NAIROBI, Kenya, Nov 30 – Nakuru town will boast the status of a city, becoming the fourth in the country from Wednesday.
President Uhuru Kenyatta said Tuesday he will confer the county with a a ‘City’ status when he will make a visit there Wednesday.
“In resolution with the Senate, I will tomorrow have the privilege of conferring Nakuru Municipality the city status,” Kenyatta said during his State of the Nation Address in the National Assembly.
The Head of State said Nakuru Municipality is expected to exponentially grow in all sectors following the new city status that will translate into increased standards of living.
He said the elevation of Nakuru Municipality is the clearest indication that the Jubilee regime has created a favorable environment for the growth of devolved units.
Nakuru will join other cities which include Nairobi, Kisumu and Mombasa.
During his State of the Nation Address, Kenyatta defended his administration saying it has awakened sleeping giants in the country.
“Once sleepy towns have now roared back to life driving not only grand infrastructural projects but also increasing tangible household economies for the common Kenyans,” said Kenyatta.
Despite the qualms that there still exists a gap in ensuring equitable share of revenue between the National government and the County governments, Kenyatta said that his government in the last 8 years had entrenched structures in devolution which has spurred growth.
“My administration has laid a firm and sound foundation for devolved systems of government, a foundation that has the potential to multiply the economic fundamental of our counties’ economies immeasurably,” he said.
The elevation of Nakuru Municipality to now become the fourth city follows an intervention by the Senate.
This is after the House adopted a report by the Devolution and Intergovernmental Relations Committee which paved way for the elevation of Nakuru town.
“With its reputation of being the cleanest city in East Africa. All Kenyans looks forward on Nakuru city growing by leaps and bounds,” Kenyatta said.
Lack of clear guidelines in Urban Areas and Cities Act 2011 delayed the elevation of the municipality to a city.
The Urban Areas and Cities Act 2011 provides for the procedure on the establishment of various categories of urban areas, their management, and functions, but there are no guidelines for elevating municipalities to cities.
The Ministry of Devolution was compelled to fill in the gaps which included drafting documents, which had never before been issued to any other city in the country, for legal compliance.
Nakuru Municipality having attained the population size requirement is now expected to generate sufficient revenue to sustain its operations.
It will also be expected to have key infrastructural development and must have an integrated urban area or city development plan, officials said.