Inside controversial plot to split Meru County into 2

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Last year, the Ameru Professionals Association (AMPA) wanted to rename Tharaka Nithi county to Meru South in order to “promote unity among the Meru-speaking people”.

The move was highly criticized.

This year the leaders now want to split Meru county into two with politicians from the region citing unfair and unequal distribution of resources as reason to have it sub-divided.

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Imenti North MP Rahim Dawood, MCAs David Kaithia (Akithii) and King’ori Kayana (Thangatha) said there was need to split Meru into Imenti and Igembe counties.

The leaders claim the only way to ensure the large county enjoys the fruits of devolution is by making easy for everybody to access services from the grassroots.

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Rahim  argued that the county is ripe for division saying it already has nine constituencies which he said qualify for further subdivision and carved from Igembe Central, South Imenti and North Imenti. “We need two counties so that everybody is able to access services,” added King’ori.

During the renaming of Tharaka Nithi row, leaders differed publicly over the controversial proposal.

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Chuka University Vice-Chancellor Erastus Njoka and influential leader among the Ameru community said Tharaka Nithi and Meru counties should be called Meru South and Meru North respectively, adding that professionals from the two counties would meet to deliberate on the matter. 

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But Governor Muthomi Njuki dismissed the proposal, saying the matter should not be allowed to derail the county’s development agenda.

He said those behind the campaign should instead fight for more administrative units in the upcoming boundary review.

It’s now wait and see on whether the proposal to split Meru county will be fruitful after the momentum it has gained.

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