Kimeru is a Bantu language spoken by the Meru people (Ameru) who live on the Eastern and Northern slopes of Mount Kenya and on the Nyambene ranges. They settled in this area after centuries of migration from the north.

The Meru people are a fairly homogeneous community and all share a common ancestry. They speak the same language, Kimeru, but there are some slight regional differences, in accent and local words. The community comprises the following subdivisions, from the north to south:

Igembe
Tigania (Tiania) (culture close to neighbouring Cushitic and Nilotic communities)
Imenti
Tharaka (Saraka)
Igoji
Mwimbi–Muthambi
Chuka (Gicuka) (marginal intelligibility with Meru proper and with Gikuyu.