Meru University of Science and Technology was established in 1st March 2008, but was officially awarded University Charter in 2013. It was established in the Meru Township along the Meru – Maua Road. It was a culmination of the earlier efforts of the Council of Elders of Meru in 1960s. The institution was on a mission to establish a school that would impact technical advancement in the Meru population. Equipping the region with trained professions who would be needed to work in upcoming industries.

The idea was floated to the Government of the day, and this is what led to the establishment of Meru College of Technology (MECOTECH) – a forerunner to the Meru University of Science and Technology. The university was established as a constituent college of the Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) in 18th July, 2008. The aim was to have an institution that could impact technical skills and knowledge that would provide a qualified staff for emerging markets and industries in the town and its environs that would heavily depend on qualified manpower. This would not only influence local economics but by virtue of admissions for everyone from within and outside the town, it would have a far reaching push that would also benefit the National and Regional Economic Development Needs.

The university has other branches in the town environs in the Hart Towers and a Learning Centre in Marimba. Courses offered at the school are: - Agriculture & Food Science, Business & Economics, Computing & Informatics, Education, Engineering & Architecture, Health Sciences, Nursing and Pure & Applied Sciences. The university has an eCampus known as oDEL where study and research resources can be accessed by students and teaching staff at the institution. This is supplementary to a modern well-equipped library at the Meru University of Science and Technology’s main campus.

The University has established a tripartite research initiative with two local universities namely Chuka University and Kimathi University. There is also collaboration and partnership with international universities like University of Michigan, USA, Hohenheim University and University of Ulm in Germany. These initiatives have tremendously impacted the research undertaken by the Meru University of Science and Technology (MUST). The University has organised trainings, conferences and workshops in partnership with various local and international power houses in a bid to educate the community, staff and students.

The university is growing in curriculum and infrastructure, which has seen a steady rise in student admission and output to the Kenyan and International Market. The university has implemented a Quality Management System that saw it become the first University in Kenya to achieve the ISO 9001:2015 certification.