William Ruto Announces Plans To Make Bungoma A City: "Tutapangana Na County Gov't"

• President William Ruto announced plans to elevate Bungoma to city status, making it the first city in the Western Region
• Ruto instructed Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen to decommission the existing airport in Bungoma town
• The former airport land will be used to build a modern city comparable to Nairobi, providing essential services to residents
• He said the transformation of Bungoma into a city will be a coordinated effort between the national and county governments

Didacus Malowa, a journalist at TUKO.co.ke, brings over three years of experience covering politics and current affairs in Kenya.

Bungoma - President William Ruto has revealed an ambitious plan to confer Bungoma city status.

During a roadside rally in Sirisia on Friday, May 31, the head of state affirmed that the town would become the first city in the Western Region.

Ruto disclosed that he had ordered Roads, Transport, and Public Works Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen to decommission the airport in Bungoma town

He said plans were already underway to rehabilitate and modernise the airport in Matulo, adding that the previous location would be used to build a modern city.

Ruto claimed the city would be the same as Nairobi, adding that they would get most of the essential services.

"We will transform Bungoma into a city. This Bungoma will become a city. The land that was designated for the airport in town, I have told Minister Murkomen here to decommission that land and I will go and build in Matulo.

I am planning a comprehensive city plan for that town. Where there was going to be an airport, I want to build a city there. Let's create a large town that will be comparable to Nairobi. What's the problem with that? Or what do you want? Or do you have a different plan? Let's build a city here and elevate Bungoma," Ruto said.

Ruto was speaking following the launch of the tarmacking of Mayanja-Sirisia, Mukhweya-Musese and Mukhweya-Kimukung Roads.

How will Bungoma city be actualised

Ruto affirmed the transformation and elevation of Bungoma into a city would be done in collaboration with the county government.

"So, we will coordinate with the county government and the national government to make this happen," he said.

The president stated that the modern airport in Matulo would ease transport for Bungoma residents, adding that they wouldn't have to go to Eldoret to access air transport.

Key requirements to attain city status

TUKO.co.ke reported that Kenya has only four urban centres that are recognised as cities: Nairobi, Mombasa, Kisumu, and Nakuru.

Eldoret, the headquarters of Uasin Gishu county, was eyeing the city status, and much progress was made on its assessment by an ad hoc committee.

Elevating an urban centre, specifically a municipality, to city status is a rigorous process.