Just ten years back Meru town was an unremarkable mass of shacks serving as shops, nondescript stone buildings that acted as offices, and dusty streets.

In the 1990s there were only five banks and a similar number of supermarkets, says James Ntongai, who owns a residential plot at the 24-hour Makutano area, just above Meru town.

There was only Self-Choice Supermarket, located at Gitoro in Makutano, but now, residents and travelers are spoilt for choice.

Nakumatt Supermarket opened in 2007, Uchumi Supermarket in 2000, and Tusky’s in 2011.

There are other supermarket chains, including Budget, Maguna’s and Society Stores. But there are over 20 banks in town now, and even the Central Bank of Kenya’s Currency Centre, just below the Co-operative Bank.

But within the last few years, banks, insurance, and other major companies have opened shop in the town, located on the northeast slope of Mount Kenya, located 240km from Nairobi.

The Pig and Whistle Hotel, one of the oldest and most noticeable complexes in Meru town, was recently demolished to give way to a magnificent and expansive mall, office park and residential apartments.

It was previously owned by several prominent families in Meru.

Greenwood Park

The Meru Greenwood Park will sit on a six-acre piece of land and will be built on the previously occupied by the Pig n Whistle hotel that had stood for decades, at the entrance to Meru town through Nkubu.

“We will have shops, offices, apartments, health club, restaurant, exhibition spaces, children arcade, and a supermarket,” said Luke Kinoti, who was initially involved in its construction.

Fusion Capital is an international equity firm and Mr. Kinoti, who comes from the county, says they have taken advantage of opportunities coming up in the county as more companies and people come into the county.

But along the way, the construction stopped and details have been scant on why the project has stalled. Meru town’s commendable growth is attributed to its location as it is a gateway to North Eastern Kenya.

The current Meru CBD used to be occupied by the Nubian community but they have since been relocated to Mjini area on the fringes, where they have jelled and intermarried with the Meru community.

“Actually, the CBD used to be the area now occupied by Standard Chartered Bank and Equity Bank,” says Joseph Mutugi (60) who runs a hardware shop at Gakoromone market, which has been in existence since the 50s, when the town was under colonial administration.

Avenue Mall

The construction of an sh746 million commercial building owned by coffee farmers in Meru that had stalled is expected to resume soon.

According to the union’s General Manager Frederick Mburugu, they had decided to diversify into real estate as a safety net for farmers against possible poor coffee prices.

Mburugu said the 34 coffee societies embraced the idea of diversification to ensure sustainability, hence the decision to invest in the eight-floor commercial building on the 0.76-acre plot at Gitimbine, the entrance of Meru Town.

“Though our core business is in production, processing, and marketing of coffee we want to utilize idle plots by investing in real estate,” he said.

The GM said the original plan was to secure the loan and eventually pay off the bank but the institution changed and demanded that the farmers contribute money for the project.

However, he said, the union had approached several financial institutions to finance the completion, possibly next year.

Non-farmers can buy a maximum of 200, 000 shares.

Mburugu said the building will have underground parking, an anchor tenant (possibly a supermarket), food courts, offices and 400 stalls.

He said they were undecided on whether to have penthouses on the top of the building or use the space to host social and corporate events.

“The top will provide a very good view of Meru town and surrounding area and will be a perfect place to host events,” he said.

The union owns unused plots in neighboring areas which it aims to utilize for benefit of farmers, as a cushion against adverse coffee prices in the global market.

JHP Twin Towers

The Jesus House of Praise glass cathedral towers is another landmark building expected to change the face of the southern part of Meru town. The 33 story building will accommodate several business and social amenities giving investors and the residents an opportunity to venture into more business and create thousands of job opportunities in the region.

The 4.5 billion project is spearheaded by Bishop Kiogora Magambo and other partners.

The mixed user development project will have three underground floors, two mezzanine floors, and 30 floors up to accommodate several facilities.

Speaking to, The Mashariki News, Bishop Kiogora Magambo who is the head of Jesus House of Praise Church in Gitimbine area of Meru town revealed that, the church decided to venture into this mega-project as a result of increased demand for office and business space in Meru town.

Currently, the rates of leasing space in the town have skyrocketed making it difficult for small and medium businesses to grow.

‘ This tower will be the same size with Meru town’s central business district, we are doing 33 floors each floor occupying approximately one acre, meaning we will have 33 acres of developed space within the tower’ Bishop Kiogora said.

The Bishop continued to say that, the two mezzanine floors will be used as supermarkets, while the church will take two more floors. Other floors will be developed to become schools, furnished apartments, offices, and other social areas like swimming pools and high-end restaurants.

The Bishop further revealed that he has already identified a Chinese contractor to work on the project a quickly as expected.

‘Soon the groundbreaking ceremony will be done, we have identified a Chinese contractor and the paperwork is complete and ready. We plan to invite the President to come and launch this mega project which will change the face of Meru town and the entire Meru region, It will be among the tallest buildings in East Africa..’ Bishop Kiogora added.

The project occupies a one-acre piece of land next to Kathita river and only a few meters from the Meru coffee union’s Avenue mall as well as the Green Wood Park that is directly opposite across River Kathita.