NAIROBI, Kenya — Residents and leaders in Thika will have to wait longer for the municipality’s long-anticipated elevation to city status after the Senate cancelled a scheduled public participation process meant to consider the proposal.
A notice previously issued by the Senate Standing Committee on Devolution, inviting members of the public to submit memoranda and attend a public hearing, was abruptly withdrawn on Thursday, effectively pausing the process.
The committee had planned to hold a public hearing in Thika before March 9 to gather views from residents and stakeholders regarding the conferment of city status to the fast-growing municipality.
The hearing formed part of the legal process required under the Urban Areas and Cities Act, which mandates public participation before the Senate can deliberate on whether to recommend that a municipality be granted city status.
Under the law, the President formally confers city status once the Senate approves the recommendation and confirms that the area meets the statutory criteria.
If eventually approved, Thika would join Kenya’s list of cities, including Nairobi, Mombasa, Kisumu, Nakuru, and Eldoret.
Residents have pushed for the elevation for years, arguing that Thika’s expanding population, strong industrial base, and proximity to the capital make it deserving of city recognition.
Momentum behind the proposal grew in early 2025 when Kimani Wamatangi presented an ad hoc committee report and a proposed city charter to the Kiambu County Assembly seeking support for the bid.
Members of the assembly unanimously approved the report and forwarded it to the Senate, advancing the process to the national legislative stage for consideration.
Thika is widely believed to have met several key statutory requirements for city status, including surpassing the population threshold of 250,000 residents set out in the Urban Areas and Cities Act.
Infrastructure developments have also strengthened the case. The 52-kilometre Thika Superhighway significantly improved connectivity to the capital, while the proposed Thika Expressway is expected to further enhance transport and economic activity in the area.
However, some urban planning concerns remain, particularly regarding Thika’s close proximity to Nairobi. Experts argue that careful planning will be necessary to ensure the new city supports — rather than competes with — the capital’s role as Kenya’s primary administrative and commercial hub.
For now, the Senate’s withdrawal of the public participation notice means the process has stalled, leaving residents and leaders awaiting further direction on when deliberations on Thika’s city status will resume.
