Eldoret City at One Year: Progress Made, But Challenges Persist

Eldoret is struggling to meet key obligations a year after its elevation to city status.

City officials report progress in infrastructure and basic services but admit that solid waste management, sewage systems, traffic regulation, and the activation of cultural facilities remain unresolved. City Manager Elzeba Busienei says a master plan is in place, outlining closed drainage systems, recycling measures, and greener public spaces. 

She maintains that most requirements for city designation have already been met and that ongoing policies will guide further improvements. Beautification efforts include tree planting, floral landscaping along major roads, and greening of the Central Business District. 

Property owners have been instructed to provide ramps for persons with disabilities, install CCTV cameras, and maintain tree cover on their premises. Officials say these measures are intended to improve accessibility, security, and sustainability.

Residents, however, question the continued closure of the national museum built at the Kenya Forest Service arboretum. The facility was expected to serve as a cultural centre and help fulfil statutory criteria for city status. Local resident Leah Jepkorir says the delay has caused confusion within the community.

Traffic congestion remains a major challenge. Despite new traffic lights at key junctions, heavy commercial vehicles continue to crowd the city centre. Governor Jonathan Bii has urged long-distance drivers to use the 32-kilometre Southern Bypass, funded by the African Development Bank at a cost of Sh5 billion. Although designated as a transit route under the East African Community Customs Management Act, it is still underused. 

City authorities are now considering laws that would bar trucks from the CBD to ease congestion and encourage investment. The financial cost of city operations is also significant. The Eldoret Water and Sanitation Company (Eldowas) recently introduced a 300 per cent rise in water tariffs, citing approval from the Water Services Regulatory Board and the need to raise Sh2.2 billion for infrastructure upgrades. 

The increase has led to legal disputes and widespread concern among residents already coping with higher land rates, permit fees, and food prices. Eldowas Managing Director Dr Lawrence Tanui says the higher tariffs are necessary to fund modernisation, even as the utility continues to lose billions of litres of water each month to illegal connections.

Local leaders remain confident that current challenges reflect a period of adjustment rather than long-term shortcomings. When issuing the city charter in August 2024, President William Ruto called on Eldoret’s leadership to prepare for responsibilities associated with city administration.