Eldoret, Scottsdale Move to Strengthen Sister City Partnership

The consultative meeting brought together officials from Eldoret and a delegation from the Scottsdale Sister Cities Association in the United States, as both sides reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening ties established more than a decade ago.

The Scottsdale delegation comprised George Hartz, Director and Past President of the Scottsdale Sister Cities Association, and Donna A. Hartz, Past President and Youth Committee Chair. The delegation was received by Uasin Gishu County Secretary Philip Melly, Eldoret City Board Chairperson Alice Kositany and City Manager Elzeba Busienei.

According to the Eldoret City Board, discussions centred on ways of strengthening the existing partnership and expanding cooperation into additional sectors that can create more opportunities and deliver mutual benefits to residents of both cities.

When was the Eldoret-Scottsdale Sister City partnership established?

The Eldoret-Scottsdale Sister City partnership was established in 2014 under the Sister Cities International framework, which promotes cultural, educational and economic exchanges between communities across the globe. Since its inception, the partnership has largely focused on healthcare and education, facilitating exchange programmes, professional networking and knowledge-sharing initiatives.

Over the years, the relationship has enabled collaboration between educational institutions, healthcare professionals and community organisations in both cities, helping foster mutual understanding and people-to-people connections.

Scottsdale, located in the state of Arizona, is known for its strong emphasis on innovation, tourism, education and healthcare services, while Eldoret has emerged as one of Kenya’s fastest-growing urban centres and a key hub for education, commerce, agriculture and sports in the North Rift region.

City officials said the latest engagement seeks to build on past successes by exploring cooperation in additional areas of development, investment, youth programmes and capacity building.

The meeting comes as Eldoret continues to strengthen its international profile following its elevation to city status in 2024. Local leaders view strategic global partnerships as an avenue for attracting investment, promoting knowledge exchange and supporting sustainable urban development.

The engagement concluded with both parties reaffirming their commitment to enhanced international cooperation, sharing expertise and pursuing new opportunities for mutual growth and development.