IS THIKA TOWN SINCERELY READY FOR CITY STATUS?
By Jaymo Wa Thika,
On June 18th 2025, the Kiambu County Assembly passed the report on application by the County Executive for the elevation of Thika Municipality to city status. This means that the municipality is barely two steps away from becoming Kenya's 6th city; The Senate and the Presidential gazettement.
The big question now remains..... Is Thika ready for city status?
With its strategic location, robust industrial base, and growing population, Thika is a strong contender in the race for urban elevation. But is it truly ready for city status? What stands to be gained or lost? Here's a comprehensive analysis of Thika's readiness and the road ahead.
✅ REQUIREMENTS FOR CITY STATUS IN KENYA
Under the Urban Areas and Cities Act (2011) of Kenya, for a municipality to be elevated to a city, it must meet certain legal and development benchmarks:
• Population: At least 250,000 residents.
• Revenue: The town must generate sufficient revenue to sustain its operations.
• Infrastructure: Adequate infrastructure including roads, water, sewerage systems, and emergency services.
• Public Participation: Demonstrated support from the public for city status.
• Social Services: Availability of health, education, recreational, and cultural facilities.
• Development Plan: A physical development plan and strategic urban development blueprint.
• Environmental Management: Systems for solid waste management, pollution control, and environmental sustainability.
📊 THIKA BY THE NUMBERS
Population: Estimated 280,000 to 300,000+, surpassing the legal threshold.
Revenue Generation: As an industrial hub with major factories (Bidco, Broadway, Del Monte etc.) - Thika generates billions annually in taxes and business revenues.
Industries: It is home to over 200 industries, making it Kenya’s second-largest industrial town after Nairobi.
Infrastructure:
• Dual carriage highway (Thika Superhighway)
• Internal road networks (though some require upgrading)
• Reliable water sources (Chania and Thika Rivers)
• Sewer system needs expansion
Education & Health:
• Universities: Mount Kenya University (MKU), Gretsa, and more.
Major hospitals: Thika Level 5, private hospitals like Avenue, Aga Khan Clinic.
Public Transport: Presence of a matatu SACCO system, bodabodas, and growing demand for smart mobility solutions.
🛠️ WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE (BEFORE CITY STATUS)
Upgrading of existing Infrastructure
- The government (National & County) need to pave and expand internal roads within the town CBD, link roads as well estate roads (e.g. in Majengo, Makongeni, Kisii estate, Kiganjo, Ngoingwa, Sections 2 & 9 Landless, Gatuanyaga etc).
- They should modernise waste management systems.
- They should expand the current sewer and drainage systems.
Urban Planning
- The Kiambu County Government should develop and implement the Thika Industrial Smart City Plan.
- They should devise ways to decongest the CBD and improve zoning.
- The government should implement comprehensive affordable housing and slum upgrading programmes.
- They should address the challenges in the informal settlements like Kiandutu.
- They should enhance security and emergency services by setting up more fire stations, police posts and disaster response units.
Public Participation
They should conduct proper and extensive civic education and forums for residents to contribute and support the transition.
🔄 WHAT TO EXPECT AFTER CITY STATUS
✅ Benefits of Becoming a City
• Increased funding and autonomy
• Access to more national government allocations and international development aid.
Better Urban Services
- Improved planning, infrastructure, and services such as transport, healthcare, and sanitation.
Job Creation
- More opportunities in construction, tech, services, and administration.
Increased Investor Confidence
- Local and foreign investors view city status as a sign of stability and growth.
Elevated Status
- Thika’s political and economic profile will rise, attracting high-level institutions.
⚠️ Disadvantages and Challenges to Expect
Increased cost of living
- City status may push up housing, transport, and basic commodity prices.
Urban Sprawl and Congestion
- If not managed, rapid growth could lead to traffic jams, pollution, and strain on services.
Gentrification and Displacement
- Upgrading informal settlements may displace low-income residents without proper planning.
Bureaucracy and Corruption Risks
- Bigger budgets may come with increased risks of mismanagement if accountability is weak.
🏛️ ARE GOVERNMENTS & RESIDENTS READY?
1. County Government of Kiambu
- Has submitted a proposal to elevate Thika to city status.
- Formed a taskforce to develop the Thika Smart City Plan.
NB: This is promising but they must prioritise transparency and involve all stakeholders.
2. National Government
- Supports the vision in alignment with Vision 2030 and industrial growth goals.
But they must assist with infrastructure funding and legal frameworks.
3. Residents
Mixed reactions:
A good number of the residents welcome the development and prestige. However, there is also another lot that fears displacement, rising costs and being left out of planning. This means that public education and inclusive planning are critical.
