{{Short description|County in Kenya}} {{about|the county|its capital|Meru, Kenya|its former districts|Meru (disambiguation)}} {{Use British English|date=May 2013}} {{Use dmy dates|date=September 2020}} {{Infobox settlement | official_name = Meru County | settlement_type = County | image_skyline = Mt kenya the temple.jpg | image_caption = [https://www.flickr.com/photos/tobi_backpacking_africa/4628313005/ Lake Michaelson] is in the background | image_flag = Flag of Meru County.png | flag_size = 120px | image_shield = Coat of Arms of Meru County.png | shield_size = 150px | image_map = Meru County in Kenya.svg | map_caption = Location of Meru County in Kenya | coordinates = {{coord|0|3|N|37|38|E|region:KE-400_type:adm2nd|display=inline,title}} | subdivision_type = Country | subdivision_name = {{flag|Kenya}} | established_title = Formed | established_date = 4 March 2013 | seat_type = Capital and largest town | seat = Meru | leader_title = Governor | leader_name = Isaac Mutuma M'Ethingia | area_total_km2 = 7,006 | area_land_km2 = | area_water_km2 = | elevation_m = | population_total = 1,545,714 | population_as_of = 2019 | population_footnotes = <ref name=munene>{{Cite web|title=2019 Kenya Population and Housing Census Results|url=https://www.knbs.or.ke/?p=5621|last=Munene|first=Evans|date=2019-11-04|website=Kenya National Bureau of Statistics|language=en-US|access-date=2020-05-30}}</ref> | population_density_km2 = auto | blank1_name_sec1 = GDP (PPP) | blank1_info_sec1 = {{increase}} $9.484B (5th) <ref>{{Cite web|title= Gdp ppp|url=https://www.knbs.or.ke/reports/gross-county-product-2023/|year=2024}} </ref> | blank1_name_sec2 = GDP (nominal) | blank1_info_sec2 = {{increase}} $3.482B (5th) <ref>{{Cite web|title= Gdp|url=https://www.knbs.or.ke/reports/gross-county-product-2023/|year=2024}} </ref> | blank2_name_sec1 = Per Capita (PPP) | blank2_info_sec1 = {{increase}} $5,905 (10th) <ref name=knbs>{{Cite web|title=Gdp per Capita|url=https://www.knbs.or.ke/reports/gross-county-product-2023/|year=2024}} </ref> | blank2_name_sec2 = Per Capita (nominal) | blank2_info_sec2 = {{increase}} $2,168 (10th) <ref name=knbs/> | website = {{URL|http://meru.go.ke/}} | footnotes = | timezone = EAT | utc_offset = +3 | name = Meru }} '''Meru County''' is one of the 47 counties of Kenya located in the Northern Mount Kenya region. It borders Isiolo County to the north, Tharaka-Nithi County to the south, Nyeri County to the southwest and Laikipia County to the west. Meru County has a population of 1.35 million people.<ref>{{Cite web |title=About Meru – Discover Meru County |url=https://www.discovermeru.co.ke/about-meru/ |access-date=2020-05-28 |language=en-US}}</ref> It is home to the Meru people.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Meru County Government|url=http://meru.go.ke/content.php?com=37&com2=42&com3=|website=Meru County Government.|access-date=2020-05-28}}</ref> The County headquarters and largest town is Meru.

The current governor of Meru County is Isaac Mutuma M'ethingia.

== Economy == Meru County is the 5th largest economy in Kenya with a GDP of $3.48B and $9.48B (PPP). Meru County is the leading county in agricultural production contributing 7.6% to Kenya's agricultural production.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.knbs.or.ke/gross-county-product/|year=2022 |title=Gross County Product - Kenya National Bureau of Statistics }}</ref> Agriculture is the main economic activity due to rich Volcanic soils in high altitude areas. Meru County is the leading County in Kenya by Horticultural production of Coffee, tea, French-beans and dairy products. Wholesale and retail trade also play an important role in the county's economy. It's the Leading County that produces Miraa (Khat) for export and hence boosting the economic national grid.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://meru.go.ke/93/discover-meru-county/|year=2023 |title=Discover Meru County }}</ref>

Meru town is the largest and main financial hub of Meru County.

