Eldoret’s Push for City Status Moves to Senate

Eldoret town has moved yet another step closer to being the country’s fifth city.

Following last month’s approval of the ad hoc committee report by the Uasin Gishu County Assembly, the matter has now been tabled at the Senate.

According to the Uasin Gishu Governor Jonathan Bii Chelilim, it is now upon the Senators to decide whether Eldoret becomes a city or not.

On Monday, Bii appealed to the Senators to look at the report and vote in its favour before the upcoming devolution conference.

The conference will be hosted in Eldoret mid-August.

“We want to request you (the Senators), I know the report is in your desk, help us so that come devolution conference, part of the success story it will be to be awarded a charter for the city,” said the county boss.

He spoke as he hosted Senators from the Education Committee who were in Eldoret for a fact-finding mission on special needs learners.

The committee is chaired by Murang’a Senator Joe Nyutu.

Strategic location

Governor Bii argues that Eldoret is ripe to be a city – due to the fact that it is the headquarters of the North Rift region.

“We’re strategically located and we request Senators to see to it that you support it and we attain the city status,” he noted.

The process of elevating Eldoret to the city started over two years ago and it is now at the tail end.

Once the Senate approves the report, it will be forwarded to the President who will the issue a charter for Eldoret to be the fifth city.

“All eyes are now fixed on the Senate House as our town Eldoret awaits the official conferment of its city status, following the thorough deliberation and approval of the ad hoc committee’s recommendation by the County Assembly,” Governor Bii said in a post on his verified Facebook page.

“Our anticipation is profound, as we know the tremendous opportunities and benefits accompanying our transformation into the fifth city,” he added.

Currently, Nairobi, Mombasa, Kisumu and Nakuru are the only cities in Kenya.