By Muli wa Kyendo

JB seems to be having a problem deciding whether my story about Meru is accurate because, according to JB (see comments), Wikipedia gives different facts. On that basis, JB seems to think that my comment in this blog dated May 18, 2008 and entitled “These Davises Are Latter Day Ananiases” must be either biased or false.

JB says, “ I do not subscribe to the ideas of the Davises at all but your time line on the accessibility of Meru is in question as their (the Davises’s) letter was in 1997 and Wikipedia insinuates it was in deed hard to access (Meru) till 2004. Also you list the population as more than 5 times the Wikipedia article. Just interested in truth.”

Like you, JB, I am also interested in truth, which is why I wrote the comment when the Davises launched what I considered a malicious internet campaign against American presidential candidate Senator Barack Obama. I don’t know Mr. Obama, but I felt, in the interest of truth, we should let the world know the character of the Davises. But were my facts accurate? Definitely, yes. Those interested can read or re-read my comments.

I said in my Afrowrite that Meru is a large town with a population of some 250,000. Wikipedia says the town had a population of 42,677 by 1999. Since the years we refer to are different, naturally the population figures will differ. Mine is current—in deed, more than 10 years later. It’s bound to be higher. You could fault me only if we referred to the same year’s figures or if my figure was small than that of Wikipedia.

Two, JB, you seem to confuse the description given by Wikipedia on climbing Mt. Kenya from the Meru side with the description about accessibility to Meru town. The author of the Wikipedia article describes himself as a tour operator and is keener on selling his mountain climbing safaris than accessing Meru town. About Meru town, he is positive. He says, “Meru (town) isn’t so much for operations for Mt. Kenya or Meru National Park, but rather a travel hub.” It cannot be a travel hub if it isn’t well-connected with functioning road network. In deed, the Wikipidea writer continues, “The town is accessible by paved road whether from the south (through Embu)…or from the north side of Mt. Kenya via Nanyuki and Timau.” That’s exactly what I said!