Thika Leaders Dismiss Claims of Conflict Between City Status Bid and Push for Thika County

Leaders championing the creation of Thika County have dismissed claims that the ongoing push for county status conflicts with the separate campaign seeking conferment of city status to Thika Municipality.

Speaking during a stakeholders’ engagement forum, Thika County Stakeholders Forum member Juma Hemedi clarified that the two processes were entirely different and guided by separate legal frameworks.

According to Hemedi, the process of elevating Thika Municipality into a city is governed by the Urban Areas and Cities Act, as compared to the creation of a county which is anchored under Article 188 of the Constitution that allows citizens to petition for the alteration of county boundaries and creation of new administrative units.

“The two processes do not conflict at all. City status concerns the elevation of Thika Municipality into a city, while the county proposal seeks to split Kiambu County into two administrative units to improve governance, service delivery and representation,” Hemedi explained.

He noted that proponents of Thika City status have their own legal criteria and justification under the law, while those pushing for Thika County are focusing on broader governance, representation and service delivery concerns affecting the larger Thika region.

Hemedi said the proposed Thika County would go beyond the current municipality boundaries and include areas such as Ruiru, Juja, Gatundu North and Gatundu South among other regions historically associated with the larger Thika district.

He argued that the push for the county is rooted in what stakeholders describe as historical injustices that emerged during the formation of counties after the promulgation of the 2010 Constitution.

According to him, Thika was one of the few major districts at independence that was not elevated into a county despite having a large population, significant infrastructure and strong economic contribution.

“At the time of independence, we had several districts that later became counties. The only exception was Thika, despite its size, economic output and population,” Hemedi said.

He explained that the larger Thika region currently has a population estimated at more than 1.18 million people based on the 2019 census, a figure he said surpasses that of several existing counties in Kenya.

(RELATED STORY: HISTORICAL, POLITICAL INJUSTICE: Stakeholders Rekindle Debate on Decades of Discrimination, Neglect and Denial of Devolution Rights)

Hemedi further pointed to the region’s economic significance, saying Thika hosts major industries, businesses and infrastructure that contribute substantial revenue, yet residents feel the level of development and allocation of resources back to the area does not reflect its contribution.

“The issue here is not just population, but also economic output and equitable distribution of resources. Residents believe there is a mismatch between what is collected from the region and what is returned through development and public services,” he stated.

He said the demand for Thika County is also informed by the objectives of devolution as outlined under Article 174 of the Constitution, which sought to decentralise governance and bring services closer to wananchi.

According to Hemedi, many residents still feel marginalised more than a decade after the implementation of devolution, arguing that large counties such as Kiambu have made administration and service delivery difficult.

“Sixteen years after the promulgation of the Constitution and over 13 years since devolution was implemented, it is time to assess whether services are truly reaching the people as intended,” he said.

Hemedi clarified that the proposal to create Thika County is not a new initiative but a continuation of a process that began in March 2023. He said stakeholders submitted a memorandum to the National Dialogue Committee (NADCO) in October 2023 following the post-election bipartisan talks.

The memorandum was later included in the committee’s report to Parliament, but stakeholders are now questioning the delay in implementing some of the recommendations and reforms touching on governance and administrative restructuring.

“This is not the beginning of the process. It is a continuation of a constitutional and democratic agitation that started earlier. We are now pushing for the implementation and further discussion of the proposals in Parliament,” Hemedi said.

He also noted that Thika is not the only region in Kenya seeking such reforms, pointing out that areas such as Mwingi, Nakuru and Kakamega have also pursued similar constitutional processes.

Hemedi further highlighted administrative and representation challenges affecting some residents in the wider Thika region, noting that some polling stations and settlements associated with Thika fall under neighboring counties such as Murang’a, creating confusion and weakening effective representation.

“These are some of the historical anomalies that emerged during the formation of counties. Some communities became underrepresented, while others were placed under administrative structures that do not effectively serve their interests,” he said.

The stakeholders maintain that the creation of Thika County would help address historical injustices, improve service delivery, enhance representation and ensure resources are distributed more equitably in line with the spirit and objectives of devolution.