A sign board for the ‘new’ equator at Ngónyi, a kilometre from Gatimbi, which has been discovered to be on the ‘true’ Equator, cost the County Government of Meru Ksh500,000.
This is after the Kenya Tourism Board and Meru Tourism and Trade department discovered that the Equator passes Ngónyi after “appropriate measurements were done” and not Gatimbi.
A worker who spoke to the Standard revealed that the signboard which was transported from Nairobi by road cost about Ksh500,000.
Meru County Tourism, Trade, Investments and Co-operatives Executive Maingi Mugambi said after engaging experts, the Equator was found to pass Kariene ka Moi near Mwiramwanki Primary School, and not Gatimbi as people had been made to believe since 1970s.
“Using the GPRS system we discovered it was not at the right place so we worked to identify the correct position,” said Mr Mugambi.
“We want to encourage people from all over the world to come visit this unique place. Meru is among the few counties in Kenya where the equator passes.”
The County Government of Meru is yet respond to the allegations of overspending on the sign post, labeled against them.
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