Thika is poised to become the country’s sixth city, a move expected to transform Kiambu County into an even bigger economic powerhouse by unlocking fresh investment, accelerating infrastructure development and imposing tougher standards on urban planning and service delivery.
The Senate Standing Committee on Devolution and Intergovernmental Relations has recommended that the Senate approve the conferment of city status to Thika Municipality after concluding it had met the legal threshold under the Urban Areas and Cities Act.
If adopted by the Senate, the resolution will be forwarded to President William Ruto, who will issue a city charter, thereby making Thika Kenya's only chartered city, joining Nairobi, Mombasa, Kisumu, Nakuru and Eldoret.
"The Committee finds that Thika Municipality has complied with the procedural requirements under Section 8 of the Act, and meets the substantive criteria for conferment of city status," the report tabled before the Senate reads.
A street in Thika Town in Kiambu County on July 21, 2022
Photo credit: Lucy Wanjiru | Nation Media Group
It adds that the new status "will provide an important platform for accelerated development, improved service delivery, and enhanced local economic growth."
The committee's report shows Thika already possesses many of the characteristics of a city. It has a population of 279,429, exceeding the legal threshold of 250,000 residents, while projections indicate the population could reach 482,919 by 2035 and more than 808,000 by 2039.
Financially, the municipality also demonstrated the capacity to sustain city operations, with annual revenues ranging between Sh1.08 billion and Sh1.52 billion, while projections estimate collections could rise to Sh1.72 billion.
For Kiambu County, that means the beginning of a new phase of urban transformation. Like Eldoret after it attained city status last year, Thika will be expected to implement a comprehensive city development plan, enforce stricter land-use controls and spatial planning, modernise infrastructure and maintain higher standards of governance expected of a chartered city.
The county government will also be under pressure to expand investment in roads, drainage, water supply, street lighting, waste management, public transport and other municipal services as population and economic activity increase.
A street in Thika town on July 21, 2022.
Photo credit: File | Nation Media Group
The Senate committee attached conditions to its approval. It directed Kiambu Governor Kimani Wamatangi to submit to the Senate within 90 days of conferment detailed work plans on projects the county committed to complete before the city can fully realise its potential.
Among them is the operationalisation of a public theatre and museum or interpretive centre, facilities expected to strengthen Thika's cultural identity and tourism profile.
"The enhancement of infrastructure and services within the residential estates, including road networks, drainage systems, flood mitigation, water supply coverage, and solid waste management, in line with the matters raised by residents during the public participation process," the report recommends.
The elevation is expected to make Thika more attractive to manufacturers, real estate developers and multinational investors, while increasing access to development financing and strengthening its role within the Nairobi Metropolitan Region.
A growing population will inevitably increase demand for housing, schools, hospitals, water, transport, and public utilities, requiring the county government to invest heavily in infrastructure while strengthening its own-source revenue to sustain city operations.
A section of Thika town.
Photo credit: File
Kiambu Governor Kimani Wamatangi welcomed the committee's recommendation, describing it as an endorsement of the county's long-standing vision of restoring Thika's prominence as one of Kenya's premier industrial towns.
"This decision affirms the vision I have always held and confirms that the town, formerly known as the Birmingham of Kenya, meets all the criteria for city status due to its strategic location, industrial character, and availability of essential services. We are optimistic that the town will eventually get the Charter," Mr Wamatangi said.
According to Mr Wamatangi, preparations for city status are already underway, with the national and county governments jointly investing more than Sh10 billion in infrastructure, water, health, education, trade, sports and other critical sectors.
Among the flagship projects is a Sh5.7 billion water reticulation programme, implemented jointly with the national government to strengthen the capacity of the Thika Water and Sewerage Company (THIWASCO).
The project includes increasing the storage capacity of Kariminu Dam in Gatundu North from 70 million cubic metres to 90 million cubic metres, with water already being piped through a mega reservoir at Ngoigwa to supply more than 100,000 households in Thika and surrounding areas.
To improve mobility, Mr Wamatangi said the county has allocated Sh500 million for walkways and non-motorised transport infrastructure while installing 2,500 solar-powered streetlights across the municipality.
Kiambu Governor Kimani Wamatangi (in a white dust coat) switches on solar-powered streetlights at Athena in Thika Township Ward, Thika Sub-county, on December 18, 2024, to mark the official launch of the installation of 12,000 solar streetlights in the county.
Photo credit: File | Nation
Mr Wamatangi said the investments are aimed at restoring Thika's reputation as the "Birmingham of Kenya", a title it earned because of its manufacturing base, favourable climate, agricultural productivity and planned urban growth.
He argued that Thika's location places it in a unique position to become one of East Africa's most competitive cities. Situated along the Trans-Africa Highway corridor, the town serves as the gateway to the Mt Kenya region, Eastern Kenya, North Eastern Kenya and countries in the Horn of Africa.
Thika Super Highway:
Photo credit: File
It is also connected by the Nairobi Superhighway, the railway line and the northern transport corridor.
"Looking at the development of cities and big towns like Mombasa, Nairobi, Nakuru, Eldoret and Kisumu, you will notice that they all have one thing in common: they are all placed directly adjacent to communication corridors, which has made them advantageous hotspots where opportunities and talent converge and business can start to happen," Mr Wamatangi said.
The Senate committee inspected critical public facilities, including Kiambu County Level 5 Hospital, Thika Stadium, Mama Ngina People's Park, THIWASCO and the municipal fire station, before concluding that the municipality had satisfied the statutory requirements for city status.
"Noting the undertakings given by the County Government of Kiambu in the course of the Committee's inquiry to fully operationalise the facilities and services within the proposed City, the Governor of Kiambu County [shall] submit to the Senate, within ninety days of the conferment of city status, workplans..." the report states.
