President Ruto to finally grant City Charter to Eldoret

President William Ruto is set to officially grant Eldoret municipality a City Charter on August 8, Uasin Gishu Governor Jonathan Bii confirmed yesterday.

The development comes after senators unanimously voted to adopt a report by the House and Intergovernmental Relation Committee last year paving the way for Eldoret to become the fifth city after Nairobi, Mombasa, Kisumu and Nakuru.

Addressing the media after holding a five-hour closed-door meeting with elected leaders from the North Rift region, Bii stated that the journey for Eldoret municipality will culminate early next month when the Head of State will formally declare it a city.

“I am delighted to inform the residents of Uasin Gishu and the entire

North Rift region that the town will finally receive the charter after a five year wait,” said Bii who was accompanied by the chairman of North Rift Economic Bloc and Nandi Governor Stephen Sang.

The meeting was also attended by Uasin Gishu Senator Jackson Mandago, Elgeyo Marakwet Governor Wisley Rotich, Kesses MP Julius Ruto, his Marakwet East counterpart Bowen Kangogo and Kenya Airport Authority board Chairman Caleb Kositany among others.

The Governor thanked the President for his continued support that has enabled the Eldoret municipality to be upgraded to a city while serving as Deputy President and even after he took over the reign of the country’s leadership from his predecessor Uhuru Kenyatta two years ago.

The governor stated that his administration had embarked on several infrastructural projects including fixing of the street and sewage systems that had been abandoned many years ago in its bid to meet the threshold for elevation to a city.

According to Bii, the executive has already made plans to meet additional demand for water in the wake of the fast-growing population in the cosmopolitan town.

He further stated that his administration was working closely with the Kenya Airport Authority to speed up the expansion of the run-away of Eldoret Airport to meet internal standards.

Eldoret Municipality manager Tito Koiyet said that as the town is eyeing city status the county government has urged property developers to adapt to modern state-of-the art commercial buildings.

“We have had a public forum with stakeholders of Eldoret to have a conversation on their participation on the implementation of an enforcement notice that was issued by the municipality in compliance with the requirement of various statues and laws which require building owners, and landlords to ensure their buildings are in compliance with the law to ascertain the safety of the residents,” he said.