Farmers and landowners in Uasin Gishu County have expressed mixed opinions concerning the ongoing push to have Eldoret town elevated to city status.
While one section of the farmers is in support of the city status push, there are those that say the town is not yet ready.
Kenya Farmers Association (KFA) Uasin Gishu branch Director Kipkorir Menjo argues that there is still a long way to go before the town gets the coveted elevation.
Menjo who spoke when presenting his views before the Eldoret ad hoc committee for the town’s status said poor drainage, lack of disaster management capability and poor waste management are some of the things that need to be fixed first.
The committee has been receiving views from the public for the last week.
“Infrastructure needs to be improved. The town is congested, we are short on disaster management and we also need to improve on our sewerage coverage,” noted the KFA director.
“All those things must be fixed first. You cannot force a child to start walking immediately after it is born,” he added.
Proper structures
Similar sentiments were shared by Thomas Bowen, a prominent farmer in the county.
Bowen notes that he is not opposed to the city status push but all he wants is for proper structures to be in place.
“The city status is good, but the challenge now is that it is not possible. We must have proper planning and things that meet the standards of a city,” he noted.
However, a section of farmers led by Chebwai Daniel and John Itok who is a retired Eldoret mayor said the town has what it takes to be the country’s fifth city.
“I support the upgrade of Eldoret municipality. We have all the amenities expected of a city,” noted a farmer from Chepkanga area on the outskirts of Eldoret town.
Tito Koiyet, the Eldoret Town manager notes that the ongoing public participation process is part of the requirements provided in the Urban Areas and Cities Act for the elevation of a town.
He believes Eldoret locals will back the city status push, arguing that the town meets all the requirements to be a city.
“We will wait for the report that will be compiled which will be looked at by the county executive and if it meets the threshold, it will get the nod and be forwarded to the county assembly. Then if the assembly approved it, it will be sent to the senate and finally get the grant of charter from the President,” Koiyet explained the remaining steps.
