Meru residents can now actively participate in development and decision making in the county following the establishment of grass root and county level committees by Governor Kiraitu Murungi. They include Meru Economic and Social Council (MESC), Meru County Development Board, Constituency development committees, Meru County Roads Board, Ward Development Boards, Town Management Boards, Meru County Agricultural Board among others. The governor said the boards and committees will play a key advisory in coordination and harmonization of development plans and projects to ensure that the people democratically participate in their own development. The ward and constituency committees comprise of chiefs, assistant county commissioners, sub-county administrators, and ward administrators and locals nominated by the MCA and governor. This is the army that will help me make Meru great. I may not reach every village in Meru; the ward committees will help me take development to the village I dont know. My administration will avoid the big mans top-down model and use the bottom-up participatory model, Mr Murungi said when he unveiled the 45 ward committees. He said the committees will work closely with residents through participatory budgeting and avert replication of projects by national and county governments. Since the committee comprises of national government administrators, it will effectively address social issues affecting the community. I also intend to tap leading Meru professionals who will draw a development blueprint for the county, he said. The governor also unveiled a 70 member think tank chaired by Ambassador Francis Muthaura that will offer critical counsel to the executive. Meru Economic and Social Council (MESC) comprises professionals drawn from across section of the economy and is an advisory body that will come up with policies to be implemented by the county government. The Council will also be instrumental in mobilizing resources for the development of the county and is tasked with developing and recommending policies to promote social equity, economic growth, employment creation and reduction of poverty. Already, MESC has embarked on the process of drafting a blueprint to guide Meru Countys development in the next 20 years. Speaking during the councils first meeting in Nairobi, Amb. Muthaura said the initiative to bring together top brains would help fast track development in the county. He said the think tank has devised four pillars namely economic, social, and political as well as enablers, on which the Vision 2040 blueprint will be based. The document is expected to be complete at the end of the year. Mr Muthaura said the Council will hold public participation forums across the county to capture the views of locals in the blueprint. The council also launched an interactive website. While launching the Meru County Agricultural Board, governor Murungi said it will be tasked with enhancing agricultural productivity and sustainability as well as increasing incomes. The board is tasked it advising and supporting the County Government in order to enhance agricultural productivity and sustainability and increase household incomes. Ensuring efficient delivery of priority projects in agriculture, providing coordinated advice to the government on strategic policies in agricultural sector aimed at promoting economic growth and employment, reducing poverty and inequality especially in rural areas, the governor said. It also seeks to create linkages and promote private sector investment in agriculture; assess county government policies on agriculture for effectiveness and promote NGO, donor and international cooperation in agriculture. Also established is the Meru Road Safety Committee, which will spearhead road safety as well as the Meru County Markets Development Association which will oversee the transformation of the market centres into trade hubs through the creation of conducive environment for business. The County Hospital Management Boards have been tasked with spearheading universal health care and ensuring all health facilities are efficiently managed.