Changing face of Meru town

Moving from standalone houses, the area around the town is seeing a rapid growth in blocks of flats and rising prices as she struggles to house a growing population, writes JAMES WANZALA

The rapid growth of Meru town has seen many towns in the region become a hot cake for property developers, with the town at the centre of it all.

Its fast growth has been attributed to the construction of Isiolo Airport.  Together with the recently launched Lamu Port and Lamu Southern Sudan-Ethiopia Transport Corridor (Lapsset) project, this will be Kenya’s second largest infrastructure project and perhaps the most significant transport corridor.

At the same time, the growth and establishment of learning institutions, especially universities, are attracting more people to the area and, in the process, pushing up the prices of land and houses.

As the town grows, many people are leaving the town centre to buy residential plots away from the hustle and bustle of the town, something that has seen areas like Nkubu, Ruiri and around the Kenya Methodist University (Kemu) grow.

The area past Makutano town and Nciru where Meru University is located is also experiencing a significant growth in residential housing and small businesses to serve the growing population.

Residential outlook

Kaaga, on the other hand, is better known as an academic area due to the colleges and schools here. They include Kaaga Girls, Meru School and Meru Teachers College.

At the same time, the residential outlook is also changing rapidly.  A few years ago, standalone houses were the norm in areas around Meru town. However, with the growing demand today, and the rising student population keen on smaller houses, blocks of flats are slowly changing the look of the area.

Around institutions like Kemu, these flats come up to cater for students, while others are building student-friendly hostels and flats.

For instance, one such development, Scholars Plaza with 88 units, a stone’s throw away from Kemu, was put up with students in mind.

The rooms have already been taken and the surging demand for hostels has forced the owner to start constructing a second phase.

According to Judith Gakii, a worker at the site, development in the area is high due to hostel demands such that many houses are fully booked by students even before they are complete.

‘‘University lecturers too, are acquiring rental houses since the place is within walking distance from the university,’’ says Gakii.

During college events like graduations, the town struggles under the weight of surging visitors and students.

Diana Muturi, a property agent with Dianah Real Estate Agents Ltd, says she rents out her four-bedroom house in what she calls ‘homestays’ to students as they await graduation.

‘‘We offer dinner, bed and breakfast for those students who just want to stay for a short time because they consider it cheaper than renting a house,’’ she told Home and Away.

Land prices

Land prices on the outskirts of Meru town have gone up significantly with a 50 by 100 feet plot selling at Sh1.8 million, compared to ten years ago when the same size of land was going for Sh50,000.

At Ruiri area, an upcoming neighbourhood that is becoming favoured for residential development, an acre is going for Sh500,000, up from Sh200,000 five to ten years ago.

And as you move closer to the town centre, even getting land on sale is a rare phenomenon.

In an area like Makutano that is only a few minutes away by car or on foot, business is booming, with miraa kiosks jostling for space with hotels, and rental houses and even the odd industry.

Not far from here is Nciru, around where Meru University has pitched tent.

A few years ago, according to Diana, transacting in land in the area was a headache because it had no title deeds. But today, after owners acquired title deeds, business is booming, with a 50 by 100 feet plot selling for Sh100,000.