Nakuru maybe Kenya’s fourth largest urban centre (behind Nairobi, Mombasa and Kisumu), the capital of Nakuru County, a major administrative centre housing one of the Presidential State Houses, but technically it is still just a town, but perhaps for not much longer: Nakuru could soon officially become Kenya’s fourth city.

Senate Committee Recommends City Status

The Senate Devolution and Intergovernmental Relations Committee, has recommended that the Senate accept a request by the county government to give Nakuru city status.

The next stage of the process following the Senate Committee’s decision, will take place next week when the whole house will debate the report prior to a vote on Nakuru’s promotion to becoming a city.

If the Senate agrees to the proposal then it in turn will go to President Uhuru Kenyatta for signature of approval.

Nakuru to Benefit

Since the proposal was first sent to the Senate in November 2020, Nakuru municipality have had to prove that the town meets the qualifications of city-status in terms of population, finance, transport, health education and other criteria.

If Nakuru is elevated to becoming a city under the Urban Areas and Cities Act it can qualify for more benefits, grants and investments.

With a population of over 367,000 Nakuru, Kenya’s fastest growing urban area, is well passed the requirement of 250,000 inhabitants needed to meet the population criteria necessary to being declared a city.