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The number of cities in Kenya is set to increase from the current three after President Kenyatta on Tuesday signed a new law that redefines city status.
Kenyatta on Tuesday signed into law the Urban Areas and Cities (Amendment) Bill 2017.
Speaking at State House after assenting to the Bill, Kenyatta said the new law seeks to accelerate delivery of efficient and quality services to Kenyans.
The new law gives County Governments authority to review the criteria provided for classifying an area as a city, municipality, town or market center.
The new law reduces the population threshold required for an area to be declared as a city from 500,000 to 250,000 people.
Urban areas with a population of at least 50,000 are eligible to become municipalities, 10,000 for a town and 2,000 residents for a market center.
The law also proposes the creation of boards to govern and manage cities and municipalities. It also outlines specific requirements for appointment to the boards.
Kenya currently has three cities namely Nairobi, Mombasa, and Kisumu.
Under the new law, big towns including Nakuru, Eldoret, Nyeri, Thika, Embu, and Naivasha are eligible to be elevated into cities.
Kenyatta on Tuesday also signed into law Petroleum Bill 2017 and Energy Bill 2017.
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Just curious how does this help mwananchi wa kawaida or just create more slums and informal settlements and in the process lots of money get embezled
It is not meant to “ help” or “ fix” anything.
It is just the rest of Kenyans being told that they don’t belong in Kenya.
That’s why only Kikuyu and Kalenjin towns are considered.
It’s shameless discrimination but it doesn’t matter anymore.
We have our own country.People’s Republic of Kenya. Where Uhuru Kenyatta is persona non grata.
why do you have to add a tribal tag to it...the towns are big irrespective of the natives and they ought to be cities not because they are kikuyus or kalenjins but because of merit
@ Diana stop insulting Kikuyus and Kelenjins insult individuals . You hurt us who are worse than our fellow Kenyans you Imbecile only fixed to your bias sick mind
Nakuru, Eldoret, Nyeri, Thika, Embu, and Naivasha
👆🏽👆🏽This is why we want secession.
Discrimination and shameless tribalism.
We are tired.
Are Kisumu and Mombasa for kikuyus and kalenjins...?
Anyway whether a place is a town or a city it doesnt matters..what matters is you as an individual. Who are u?
A lizard in a slum will never turn into a crocodile if shifted to a leafy surburb. NO!!
Well cities all over the world get lots of cash from the said world bank to develop its area.Thats one advantage guys.Also when a town becomes a city beta infrastructure r concentrated so development becomes big thing n pple starts to move in such cities juu jobs r created more.So majaa wa diaspora check the small cities eg in usa the way they create jobs,employment for the pple who r around??Ex hii storys za kenyans coming to nairobi,mombasa,kisumu to detach for opportunities it's because this cities have developed so this is good thing for uhuru to do so.Hongera raisi
Nakubaliana nawe @Mhalisi
Only towns that are pre-dominantly occupied by Kikuyu’s are to be made cities. Isn’t that interesting!!!!
We the none-Kenyans want secession.
We want Secession. There is nothing to discuss people choked on tribalism.
It's TRIBALISM.
Kikuyus did not ask for their citites to be upgraded it is the newspapers who are leaving Kakamega and others . Kikuyus do not care of cities they want improvement of their daily lives by eliminating corruption . This is another method to shift the war on corruption ( sic)
Another shallow minded idea from the boy in statehouse. How does this help anyone? Declare every village a city. Bure kabisa
Shallow mindedness is made of this. Woi navile siku hizi mtu anaweza google for information... Ignorance is a choice, live it!
If Nyeri is elevated to a city then we are damned. Nyeri is the most backward town the streets are markets old colonial houses there is no pedestrian paths , no traffic circulation i know not a single pedestrian crossing . The new buildings in Nyeri are private initiatives. every other town neighboring Nyeri is growing i.e nanyuki, Nyeri Meru but Nyeri remains a village . Meru is not mentioned but it is a lot progressive than nyeri village
Nyeri being elevated to a city will bring more order or better planning which it lacks. Besides the population in Nyeri is growing by the day and smart actions should be taken now to avoid the city from becoming a slum in the near future. Old colonial buildings should be spared and renovated because thats part of our history. Meru can also be elevated to a city if it meets the said qualifications. Nyeri becoming a city does not negate Meru from becoming one.
( Another trick to appoint friends and relatives to boards sic) The law also proposes the creation of boards to govern and manage cities and municipalities. It also outlines specific requirements for appointment to the boards.
this is a sign that kenya is growing , we need more towns n cities
funny how people have started looking this as towns belonging to certain tribes
Instead of wasting money on this big agendas that help a few who own the country, why can't we look for ways to uplift the poor e.g removing the burden of paying fees in schools,locating places where the oppressed can work,promote our local farmers e.t.c! The latest road networks, metros & skycrapers we're building will be of no use to us if our stomachs are empty!If this country is interested in real development,I suggest we invest in the common mwananchi otherwise we're slowly opening a door that leads to REVOLUTION!
Peace!
@Diana wewe unaoenda ukabila nakukalamika saa yote.I need to know u i teach u something!!Kisii,Machakos,kitengela,ngong r among mentioned so wacha zako.
I say those who think this is tribalism can go talk with their governors, mps mcas. Better yet they can count themselves in that county, see how many they are and sign a letter of protest or appeal. We know some governors are asleep on the wheel or busy looting. Others are actually working.
Mkenya have you noticed how this Diana stinks of tribalism? She actually reminds me of an old,frail looking lady trying to get attention from passers by & who people understood to be a witch doctor! She thinks she's doing a big favour to her tribe!
Why not include kakamega if is not political creations.
If every tribe in Kenya asked the same question as yours Vinnie, where do you think would be the right place to start that project? Unanielewa?
Do you think this country would become any better if all the towns in Kenya became cities? The only notable thing would be an increase in buildings! Otherwise corruption & immorality would still accompany us wherever we find ourselves in! Nyani ni wale wale!