nairobi Extra Mural Centre situated in the Posta Building
- Kenya Institute of Management - Alexander House
- Bugema University,Meru town Campus located within Angaine Plaza
- Mount Kenya University,Nkubu town campus located in Nkubu town
- Meru University College of Science and Technology
- Africa Nazarene University,Meru Campus - Opp. Police Station
- St. Mary's Girls' High School - Igoji
- Nkubu High School
- Kanyakine High School
- Meru SChool
- Kaaga Girls High School
- Kaaga Boys High School
- Bishop Lawi Imathiu Secondary School (BLISS)
- Meru County Hotel
- Blue Towers Hotel
- White Star Hotel
- Hotel Three Steers
- Meru Safari Hotel
- Royal Prince Restaurant
- Simba wells
- Brown Rock Hotel
- La Vienna Restaurant
List of prominent Ameru
- Field Marshal Musa Mwariama, Mau Mau leader
- Josphat magiri kibanga, Former chairman of meru central farmers sacco and also a clan elder.
- General Baimunge Marete, Mau Mau leader
- Hon. Justice (Rtd) Aaron Ringera, once the 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.
- Dr. Mzalendo Kibunja,Chairman, National Cohesion and Integration Commission.
- Kiraitu Murungi, South Imenti Constituency MP and current Minister of Energy, Kenya.
- Dr. Cyrus Njiru PhD, MBA, CBS, Permanent Secretary, ministry of Transport
- 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.
- Dr Mawira Fredrick Mate M.B.ChB University of Nairobi, Prominent Medical doctor
- Peter Munya Tigania -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.
- Mr. Lenny M.Githinji IT Consultant and currently Chairman Lejan Solutions
- 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
- Geoffrey Muthuri Mathiu , Former Meru School Principal, Director KTDA
- Mr. Justus Tom Ndege Sabari 1946 - 2008. Former Permanent Secretary Ministry of Labour, Ministry of Home Affairs, Ministry of Environment & Natural Resources. Founder member Kenya Methodist University - Meru.
- Martin Muroria,Bsc. - Prominent Computer Engineer & Banker
- Mr Isaac M. M'nkoroi - Contracts and Grants Management Specialist (USAID)
- Arnold Mutuma Mugambi,Bsc,CISA - Systems Executive Mabati Rolling Mills ,a leading iron sheets production company in East and Central Africa.
- Francis Kagwima -Former Tharaka MP and assistant minister for Research,science and Technology
- ^ Kenya National Bureau of Statistics: Population of local authorities
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