Ruto announces plans to elevate Kericho town to city status
Ruto announces plans to elevate Kericho town to city status
President William Ruto has announced plans to elevate Kericho town to city status, adding it to the list of towns targeted for elevation.
Speaking during his tour of Kericho County on Thursday and Friday, September 10 and 11, Ruto outlined a series of investments that he said must be undertaken before the town attains city status.
The Head of State cited investments in housing, healthcare, water, electricity and infrastructure, saying more than Ksh12 billion had been committed to development projects in the area.
Ruto said Ksh5.6 billion was being invested in the first 2,200 affordable housing units, forming part of a wider programme targeting 5,000 units.
He added that a Special Economic Zone(SEZ) would also be established in Kericho to attract investors and unlock new digital and economic opportunities.
“To transform Kericho town into a city, Ksh5.6 billion is being invested in the first 2,200 affordable housing units of a total of 5,000,” Ruto said.
Ruto also announced major investments in healthcare, revealing the construction of a Ksh1 billion medical school in the area.
He said the construction of the school would begin shortly, alongside projects involving Londiani and Kericho referral hospitals.
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Besides healthcare and housing, the government is also investing in sports, with Ksh1.1 billion allocated to the construction of Kapkatet Stadium and another Ksh1 billion for a stadium in Kericho town.
At the same time, another Ksh1.6 billion has been set aside to connect homes across the county with electricity, as well as the construction of roads to facilitate the movement of agricultural produce to markets.
Kericho now joins Thika and Meru towns, which are also seeking city status.
Kenya currently has five cities, namely Nairobi, Mombasa, Kisumu, Nakuru and Eldoret, which was conferred city status in 2024. Thika’s bid is at the final stages after the Senate approved the proposal for its elevation to city status.
For a town to attain city status, it must have a population of at least 250,000 residents and demonstrate the capacity to generate sufficient revenue to sustain its operations and meet its financial obligations.
The town must also demonstrate its ability to provide essential public services, including water, sanitation, and emergency services. It is further required to have adequate infrastructure, including functional waste disposal systems, roads and street lighting.
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