Meru people

The Meru, or ameru, are a Bantu ethnic group which primarily inhabits the Meru region of Kenya.

They speak the language Kimîîru ( Kimeru ) as their mother tongue. However, many Meru go on to the national official language English, which is used since the British colonial era as a second language to take over as their mother tongue.

They have traditionally own East African religion, but since the colonial period many Meru were converted to various denominations of Christianity. Related ethnic groups are the Kikuyu and the Embu.

History

The Meru of Kenya say that before they settled in their present homeland, they had to come from the far north: ruteere rwa urio. The spokesman of Njuri Ncheke, ex- chief M'Muraa M'Kairanyi, explained that they were all originally immigrated from Misiri (Egypt).

Websites

• Stories and myths of the origin of the Kenyan peoples
• The Meru of Kenya - Cultural Profile
• About the Meru history
• Higher education in Meru
• History of Meru
• History and culture of Meru