== Physical and topographic features == Mount Kenya (now politically divided between Meru and other counties) has been influenced by the climate of the coast, especially the eastern slopes of the mountain with altitude ranges from 300m to 5,199m above sea level. Many rivers have their streams originating from Mount Kenya and Nyambene streams. Tana and Ewaso Nyiro Rivers are used for domestic and agricultural use.<ref>{{Cite book|url=http://www.kpda.or.ke/county-integrated-development-plans|title=Meru County Integrated Development Plan CIDP 2018-2022|publisher=Meru County|year=2018|pages=3}}</ref>

When Kenya replaced its provinces with counties, Meru County was created out of the Eastern Province. It covers a total area of 7,006&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup> out of which 972.3&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup> is gazetted as forest.<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://www.cog.go.ke/cog-reports/category/106-county-integrated-development-plans-2018-2022 |title=Meru County Integrated Development Plan CIDP 2018-2022 |publisher=Mer County |year=2018 |pages=2}}</ref>

== Climate == Annual rainfall ranges between 300&nbsp;mm annually in the lower midlands to 2500&nbsp;mm in the southeast. Long rains fall from mid-March to May and short rains are present from October to December.<ref>{{Cite web|title=CoG Reports|url=https://www.cog.go.ke/cog-reports/category/106-county-integrated-development-plans-2018-2022|website=www.cog.go.ke|access-date=2020-05-30}}</ref>

== Demographics == As of the 2019 census, the county has a total population of 987,653 of which 489,691 are males, 497,942 females and 20 intersex persons. There are 244,669 households with an average household size of 4.0 persons per household.<ref name=munene/>

===Religion=== Religion in Meru County <ref name=Census2019>{{cite web |url=https://housingfinanceafrica.org/app/uploads/VOLUME-IV-KPHC-2019.pdf |title=2019 Kenya Population and Housing Census Volume IV: Distribution of Population by Socio-Economic Characteristics |access-date=2 May 2021 |website=Kenya National Bureau of Statistics| df=dmy }}</ref>

{| class="wikitable" |- ! style="width:100px;"|Religion (2019 Census) ! style="width:80px;"|Number |- |Catholicism||313,277 |- |Protestant ||615,129 |- |Evangelical Churches ||365,759 |- |African instituted Churches ||129,224 |- |Orthodox||9,479 |- |Other Christian||45,405 |- |Islam||12,531 |- |Hindu ||336 |- |Traditionists||18,898 |- |Other||20,985 |- |No Religion Atheists||12,551 |- |Don't Know||2,348 |- |Not Stated||242 |- |}

== Administrative and political units == === Administrative units === Meru County has nine sub counties, thirty five divisions, one hundred and sixty one locations and three hundred and eighty six sub-locations.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Ministry of Interior and Coordination of National Government|url=https://www.interior.go.ke/|website=Ministry of Interior and Coordination of National Government|url-status=dead|access-date=30 May 2020|archive-date=2 May 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200502201517/https://www.interior.go.ke/}}</ref> It has nine constituencies and forty five county assembly wards.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2010 |title=The Report of the Interim Independent Boundaries Review Commission (IIBRC): Delimitation of Constituencies and Recommendations on Local Authority Electoral Units and Administrative Boundaries for Districts and Other Units |url=https://www.iebc.or.ke/uploads/resources/oep20PEuYn.pdf |access-date=30 May 2020 |website=Interim Independent Boundaries Review Commission}}</ref>

==== Sub-counties ==== * Buuri East * Buuri West * Igembe North * Igembe South * Igembe Central * Imenti North * Imenti South * Imenti Central * Tigania East * Tigania West

===== Constituencies ===== * Buuri * Igembe North * Igembe Central * Igembe South * North Imenti * South Imenti * Central Imenti * Tigania East Tigania central * Tigania West Kibirichia buuri

