His Excellency President Uhuru Kenyatta has conferred city status to Nakuru making the Central Rift town Kenya’s fourth City after Nairobi, Mombasa and Kisumu.
The Head of State signed and handed over the Instruments of City Conferment to Nakuru Governor Lee Kinyanjui at the rehabilitated Nyayo Gardens.
Nakuru has been awarded a charter sealing its city status after years of pursuit.
“Nakuru County Assembly placed a desire to have a city status [in 2018]. The desire was approved by the municipality, county executive committee and the county assembly, then handed to the Senate. [With] all legal criteria satisfied on June 3, [2021], the Senate approved the application and recommendations to give Nakuru a city status,” he said.
“I do hereby confer city status to the Nakuru Municipality and from henceforth may it be known by everyone as the City of Nakuru.”
He handed over city status symbol instruments, which are; a logo, three flags (national, county and city) and seal of the city to Governor Lee Kinyanjui.
“The long and often intriguing journey is finally coming to an end. We thank the president for his continued support for the upgrade of Nakuru,” said Kinyanjui.
“The benefits that come with the city status will benefit all of us including those who initially didn’t support the process. We will continue with our programs to achieve the standards of a green, resilient city for all; a city that one can live, work and play.”
He further revealed that from August next year people will be landing in Nakuru
Nakuru’s journey to city status dates back to 2018, when Governor Lee Kinyanjui initiated the process of elevating the county to a city.
Apart from the conferment exercise, the President also inaugurated the new Nakuru Disaster Management Centre as well as the rehabilitated Nyayo Gardens.
The Sh174 million fire station has been under rehabilitation since 2019.
Kenyatta was accompanied by ODM party leader Raila Odinga, senate speaker Ken Lusaka among others.
