President William Ruto has revealed plans to construct a State Lodge in Meru Town by December 2025, as part of his wider plan to elevate the town to city status.

Speaking on Sunday, October 5, 2025, at St Mary’s AIPCA Kathelwa Church in Meru, Ruto said the new State Lodge would make it easier for him to work from the region once Meru becomes Kenya’s sixth city.

“Na kwa sababu city inakuja Meru, mimi pia najipanga. Kuwe na State House hapo Meru. Ala! Kwani mnafikiri kutakuwa na city hapo na mimi nichelewe? Si lazima niwe hapo karibu? Si mmeskia hawa viongozi wanasema nikuje hapa siku tatu? Nyinyi mnataka nikuje hapa siku tatu nilale kwa hoteli? Si nitafute nyumba ya kulala hapo?” he said, drawing laughter from the congregation.

He added that he had already instructed his team to ensure the facility is ready before the end of the year.

“Sasa nimeambia watu yangu kabla ya December kuwe na State Lodge hapa Meru, mahali ambayo sasa tutakuja tupange mambo ya eneo hii yoote. Meru, Tharaka Nithi, Isiolo, hii dunia yote mimi nitakua nakaa hapa nipange mambo yenu,” he stated.

Massive investment for Meru

Ruto said the construction of the State Lodge would go hand in hand with other infrastructure projects already launched to prepare Meru for city status. He noted that his administration had set aside Ksh20 billion for upgrading roads and other facilities in the county.

Ruto also confirmed that Ksh800 million had been allocated for the construction of a modern market at Gakoromone, while Ksh5 billion, in partnership with the World Bank, would fund the construction of 17 kilometres of new roads and a bypass around Meru town.

These projects, he said, are key to ensuring Meru meets the requirements for city status.

“Na kati ya maneno lazima nifanye nikuakikisha ya kwamba tunajenga barabara za kutosha pale Meru town,” Ruto said earlier in the same service.

The announcement comes weeks after Meru Governor Isaac Mutuma appealed to the President to grant city status to Meru before the 2027 General Election. Mutuma said the elevation would attract investment and improve service delivery, adding that Meru had strongly supported Ruto in the 2022 polls.