Eldoret Becomes Kenya’s Fifth City

President William Ruto on Thursday awarded a city charter to Eldoret, making it the fifth city in the country.

Eldoret will now join Nairobi, Mombasa, Kisumu and Nakuru to become the only conferred cities in Kenya.

Speaking during the ceremony for conferment of City status to the City of Eldoret, President Ruto commended the people of Uasin Gishu, leaders, as well as the business community for their invaluable support and countless hours of effort to make this transition successful.

“What you have done so far is commendable, and you must now proceed together to the next higher step,” he said.

The President stated that the elevation to city status will unlock the regions untapped economic fortunes to deliver growth.

He called upon Uasin Gishu leadership and professionals to engage with the critical matter of spatial and urban planning, as this is the only means of achieving orderly, functional, and efficient cities.

The Head of State noted of initiatives such as the Kenya Urban Programme (KenUP) and the Kenya Urban Support Programme Phase Two, which represent a cumulative investment of $1.35 billion aimed at creating livable cities.

“Eldoret will benefit significantly from these initiatives, which focus on infrastructural investments such as waste management, connectivity and socio-economic infrastructure,” Ruto said.

The conferment followed the approval of the Senate Devolution Committee last year that gave the green light for the elevation.

Eldoret is one of Kenya’s oldest towns with a population estimated at 475,716, according to the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics Population and Housing Census of 2019.

Brief story of Eldoret

Eldoret City is located on the west of the Great Rift Valley in Uasin Gishu County, and it is situated at an elevation of 2,090 metres above sea level.

The area is characterised by a healthy climate, making it an ideal agricultural city.

Major crops grown in the area include maize, wheat, and pyrethrum. Livestock rearing also forms part of activities conducted in satellite areas within Eldoret City.

The city also serves as a transport corridor connected with railway lines and major highways used for mass transport of goods.

Eldoret International Airport also serves as a transportation hub in the North Rift region.

In terms of education facilities, Eldoret houses Moi University and the University of Eldoret.

The City of Eldoret now becomes the fifth one after Nairobi, Mombasa, Kisumu, and Nakuru.