With the establishment of Nanyuki Municipality, residents have encouraged the Laikipia County government to increase funding allocation for efficient service delivery.
The Nanyuki Municipal received the charter in March 22, last year and in accordance with urban areas and Cities Act of 2016, residents said that they were optimistic that with sufficient funding, urban infrastructures would be rehabilitated including stadia for sports, sanitation and drainage.
“We call upon the county government after assigning the Nanyuki municipality board with responsibilities, they should be boosted with funding aimed at addressing our needs,” Sammy Ndungu, a resident said during a public participation on Municipality in Nanyuki.
According to the county annual budget estimates for the financial year 2023/2024 supplementary budget, Nanyuki Municipality received Sh.7 million for road network improvement and urban housing development and board of management operations. The proposed budgetary allocation for the financial year 2024 /2025 is about Sh.12 million which residents said was not enough.
This comes even as the county eyes the Kenya Urban Support program (KUSP2), which is spearheaded by the government from the World Bank targeting to catalyze urban infrastructure development.
In May last month, the government received Sh.46.5 billion from World bank for the Second phase of KUSP which targets to improve about 77 municipalities across the country and in line with Kenya Kwanza administration development initiatives including housing projects.
The residents, at the same time said that with formation of the municipality, there would be opportunities for the youth in various sectors expressing their commitment in supporting the government aimed at achieving its pledges.
“As a youth, I am happy after Nanyuki acquired municipality status since in partnership with the Laikipia County there will be spurred development and opportunities for the young people including sports,” said Chris Thumbi, a youth.
Nanyuki municipal manager Alexander Mwangi noted that they are expected to address challenges of water, storm drainage, improvement of walkways and also construction and maintenance of recreational parks among others.
In Laikipia, other towns that have acquired municipality status are Rumuruti and Nyahururu.
By Muturi Mwangi
