President William Ruto has announced that construction of a new State Lodge in Meru County will begin immediately and be completed by December 2025. The project, he said, will play a crucial role in supporting Meru’s bid to become Kenya’s sixth city, after Eldoret.
Speaking during a service at the AIPCA Church in Meru on Sunday, Ruto said the new facility would make it easier for him to spend more time in the region once it attains city status. “There can’t be a city here, and I fail to show up,” he said, adding that the lodge will serve as a hub for government engagement across Meru, Tharaka Nithi, and Isiolo counties.
To fast-track Meru’s elevation, the President revealed that his administration had allocated Ksh20 billion for upgrading roads in the region and an additional Ksh800 million for renovating the iconic Gakoromone Market. These infrastructural projects are part of a broader plan to align Meru’s development with national urbanization goals.
However, the announcement has sparked environmental concerns following reports that the proposed State Lodge might be constructed on part of Imenti Forest, a protected area. The Green Belt Movement (GBM) wrote to the Principal Secretary for Forestry, Gitonga Mugambi, seeking clarification on whether any presidential directive had been issued to excise part of the forest.
In their letter dated September 18, the movement demanded a written response within seven days, questioning whether alternative sites had been considered and whether any process to acquire forest land had been initiated.
While Ruto did not disclose the exact location or cost of the Meru State Lodge, the project is expected to mirror similar developments such as the Turkwel State Lodge in West Pokot, which cost approximately Ksh230 million. The new facility will further expand the network of presidential residences across Kenya.
