THE COUNTY GOVERNMENT OF MERU

MAKING MERU GREAT

Meru is a town in eastern Kenya, approximately 225 kilometres northern east of Nairobi. It is the headquarters of Meru County, and the sixth largest urban centre in the country. It covers an area of 6,936 kilometers and shares its borders with 5 other counties: Isiolo County to the north, Nyeri County to the southwest, Tharaka Nithi to the southwest and Laikipia to the west. The origin of the word ‘Meru’ is believed to come from the Maasai people who referred to Tigania and Imenti forests as the mieru forests or simply the quiet forests.

Meru To Host First Mountain Running Event In Africa

Turning dreams into reality

UNDER THE MERU YOUTH SERVICE (MYS), YOUTH EMPOWERMENT IN MERU IS A REALITY. MYS SERVICE MEN AND WOMEN ENGAGE IN THEIR VOCATION COURSE THAT SAW THE 1ST BATCH OF GRADUATES ENTER THE WORKFORCE THIS YEAR.

GOVERNOR KIRAITU MURUNGI DURING THE LAUNCH OF THE MOUNTAIN RUNNING

In tandem with the National Government Big 4 Agenda, my government embarked on fast tracking the economic and social development of Meru People. We adopted the new Urban Development Agenda, currently we have inaugurated various Market Associations, Town Boards and Municipal Board for the program implementations.

Adequate Clean Water for household and irrigation has been my administration priority, we are sinking at least 100 solar power driven boreholes annually in the dry regions. We have done a number of community water projects with more ongoing.

Promoted agricultural practises by initiating Ndengu Pesa, distributed free Avocado and macadamia seedlings last season for increased food security and alternate sources of income.

We are aggressively fighting the Youth apathy, recruiting 1000 youth annually into Meru Youth Service. Already 600 have been trained on various technical skills at Meru National Polytechnic while 400 trained as Community Health Volunteers. Social- economically and politically empowered over 1000 women through Meru Twaweza Program.

H.E KIRAITU MURUNGI,GOVERNOR, MERU COUNTY

Mountain running is a combination of running, jogging and walking depending on how steep the trail is. It is a sport discipline which takes place mainly off-road in mountainous terrain but if there is significant elevation gain on the route, surfaced roads may be used.It is a worldwide sport and a discipline of athletics recognised by the IAAF and managed by The World Mountain Running Association (WMRA) that organizes world championships since 1985.In 2020, Kenya will host its first ever mountain running championship dubbed ‘the Mt. Kenya mountain Running championship-Meru 2020 this being an initiative of the Meru County Investment & Development Corporation and the Meru Sports Council aimed at Promoting Mt. Kenya and Meru County as a sports, tourism & investment destination and largely to raise funds that will support;

i) Meru County Cancer Institute. ii) Tourism Conservation of environment (Flora & Fauna) through the establishment of a Bongo & Rhino conservancy in Mt. Kenya.

ATHLETICS KENYA PRESIDENT, RTD. LT. GENERAL JACKSON TUWEI WITH GOVERNOR KIRAITU AT A SPONSORS BREAKFAST

Mount Kenya Mount Kenya is Africa’s 2nd highest mountain. Mt. Kenya Park & Reserve is the home to blissful solitude as well as access to 4 beautifully located lakes namely; Lake Ellis, Lake Ellis, Lake Rutundu and Lake Michaelson. This has greatly promoted Mountain Tourism in Meru.

LAKE RUTUNDU.

LAKE MICHALSON.

LAKE ELLIS.

Meru National Park Meru National park is located right on the equator an altitude of 304 - 1036 meters, is a home for the big 5. It has large pride of lions, some of the largest herds of buffalo in Kenya, elephants and rhino. The park’s fauna and natural beauty gives it an identity. It is located 348km from Nairobi covering 870km2 and can also be accessed by air through the chartered light aircraft landing at Kina.

Nkunga ForestNext to Meru Town, the county’s headquarters is a home for elephants forming part of their major Elephant corridor in Kenya.

The only forest with a canopy walkway in the Region. Ngare Ndare is a gazetted forest used to promote peace and co-existence among the different communities in the area - the Meru, Maasai, Borana and Kikuyu. The forest is maintained primarily by the local communities as the Ngare Ndare Forest Trust, under the supervision of Kenya Forest Service (KFS). Ngare Ndare forest has several attractions which can be of interest to visitors of diverse interests. First, being an extension of the Mt. Kenya forest, it has a va-riety of indigenous plants, some of which have herbal remedies. The dominant tree species are the Juniperus procera and Olea Africana. Second, the forest is also a migratory corridor for elephants and other wild animals to and from Mt. Kenya and the Northern Rangelands. Third, it is also favoured as a sanctuary by animals such as the elephant, rhino and buffalo, where they reside to give birth, nurse their injuries, recuperate or die. It is home to several other wild animals, bird and insect species.

