Kiambu Governor Kimani Wamatangi has reignited efforts to elevate Thika into the first industrial smart city in the Mt. Kenya region, a move expected to generate 50,000 jobs and boost the county’s economy. The initiative, announced during the 8th Annual Devolution Conference in Eldoret, involves the establishment of an ad hoc committee tasked with guiding Thika’s transition to city status and recommending its conferment to President William Ruto.
The committee comprises representatives from the business community, Kenya Institute of Planners, Kenya Institute of Public Accountants, Kenya Institute of Architecture, Law Society of Kenya, and the Association of Urban Areas and Cities. Their mandate is to ensure Thika meets the necessary criteria for city classification. Governor Wamatangi highlighted Thika’s strategic location as a gateway to Mt. Kenya and the Eastern and North Eastern regions, noting that its industrial base, universities, and transport infrastructure have contributed to rapid population growth, now estimated at over 500,000 residents.
Several development projects are already underway to prepare Thika for city status. These include dualling sections of Thika-Garissa Road, expanding water capacity, creating an Economic Processing Zone on 324 acres of Delmote land, and constructing 25,000 affordable housing units. Additionally, an international-standard stadium, markets, hospitals, and waste management initiatives with JICA support are in progress. Informal settlements, such as Kiandutu, are being upgraded with bitumen roads, drainage systems, social halls, high-mast floodlights, and title deeds for 5,000 residents. Once Thika achieves city status, it is projected to attract approximately Sh1 billion in annual grants for infrastructure development, while enhancing economic growth, property values, and global visibility.
Governor Wamatangi emphasized that public participation, data collection, and planning are at an advanced stage, with 60 percent of the preparatory work completed. The next steps include drafting a city charter and integrated development plan to be presented to the County Assembly for approval, followed by submission to the Senate and ultimately the President for official designation. This elevation will transform Thika into a smart, economically vibrant city and set a model for urban development in Kenya, said the governor.