Meru sets 10, 000 acres for Lapsset's resort city

MERU, KENYA: The Meru County Government has set aside 10, 000 acres for construction of a major metropolis, in the event that the Isiolo Resort City is rerouted.

A senior Meru official said the government had identified the large chunk of land at Kachiuru in Igembe North Sub County, an area on the Meru-Isiolo border, for construction of a resort city.

This development comes at a time conservationists suggested the rerouting of the resort city, part of the Lamu Port-South Sudan-Ethiopia Transport (Lapsset) corridor, to protect wildlife, including elephants, in the vast region.

On Tuesday, Meru County Tourism, Enterprise Development, Trade and Cooperatives Executive Ntoitha M'Mithiaru, said the county was ready to take advantage in case the city is rerouted, following recommendations by consultants after conducting an environmental impact assessment.

Mr Mithiaru and Igembe North MP Joseph M'Eruaki, said the Kachiuru area had a vast tract of idle community land suitable for a resort city.

"The Lapsset management has written to us asking whether we have land for a resort city. We have said trust land is readily available," said M'Mithiaru, adding that the area is conducive for the resort city, and it will greatly transform the economy of the arid area.

"A resort city at Kathiuru will transform the communities in areas around Meru and Isiolo counties. We are ready to partner with investors to build industries, recreational parks and other amenities," said the Executive, adding that the communities in the two and neighbouring counties would all benefit.

Mr M'Eruaki said suggestions of rerouting of the resort city was informed by a scientific research that found hosting it in Garbatulla-Kula-Mawe would be detrimental to wildlife.