Eldoret Municipality to become a city after Senate approval

A section of Eldoret town in Uasin Gishu County. [Peter Ochieng, Standard]

The Senate Committee on Devolution and Intergovernmental Relations has recommended that Eldoret Municipality be granted city status, citing compliance with the Urban Areas and Cities Act of 2011.

The committee made this recommendation in its report after conducting a fact-finding mission in the municipality from September 13 to 15, 2023.

The report states that Eldoret Municipality has met the requirements for city status as outlined in Section 5 and the First Schedule of the Urban Areas and Cities Act, 2011.

These requirements include having a population of at least 250,000 residents, an integrated urban area development plan, the capacity to generate sufficient revenue to sustain its operations, and the provision of essential services to its residents.

Additionally, the report acknowledges that Eldoret Municipality holds a strategic location as a regional hub for trade, education, health, sports, and agriculture.

It also boasts a rich cultural heritage and diversity, along with substantial potential for growth and development.

The committee has recommended that the County Government of Uasin Gishu undertake several steps to ensure Eldoret's successful transition into a city. These steps include:

Collaborating with the Kenya National Museums to build a museum.

Developing and implementing various plans and regulations for urban development.

Partnering with the private sector through public-private partnerships.

Pursuing grants from the national government and participating in regional blocs to promote growth and development opportunities.

Ensuring ethnic diversity and representation in employment.

Promoting vertical development by constructing high-rise buildings.

Establishing the county as an agricultural hub through the adoption of industrial agriculture and value addition.

Encouraging the promotion of various sports and cultural activities beyond athletics.

If approved, Eldoret will join Nairobi, Mombasa, Kisumu, and Nakuru as Kenya's fifth city.