Meru County Assembly Majority Leader, Athwana MCA Hon. Victor Mutuma Karithi has carried out a fact-finding mission regarding the earthworm’s project by the County Department of Agriculture, which was cited in the Auditor General’s Report of FY year 2017/18. Hon. Karithi’s mission at the Meru University of Science and Technology (MUST) aimed to establish the existence of such a project and the intended benefits to the Meru Community, even as the CEC member for the Department, Karwitha Kiugu was expected to appear before the assembly to respond to questions regarding the project.

The Auditor General’s report had indicated that the project was procured from a ‘merchant’, failing to clarify that the merchant with whom the department was working, is actually Jomo Kenyatta University of Science and Technology (JKUAT). Having been informed that MUST is running a similar project, and that the County had intentions to work with the institution that is closer home, Hon. Karithi set out to establish the facts.

"I have this morning visited Meru University of Science and Technology, where I have been showed a similar project to what was indicated in the Auditor General’s Report as being implemented by the County Department of Agriculture. I can confidently report that this is a very good project which has very massive benefits to our people of Meru," said Hon. Karithi.

Hon. Karithi welcomed MUST management to work closely with both the County Assembly and the Executive to ensure the project is carried out diligently for maximum benefit of the Meru people.

The lecturer in charge of the project, dean of School of Civil Engineering, Joy Nyawira Riungu confirmed that her department is spearheading the project, for rearing the larval stage of the tropical black soldier fly for protein production. She revealed that the fly (worm) has been used to produce extremely high protein content for feeding fish, chicken and other livestock, as well as processing of the manure, from the human feaces. Eng. Nyawira also revealed that there have been plans and consultations to work with the County Government of Meru through the Agriculture Department, to expand the project which also provides efficient toilet system and waste management system.