FROM TOWN TO CITY: ELDORET OFFICIALLY DECLARED KENYA’S FIFTH CITY
Eldoret will be inaugurated as Kenya’s fifth city on Thursday, and Uasin Gishu Governor Jonathan Bii is set to announce a nine-member board to preside over the administration of the city. This came as President William Ruto was set to grace the event and issue the city charter to Governor Bii, declaring Eldoret a city to become the fifth city in Kenya, after Nairobi, Mombasa, Kisumu, and Nakuru.
Events lined up for this day will be fronted by President Ruto visiting the county headquarters for a brief event, then afterwards he is set to have a ceremonial drive through the town to Eldoret Sports Club for the formal declaration.
“We are excited about the elevation of our town to city status,” said Governor Bii. “Now the real work begins to have the town grow into a key hub both nationally and beyond.”
The city has achieved all requirements, especially with a population of over one million, but many changes and improvements, like expanding schools and increasing the capacity of hospitals, take immense effort. Ruto’s visit will include a tour of the town, which the local residents and the business community also support.
“All due procedures have been followed to the letter, and as the city grows, residents will have a larger role in running its affairs”, Ruto noted.
The previous Koiyet board had seven members, yet the law dictates that a city board should comprise nine members. The county shall retain the same logo designed for it way back in 1964 by white settler Derric Stab. The green color-themed logo features a rising sun, a cow, a maize cob, a ribbon, a Nubian giraffe, some ploughed land, and maize leaves.
The logo has sparked outrage among locals, some of whom feel it carries contents which go against their religious beliefs. Koiyet defended the logo, mentioning that it has been in use since Independence period.
“The majority of residents were Kalenjins when the logo was designed. The local community has deep respect for the sun as a symbol of God’s omnipotence, omnipresence and omniscience,” he said.
He added that the cow in the logo identifies with local beliefs because cows are held highly for food and as symbols of life. “There is nothing sinister about the logo” added Koiyet. “It has been around for over 60 years reflecting the Christian foundation and the socio-economic practices of our people and all communities in this town.”
Koiyet also pointed out that the new status is going to open up new opportunities for the residents and indicated that the county rolled out a series of activities, among them a cultural festival, in celebration of Eldoret’s elevation to city status.