=== Political leadership === The first governor of Meru County was Peter Munya, elected in the 2013 election.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Peter Munya |url=https://info.mzalendo.com/person/peter-munya/experience/ |access-date=2020-05-30 |website=Mzalendo |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Kiunjuri sacked, Munya replaces him in new Cabinet changes - County Review |url=https://www.countyreview.co.ke/featured/kiunjuri-sacked-munya-replaces-him-new-cabinet-changes |access-date=2020-05-30 |website=www.countyreview.co.ke |language=en-US}}</ref> In the 2017 election, Kiraitu Murungi defeated Munya to become the second governor.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Kiraitu Murungi |url=https://info.mzalendo.com/person/kiraitu-murungi/ |access-date=2020-05-30 |website=Mzalendo |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Governors & Deputy Governors |url=https://cog.go.ke/39-main-menu/13-governors |access-date=2020-05-30 |website=cog.go.ke}}</ref> The third governor, Kawira Mwangaza, was elected in the 2022 election. However Kawira mwangaza was impeached in 2024 after surviving 2 impeachment motions in the Senate but the 3rd one wasn't successful when 26 senators upheld the impeachment of governor from the county assembly.

After her impeachment she decided to appeal the ruling at high court of Kenya where the court upheld the ruling of the Senate on March 14 2025 paving way for swearing in of her embattled deputy H.E. Rev. Isaac Mutuma M'Ethingia as the 4th and current governor of Meru county.

Murungi was elected in 2013 to be the senator from Meru County. When he ran for governor, Franklin Linturi was elected to the Senate.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Franklin Mithika Linturi |url=https://info.mzalendo.com/person/franklin-linturi/ |access-date=2020-05-30 |website=Mzalendo |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Members of the Senate {{!}} The Kenyan Parliament Website |url=http://www.parliament.go.ke/the-senate/senators |access-date=2020-05-30 |website=www.parliament.go.ke}}</ref>

Florence Kajuju was the county's first woman representative.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Women Representatives {{!}} KEWOPA KENYA |url=http://www.kewopa.org/?page_id=965 |access-date=2020-05-30 |language=en-US}}</ref> She was defeated in 2017 by Kawira Mwangaza.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Kawira Mwangaza Mwenda |url=https://info.mzalendo.com/person/kawira-mwangaza-mwenda/ |access-date=2020-05-30 |website=Mzalendo |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Florence Kajuju |url=https://info.mzalendo.com/person/florence-kajuju/ |access-date=2020-05-30 |website=Mzalendo |language=en}}</ref>

The Meru County Executive Committee comprises:<ref name=klrc>{{Cite web|title=179. County executive committees - Kenya Law Reform Commission (KLRC)|url=http://www.klrc.go.ke/index.php/constitution-of-kenya/140-chapter-eleven-devolved-government/part-2-county-governments/348-179-county-executive-committees|website=www.klrc.go.ke|access-date=2020-05-30}}</ref> {| class="wikitable" |+County Executive Committee ! !Number |- |Governor |1 |- |Deputy Governor |1 |- |County Secretary |1 |- |Other members |10 |- |'''Total''' |'''13''' |} Source<ref name=klrc/>

== Education == There are 1,437 ECD centres, 1,030 primary schools and 372 secondary schools. The county has also 7 tertiary institutions, 6 special schools 7,483 adult education centres and 7 university campuses. Meru University of Science and Technology and Meru National Polytechnic<ref>{{cite web |last1=The Meru National Polytechnic |title=History [of The Meru National Polytechnic]|url=https://mnp.ac.ke/index.php/about-us/history |access-date=7 January 2024}}</ref> are the largest education centers in Meru County.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Meru County Government|url=http://meru.go.ke/department.php?com=2&com2=10&com3=48&com4=|website=Meru County Government.|access-date=2020-05-30}}</ref>

== Health == There is a total of 460 health facilities, 995 hospital beds and 73 cots in the county, staffed by 1325 health personnel.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Meru County Government|url=http://meru.go.ke/department.php?com=2&com2=10&com3=44&com4=|website=Meru County Government.|access-date=2020-05-30}}</ref>

HIV prevalence rate was 2.9% in 2017, lower than the national rate of 5.9%.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Kenya HIV Estimates Report 2018|url=https://nacc.or.ke/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/HIV-estimates-report-Kenya-20182.pdf|date=2018|website=National AIDS Control Council|url-status=dead|access-date=30 May 2020|archive-date=4 September 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200904023201/https://nacc.or.ke/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/HIV-estimates-report-Kenya-20182.pdf}}</ref>

