Nakuru The Fastest Growing Town in Africa
Nakuru Town
Nakuru Town is bracing itself for emerging challenges that have come with its rapid expansion, which led to it being thrust in the international limelight.
The municipal council welcomed the good news delivered last week by UN-Habitat senior advisor Thomas Melin during a session on governance and planning for sustainable cities in Nairobi.
“We feel great and honoured after the recent ranking though we are well aware that it comes with more responsibilities,” Mayor John Kitilit said.
The session was part of the ongoing 46th International Society of City and Regional Planners Congress.
Fastest in Africa
A previous survey put Nakuru’s growth rate at 13 per cent, the fastest in Africa, followed by Dire Dawa in Ethiopia. Nairobi’s growth rate is estimated at seven per cent.
“I am very proud of the ranking because I know the town is moving in the right direction. This is just the start of good things,” he added.
The rapid expansion of Nakuru could not have gone unnoticed for long after it was declared the fastest growing town in East Africa.
This rekindles fond memories of the 70s when Nakuru was regarded as one of the cleanest towns in the region.
The growth has been attributed to a number of factors, mainly the opening of the new Naivasha-Nakuru road, which links the town with Nairobi.
Post-election violence is said to be one of the contributing factors, since many displaced people from neighbouring towns saw Nakuru as a safe haven.
However, the high ranking has stirred controversy with the business community accusing Nakuru council of not doing enough to attract and retain investors.
The traders are on a collision course with the council over increased rates by a huge percentage last year.
Factors like poor drainage and failure by the council to rein in hawkers and boda boda cyclists have seen the town degenerate into an eyesore.
Mr Bernard Muhia, the Nakuru Business Association chairman accuses the council of being inconsiderate.
But Mr Kitilit said the council was working to ensure investors are appreciated by addressing their grievances.
“We want to provide an enabling environment. The rates issue will be resolved because we understand the plight of the businessmen,” Mr Kitilit said.
Mr Muhia claimed there is little to show for the millions of shillings in revenue the council collects yearly.
“We are paying extraordinarily high rates and have tried to negotiate with the council to reduce them in vain,” Mr Muhia said.
For a higher growth rate, the council should find a way of coping with the rising demands of a huge population and the large number of investors.
Mr Kitilit, however, says the challenges will soon be a thing of the past since hawkers will be relocated to a modern market currently under construction.
“In the next 10 years, I can see this town taking the second position behind Nairobi. We are moving towards that direction,” the mayor said.
High tourist arrivals
According to Mr Peter Gatere the managing director at Pega Tours and Travel Agency, a pioneer tourist agency in the town, tourists and allied businesses only developed after the construction of the new roads.
“Having been in this business for more than 10 years, I know tourists never visited Nakuru because of its poor roads, but now the town has over 15 tourist agencies because visitors started streaming in after 2002” Mr Gatere confirms.
Adopted from Daily Nation – Kenya
Map of Nakuru
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