🏗️ INFRASTRUCTURAL IMPROVEMENTS NEEDED FOR THIKA CITY STATUS
(i) 🛣️ Roads, Highways & Dual Carriageways
Current Status:
The Thika Superhighway provides excellent connectivity to Nairobi, but internal road networks within Thika are overstretched and poorly maintained in some areas.
What Needs to Be Done:
The existing roads must be upgraded or expanded:
a) Thika-Garissa Road (A3):
The highway needs to be expanded into a dual carriageway from Thika Town to Makongeni, all the way to Gatuanyaga. This is critical for easing industrial and commuter traffic.
b) Kenyatta Highway:
This is Thika's main CBD corridor — It requires widening, better pedestrian walkways, bus stops, and traffic signals.
c) Haille Selassie Road/Thika–Murang'a Exit:
This road serves large residential zones and farming areas — requires surfacing, lighting, and widening.
d) Thika–Landless/Thika–Gatuanyaga–Githima–Kang’oki–Kisii Road:
This is very important for connecting to industrial parks and waste management sites — needs full paving and lighting.
e) Thika–Juja Link Road:
The development of this link road can improve Nairobi commuter flows and relieve congestion.
(ii) New Road Projects & Bypasses:
- A Thika Eastern Bypass from Ngoliba–Gatuanyaga–Landless–Juja, connecting back to Garissa Road or to the Eastern Bypass in Ruiru (Kamakis) could divert heavy trucks (and vehicles with no business in Thika) from the CBD.
(iii) Upgrade feeder roads in Kiandutu, Biafra, Kisii, Kiganjo, Madharau and Komo area.
🚧 SPECIFIC ROADS THAT NEED IMPROVEMENT & EXPANSION
Road – Current Status – Recommended Action
Thika-Garissa Road (A3) – Dual carriage ends at Engen – Extend dualing to Ngoliba, add U-turns, lighting
Haile Selassie Road – Tarmac but narrow– Widen, add shoulders, footpaths
Kenyatta Highway – Congested – Expand, redesign CBD intersections
Thika–Landless–Githima – Partly gravel – Full tarmacking, drainage
Thika–Gatuanyaga Road – Busy, underdeveloped – Full upgrade, connect to bypass
CBD Roads (General Kago, Uhuru Street, Temple Rd) – Poor traffic flow – One-way system, parking control
Estate roads – Potholes, dust – Upgrade with cabro/tarmac, lighting
🚦 URBAN TRANSPORT & ORDER MANAGEMENT IN THE CBD
👷 Challenges:
- Matatus/PSVs park anywhere.
- Bodabodas and tuktuks operate without regulation.
- Hawkers/business structures congest majority walkways.
- Parking chaos and traffic jams.
✅ Solutions & Recommendations:
1. Hawker Management
- Designate structured market spaces with sheds, toilets, and security.
- Rehabilitate Mukiriti and Jamhuri Markets to accommodate more traders or build a new elevated hawker centre near the stadium.
- Introduce hawker registration and zoning system.
2. Matatu & Public Transport Reform
- Relocate all PSV termini to a new modern and expanded bus park (e.g. in public areas near the CBD or easily accessible to the town centre).
- Restrict matatus from entering CBD, only allow drop-off points.
- Introduce one-way traffic flow within CBD and automated entry monitoring.
3. Bodaboda & Tuktuk Regulation
- Designate specific lanes and parking bays.
- Enforce reflector vest IDs and permits.
- Encourage creation of SACCOs and digital tracking.
4. Smart Parking System
Digitize parking:
- Introduce time-based parking fees and automated slot allocation.
- Build multi-storey car parks in free public spaces to reduce street parking.
- Attract private developers to build multi-storey car parks
⚠️ Street Children and Street families Menace
Background and Current Status
Thika’s town centre and adjacent areas such as the CBD bus park, Kenyatta Highway, Uhuru Street, and Commercial Street have witnessed a rising number of:
- Street children (ages 7–17), many involved in drug use, petty crime, or scavenging.
- Street families who live under bridges, market shades, alleyways.
- Some engage in hawking, parking vehicles, begging, or work in scrap collecting, touting.
This has raised concerns over:
- Public safety and sanitation
- Urban image and investor confidence
- Child protection and human rights
🎯 Goal:
To rehabilitate, reintegrate, and eliminate the street children and families from the Thika CBD and surrounding areas, while ensuring long-term social reintegration and prevention of recurrence.
