Meru: North Imenti Member of Parliament Rahim Dawood has underscored the need for infrastructure development to underpin ongoing efforts to upgrade social amenities in Meru Town with an eye on attaining city status. The MP noted that critical infrastructure such as a revamped road network with dual carriageways to connect Meru Municipality, a modern sewer system, and an airstrip are fundamental to opening up more business opportunities for both residents and investors.
According to Kenya News Agency, addressing residents of Meru at the CDF offices, Rahim reiterated that infrastructural development holds the key to the town’s journey toward achieving city status. He noted that Meru has the potential to become a metropolis but added the process must be approached carefully and systematically. “Meru has the potential to become a major urban center, but we cannot rush the process. The infrastructure is not in place, and without it, the city status would not be sustainable,” Rahim said.
The proposed city status for Meru is part of a broader national initiative to upgrade towns and cities across Kenya, aiming to boost economic growth and improve the living standards of wananchi. However, the MP cautioned that the elevation should not come at the expense of the residents’ financial well-being. “Once Meru is granted city status, we must ensure that the tax burden on residents does not increase disproportionately,” Rahim said, adding that, “The government must find a balance between development and affordability.”
The current administration has been working on several infrastructure projects in Meru, including the expansion of the Meru-Nairobi Highway and the development of a new airstrip. However, progress has been slow, with local officials citing funding constraints and bureaucratic delays as major hurdles.
Meru residents have expressed mixed reactions to the proposal to elevate the town to city status with some residents welcoming the idea, saying it will usher in more development and business opportunities, while others are concerned about its possible effects. A key worry is the plan to clear about 50 hectares of nearby forest to create space for an airstrip. Members of the Ameru community, who uphold strong traditional beliefs and practice totemism, fear that the project could disturb sacred trees like the Mugumo tree, which is highly esteemed as a traditional shrine.