BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Meru Municipality is located on the north-eastern slopes of Mount Kenya, about 250 km from Nairobi, at an altitude of 1,640 meters above sea level. Its urban growth began during the colonial period in 1910 when the first District Commissioner established a camp in the area. Development expanded through missionary activities, local councils, and administrative institutions, leading to its recognition as a township and later a municipality in the 1970s. Following Kenya’s 2010 Constitution and the Urban Areas and Cities Act, Meru qualified again for municipal status as both a county headquarters and a growing urban center. In 2018, it was officially granted a municipal charter and a municipal board was established. The municipality features rich natural and exotic vegetation, including forests and agricultural crops such as coffee, tea, and bananas