MERU DAILY

I remember while in High school I always had problems convincing my friends that Meru had some recording artists. Jehushaphat Kimaita is arguably the best reggae artist in Meru today. Photo/Getty Images That time, Jehushaphat Kimaita, the undisputed king of Meru's reggae genre of music had just released his first album titled 'Seek Ye First', being a friend of mine, He gave me a copy which i took with me to school, i gave it to doubting Thomas' and truly they believed and  instantly loved what they heard. Well, a few years later,came Ameru Crew, they were energetic and  the Meru people Loved them, they dominated local vernacular airwaves with their hit single 'Twendaneni Ameru'. The crew even got  nominated for the prestigious Groove awards and got calls to perform in a number of high-end events among them, Safaricom live and Groove Meru tour edition. Whatever happened to the crew is still a mystery, but some of the group members, the likes of Kimait...

The trunk of Mutunguruni Tree in Ndagani Village,Tharaka Nithi County. Residents belief that this is the tallest tree in Africa. Photo/Felix Kinyua. Times are hard, so they say, but kuna form in Mutunguruni Village, Home to Africa’s tallest tree according to residents of Ndagani in Chuka, Tharaka Nithi County. Tharaka Nithi has traditionally been known as home to the popular Chuka dancers whose tantalizing drumming and dance has thrilled many throughout the country especially on national day celebrations. But now the county is getting new image with devolved system of governments which is promoting new tourism ventures. Among the major attraction in the county is Mutunguruni tree at Ndagani Village which is considered sacred to the Chuka Sub tribe and as has served as a shrine where community elders go for divine intervention in times of draught or other calamities. The tree which is about 40 meters tall is probably the tallest tree in Kenya, though residents here believe i...

Robert Kathata shares a light moment with one of his 17 wives. Photo/Citizen Tv While the rest of the world is grumbling with hard economic times trying as much as possible to have a small sustainable family, one man Robert Kathata from Kaurine Village in Igembe central, Meru county has been having a different dream altogether. The 36-year-old man who now has 17 wives two more than King Mswati of Swaziland and 31 children says he is not done yet. Mr. Kathata who is from a polygamous father takes pride in his wives, according to neighbors and friends the man is said to have a convincing tongue which has made him a darling to women far and wide. Kathata says he is following into the footsteps of his father who had 69 wives and 140 children and he intends to break that record by siring at least 150 children. With all these wives, one would think that it would be a problem to take care of the larger family, but Kathata has managed to build decent permanent houses to all his 17...

Police in Meru are holding a suspect after a bar brawl in  Makutano area that left a man dead. An Illustration of police line. Photo/Getty images The incident which happened on Saturday night has left many residents in shock after the suspect slit the deceased throat as people watched in horror. According to multiple sources at the scene, the two men had argued at Kiringa Hotel before the suspect got into his car where he grabbed a sword and killed the deceased near the Makutano Mosque. A picture illustration of a bloody sword. Photo/Getty Images The deceased who has only been identified as Mutongoria was in the company of friends when the arguments begun, the verbal confrontation between the two men soon turned into fists fight, feeling overpowered the suspect ran to his car where he took out the sword. Police had to camp at his homestead for the night to keep angry youth who were baying for his blood at his home in Kambakia village. The suspect presented hims...

Jesus set foot in Kenya, well that according to residents of Rwarera location in Meru County, east of Mount Kenya. Gikinya kia Jesu Footprint believed to belong to Jesus at Rwarera Location,MERU County. Photo/Felix Kinyua. The natives believe that the area is the real Jerusalem because of the ‘Makinya Ja Jesu’ which loosely translates to ‘Jesus Footprints’, in Kimeru Language.  The set of Makinya Ja Jesu is found on the sedimentary rocks, which cover about 200 acres of land. Next to them are footprints which appear to be those of a donkey or a horse. One of the human-like footprints is huge and inside it is a smaller one. Next to it are two smaller ones which appear to be that of an average adult. The serene area located along the Meru-Ruiri-Isiolo road is also famous for its natural salt water springs known as Monyo, locals’ belief that this water has anesthetic properties and can cure a range of diseases. The spring which is known as Katheruko, meaning boilin...

An aerial view of Makutano,MERU Town.Photo/Felix Kinyua There is nothing as cool as ‘kushikisha’ on a Saturday afternoon on a road trip with your ‘Boys’, it is called ‘kujishukuru’ especially if you have really worked from Monday to Friday, so this should not be mistaken as everyday routine. Last Saturday we hit the road from some place in Tharaka-Nithi, as usual our good friend ‘Hergesya’ had prepared a good Kilo worth appreciating based on the ‘andas’, the steam was so real at one point my friend threw away a full bottle of juice thinking it was a stick! That kind of ‘andas’. It is amazing to pass through the amazing snaky road from Chuka to Meru, even after using it more than a million times  I can never help myself from looking through the window to get a  view of the beautiful landscapes. After reaching Meru as usual we headed to Makutano, Makutano is basically what Westlands is to Nairobi or what Mtwapa is to Coast, a home of entertainment for Meru County. A...

One of the hardest thing in Meru and its environs is looking for house-help, watchmen and gardeners.  The struggle is so real that sometimes people just make rushed decisions and with increased number of insecurity it is becoming extremely difficult to hire these services. But one bureau in Meru  is changing all that; TRU-shine bureau hires and trains house-helps,  shamba boys ,nannies and gardeners. According to the group’s CEO,  Jackline Gakii, the bureau offers an opportunity for those looking for such services and also  employment to people who can perform the tasks assigned. ‘True-shine bureau is like a bridge between domestic- workers and employers’, Ms. Gakii explains. The Bureau conducts vigorous background checks for both the employee and the employer before hiring their staff and placing them to the clients. Those seeking to be placed are thoroughly trained on basic domestic work etiquette as well as basic first aid measures associat...