An ad hoc committee has retreated to prepare a report on the planned elevation of Eldoret municipality to city status.
The committee chaired by Willy Kenei concluded two weeks of public sessions in Eldoret to collect views from residents and stakeholders on the proposal to elevate the town to the country’s fifth city.
Kenei, who is also chairman of the Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry in the region, said they had managed to collect views from all relevant stakeholders in the region.
The report to be prepared by the committee will be taken to the Uasin Gishu county assembly for debate and possible approval before it’s taken to the Senate and later to the President.
“From the view we have collected, we are hopeful that Eldoret will be conferred with city status soon,” Kenei said.
More than 500 stakeholders, including key institutions and planning experts along with politicians and members of the public, have approved the plan elevate Eldoret town to city status.
Farmers in the North Rift region were, however, among those who expressed reservations with the plan, arguing that the town was not ready for elevation because it lacked necessary facilities and plans.
Among those who supported the plan include county and national government departments, public universities, hospitality and transport sector and business sector.
The others are professional societies and associations, religious leaders, manufacturers, residents associations, youth and women, banking sector and politicians.
Representatives from the institutions said the town was ripe for city status but farmers said that there should be rush to elevate the town.
Farmers' representatives led by Kipkorir Menjo said the elevation may lead to expansion of the town’s boundaries, thus interfering with agricultural land in the region.
“There should be gradual development of necessary infrastructure, including good roads and proper planning instead of rushed plans," Menjo said.
Uasin Gishu Governor Jonathan Bii led politicians from the region in supporting the plan, saying that he believes Eldoret should be elevated to city status.
The county chief said the town famed for athletics and farming is also a strategic gateway to East Africa, and is a fast growing economic hub, making it a unique town to be Kenya’s fifth city.
According to Bii, the town perched on the pathway to Uganda, Burundi, Rwanda and South Sudan also has high potential for business, which makes it a possible destination for international investors.
“We have a unique town whose time to be elevated to city status is long overdue," the governor said.
He further said Eldoret was not only a fast growing economic hub for up to eight counties in the North Rift, but also a gateway to several other countries in the region.
“These are some of the qualities that should give us an advantage and my administration is working to ensure we meet all other requirements for the city status," Bii said.
The governor said he was keen on environmental transformation to make Eldoret the cleanest city with structural accessibility for persons with disability and also to beautify the town so that its more attractive to visitors.
The county, he said, was working with stakeholders, including the national government and the private sector to develop housing schemes that will address the challenge of informal settlements in Eldoret.
(edited by Amol Awuor)
