Municipalities: Is new status of Molo, Gilgil a blessing or curse?

Nakuru Governor Lee Kinyanjui flanked by county leaders displays the Gilgil Municipal charter after the town was elevated into a municipality. [Antony Gitonga, Standard] 

The newly elevated Gilgil and Molo municipalities will benefit from Sh200 million funding for addressing issues of housing and sewerage, among other services, in the next financial year.

According to Nakuru County government, the money will come from the Kenya Urban Support Programme and the Kenya Urban Rural Authority, which finance such infrastructure in the elevated urban centres.

Nakuru Governor Lee Kinyanjui says while the funds will go a long way in improving the infrastructure within the municipalities, the county’s annual allocation to wards through the ward development fund will address other development needs.

Each of the wards in the county receives a minimum of Sh20 million for various development needs in every financial year under the ward development fund that was created in 2018 to spur growth in the county.

Most residents have welcomed the elevation, saying it will improve service delivery, while others fear that the move might see enhanced taxation by the municipalities.

Gilgil Traders Association chairman Charles Karanja says they expect better planning and rehabilitation of the town’s sewerage system.

“We were fully involved in the process and we expect more funding from the county and the rehabilitation of feeder roads by the Kenya Urban Rural Authority,” he says.

Another trader, Jacob Muiru, from Molo says the town had been forgotten for years in terms of infrastructure development.

Muiru admits that the ban on logging saw businesses close down and is hopeful that the new charter will attract more investors.

A section of Molo town. [Kennedy Gachuhi, Standard]

But critics say taxes in terms of land rates, market fees and parking fees are likely to either rise or be introduced in the new municipalities.

“We hope the new municipalities will not increase land rates, market and parking fees because that will hurt our businesses,” says Peter Mwaniki, a trader in Molo.

The move to issue municipal charters to Gilgil and Molo towns now places Nakuru as the second county after Kiambu with the highest number of municipalities in the country.

This paves way for the two towns that have faced infrastructural challenges to get more financial support from the national government and donor agencies.

Poor drainage, lack of street lights, flooding, and inaccessible feeder roads among others have adversely affected area residents with the county unable to fully meet their demands.

Residents of Gilgil have been forced to seek land registration and Huduma services from Naivasha town while those in Molo have to travel to Nakuru City for assistance.

This will now be a thing of the past.

Gilgil MP Martha Wangari praised the elevation, urging that government offices for lands and registration of persons should now be opened in the town. Lands Executive Joseph Kiuna says Nakuru joins Kiambu in counties with the highest number of municipalities.

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