Another signpost was erected recently at the spot offering a beautiful view of a vast forested area.

Mbwiri Mbursar, a property agent at Gatimbi, who is also a local, said they would not accept the zero line to be 'changed' for political, financial or other reasons.

"This sign was erected here in 1974 to indicate where the line passes. It used to be at Mariene, but after the completion of this tarmac road (Meru-Embu highway), it was moved here for travellers and tourists to see," said Mbursar.

He said people established businesses in the area to cash in on the tourism potential because of the Equator spot.

"School children and many other groups always make stop-overs here to take photos and move around and we are happy. But there is a lot of confusion now because they also see another signboard of the Equator somewhere else. We want the government to come out clearly and state the true position," Mbursar said.

He said there were rumours that some influential people were planning to set up a major tourist hotel at Kariene ka Moi. "If someone wants to put up an investment, they should do it, but they do not have to relocate the Equator line to do that," said Charity Murugi, a businesswoman.

But Douglas Mwiti said the county and national government did appropriate surveys and discovered the Equator did not pass through Gatimbi but at Kariene ka Moi. "This is the true Equator. People from Gatimbi came and burnt down the signboard put up by the tourism department," said Mwiti.

"This is a quiet area, but we are even happier because the centre of the earth is here at Ng'onyi, and it is going to attract many people here," said Frank Kirimi.