About Meru Way Back When
Brief History of Meru County
The Tanzanian society known as Meru, native around Mount Meru facing Mount Kilimanjaro in Northern Tanzania, are different and have no connection with the Ameru of Kenya. They call themselves Rwa and speak their own langage, ki-rwa. Still, the experiences amongst the Meru, the Pare and the Ameru were different in seemingly similar environments. However, in these cases, it is possible to probe the factors within and without that were responsible for their origin and survival.
The Ameru of Kenya, a society of eight distinct nations who live on and adjoining the north and eastern slopes of Mount Kenya, based on oral traditions collected from the oldest living members, suggest that the community originated on Manda Island, part of an archipelago off the Kenyan Coast. In the early 18th Century their ancestors were conquered by a neighbouring people, probably Arabs from one of the nearby trading principalities. In consequence, the Ameru chose to hastily flee. This does, in many cases, nullify the universal anecdotes clustering the Agikuyu, Aembu, Akirinyaga who on quick observation appear homogenous – but unalike!
There’s little to link the Meru experience with other migratory trends. There is no evidence, for instance, to connect them with either the Miji Kenda migration from Shungwaya (South Somalia) or that of Agikuyu heading to Mount Kenya. What is certain, however, is by circa 1750 the Ameru were settled in various parts of their present lands. Noted is that their origins tracing to that period is often overlooked.
Existing evidence suggests that the Ameru period of migration to their present homeland lasted about three decades. During the initial stage, they crossed the River Tana, somewhere near its mouth, then followed its southern bank inland. Later, they skipped the river and moved northwest through an exigent arid region, where water was obtainable only from seasonal rivers, or swamps. Initially they moved northward, crossing the wet areas. Soon, changing ecological conditions forced them westwards, following river systems to the slopes of Mount Kenya.
Their blue yonder was beckoned by the mountain and hills. The presence of high massifs, together with other smaller ridges had an impact on the lovely climate. These provided relief rainfall and created cool conditions. The new home enjoyed both Bi-annual rains, long and short. In the pre-colonial period, a combination of factors including availability of rainfall and fertile volcanic soils made Meru-Land, between the slopes of Mount Kenya and Nyambene Range, rave for agriculture.
And thus, they settled in the fertile highlands, fast engendering agrarian lifestyle. Alike their close kin around Mount Kenya the Agikuyu, Aembu and Akirinyaga and Atharaka, the Ameru organized themselves into clans, each with its leadership. They practiced agriculture, growing crops such as millet, sorghum, and bananas, and also kept livestock. Njuri Ncheke, the traditional council of elders among the Meru, then and now, played a salient role in governance and conflict resolution.
It is evident that by 1900 the Meru had evolved into a society in which political authority was not vested in any single individual or institutions; rather, political power and authority were diffused among clan institutions and representative individuals. Presently, the British administrators began to interrupt the native political process and transform it to suit their administrative scheme. It was then that Ameru began to incorporate European ideas into their political organization.
The Ameru nation was soon redefined as the union of eight or nine closely related and linguistically mutually intelligible Bantu societies: Igoji, Imenti, Tigania, Miutine and Igembe in the north, roughly constituting today’s Meru County; and Mwimbi, Muthambi, Tharaka and the more distinct Chuka, roughly forming Tharaka Nithi County. Together these societies thrived, and still live, to the east and south east of Mount Kenya. And this is how things stood, on the wend of colonial Kenya, for the otherwise defined nation as those ethnic groups speaking Kimeru dialects and predominantly living within the boundaries of Meru District at pre-independence
In the late 19th century, the British established control over Kenya, including the Meru region. The colonial administration introduced new crops like coffee and tea, which became significant cash crops. Hitherto, Ameru society was carefully structured and controlled by the powerful Njuri Ncheke council of elders. Njuri was the traditional system of governance for the entire Ameru community, with its headquarters at Nchiru in Tigania west. Ultimately, the form of political set-up, which emerged in Meru pre-colonial society, faced the impact of diverse forces.
