{"id":9,"date":"2026-07-02T01:18:44","date_gmt":"2026-07-02T01:18:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/townsvillages.com\/kenya\/eastern\/meru\/"},"modified":"2026-08-01T07:53:07","modified_gmt":"2026-08-01T07:53:07","slug":"meru","status":"publish","type":"eastern","link":"https:\/\/townsvillages.com\/kenya\/eastern\/meru\/","title":{"rendered":"Meru"},"content":{"rendered":"

Meru County is county 012 of Kenya’s 47, on the northern and eastern slopes of Mount Kenya in the former Eastern Province. Meru town is the capital, and Maua is the second urban centre. The 2019 census counted 1,545,714 residents across 7,006 km\u00b2, making Meru the ninth most populous county.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Key facts<\/caption>\n
Fact<\/th>\nValue<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Capital<\/th>\nMeru town<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
County code<\/th>\n012<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Population (2019 census)<\/th>\n1,545,714<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Area<\/th>\n7,006 km\u00b2<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Former province<\/th>\nEastern<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Sub-counties<\/th>\n9<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
County assembly wards<\/th>\n45<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Main languages<\/th>\nKimeru, Kiswahili, English<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Towns and Villages in Meru County<\/h2>\n

Meru town is the commercial centre for the whole northern Mount Kenya region. Maua is the miraa trading hub, Nkubu and Timau serve the farming zones south and west of the mountain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Largest urban centres, 2019 census<\/caption>\n
Town<\/th>\nType<\/th>\nPopulation<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Meru<\/td>\nTown, county capital<\/td>\n80,191<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Maua<\/td>\nTown<\/td>\n22,121<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Timau<\/td>\nTown<\/td>\n10,571<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Nkubu<\/td>\nTown<\/td>\n7,675<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Lare<\/td>\nMarket town<\/td>\n5,358<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Mitunguu<\/td>\nMarket town<\/td>\n3,293<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Kiirua<\/td>\nMarket town<\/td>\n2,158<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

