Kiambu governor puts Thika on fast lane to city status
By Mathew.Ndungu, February 23, 2023
Thika town’s journey to city status is in top gear after Kiambu Governor Kimani Wamatangi set up a committee to evaluate its suitability.
In a gazette notice, an adhoc committee comprising experts from the Architects Association of Kenya, Law Society of Kenya, Association of Urban Areas and Cities, Kenya Institute of Planners, Institute of Certified Public Accountants, Institute of Surveyors of Kenya and the business community will evaluate the municipality’s qualities.
If successful, the journey that began during the tenure of then-governor James Nyoro will see Thika become the fifth city in Kenya after Nairobi, Mombasa, Kisumu and Nakuru. With a population of 279,429, as per the 2019 census, the town is putting up key infrastructure, assisted by Kenya Urban Support Programme and the World Bank.
Thika was recently detached from Juja Sub-County to become a single administrative division, with corporate status and powers of self-government. Proposals have been made to establish an airport at Gatuanyaga, on 635 acres of land that pineapple firm Delmonte ceded to the county, to boost tourism, trade and employment.
Hurdles that the town faces include inadequate street lighting, hawkers, unplanned transport systems, inadequate parking slots, land grabbing, poor waste management, water shortages and delays in approval of building plans.
The matter will later be tabled at the county assembly, with Wamatangi thereafter lobbying the Lands Cabinet Secretary.
Juja, Gatundu, Githurai (Kahawa), Kabete and Githunguri have also been proposed for upgrade to become independent municipalities.