Ruto: I will upgrade Meru to city status

President William Ruto has announced plans to elevate Meru to city status, alongside a suite of multi-billion-shilling infrastructure and health projects intended to modernise the county and improve service delivery.

The President said the government had already committed resources toward transforming Meru into a modern urban hub.

Speaking on Thursday after presiding over the NYOTA Business Start-Up Capital disbursement event at Kinoru Stadium, in Meru, the President said Sh3 billion had been earmarked for construction of a bypass to decongest Meru town.

According to the President, the contractors are expected to begin work once outstanding issues are resolved.

“I will come back to Meru for development purposes. We have agreed that the next city of the Republic of Kenya will be Meru. We have agreed that we shall build a Hospital in Meru and also ease traffic by building a bypass because we have Sh3 billion for that. We are waiting for contractors to sort out a few issues, then we are set,” the President said.

Ruto said that the administration would upgrade key public amenities and ease traffic congestion to support the envisioned city.

He added that work on the Nithi Bridge, a Sh7 billion project along the Tharaka-Nithi–Meru border, would commence in February 2026.

The bridge is intended to reduce fatal accidents along the busy corridor and improve regional connectivity.

Ruto further committed to elevating Meru Teaching and Referral Hospital to a Level VI facility to strengthen the county’s healthcare capacity and enable more specialised treatment.

“We are changing the face of Meru and turning the town into a modern city through the construction of a Sh3 billion bypass development that will reduce congestion in the town. In addition, the construction of Nithi Bridge will commence in February 2026, an investment worth Sh7 billion that will ease the incidents of fatal accidents along the Tharaka-Nithi-Meru border,” he added.

“We have also committed to elevating Meru Teaching and Referral Hospital to a Level VI facility to guarantee quality, accessible and affordable medical care to the residents of the county and the region.”

 On October 5, 2025, 

Speaking during a Church Service at St Mary’s AIPCA Church, Kathelwa, Meru, the President said the government had already initiated discussions to make Meru Kenya’s next city after Eldoret, which was recently conferred city status.

"I have told my people to have a State Lodge ready for me by December, where I will come and we will discuss issues of this region of Meru, Tharaka Nithi, Isiolo and the rest," he added.

If implemented, Meru will become the sixth city in Kenya after Nairobi, Mombasa, Kisumu, Nakuru, and Eldoret.

The conferment of city status in Kenya is governed by the Urban Areas and Cities Act, 2011. 

The process requires meeting several criteria, public participation, and multiple levels of governmental approval. 

Eldoret was recently elevated to city status.