President William Ruto has announced plans to elevate Meru County to city status, making it the sixth city in Kenya.

Speaking in Kathelwa, Meru County, on Sunday, October 5, during a church service at the AIPCA Church, President Ruto said Meru would become the next city after Eldoret’s elevation to city status in 2024.

“We have five cities in Kenya. The last county to become a city was Eldoret. The next city will be Meru City,” he said.

The President added that he had spoken with the Meru Governor, Isaac Mutuma, and Members of the County Assembly (MCAs) to fast-track the process, assuring that more roads would be constructed within Meru town to support its new status.

“Already, the Government of Kenya, together with the World Bank, has raised more than Ksh 5 billion for the construction of 17 kilometres of roads, including a bypass in Meru Town. We are only waiting for a few finalizations with the World Bank so that Meru can become the sixth city in Kenya,” he stated.

President Ruto also said that, as part of the preparations, the government had disbursed KSh 800 million for the construction of a modern market at Gakoromone.

“For us to have a city, we must also build a modern market,” he emphasized.

Additionally, the Head of State announced plans to construct a State Lodge in Meru. “Leaders have invited me for a three-day tour of Meru, but I cannot sleep in a hotel. I have directed that before December, there will be a State Lodge in Meru so that we can plan the development of this region, including Tharaka Nithi and Isiolo,” President Ruto said.

If granted city status, Meru will join Nairobi, Mombasa, Kisumu, Nakuru, and Eldoret as the only cities in Kenya.

President Ruto, in August 2024, awarded Eldoret a city charter and a seal, making it Kenya’s fifth city.

He signed the charter, sealing the town’s city status on August 17, 2024, during a ceremony attended by governors from the North Rift Economic Bloc (NOREB) region, including the host, Uasin Gishu’s Jonathan Bii.

The Head of State reaffirmed that Eldoret had met the criteria required for an urban area to become a city after vetting by the Senate.

“Now therefore in exercise of the powers conferred on the head of state under section 7 of the Urban Areas and Cities Act, I Kipchirchir William Samoei Ruto, president of Kenya and Commander in Chief of Kenya’s Defence Forces do hereby ordain, declare and direct that the municipality of Eldoret has been conferred with city status,” Ruto declared amid cheers by hundreds of residents who witnessed the fete.

According to Section 5 of the Urban Areas and Cities Act, for a town to be classified as a city in Kenya, it must satisfy several key requirements.

First, it must have a population of over 500,000 residents, as confirmed by the latest census. This population growth is a testament to the town’s economic potential.

The town must also have an Integrated Urban Development Plan that outlines its strategies for sustainable growth, infrastructure development, and environmental management.

Additionally, the town also needs to show the capacity to generate sufficient revenue to sustain its operations through innovative revenue collection methods.

They must demonstrate a good system and records of prudent management and have the capacity to effectively and efficiently deliver essential services to their residents.

It must also have institutional active participation by its residents in the management of its affairs, as well as infrastructural facilities and the capacity for functional and effective waste disposal.

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