Cabinet Secretary for Lands, Public Works, Housing, and Urban Development Alice Wahome has defended the elevation of Eldoret into city status, insisting that town had met all the required standards for awarding the charter.
Speaking during the conferment of the new city at Eldoret Sports Club, the CS thanked the president, Dr. William Ruto, for giving the charter for Eldoret City, adding that the new status will open up the region for urban development.
“This moment marks a significant milestone in the journey of this vibrant municipality that has now gained the status of a city,” she said.
“The conferment of the city status is not merely a title that we have gained but a recognition of the readiness and capability of Eldoret to embrace the responsibilities and opportunities that come with this new status,” stated the CS.
“As the ministry responsible for lands, physical planning, public works, and urban development, it is our duty to ensure that this transformation that has occurred is guided by robust legal frameworks and sound urban planning,” noted Wahome.
She added that urban development in Kenya is guided by a robust set of legal frameworks designed to ensure sustainable, organised, inclusive growth. Key among these are the Urban Area and Cities Act 2011, which sets the criteria and governance structures for urban areas and cities, and national development policy, which then provides strategic directions for managing urbanisation and regional development.
Additionally, she noted that the Physical Planning Act governs the preparation and implementation of land use. This plan is something that governors need to take very seriously.
“The frameworks provide legal covenants that ensure every town that is planning to gain city status undergoes a vigorous and transparent process. The aim is to guarantee the transformation into a city is not only a reflection of population growth because you have to gain the necessary 250,000 populations but also that there is economic vibrancy and also planning strategically,” she said.
“We want to have sustainable development in this city among other cities, inclusive governance that includes the participation of the residents, and together this framework will then guide our new city,” added the CS.
She confirmed that the department led by Principal Secretary, State Department for Housing and Urban Development Charles Hinga, and with the guidance of the president, Eldoret, went through vibrance and vigorous vetting to gain this status.
“I want to confirm that the city, under the guidance and leadership of Governor Uasin Gishu, Dr. Jonathan Bii, acquired this status through the front door,” she added.
“Eldoret conferred into a city is a testament to the power of collaboration between the National and County governments, and we want to confirm that the ministry will continue to support Eldoret as it steps into a new role of a city; it will serve as a model of what can be achieved, and we will work hard to catch up with the other four cities,” said Wahome.
She pointed out that the cities will require special arrangements in terms of funding so that they can deal with the real issues that the county intends to achieve.
“The people of this city will have then to understand that you need to be serious partners with your governor, and the governor must also take up the responsibility as the county development to provide water and sanitation, to provide access roads, and to ensure partnerships with the national government to ensure security for business is secured and ensure that they have an electricity connection,” she said.
“I want to confirm to the residents that as the ministry, with your support, we shall put our best foot forward and we will be top gear to ensure that these residents get what a city should provide,” she concluded.
By Judy Too