The gazetteer records 164 named settlements in Meru County, listed A–Z below.<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Ambaru<\/li>\n
  2. Amugaa<\/li>\n
  3. Angaine<\/li>\n
  4. Antubaiga<\/li>\n
  5. Antubetwe<\/li>\n
  6. Antuboclu<\/li>\n
  7. Athi<\/li>\n
  8. Athiru Gaiti<\/li>\n
  9. Athiru Rujine<\/li>\n
  10. Birikene<\/li>\n
  11. Bubwi<\/li>\n
  12. Chuge<\/li>\n
  13. Ciothirai<\/li>\n
  14. Gacheru<\/li>\n
  15. Gacu<\/li>\n
  16. Gaitu<\/li>\n
  17. Gakuuni<\/li>\n
  18. Gatimbi<\/li>\n
  19. Gatuntune<\/li>\n
  20. Giaki<\/li>\n
  21. Giatune<\/li>\n
  22. Gibb\u2018s Lookout<\/li>\n
  23. Gitauga<\/li>\n
  24. Githongo<\/li>\n
  25. Gitoro<\/li>\n
  26. Gitugu<\/li>\n
  27. Gituri<\/li>\n
  28. Igane<\/li>\n
  29. Igem Be<\/li>\n
  30. Igoji<\/li>\n
  31. Inono<\/li>\n
  32. Ithimbari<\/li>\n
  33. Kachiuru<\/li>\n
  34. Kagene<\/li>\n
  35. Kairaa<\/li>\n
  36. Kairune<\/li>\n
  37. Kaliene<\/li>\n
  38. Kamiruru<\/li>\n
  39. Kanduba<\/li>\n
  40. Kangeta<\/li>\n
  41. Kanyakine<\/li>\n
  42. Kanywee<\/li>\n
  43. Kaongo<\/li>\n
  44. Karama<\/li>\n
  45. Karama Antuamuo<\/li>\n
  46. Karichu<\/li>\n
  47. Karoe<\/li>\n
  48. Kathelwa<\/li>\n
  49. Kathera<\/li>\n
  50. Katheri<\/li>\n
  51. Kathi<\/li>\n
  52. Kathithine<\/li>\n
  53. Kaweru<\/li>\n
  54. Kawiru<\/li>\n
  55. Kenyenjere<\/li>\n
  56. Kiamuri<\/li>\n
  57. Kiandiu<\/li>\n
  58. Kianjai<\/li>\n
  59. Kibuka<\/li>\n
  60. Kiegoi<\/li>\n
  61. Kiemene<\/li>\n
  62. Kienderu<\/li>\n
  63. Kieni<\/li>\n
  64. Kiirua<\/li>\n
  65. Kilindini<\/li>\n
  66. Kimirii<\/li>\n
  67. Kinoro<\/li>\n
  68. Kionyo<\/li>\n
  69. Kiri<\/li>\n
  70. Kiriene<\/li>\n
  71. Kiringa<\/li>\n
  72. Kirirwa<\/li>\n
  73. Kiriti<\/li>\n
  74. Kirogine<\/li>\n
  75. Kisima<\/li>\n
  76. Kithatu<\/li>\n
  77. Kitheo<\/li>\n
  78. Kithiiri<\/li>\n
  79. Kithirune<\/li>\n
  80. Kithoka<\/li>\n
  81. Kiuii<\/li>\n
  82. Kiune<\/li>\n
  83. Kongaita<\/li>\n
  84. Kunati<\/li>\n
  85. Lare<\/li>\n
  86. Leeta<\/li>\n
  87. Lolmotonyi<\/li>\n
  88. Lubuni<\/li>\n
  89. Luchiuti<\/li>\n
  90. Machungulu<\/li>\n
  91. Magandi<\/li>\n
  92. Makandune<\/li>\n
  93. Mamuru<\/li>\n
  94. Marania<\/li>\n
  95. Mariene<\/li>\n
  96. Matetu<\/li>\n
  97. Maua<\/li>\n
  98. Mburugiti<\/li>\n
  99. Mbwinjeru<\/li>\n
  100. Menwe<\/li>\n
  101. Meru<\/li>\n
  102. Miathene<\/li>\n
  103. Mikinduri<\/li>\n
  104. Miruriiri<\/li>\n
  105. Mitine<\/li>\n
  106. Mitunguu<\/li>\n
  107. Mituntu<\/li>\n
  108. Mpuri<\/li>\n
  109. Muchene<\/li>\n
  110. Mukarangatine<\/li>\n
  111. Mukuiru<\/li>\n
  112. Munithu<\/li>\n
  113. Murichia<\/li>\n
  114. Muruugi<\/li>\n
  115. Muthangene<\/li>\n
  116. Muthara<\/li>\n
  117. Mutonga<\/li>\n
  118. Mutuati<\/li>\n
  119. Mutunguru<\/li>\n
  120. Mutuuma<\/li>\n
  121. Mwenjera<\/li>\n
  122. Mwirongondu<\/li>\n
  123. Naari<\/li>\n
  124. Naathu<\/li>\n
  125. Ndagene<\/li>\n
  126. Ndunyu<\/li>\n
  127. Ndunyu Mutunyi<\/li>\n
  128. Ngirine<\/li>\n
  129. Ngongo<\/li>\n
  130. Nkabune<\/li>\n
  131. Nkando<\/li>\n
  132. Nkandone<\/li>\n
  133. Nkinyanga<\/li>\n
  134. Nkubu<\/li>\n
  135. Nkumari<\/li>\n
  136. Nkunga<\/li>\n
  137. Nkuraru<\/li>\n
  138. Nkuriga<\/li>\n
  139. Ntemwene<\/li>\n
  140. Nthare<\/li>\n
  141. Ntharene<\/li>\n
  142. Ntumburi<\/li>\n
  143. Ontulili<\/li>\n
  144. Ruiga<\/li>\n
  145. Ruiri<\/li>\n
  146. Rwalera<\/li>\n
  147. Rwanyange<\/li>\n
  148. Tabata<\/li>\n
  149. Teleswan<\/li>\n
  150. Thaie<\/li>\n
  151. Thananga<\/li>\n
  152. Thathi<\/li>\n
  153. Theera<\/li>\n
  154. Thinyaine<\/li>\n
  155. Thumbereria<\/li>\n
  156. Thuura<\/li>\n
  157. Thuuri<\/li>\n
  158. Tigania<\/li>\n
  159. Tiira<\/li>\n
  160. Timau<\/li>\n
  161. Timau Settlement<\/li>\n
  162. Tuuru<\/li>\n
  163. Upper Thingithu Lodge<\/li>\n
  164. Yururu<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Geography<\/h2>\n

