NAIROBI, Kenya — Thika is on the verge of becoming Kenya’s sixth city after the Senate Standing Committee on Devolution and Intergovernmental Relations recommended that the Kiambu County municipality be granted city status.
The recommendation follows an extensive inquiry and inspection process in which the committee concluded that Thika had satisfied the legal and administrative requirements for conferment of a city charter under Kenyan law.
After reviewing submissions from the Kiambu County Government, senators found that the municipality possesses adequate infrastructure, public amenities and essential services to support city operations.
As part of its assessment, the committee conducted public participation, engaged key stakeholders and verified the town’s demographic and financial data. Members also inspected roads, healthcare facilities, water supply systems and sewerage infrastructure before reaching their recommendation.
According to the committee, the municipality has demonstrated sufficient institutional and economic capacity to sustain city status.
Population and revenue thresholds met
The committee noted that Thika surpassed the minimum population threshold required under the Urban Areas and Cities Act, with data from the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) indicating the municipality has more than 284,000 residents.
It also cited the municipality’s financial strength, reporting that Thika generated more than Sh6.4 billion in revenue over the past seven years, demonstrating its ability to finance service delivery and urban management.
The committee concluded that the municipality has established the infrastructure and governance systems required to support its transition into a city.
Final approval awaits Senate and President
The committee’s report will now be tabled before the full Senate for debate and a vote. If approved, it will be forwarded to President William Ruto, who would issue a city charter formally conferring city status on Thika.
Under the Urban Areas and Cities Act, 2011, the conferment of city status requires a recommendation by the relevant county government, approval by the Senate and the issuance of a charter by the President.
If the process is completed, Thika will become Kenya’s sixth city, joining Nairobi, Mombasa, Kisumu, Nakuru and Eldoret, the latter having attained city status in 2024.
Economic significance
Located in Kiambu County, Thika is one of Kenya’s leading industrial and commercial centres and hosts more than 1,000 industries, earning it a reputation as one of the country’s manufacturing hubs.
The town was gazetted in 1924 and became a municipality in 1963. Since then, it has experienced sustained population growth, rapid urbanisation and expanding industrial activity, strengthening its case for elevation to city status.
Leaders supporting the proposal say the new designation will unlock additional conditional grants from the national government, attract private investment and accelerate infrastructure development.
They also expect city status to enhance urban planning, improve public service delivery and create employment opportunities, particularly for young people, as Thika positions itself as a major economic hub in Central Kenya.