Ruto announces plans to elevate Meru to city status, allocates Ksh.7B for Nithi Bridge redesign

President William Ruto has announced that Meru town will be elevated to city status, as the government allocates Ksh.7 billion to redesign the Nithi Bridge, which has long been considered a safety hazard.

Speaking on Sunday at St. Mary’s AIPCA Church, Kathelwa, in Meru County, President Ruto said the government is committed to addressing the bridge’s safety concerns, noting that it has been a “death trap” for residents for nearly two decades.

“We want to straighten the Nithi Bridge so that it stops being a trap where citizens lose their lives and experience many accidents,” he said.

The President further announced that Ksh.2 billion has been set aside for the construction and rehabilitation of roads in Meru.

He said road projects had been delayed due to the economic slowdown and inflationary pressures experienced in 2022, but assured residents that funding for road development was now secured for the next two years.

“Now we have a funded plan for roads over the next two years. This will ensure our roads are safe,” he added.

Ruto said Meru’s elevation to city status, which would make it Kenya’s sixth city, means the county must meet key infrastructure benchmarks, including modern roads, markets, and a state lodge.

The government, in collaboration with the World Bank, has allocated Ksh.5 billion for a 10-kilometre road and bypass to support the transition, he added.

Additionally, Ksh.800 million has been earmarked for the construction of 17 modern markets to boost local trade and economic growth. The President said the government plans to complete a state lodge in Meru by December, as part of preparations for city status.

President Ruto reveals plans to make Meru the 6th city in Kenya pic.twitter.com/4txtXfqbOv

At the same time, Ruto said 2,000 affordable housing units have been completed in the county, with plans to build 8,000 more pending land acquisition.

“We need land to build more housing units. Ksh.33 billion was allocated for housing in Meru; Ksh.21 billion has been used, and Ksh.12 billion remains,” he said.

The President also highlighted education and electrification as key pillars of the government’s development agenda.

He said the state has employed 100,000 teachers and built 23,000 schools to ensure every child accesses education.

“Education is empowerment. No child in Kenya will miss school,” he affirmed, adding that university and technical college fees have been reduced by 14 to 15 percent, with students from poor backgrounds paying Ksh.10,000 per term.

Ruto also announced a Ksh.2 billion allocation for rural electrification, targeting 26,000 households in Meru County.