Ngare Ndare

Fresh Vegetables, fruits, cereals, tubers as well as legumes have dominated the Meru agricultural produce

TEAMeru is known for its sweet coffee and tea which is among the cash crops. Grown in areas stretching from Igembe, Tigania and Imenti re-gions, Meru’s tea is processed locally at the nearby factories such as, Kie-goi, Michimikuru, Weru, Kionyo, Githongo and Imenti and Njeru.

Purple tea A new type of tea which can earn ten times in the world market more than what farmers earn from the normal green leave tea in the same market has been introduced in Meru County by a renown large scale tea and coffee farmer. This new type of tea known as purple tea which is characterized by purplish colour on its leaves and stalk has also a big market in Japan. In order to promote the proper establishment of purple tea farming, over 1.4 Million seedlings have been sold or distributed for free to farmers within Meru County

Potatoes Meru County is the third County in Kenya in regards to potato production. Meru produces over 196,000 tonnes annually in about 17,000ha of land. Under Governor Kiraitu, Potato farmers have been urged to form a coop-erative so as to access better seeds, technical know-how and get better storage facilities for the Large production of which approx. 45% gets spoilt.

42%

More than 42% of bananas con-sumed in Kenya both ripening & cooking varieties comes from Meru making it the leading producer of bananas in the country. The bulk of banana production in Meru County is done in South Imenti and Maua.

Banana FarmingCoffee Due to the conducive climatic conditions in Meru, we enjoy one of the world’s

finest coffee. As a major cash crop, coffee

farming is common to many households in the

region. Noting the untapped potential, the County Government has initiated various projects that are aimed to support the farmers. With Meru’s Coffee known and loved world over, investing in this untapped Coffee sector is a sound move. Karibu Kahawa!!

MORE THAN 42% OF BANANAS CONSUMED IN KENYA BOTH RIPENING & COOKING VARIETIES COMES FROM MERU

Wheat Farming Wheat farming in Meru County is done either in small or large scale and it is a profitable venture since wheat is the second most important cereal grain in Kenya after maize. The most favourable areas for wheat farming in this region are Kisima and Timau in Buuri sub county, Meru County. Conditions that favour wheat farming in this include the gentle slope-the land where wheat is grown is gently or fairly level and this allows mechanization

NDENGU FARMINGFollowing Meru county’s Ndengu Pesa initiative, farmers across the County have taken up green grams (NDENGU) farming. Currently, farmers are sourcing markets for their produce.

Macadamia and AvocadoDue to their increased and sustainable demand in pharmaceutical and cosmetic industry and oil extraction. Meru is calling shot from the front in a bid to shore up earnings from their sale and increased export of the commodities

Meru FlowersMeru County is one of the largest producers and supplier of the best flowers in the world. The climate and temperature conditions that fa-vour the growth, harvest and distribution of flowers are in the leeward side of Mt. Kenya and around Timau area within Meru County. These areas are globally known for the best, rare and prestigious variety of flowers such as; red rose, florinca, scented garden roses, alstroemeria, anais, red Naomi roses, sweetness roses, air force, cape red, scenta, ice bear and Karina

DAIRY FARMING Dairy Farming is part of Meru key agricultural activities for over 40 years. Dairy farmers in the county have been taking up new technology and practises that have led to drastic growth in Milk production.

MESSAGE FROM THE MESC CHAIRPERSON

I take immense pride on behalf of the entire Meru Economic & Social Council (MESC) upon the successful completion and launch of the Meru Vision 2040 document. The launch of this document marks MESC’s first milestone, which elevates Meru County into the realms of greatness, making history as the first county under the current dispensation of the Constitution of Kenya 2010 to come up with a long-term development blueprint.

The journey has been long and winding, with a committed team of highly competent drafters carefully piecing together meagre letters into words, words into sentences, and sentences into ideas. Today, those ideas lie herein as magical seeds, awaiting action before they can sprout into the beautiful industrial parks we crave, the mega factories and processing plants we desire, and the digital cities that greater economies that we envy pride in. The painstaking efforts of the valiant men and women who put in countless man hours to ensure this document turned out the immense success it is today have finally been vindicated.

I wish to particularly convey my hearty gratitude to the respective Pillar Chairs, the MESC Steering Committee, the drafters as well as the secretariat for their selfless efforts, without which the success of this document may never have been realized. May the good Lord immensely reward your efforts.

The clarion call for this futuristic journey rang with the launch of the Meru Economic and Social Council (MESC) on the 9th of February 2018 by our Patron, Meru Governor Kiraitu Murungi; shortly afterwards entrusting the Meru Economic and Social Council with being the dream-carriers of this ambitious vision. The need for collective pulling never more appealing, elite sons and daughters of this revered county from every imaginable background were drafted into the Council, mandated with charting a development and prosperity blueprint for the county. This burning need and desire for inclusivity has shone bright throughout the process of writing this document. Participatory forums have been held to harness input and feedback from county residents, starting with the Youth, MCAs, MPs, before finally culminating with the public participation by residents in each of our eleven sub-counties. At the tail-end of this rigorous process, it gives me utmost confidence that the dreams, opinion, feelings, aspirations and visions of every Meru resident are fully represented and reflected.

