Why Nanyuki town is overstretched by influx of investors, visitors
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Nanyuki Town in Laikipia County is struggling with congested services as an influx of investors, visitors and population growth stretches water and waste infrastructure.
Concerns are growing over overstretched services around Nanyuki's urban setup in Laikipia County, Kenya, owing to the influx of visitors and a surge in population. Nanyuki Town, with an estimated 100,000 residents, is reportedly congested, with limited opportunities due to its closeness to Meru and Nyeri counties.
Nanyuki Municipal Manager Anthony Rukwaro said the increased population brings added responsibilities for garbage and water, which the Laikipia County Government has been working to tackle. The authority has expanded the water supply to replace a facility constructed in the 1950s, while collection of garbage has been a major challenge, forcing daily collections covering the town and surrounding areas.
Rukwaro said new areas to be included in the municipality are Baraka, Nuru, Nturukuma and Ruai, after the zoning programme underwent public participation. Once the municipality area is expanded, water and road services will be improved.
Real estate expert Francis Gichuhi said the presence of military barracks in Nanyuki has remained a major obstacle to the expansion of the town. "All the empty spaces in Nanyuki are occupied, forcing many of the town dwellers to relocate to the areas of Ichuga and Makutano in Nyeri and Meru counties," he said.
Nanyuki will also benefit from the 68-kilometre Nanyuki-Doldol road funded by the Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA), which will include a pedestrian path. In a public participation forum, KeNHA officials said the project will start soon and connect to the Nanyuki-Rumuruti project.