President William Ruto is scheduled to officially grant Eldoret municipality a City Charter on August 8, as confirmed by Uasin Gishu Governor Jonathan Bii yesterday. This development follows a unanimous vote by senators to adopt a report from the House and Intergovernmental Relations Committee last year, paving the way for Eldoret to become the fifth city in Kenya, joining Nairobi, Mombasa, Kisumu, and Nakuru.
Speaking to the media after a five-hour closed-door meeting with elected leaders from the North Rift region, Bii announced that the journey for Eldoret municipality would culminate next month when the Head of State formally declares it a city.
“I am pleased to inform the residents of Uasin Gishu and the entire North Rift region that the town will finally receive the charter after a five-year wait,” Bii stated, accompanied by Nandi Governor Stephen Sang, who is also the chairman of the North Rift Economic Bloc.
The meeting was attended by various leaders, including Uasin Gishu Senator Jackson Mandago, Elgeyo Marakwet Governor Wisley Rotich, Kesses MP Julius Ruto, Marakwet East MP Bowen Kangogo, and Kenya Airport Authority board Chairman Caleb Kositany, among others.
The Governor expressed gratitude to the President for his continued support that has facilitated Eldoret municipality’s upgrade to city status, both during his tenure as Deputy President and after assuming the leadership of the country from his predecessor, Uhuru Kenyatta, two years ago.
The governor announced that his administration has initiated several infrastructure projects, including the repair of streets and sewage systems that had been neglected for many years, in an effort to meet the criteria for elevation to city status.
According to Bii, the executive has already devised plans to address the increasing water demand resulting from the rapidly growing population in the cosmopolitan town. He also mentioned that his administration is collaborating with the Kenya Airport Authority to expedite the expansion of the Eldoret Airport runway to meet internal standards.
Eldoret Municipality manager Tito Koiyet added that as the town pursues city status, the county government has encouraged property developers to construct modern, state-of-the-art commercial buildings.
“We have had a public forum with stakeholders of Eldoret to have a conversation on their participation on the implementation of an enforcement notice that was issued by the municipality in compliance with the requirement of various statues and laws which require building owners, and landlords to ensure their buildings are in compliance with the law to ascertain the safety of the residents,” he said.
