By Tomas Mbaya
There are many upcoming urban centers in Meru County each with its history and growth dimensions over some time.
One of them is Ruiri market; located about 15kms from Meru town the Market is strategically located owing to its centrality between Meru town and Isiolo town, about 20kms away.
Consequently, it has become one of the satellite towns in the region, where some residents working in Meru town have opted to go for accommodation, owing to various factors among them conducive weather that is neither extremely hot like in Isiolo nor overly cold as in Meru town.
Another factor that has seen the development of the area is the tarmacking of the Meru-Isiolo road through the market. The infrastructural development has attracted investors and also made it easy to transport farm produce to the various markets for processing and trade.
However, residents lament over the degradation of the road to Isiolo saying it requires urgent re-carpeting owing to the many potholes that have forced travelers going to Isiolo from Meru town to opt for the longest route via Subuiga joining the Nanyuki-Isiolo highway.
They say this has denied them business activities arising from the transport sector since passing through Ruiri is the shortest way to Isiolo. Other feeder roads are also in bad shape.
With a plot going for approximately Sh2 million, the cost of living around Ruiri market is relatively lower compared to Meru town, thus attracting more investors besides those seeking cheaper residential services.
