Uasin Gishu Governor County Dr. Jonathan Bii presided over the opening of this year’s Town and County Planning Association of Kenya (TCPAK) conference in Eldoret as the metropolis awaits the conferment of city status on August 15th this year.

Addressing the conference, Governor Bii expressed his gratitude to the leadership of TCPAK for considering Uasin Gishu County as the ideal place for this event.

‘Urbanisation is a global phenomenon, and Kenya is no exception to this trend. With a rapidly growing population, urban areas are becoming increasingly vital in shaping the nation’s present and future, and Eldoret falls into this category,’ he noted.

‘Your roles as planners are critical to our forthcoming fifth city, and you have contributed immensely towards our elevation and recognition,’ he said.

Bii said his administration was determined to ensure that all urban areas are well planned and that all planning proposals are implemented while borrowing heavily on the economic benefits that come with them.

‘M
y administration is currently seeking views from stakeholders through ad hoc committees to ascertain the suitability of six towns set to be upgraded to municipalities, and as planners, you have a responsibility and an opportunity to build into that future that will be historical 20 years from now,’ he said.

Bii noted that the residents are conscious of the needs that directly affect them, such as urban planning, waste management, citizen service delivery, and the development of functions closer to them.

‘The growth of urban areas is one of our economic strengths, and I challenge my fellow governors to invest heavily in sustainable urban planning, infrastructure development, and environmental conservation,’ said Bii.

‘The end result will be pegged on a more livable and sustainable future for our residents, who hold us responsible for every decision we make on their behalf,’ he added.

‘As we move forward, I challenge our planners present here to ensure that our county of champions remains a centre of progre
ss that ensures both urban and rural areas thrive,’ noted the governor.

‘Besides our city upgrade, in collaboration with the national government, we are making plans for the commencement of Eldoret Railway City. I want to report that the city master plan is complete, and we are keen on its total implementation in order to pave the way for the construction of affordable housing,’ he confirmed.

‘This project is in line with the Bottom Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA), besides creating employment opportunities for over 3000 youth in our county and at the same time providing the much-needed housing units for Eldoret City,’ noted the county boss.

‘As we focus on this important component, there is an urgent need to address urban sprawl, which is affecting our agricultural production as an administration. We are developing a policy to address land fragmentation and reverse the effects of land fragmentation, and this policy will be instrumental in protecting our agricultural land,’ he added.

He further ad
ded that his administration will firm up development control both at the urban level and at the county level to ensure urban space is properly and sustainably used.

‘We are also working with development partners such as the Kenya Informal Settlements Improvement Project (KISIP) to provide critical infrastructure to informal settlements like Shauri, Maili Nne, and Kipkaren, thereby upgrading them to formal settlements,’ noted Bii.

‘We also take cognizant of the danger of land fragmentation to food security. We are at the tail end of preparing a Land Use Regulations which will determine which minimum land size is permissible for different zones,’ he said.

‘Going into the future, I envision a sustainable smart city of Eldoret where order takes precedence, supported by proper sewerage, a road network, and a and a green and 24-hour economy, and you all have an obligation to make this a reality,’ he said.

‘I am committed to ensuring that Eldoret City is prepared to play its role on the international platform, a
nd I appreciate the International Society of City and Regional Planners (ISOCARP) 2025 conference that has chosen Eldoret as its host,’ noted Bii.

He disclosed that Uasin Gishu is the fastest-rising region under the North Rift Economic Bloc and an ideal place to invest, settle, and enhance agricultural and planning activities.

Source : Kenya News Agency