🧩 COMPREHENSIVE STRATEGY: THE “RESTORE & REBUILD” MODEL
🏠 1. Creation of Transitional Shelters & Rescue Centres
- Establish temporary shelters in Gatuanyaga areas or outskirts of Thika, equipped with:
- Dormitories, meals, clean water
- Psychosocial counseling
- Classrooms and play areas
- Security and social workers
- Partner with NGOs like AFCiC, Child Welfare Society, and churches.
🧑🏫 2. Rehabilitation and Skills Training
- Provide drug rehabilitation programs for street children battling glue and substance abuse.
- Offer basic literacy, hygiene education, and counseling.
- For teenagers (13+), introduce vocational training in:
• Welding, mechanics, tailoring
• Recycling, farming, crafts
• Digital skills and creative arts
Use nearby institutions like Thika Technical Training Institute, TVET centres, and MKU outreach programs.
👨👩👧👦 3. Family Tracing & Reunification
- Through area administration (chiefs/assistant chiefs), children’s officers, and social workers:
• Trace families of street children
• Mediate reunification
• Where families are unfit (abuse, neglect), provide foster care or children's home placement
💼 4. Livelihood Support for Street Families
- Identify and register adult street families
- Enroll them in public works programs: cleaning, beautification, maintenance
- Offer small business starter kits (e.g. for shoe repair, food vending, secondhand clothes)
- Provide access to county economic empowerment funds and training
- Street families should transition from dependency to dignified informal work, regulated and relocated from the CBD.
🛑 5. Strict Enforcement & CBD Protection
Once rehabilitation programs are active, enforce clear policies:
- Declare the CBD a protected zone — no sleeping on pavements, no begging, no street vending by unregistered persons.
- Work with urban police, county askaris, and community watch groups to enforce.
- Install CCTV cameras in CBD streets and bus stops for safety and monitoring.
🔄 6. Prevention Mechanism
- Work with schools and community health workers to identify at-risk children in slums (Kiandutu, Gachagi, Madharau etc).
- Start after-school feeding programs, mentorship clubs, and trauma support in public schools.
- Train county social officers to respond to early warning signs.
🤝 7. Partnerships & Stakeholder Engagement
Build a multi-agency platform for sustainability:
- County Government of Kiambu: Budget, policy, land allocation
- National Government: Children’s services, Interior Ministry
- Religious groups: Counseling, shelter, mentorship
- Donors/NGOs: Funding, expertise
- Private sector: Apprenticeships, CSR support
🌇 Public Facilities and Buildings
Where Should They Be Built?
Strategic land exists in areas such as Landless, Gatuanyaga, Ngoliba, and parts of Makongeni, Karibaribi etc for future expansion:
- New City Hall: This can be built in areas like Landless or Makongeni to decongest the CBD and align with decentralization.
- Fire Stations and Emergency Services: eg One in Makongeni and another in Ngoliba or Landless and Karibaribi.
The current existing in town needs upgrading.
- Modern Bus Park & Matatu Termini: The Thika main stage should be relocated from current congested CBD to outskirts — around Thika GK prison area, and expand the one in Makongeni.
- Affordable Housing Estates: Use government land within the CBD (Government Quarters, Depot, UTI, Starehe, Kiganjo, Gatuanyaga, etc can improve housing.
💡 Street Lighting
Current Status:
The main CBD streets have lighting, but outer estates and feeder roads (Kiandutu, Gachagi, Biafra, Landless, Gatuanyaga etc) remain underlit or dark.
What Needs Improvement:
- Expand solar-powered street lighting on:
(i) Garissa Road up to Ngoliba
(ii) Haile Selassie/Gatanga Road
(iii) Makongeni–Landless routes
(iv) All bridges (Thika River, Chania River)
(v) Introduce automated smart lighting systems in the CBD and key industrial zones.
🌊 Drainage and Flood Management
Current Status:
Flash floods affect many parts of CBD, Kiandutu, Gachagi, and Makongeni Phase 4, 10 and 13 as well as parts of Kisii estate, Kiganjo, Landless Phase II and Salama areas during heavy rains.
What Needs Improvement:
Construct proper stormwater channels and culverts in low-lying areas:
• Kiandutu/Kiganjo/Kisii/Landless
• Hospital Ward
• Kenyatta Highway between Gatitu junction and Bonjour roundabout.
• Upgrade and expand the CBD drainage grid and connect it to larger outflows downstream.
🚰 Water Supply & Sewerage
Current Status:
- Thika relies on Chania and Thika Rivers, but the rising population strains the water systems.
- Sewerage coverage is limited mainly to parts of the CBD and Makongeni.
What Needs Improvement:
a) Water:
- Expand supply capacity of the Thika Water and Sewerage Company (THIWASCO).