The fertile highland areas around Meru were always going to be a great prospect for the colonial settlers and as it were, in 1903, Edward B. Horne was appointed the first District Commissioner of Meru. His office, now housing Meru Regional Museum, was the first building erected with stone in Meru. Soon after his arrival he declared the area within a radius of one mile from his headquarter and a town under the Ordinance Act of 1903. Conjectures about the newcomers were varied. End to end the relationship was a swing between development and subjection.
The chronicles of the struggle for independence in Kenya so far appears to be selective to Nyeri area and the southern half of Mount Kenya. While plenty has been written about the role of the Kikuyu in this struggle, the fast-disappearing role of the opposite-number Ameru is not much over with, yet, their pertinent contributions sealed an immutable bond among the tribes living around Mount Kenya. Indeed, the Ameru played a key role in the mobilization and participation of the Mau Mau rebellions. In 1991, the population was over a million. According to the Central Bureau of Statistics, the district has a population of 1,113,800 people
In 1992, Meru District was divided into two districts. The new district, Tharaka Nithi, comprised of the former Tharaka and Nithi administrative sub-divisions including South Imenti, North Imenti, Timau, Tigania east and west, Igembe and Ntonyiri. In the districts, there were a hundred and forty seven locations. In that same year, Meru North District was an unconstitutionally created, located in that country’s Eastern Province. It was split from Meru District, alongside Meru Central District, Meru South District (Nithi), and Tharaka District. Since the court’s decision in September 2009 the territory of Meru North was reverted back Meru County.
Famous for its wildlife, rich agricultural lands, and stunning natural attractions, Meru County, on the north-eastern slopes of Mount Kenya, is the immemorial enclave of the Ameru nation. Inhabited mainly by the sub-tribes of Imenti, Tigania, Igembe, and Tharaka, Meru County has one of the best developed touring circuits.
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Explore Destinations in Meru County
A Guide to Meru County
A Summa Digest of Meru
About Meru Way Back When
65 Destinations in Meru County, arranged as one would visit these - south, north, east then west - with the aid of in-depth narratives, images, strip maps and distance chart:
Kierra Valley, Kierra Ridge, St. Mary’s High School, Anabas Resort Trout and Seafood Grill, Tharuu Springs, Giitune Sacred Forest, M.Mpuri Cultural Centre, Meru Museum, St. Joseph's Cathedral, Meru Sports Club, Alba Hotel, Kathita Falls, Irine (Devil's Bridge) Falls, Cool Stream Garden, Thiiri Cultural Centre, Kaaga Methodist Church, Kaaga War Memorial, Kiathandi Hill, Mpogoro Forest, Stone Woman Kieiga Forest, Njuri Ncheke Headquarters at Nchiru, Ngaya Forest, Meru National Park, Twin Baobab Tree, Elsa’s Kopje, Ikweta Safari Camp, Adamson Falls Bridge, Rhino River Camp, Giant Meru Oak, Lake Nkunga, Mucheene Forest Station, Mucheene Cave, Lake Thai, Lewa Wildlife Conservancy, Sirikoi House, Nyambene Reserve, Liga Ria Ngutu, Lake Magado, Ngare-Ndare Forest Reserve, Ngare-Ndare Falls, Mount Kenya National Park, Sirimon Route, Mount Kenya One Day Trip, Theemwe Route, Theemwe Springs, Marania Route, Lake Rutundu, Rutundu Log Cabins, Chogoria Route, Nithi Falls, The Gates Falls, Lake Alice, Lake Ellis, Lake Michaelson, Vivienne Falls, Timau River Lodge, Wonky House, Tamalu Farm, Charanna Farm, Kisima Farm, Kisimani Resort, Mwonyo Valley, Giant Footprints
Know More About Meru County: Its Geography, Land-Use, Highlights, Population, Roads - including distance chart, Airports, Climate & National Monuments
Meru County’s positioning on the eastern slopes of Mount Kenya and the equator has highly influenced its natural conditions and economic prospects. Altitude ranges from 300m to 5,199m asl.
The topography of Meru County has a critical influence on its climate. Temperatures range from a low of 8 Degrees to a high of 32 Degrees Celsius during the cold and hot seasons respectively.
