Meru County establishes committee to evaluate city status bid

Meru County has officially initiated the process to seek city status for Meru Municipality. Governor Isaac Mutuma M’Ethingia has appointed a seven-member ad-hoc committee to assess whether the municipality meets the legal requirements set out under the Urban Areas and Cities Act.

The multidisciplinary committee includes professionals from various sectors, including surveying, planning, architecture, law, urban management, commerce, and accountancy. Appointees represent organizations such as the Kenya Institute of Surveyors, the Kenya Institute of Planners, the Architectural Association of Kenya, the Law Society of Kenya, the Association of Urban Areas and Cities, the Chamber of Commerce, and the Institute of Certified Public Accountants.

The committee is mandated to conduct its review over a one-year period. Under Kenyan law, a municipality must demonstrate specific criteria to qualify for city status, including a minimum population of 250,000, an integrated development plan, the ability to generate sufficient revenue, and adequate infrastructure such as roads, street lighting, and waste disposal systems. If the committee finds Meru meets these standards, its recommendations will proceed through the county executive and assembly to the Senate, before a final decision is made by the President.