Ruto ties Kericho city status bid to Sh5.6bn affordable housing drive
Written on
President William Ruto says Kenya is investing Sh5.6 billion in the first 2,200 affordable housing units in Kericho under a plan for 5,000 homes, as the town positions itself for city status.
President William Ruto has linked Kericho's ambitions for city status to a major housing programme, saying the government is investing Sh5.6 billion in the first phase of an affordable housing project in the town.
Speaking during a development tour of Kericho and Bomet counties, Ruto said the first phase will deliver 2,200 units, with a total of 5,000 units planned for the county. The housing scheme, he said, will be paired with a planned Special Economic Zone to help transform Kericho, attract investment and create new economic opportunities.
"To transform Kericho town into a city, Sh5.6 billion is being invested in the first 2,200 affordable housing units of a total of 5,000," the President said, positioning Kericho alongside Thika and Meru, which are also seeking city status.
Under Kenya's Urban Areas and Cities Act, towns seeking elevation to city status must meet requirements relating to population, infrastructure, revenue generation and the provision of essential services. If granted, Kericho would become the country's sixth officially conferred city after Nairobi, Mombasa, Kisumu, Nakuru and Eldoret.
During the same tour, Ruto also launched infrastructure projects in the region, including construction of the Sh1.1 billion Kapkatet Stadium in Bureti Constituency.