== Transport == The county is covered by 1,260&nbsp;km of road network. Of this, 767.5&nbsp;km is covered by earth surface, 266.7&nbsp;km is marram surface and 225.7&nbsp;km of surface is covered by bitumen.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Kenya Urban Roads Authority|url=https://kura.go.ke/|website=kura.go.ke|url-status=dead|access-date=2020-05-30|archive-date=22 April 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200422192812/https://kura.go.ke/}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Kenya Urban Roads Authority|url=https://www.kerra.go.ke/|website=www.kerra.go.ke|url-status=dead|access-date=2020-05-30|archive-date=27 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200727062741/https://www.kerra.go.ke/}}</ref> During the rainy seasons, some sections of gravel and earth surface roads are impassable.

The county is served by one airstrip; Gaitu airstrip in Meru Central.

== Posts and telecommunications == There are six post offices and four sub-post offices with 7,600 installed letter boxes, 5,937 rented letter boxes, and 1,663 vacant letter boxes with numerous registered stamp vendors in the county. The six post offices are located in Meru, Maua, Nkubu, Timau, Muthara and Laare. They offer mail services, parcel delivery and other services. Most private and public organizations have embraced ICT in the day-to-day operations. Private entrepreneurs have continued to set up cyber cafes in major towns and trading centers due to high demand for internet services among others. Most of the areas in the county are covered by mobile phone network with the coverage being 95 per cent. Areas without mobile network coverage are mainly areas of Tigania bordering Isiolo County. Most of the community members rely on radio, television and newspapers as the major sources of information.

==History== In 1992, Meru District was split into Meru Central District, Meru North District, Meru South District, and Tharaka District<ref>{{Cite web|title=About Meru County in Kenya|url=http://www.kenya-information-guide.com/meru-county.html|website=www.kenya-information-guide.com|access-date=2020-05-28}}</ref> In 1998, Tharaka District was again split into Nithi District and Tharaka District. A High Court decision in September 2009 ruled that the split had been unconstitutional, and the first two of these were re-amalgamated into Meru District, which became Meru County in 2010.

== Population == {{Historical populations|5=1999|6=1,102,930|7=2009|8=1,356,301|9=2019|10=1,545,714|align=none|footnote=source:<ref>[http://www.citypopulation.de/php/kenya-admin.php Kenya: Administrative Division population statistics]</ref>}}

{| class="wikitable" |- ! Constituency Name !! Number of wards !! Wards |- | Imenti North|| 5|| Municipality, Ntima East, Ntima West, Nyaki East, Nyaki West |- | Imenti South || 6||Abogeta East, Abogeta West, Igoji West, Igoji East, Nkuene, Mitunguu |- | Imenti Central|| 4|| Abothuguchi Central, Abothuguchi West, Kiagu, Mwanganthia |- | Buuri|| 5|| Kiirua Naari, Timau, Kisima, Kibirichia, Ruiri Rwarera |- | Tigania West|| 5|| Kianjai, Nkomo, Mbeu, Akiithi, Athwana |- | Tigania East|| 5|| Muthara, Special, Karama, Kiguchwa, Mikinduri, Thangatha |- | Igembe Central|| 5|| Kangeta, Njia, Igembe East, Akirang'ondu, Athiru Ruujine |- | Igembe South|| 5|| Akachiu, Kanuni, Kegoi Antobuchiu, Maua, Athiru Gaiti |- | Igembe North|| 5|| Amwathi, Naathu, Antubetwe Kiongo, Antuambui, Ntuene |- | Total|| 45|| |}

== Villages and settlements == * Ardencaple Farm * Magado *Nkubu *Inghi Farm

== References == {{reflist}}

==External links== *[https://web.archive.org/web/20110521063011/http://ochaonline.un.org/OchaLinkClick.aspx?link=ocha&docid=1086876 Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs – Kenya AdminLevels 1-4] *[https://www.flickr.com/photos/tobi_backpacking_africa/4628313005/ view of Lake Michealson]

{{First and second-level administrative divisions of Kenya}} {{Authority control}}

Category:Meru County Category:Mount Kenya region Category:Counties of Kenya Category:Eastern Province (Kenya)