Thika’s smart city status dimmed by flooding as businesses remain closed after heavy rains
By Oliver Musembi, April 30, 2026Kiambu Governor Kimani Wamatangi’s dream to transform Thika town into an ‘industrial smart city’ appears to have hit a major snag after heavy rains exposed the county government’s lack of preparedness to handle emergencies.
The rains caused flooding at Madaraka market, one of the town’s major business hubs, forcing traders to close their premises as they counted heavy losses.
The businesspeople are now accusing the county government of sleeping on the job and doing nothing to redeem the situation as flood waters damaged merchandise worth hundreds of thousands of shillings.
According to Thomas Jachong, the chairman of the Makongeni Stalls Owners Association, more than 1,000 traders in Madaraka market are counting huge losses after their business premises were submerged following the heavy downpour.
The traders blamed county government officials for allowing some people to build stalls along the drainage line and on top of manholes, thereby blocking storm water.
“We have contacted Governor Wamatangi’s office through the local municipality managers, but they keep promising to act, which they haven’t done. This is despite the fact that we have been paying for all the licenses,” Jachong told journalists.
His sentiments were echoed by another trader, Yusuf Kiplimo, who urged the Governor to intervene in person, noting that it’s not the first time the market has been rendered inaccessible by floodwaters.
“Every time it rains heavily, the area gets flooded. As Wamatangi prepares to make Thika a city, this problem must be addressed and a permanent solution found,” Kiplimo reiterated.
Residents demand urgent action
Stephen Mwaura, a resident of the neighbouring Kamenu Estate, said the flooding has caused huge losses in revenue collection while at the same time asking the county government to act rather than wait for the next rain season.
About three weeks ago, leaders and residents of Thika and Kiambu County unanimously supported a proposal to elevate the municipality to city status.
During a public session conducted by the Senate Standing Committee on Devolution and Intergovernmental Relations on April 8, 2026, not a single dissenting opinion was expressed by the more than 2,000 participants over the proposal by Governor Wamatangi’s administration.
The meeting held at the Mount Kenya University pavilion and chaired by the committee Vice-Chairperson Catherine Mumah, was attended by a cross section of interest groups and local leaders.
Community representatives who included industrialists and business people hailed the initiative, saying the elevation of Thika town to a city would come with lots of benefits for locals and investors.
However, they cautioned that the expected development should be matched by infrastructure and improved service delivery, while also petitioning for non-discrimination of members of the informal sector.
Led by Senator Karungo wa Thang’wah, who is also a member of the senatorial devolution team, the leaders and locals embraced the idea of conferring a city status to Thika town, noting that it is one of the country’s leading industrial hubs.