The launch of this document today must however not be seen as an end, but rather as a new beginning; the projects suggested herein must be turned into a reality. The hard work starts now. The same vigor with which we weaved these ideas, must now be recalibrated towards resource mobilization, with my challenge going particularly to the implementers of the respective flagship projects to now take the mantle and diligently turn this vision into a reality. When we wake up on the morning of 1st January 2040, let’s wake up to a United, Prosperous and Happy Meru. That is what Meru Vision 2040 is all about!

AMBASSADOR FRANCIS MUTHAURACHAIRMAN, MERU ECONOMIC & SOCIAL COUNCIL (MESC)

At the tail-end of this rigorous process, it gives me utmost confidence that the dreams, opinion, feelings, aspirations and visions of every Meru resident are fully represented and reflected.

FOREWORD

The unveiling of the Meru Vision 2040 heralds a new beginning towards a prosperous future for the people of Meru. It is based on recognition that the greatness of Meru County will grow from collective efforts of all residents in the County, both ordinary citizens and leaders. Indeed, Vision 2040 is founded on the recognition that the future of Meru county lies in, among other things, unifying the various communities, living by values of inclusivity, integrity, accountability to the people, and promoting respect for the rule of law. The future of Meru County is dependent on efforts of every single individual and the collective efforts of all citizens. Having a prosperous county in which residents live happily and enjoy high quality of life is the aspiration of every person. This is the dream that Meru people want to achieve through development plans in Meru Vision 2040.

Vision 2040 has strategies pegged on four key pillars; Economic, Social, Political and Enablers. Under these four pillars, key county flagship projects and other priority initiatives will be implemented for the next 21 years. On the whole, Vision 2040 is a tool that will aid better planning; safeguard the interests of all Meru residents regardless of the administrations of the day; fosters unity, social justice and inclusivity; and be a launch-pad that propels the county towards better regional, national and international interaction, trade and investment.

The Council was constituted by Meru Governor H.E. Kiraitu Murungi, in early 2018, with membership comprising of professionals and other opinion leaders from all the sub-counties in Meru. MESC’s mandate is to prepare a blueprint roadmap to guide Meru’s development agenda up to the year 2040. The priority of the Council has been to identify and fast track short, medium- and long-term development opportunities that ensure no-one is left behind. Inclusive development is indeed an important goal for any people wishing to have a peaceful, prosperous and a happy future and thereby Make Meru Great.

The Vision is an endeavour to reorganize the greater Meru economy towards prosperity and specialization. It has identified the key competencies that give Meru County a comparative advantage. The focus of future development programs is to consolidate and amplify gains from every sector of the economy The scope of the Vision is to quantify the potential, to ensure that the development programs deliver sustainable and viable jobs, generates revenue for the county and distributes the benefits of development to all the citizens of Meru County in an equitable and fair manner.

The journey to 2040 for the great County of Meru begins now. The responsibility is on each Meru resident and partners of goodwill to play their role in this future-defining moment. Of course, challenges lie ahead. Overcoming them and translating them into opportunities require the collective efforts, hard work, and commitment of everyone to a prosperous future. The National Government will provide enormous support and good will to drive this Vision. This is a new phase of common focus and unity of purpose for the Meru people in the endeavour of Making Meru Great!

PATRON MESC

H.E KIRAITU MURUNGI,GOVERNOR, MERU COUNTY

Vision 2040 will be implemented through short, medium and long-term rolling plans. Implementation will begin from financial year 2019/2020 for short-term goals, and spread to 2039/2040 for long-term goals.

Vision 2040 will be implemented through short, medium and long-term rolling plans. Implementation will begin from financial year 2019/2020 for short-term goals, and spread to 2039/2040 for long-term goals. The performance of county administrations shall therefore be scored on basis of progress towards achieving the various objectives under each of the pillars and the enablers. Implementation will be through short-term and medium-term plans (ranging from 1-5 years) and reviews will be carried out on an annual basis.

The programs in this important Vision, are the results of wide consultations by Meru people to make the County a prosperous and a happy county by 2040. The Vision was coordinated by a Drafting Team under the Meru Economic and Social Council (MESC).

Modernization, proper planning and creation of dust free towns and urban areas has been the pursuit for Meru’s government since August 2017.

The move has been geared at promoting a conducive environment for business operations across the county True to the promise, Meru governor, has formed strong town management boards that comprise of local business community.

The ‘Big Six’ Set Pace in Towns Modernization

KANYAKINE MARKET CABRO PAVED LAARE MARKET CABRO PAVED

MWICHIUNE MARKET CABRO PAVED

NCHIRU MARKET CABRO PAVED

TIMAU MARKET CABRO PAVED MAUA TOWNCABRO PAVED

Website: www.meru.go.keFacebook: The county government of Meru – 012 | Twitter: @Meru_county

Call Centre Number: 070-9241-000