Eldoret, a prominent town in Kenya’s Rift Valley, has officially been granted city status on Thursday in a celebratory ceremony held at the Eldoret Sports Club.
The event, marked by a vibrant atmosphere and significant local participation, was overseen by President William Ruto, alongside notable figures including Senate Speaker Amason Kingi, Uasin Gishu Governor Jonathan Bii, and several Olympic athletes recently returned from the Paris Games.
Eldoret’s elevation to city status comes in accordance with the Urban Areas and Cities (Amendment) Act, 2019, which requires an urban area to have a minimum population of 250,000 residents.
The Kenya National Bureau of Statistics’ 2019 Census reported Eldoret’s population at 475,716, well above the required threshold.
To qualify for city status, the town was evaluated on several criteria including the existence of an integrated urban development plan, effective management systems, and the capacity to provide essential services.
The Senate Committee on Devolution and Intergovernmental Relations, which reviewed Eldoret’s application, noted the town’s effective waste disposal system, infrastructure, and revenue generation capabilities as key strengths.
However, the report also highlighted areas needing improvement, such as extending the airport runway and upgrading fire-fighting equipment.
Eldoret demonstrated the potential to achieve a revenue collection of up to Ksh.2.5 billion, with Ksh.0.99 billion collected in the last financial year through various sources like markets, business permits, and land rates.
With its new city status, Eldoret joins the ranks of Nairobi, Mombasa, Kisumu, and Nakuru, marking a significant milestone in its development and growth.
The city status is expected to boost Eldoret’s infrastructure, economic potential, and overall governance.