- Construct new water reservoirs and treatment plants upstream of Chania and Thika rivers.
- Extend piped water systems to Ngoliba, Gatuanyaga, Landless, Kiandutu, and Muguga.
b) Sewerage:
- Expand the Kang’oki Sewerage Treatment Plant.
- Construct about two new more Sewerage Treatment Plants
- Connect more households to the sewer grid, especially in:
(i) Makongeni
(ii) Landless
(iii) Gatuanyaga/Ngoliba
(iv) Kiandutu (ongoing slum upgrading needed)
- Introduce decentralized waste treatment units for remote estates.
🏟️ THIKA STADIUM – TO RELOCATE OR UPGRADE?
Current Location:
Thika Sub-County Stadium (Thika Municipal Stadium) sits within the town centre, near General Kago Road and close to the business district.
🎯 Analysis:
✅ Option 1: Upgrade to International Standards (Recommended)
The current location is accessible, centrally located for fans, schools and events.
It can be upgraded into a multi-purpose modern sports complex, including:
- Artificial turf
- Floodlights for night games
- Proper changing rooms, VIP lounge
- Seating expansion to 15,000+
- Conference and media rooms
Economic Impact:
This could attract national and international matches, athletic events, local leagues, and concerts — thus boosting tourism, hospitality and sports industries.
Social Value:
A central stadium promotes youth talent, community pride and active lifestyles.
🚫 Option 2: Relocation (Costly & Disruptive)
If relocated to outskirts (e.g. to Karibaribi, Gatuanyaga or Ngoliba), it may:
(i) Require heavy investment in transport links.
(ii) Reduce easy access for schools, sports groups.
(iii) Leave the CBD space underutilized.
✅ Conclusion:
We should retain and modernise the stadium. The location is strategic — redevelopment would serve more than just sports.
🏥 HEALTH & ENTERTAINMENT SECTOR DEVELOPMENT
🏥 Healthcare
Current Facilities:
1. Thika Level 5 Hospital (main public hospital)
2. Several private hospitals/clinics: Avenue, MaryHelp, St. Mulumba, Central Memorial, Vineyard, Naidu etc
What’s Needed:
(i) Upgrade Thika Level 5:
- Add more beds, ICU capacity, specialised care wings (renal, cancer etc).
- Add more staff and equipment modernization.
(ii) Decentralized Health Units:
Build or upgrade health centers in Ngoliba, Landless, Gatuanyaga, Kiandutu, etc to reduce pressure on central facilities.
(iii) Emergency Services:
- Have dedicated trauma & emergency units.
- Have fully equipped and effective ambulance and fire response systems.
🎭 Entertainment & Cultural Development
What’s Needed:
- Build a modern convention/events centre – in areas with free pubic land to support concerts, exhibitions, weddings, conferences/seminars etc.
Encourage Private Investment:
- Attract developers for cinemas, restaurants, themed parks, malls, especially along Thika-Garissa Road, Juja-Thika and Thika Mang'u corridors.
Create Open Recreational Spaces:
- The county government can come up with public parks with jogging tracks, food courts etc.
- Restore and manage existing spaces like Mama Ngina and Kristina Wangari Gardens.
Cultural Hubs:
Create an arts and cultural center for youth to showcase dance, film, theatre, art, and digital media.
- Workout a partnership with Kikuyu elders to develop a Kikuyu Cultural Centre at Mugo Wa Kibiru Garden (Mugumo Garden) in Section 9
💼 ECONOMIC ZONES: EXISTING & POTENTIAL
🏭 1. Thika Industrial Zone (Existing)
Located around Hospital Ward and Makongeni areas
It is home to factories like:
- Bidco Africa
- Broadway Bakery
- Flamingo Bottlers
- Capwell Industries, etc
Revenue source: Manufacturing taxes, employment, exports
Recommendation:
- Formalize it as a Special Economic Zone (SEZ) to attract foreign direct investment (FDI), offer tax incentives, and drive exports.
- Integrate light manufacturing and green tech zones in nearby Gatuanyaga and other less developed areas.