    Land ranges from the Mount Kenya peaks above 4,500 m down to about 300 m in the Meru National Park lowlands. Between them sit the Nyambene Hills, a volcanic range that runs north-east from the mountain and gives Igembe and Tigania their deep red soils.<\/p>\n

    Rainfall is heavy on the slopes, above 2,000 mm a year in places, and sparse in the northern plains. The Kathita, Mutonga, Thanantu and Ura rivers drain the county towards the Tana. Four counties border Meru: Isiolo County<\/a> to the north and east, Tharaka-Nithi County<\/a> to the south, Nyeri County<\/a> to the south-west and Laikipia County<\/a> to the west.<\/p>\n

    Demographics<\/h2>\n

    The 2019 census recorded 767,698 men, 777,975 women and 41 intersex persons. Density is about 221 people per km\u00b2, highest in Igembe Central and Imenti South and lowest in the northern grazing lands.<\/p>\n

    Residents are mainly Ameru, made up of the Igembe, Tigania, Imenti, Miutini, Igoji, Mwimbi and Chuka-related subgroups. Kimeru is the first language, with Kiswahili and English in trade and schools. Igembe Central is the largest sub-county, with 221,412 people.<\/p>\n

    Economy and Local Life<\/h2>\n

    Meru farms more crops than almost any other county, because its altitude range is so wide. The slopes produce tea, coffee, bananas, potatoes, maize, dairy and macadamia. Timau and Buuri run large-scale wheat, barley, vegetable and cut-flower farms under irrigation.<\/p>\n

    Miraa, or khat, is the defining cash crop of Igembe and Tigania. Maua is its trading floor, and consignments leave for Nairobi and Mogadishu daily. The northern lowlands keep cattle, goats and camels. Meru National Park draws tourism, and Meru town serves the region with hospitals, banks and Kenya Methodist University. Markets run at Meru, Maua, Nkubu, Timau, Mikinduri and Mitunguu.<\/p>\n

    History<\/h2>\n

    Ameru oral tradition traces the community’s arrival from a place called Mbwa on the coast. From there they moved inland to the Nyambene Hills and the mountain slopes. The Njuri Ncheke, the council of elders, governed disputes and land, and it still arbitrates in the county today.<\/p>\n

    The British established Meru District in 1910. It was broken up in 1992 into Meru Central, Meru North, Meru South and Tharaka districts. Meru County, created under the 2010 constitution, brought Meru Central and Meru North back together. Meru South and Tharaka went to Tharaka-Nithi. The first county government took office in 2013.<\/p>\n

    Getting There<\/h2>\n

    Meru town is about 270 km from Nairobi. The usual route follows the A2 through Nyeri and Nanyuki, then crosses the mountain’s northern shoulder at Timau. A second route runs through Thika, Embu and Chuka and takes about the same time.<\/p>\n

    Tarmac links Meru to Maua, Nkubu, Mitunguu and Isiolo. Buses run overnight and through the day from Nairobi’s Tea Room stage. Isiolo International Airport lies about 60 km north, and Mulika airstrip serves Meru National Park.<\/p>\n

    FAQ<\/h2>\n

    What is the capital of Meru County?<\/h3>\n

    Meru town, with 80,191 residents at the 2019 census. It is the largest urban centre in the northern Mount Kenya region.<\/p>\n

    How many towns and villages are in Meru County?<\/h3>\n

    Gazetteer records name 164 settlements, all listed on this page.<\/p>\n

    Which sub-counties make up Meru County?<\/h3>\n

    Nine: Igembe North, Igembe Central, Igembe South, Tigania East, Tigania West, North Imenti, Central Imenti, South Imenti and Buuri. They hold 45 wards.<\/p>\n

    What is Meru County known for?<\/h3>\n

    Miraa from the Nyambene Hills, large-scale horticulture around Timau, and Meru National Park.<\/p>\n

    How far is Meru from Nairobi?<\/h3>\n

    About 270 km, four to five hours by road through Nanyuki or through Embu.<\/p>\n

    What is the population of Meru County?<\/h3>\n

    1,545,714 at the 2019 census, the ninth largest county population in Kenya.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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