NAIROBI, Kenya, Mar 18 — Kiambu Governor Kimani Wamatangi on Friday elevated six towns from ordinary boroughs to municipalities.
Wamatangi elevated Juja, Gatundu, Githunguri, Githurai, Kabete and Lari in a Gazette Notice published on March 17.
“In exercise of the powers conferred by section 9 (1) of the Urban Areas and Cities Act, 2011 and all other enabling provisions of law, I, Kimani Wamatangi, Governor, Kiambu County, confer municipal status of the following areas: Juja, Gatundu, Githunguri, Githurai, Kabete, Lari,” he declared.
“Done and dusted! Six new municipalities. Increase funding. Improved infrastructure. Better services,” Wamatangi added.
The declaration followed the passing of the motion of Conferment to municipal status of several urban areas within the County of Kiambu by the County Assembly.
The conferment motion was brought to the Assembly by the Chairperson of the Committee on Planning and Urban Development, Moses Ngatha.
The motion was supported by members of County Assembly from across board.
“It has been a long time coming. Hon. Speaker I support this motion. This will be a game changer for the people of Githunguri and the last time I saw a tarmacked road in Githunguri was 10 years ago,” said Joseph Muhinja, MCA, Githunguri Ward.
“Now my people have hope that we will get better roads. Hon. Speaker I also want to say, disaster management in our area has been a challenge, now I know we will get a modern fire station now that Githunguri is a municipality.”
Josephat Githing’a, MCA Lari Kirenga Ward said the elevation of Lari into a municipality will enhance development.
“Having these municipalities will ensure that our roads are tarmacked especially in my Ward Hon. Speaker. We have been seeing nice roads in Limuru now we will get them for our people,” said
“Our people will also benefit from other services such as the sewer system. I rise to support this motion. It is a great gift for our people who sent us here.”
The Urban Areas and Cities Act, 2011 allows for conferment of a municipality if the town has a population of at least two hundred and fifty thousand residents, has demonstrable revenue collection or revenue collection potential, and has a capacity to generate sufficient revenue to sustain its operations.
Additionally, the town should sufficiently have space for expansion, infrastructural facilities, including but not limited to street lighting, markets and fire stations and have a capacity for functional and effective waste disposal.
The municipalities will be headed by sub-county administrators who will report directly to the county governor.
Kiambu is a geographically strategic county bordering Nairobi and Kajiado counties to the South, Machakos to the East, Murang’a to the North and North East, Nyandarua to the North West, and Nakuru to the West.
