President William Ruto is expected to elevate Eldoret to a city status by issuing the North Rift town with a City Status Charter on August 8, 2024.
The President is scheduled to be in Eldoret on August 8, 2024, to hand over the city charter to Uasin Gishu Governor Jonathan Bii.
In preparation for the event, regional leaders are convening in Eldoret, pledging to work together to transform the town into a great city.
K24 Digital understands that building owners have been asked to repaint their premises as the county finalizes arrangements. Bii has promised a waiver for the business community for repainting their premises in the town.
Eldoret will become Kenya’s fifth city, following Nairobi, Kisumu, Mombasa, and Nakuru.
Bii says Eldoret stands as a beacon of growth and opportunity in Kenya and the North Rift Economic Bloc.
“Eldoret is strategically located. It is the corridor to the Western part of Kenya and even Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi and West Africa. We are ready (for the city status),” Bii said.
According to Uasin Gishu Senator Jackson Mandagor, the elevation of Eldoret town to a city will be a catalyst of development to the region.
“This is not going to be a city of this county, but a regional city. We are looking at this city (Eldoret) as a catalyst to development in the region,” Mandagor stated.
Eldoret was gazetted as a town during the colonial era in 1912, with an acreage of 2,770.
In 1924, the then Governor of Kenya Sir Robert Coryndon arrived in the town for the first time on the first train.
In 1928, the town got piped water from the Sosian River.
In 1929, the town was elevated to the level of a Municipal Board.
In 1933, East African Power and Lighting Co. Ltd installed an electricity plant which enabled the Municipal to light up the main streets.