Kericho battles to regain lost glory

Governor Paul Chepkwony had over a letter of appointment to Kericho Municipal Board Chairman, Harry Langat.

Just over a decade ago, Kericho town could have easily grabbed top honours as one of the cleanest and orderly urban centres in the country.

Today, it is in a bad state. Driving around the town is a nightmare. Motorists have to navigate around huge potholes. The worst potholes are in the section of the road leading to the Guru Nanak Temple from Huduma Centre.

Garbage is left to pile up and remain uncollected for days at collection points near Mwangaza Hotel and other strategic places.

Rainwater often floods the streets due to clogged drainage systems. The town stinks as sewage lines burst and spew the contents onto the streets.

National Environment Management Authority (Nema) Director of Environment, Samuel Ondeng’, last year petitioned public health officials to declare buildings constructed on sewer lines unsafe for human habitation.

At least 10 residential apartments are constructed on sewer lines in the town. Ondeng’ castigated the county government, which he said was directly responsible for the mess.

He petitioned the county assembly to pass laws to expedite demolition of the apartments. Kericho Chamber of Commerce chairman Simeon Koech admitted that the town’s status was in a pathetic state. “You cannot compare Kericho now with towns such as Kisumu or Nakuru. Kericho has lagged behind not because of anything else but management issues,” he said.

Samuel Rugut, a former Kericho mayor, said the town ought to be a shining example, especially in terms of waste management.

He said the African Development Bank, through the Lake Victoria Basin Commission, gave out a tender for the rehabilitation of sewage treatment plant and construction of sanitation facilities for Kericho town but the project is yet to be completed.

Rugut blamed the executive for failing to pursue the matter. But Governor Paul Chepkwony said he had tasked the newly inaugurated Kericho Municipal Board headed by Harry Langat to restore the town to its former glory.

“The board’s work is to deliver a safe, clean and prosperous city called Kericho.... We must have clean and green city which is healthy to work and live in,” he said.

Chepkwony said he had delegated several functions to the board: “The first is the establishment of a lean and efficient workforce for the operationalisation of the board’s service delivery and promotion of a safe environment, including garbage collection, safety measures to eradicate pollution and degradation of the environment.

The Governor said the board would have powers to coordinate and manage organised transport activities. It will also be involved in the implementation of the urban integrated plans and securing its compliance through enforcement and undertake infrastructural development.

Board chairman Harry Langat said his team would soon roll out initiatives, enforce by-laws and punitive fines to ensure the town is clean.

Bhai Sahib Mohinder Singh, the world’s Sikh spiritual leader, in a visit to the town, said Kericho had the potential of becoming a model city and tourism hub. “Kericho should become a model city. It has everything going for it. The world famous tea and the scenery is breath-taking. It lifts the spirits, it is a perfect location for tourism. Therefore, the streets must be kept clean and the road reserves not encroached,” said Singh.

Kericho is the location of Guru Nanak Nishkam Jatha, the largest Sikh temple in Africa. Singh, a civil and structural engineer who retired in 1989 to take over the spiritual calling, urged African countries to invest in projects to reverse the rural-urban migration.

“There are problems in the cities due to the fact that upon independence, each of the countries did not bother to put a check on the rural-urban migration, leading to massive unemployment,” said Singh.