🏢 2. Thika Smart Innovation & ICT Park (To Be Created)
Proposed location: Near Mount Kenya University, Karibaribi or Makongeni area
Anchor institutions: MKU, Gretsa, Thika Technical etc
Potential:
- Incubate startups in ICT, fintech, agritech, and edtech
- Attract global tech firms, especially with Nairobi’s spillover
- Create a youth employment hub
🚜 3. Agro-Industrial Zone – Gatuanyaga / Ngoliba
These areas are close to large farms and Del Monte land
Favorable for:
- Fruit processing (pineapple, mango, avocado etc)
- Animal feeds and dairy processing
- Cold storage & packaging hubs
Recommendation:
- Create Agro-Processing Clusters powered by local cooperatives and SACCOs
- Connect farmers to value chains (e.g. export to UAE, Europe etc)
- Use county funds and PPPs to establish small industrial sheds
🏪 4. Wholesale & Logistics Hub (Makongeni–Landless Corridor)
Thika is a natural node between Nairobi, Murang’a, Garissa, Embu, Meru
There is great potential to build a wholesale market and logistics park near:
- Thika Rail Siding
- Proximity to Thika-Garissa Road
Revenue potential:
- Daily levies, storage, haulage services
🧭 TOURISM ATTRACTIONS TO DEVELOP / UPGRADE
Thika is rich in natural, historical and cultural resources, but most remain untapped.
🏞️ 1. Fourteen Falls
A beautiful natural waterfall on the Athi River (near Kilimambogo) which is currently underdeveloped and suffers from pollution and mismanagement
Recommendations:
- Develop eco-friendly facilities: walkways, view decks, cafés etc
- Hire local guides, introduce boat rides, ziplining etc
- Enforce conservation and cleanup efforts
🧭 2. Chania and Thika Riverfront Walkways
The area has potential to create scenic river walks, cafés, bike trails, and picnic zones near Blue Post Hotel area
Revenue: Entry fees, food courts, events
🕍 3. Historical Sites & Cultural Trails
- The Del Monte Railway Line, colonial estates, and old industries could form a “Heritage Route”
- Develop Kikuyu cultural villages in Mugo Kibiru Garden, Gatuanyaga or Ngoliba
- We can even promote Muratina & traditional cuisines festivals
🥾 4. Mt. Kilimambogo Hiking & Safari Gateway
- Part of Ol Donyo Sabuk National Park
- Expand tourism access through Thika, promote eco-safaris, homestays
- Local wealth creation: Tour guides, boda transport, craft shops, eateries
🌱 IMPROVING LIVELIHOODS IN GATUANYAGA & NGOLIBA
These peri-urban zones are vital buffers for sustainable city growth. Here's what can be done:
1. 🏘️ Integrated Housing & Urban Development
- Develop affordable housing schemes targeting industrial workers, young families
- Provide land tenure security, water, and electricity to informal residents
- Design green estates with kitchen gardens, solar power, and communal facilities
2. 🚜 Agri-Business Empowerment
Support farmers with:
- Irrigation schemes using water from Thika and Athi rivers and small dams
- Training on value-added agriculture: drying, juicing, packaging
- Providing access to agricultural credit and digital extension services.
- Promote avocado farming, dairy goat rearing, and greenhouse vegetables etc.
3. 🏫 Skills Development Centres
- Establish TVETs and polytechnics in Gatuanyaga and Ngoliba
Focus areas:
Carpentry, welding, agritech, mechanics, digital marketing
- Partner with existing colleges and universities to develop these skills
4. 🛍️ Local Markets & Cooperatives
- Build modern farmers’ markets and aggregation centers.
- Empower women & youth SACCOs to run community businesses: milk coolers, boda sheds, fruit kiosks etc
5. 🚌 Transport Connectivity
- Improve the road network from Ngoliba–Gatuanyaga to CBD and industrial zones
- Introduce last-mile buses and non-motorized transport lanes.
✅ FINAL THOUGHT: BALANCED, INCLUSIVE URBAN GROWTH
Thika has immense potential to become a modern industrial city, but city status must be paired with serious investment in infrastructure, environmental planning, and citizen welfare. Without that, elevation risks becoming symbolic rather than transformative.
To be ready for city status, Thika must:
- Maintain its industrial, business, educational and agricultural core.
- Modernize infrastructure while managing affordability.
- Prioritize human-centered design: streets for people, not just vehicles.
- Involve residents, traders, transport players, and investors in planning.
📝 CONCLUSION
Thika's vision as a future city is incomplete without a human-centered approach. Tackling the street children and family issue is both a social duty and a strategic urban requirement. A city that plans for its most vulnerable is one that is truly ready to grow with dignity, order, and justice.
🔍 IS THIKA READY?
Yes — with caveats.
Thika meets the population and industrial criteria and has a strong economic base. However, infrastructure gaps, urban planning challenges, and social inclusion issues must be addressed before the transition. Elevation to city status must be more than a title — it must be backed by transformational action, inclusive governance, and long-term vision.
If done right, Thika could rise as Kenya’s model smart industrial city, setting an example for regional development.
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