Uasin Gishu Governor Jonathan Bii has appointed Ad hoc Committees to assess six townships for elevation to town status, a move set to unlock urban growth and reshape service delivery for residents.

🇰🇪 Breaking It Down

The announcement, made in a Gazette Notice dated May 22, earmarks the review of Kesses-Cheboiywo, Turbo, Moiben, Ziwa, Burnt Forest, and Moi's Bridge, each located within Uasin Gishu County in Kenya's Rift Valley region, a move set to be implemented over a period of four months.

“PURSUANT to the Fourth Schedule of the Constitution of Kenya and section 8 (3) (a) of The Urban Areas and Cities Act, 2011, I, Jonathan Bii Chelilim, Governor of Uasin Gishu County, appoint…to be members of the Ad hoc Committee on conferment to town status for a period of four (4) months, with effect from the 20th April, 2026,” stated the notice.

Turbo Township's inclusion among the six earmarked areas has particularly caught the public attention, as it is the area that domiciles Sugoi, the famous place where President William Ruto hails from.

📌 What You Need to Know

Each of the six townships has its own seven-member committee, bringing 42 appointed reviewers to the ground in total, drawn from diverse professions to ensure the process is thorough and well-rounded.

The appointees were nominated by professional bodies, including the Kenya Institute of Planners (KIP), the Law Society of Kenya (LSK), the Architectural Association of Kenya (AAK), and the Institute of Surveyors of Kenya (ISK).

Also represented are nominees from the Association of Urban Areas and Cities (AUAC), the Business Community, and the Institute of Certified Accountants of Kenya (ICAK), giving each committee strong technical and commercial expertise.

Each committee has a four-month mandate from April 20 to complete its review and submit formal recommendations on whether the respective townships meet the legal requirements for town status.

Town status in Kenya is a significant administrative milestone that typically translates into greater investment in infrastructure, structured urban planning, and improved service delivery compared to a basic township designation.

It also means the local economy transitions from rural to urban, leading to increased public funding for infrastructure and job creation.

📰 Source: Kenyans.co.ke