The Senate Committee on Devolution and Intergovernmental relations yesterday said Nakuru town had put in place necessary measures to be elevated to city status.
The County Government of Nakuru has been working to achieve the upgrade since September 2017, when a cabinet sitting approved the elevation of Nakuru and Eldoret municipalities to cities.
“Nakuru by far surpasses most of the requirements that a town needs before it can be granted a city charter. I will lead the members in seeing that the application goes through fast,” the committee’s chairperson Joseph Kinyua said.
He was speaking following a tour of the county’s development projects, and a meeting with stakeholders and the county assembly.
The committee reviewed the county’s health systems, waste management, and disaster preparedness and gave a nod.
“The amount of investment the county has put into the health sector is encouraging. We recommend that the national government pumps more funds to the sector in Nakuru, which serves more than three other counties,” said Machakos Senator Boniface Kabaka who was part of the team.
For disaster preparedness, the county is currently working on a Ksh. 160 million fire station in the CBD due for completion in November.
The elevation will enable effective planning of transport systems, education and waste management and result in increased revenue collection for the county. It will also raise the credit score of the city, giving it greater access to funding, donations and grants.
Other projects undertaken by the county to boost its status include rehabilitation of the 30-acre dumpsite, the planned expansion of the town’s sewer line, refurbishment of Afraha stadium and construction of an international airport at Lanet.
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