By Sosten Kiprono
It has been over a year since Eldoret was elevated to the prestigious city status, but to many of the locals, only the name changed, and everything remained the same.
Eldoret was officially declared a city on August 15, 2024, making it the fifth city in Kenya after Nairobi, Mombasa, Kisumu, and Nakuru.
The decision followed the approval of an ad-hoc committee under the Urban Areas and Cities Act, No 13 of 2011, and was confirmed after the town met various criteria, including population requirements, infrastructure development, and service provision.
When President William Ruto awarded Eldoret the city charter, many of the locals were hopeful of a change which had yet to be felt, at least to most of those who spoke to Uasin Gishu News on January 6, 2026.
“There is no improvement. Apart from planting trees, no improvement is visible within the city centre. If you go walking, there is no footpath. Old people, 80/70 years they, can fall on the streets. There is no change. They should work on expanding the roads, getting trucks and tankers off the big, busy Uganda Road and sort out the issue of parking within the city limits,” said Artur Shah, a bookshop owner.
Challenges facing Eldoret City
Poor planning, lack of a well-defined sewer system and lack of a well-synchronised road network are among many other issues that residents say should be tackled to make visible the status of the city.
Matweke, a photographer in Eldoret, argue that the town was hurriedly conferred the city status while in reality it was not yet ready.
He proposed that the city council work on having one business permit and license to accommodate all the others, to make it easier for businesses to run with some sense of order.
He also urged fellow traders and business persons to adhere to rules and regulations, which he said was the only way to make a conducive environment for a thriving commerce, not only for them but also for the city’s standards.
Despite locals’ concerns over the lack of progress that Eldoret has made since it was awarded city status, the county has been able to install traffic lights, which are now fully functional.
There are also plans to install solar-powered smart street lights within the city centre.
