Thika has moved closer to earning city status after a Senate committee endorsed its elevation, setting in motion the final process that could see the fast-growing industrial hub officially join the ranks of Kenya's cities.
The Senate Standing Committee on Devolution and Intergovernmental Relations has recommended that Thika Municipality be granted city status, with the report now awaiting debate and approval by the Senate before being forwarded to the President for the issuance of a city charter.
The committee, chaired by Wajir Senator Sheikh Abbas, tabled its report before the Senate on Friday, July 17, 2026, saying Thika had satisfied the legal conditions required under the Urban Areas and Cities Act.
“That the Senate approves the conferment of the city status to Thika Municipality and the resolution of the Senate be transmitted to the President for the issuance of a Charter pursuant to section 7 of the Urban Areas and Cities Act,” reads part of the report.
Once the charter is signed by the President, Thika will officially become Kenya's sixth city after Nairobi, Mombasa, Kisumu, Nakuru and Eldoret.
According to the committee, Kiambu County presented a detailed application backed by the required documents, stakeholder consultations and findings from physical inspections carried out during the assessment process.
The report says the municipality has established the institutional, financial and infrastructure capacity expected of a city and also has sufficient disaster preparedness systems and room for future growth.
Senators further noted that residents overwhelmingly supported the proposal during public participation, expressing hope that city status would improve service delivery, attract more investment and speed up development.
“The Committee observes that the conferment of city status to Thika Municipality will provide an important platform for accelerated development, improved service delivery and enhanced local economic growth, anchored on sustainable commitment to good governance, prudent financial management and responsive urban planning,” the report states.
Despite recommending approval, the committee directed Kiambu County to implement several commitments made to residents and submit clear progress within 90 days.
Among the issues requiring immediate attention is the establishment of a fully operational museum or interpretive centre and the completion of a public theatre to preserve the town's history and support local arts.
The committee noted that rehabilitation of the Mugo wa Kibiru Shrine is ongoing in partnership with the National Museums of Kenya, while the Thika War Cemetery continues to serve as an important heritage site.
However, it said the county government, working with the National Museums of Kenya, must provide a clear implementation plan and timelines for establishing a fully operational museum or interpretive centre within the proposed city.
The report also directs the county to improve services in residential areas by upgrading roads, expanding water supply, strengthening drainage systems, enhancing flood control measures and improving solid waste management.
The committee further wants the county to fast-track the transition to a Smart Waste Management system, including the full operationalisation of the Kang'oki sanitary engineered landfill.
Kang'oki Disposal Site, located in Kamenu Ward, occupies 126 acres and has handled waste from Thika Municipality and other parts of Kiambu County since 2018. The facility receives between 1,200 and 1,500 tonnes of mixed waste every day and supports more than 800 waste pickers.
According to the report, the county has already started replacing open dumping with a sanitary engineered landfill using the Fukuoka Semi-Aerobic Landfill Technology.
It also outlines plans to introduce smart bins equipped with fill-level sensors, GIS-based route planning and the future use of artificial intelligence and robotics to improve waste collection, sorting and accountability.
The committee further welcomed plans to rehabilitate the Chania and Thika rivers through environmental restoration, including the creation of green corridors and stronger protection of riparian areas.
On transport, the report says Thika does not currently require an airport because of its close proximity to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport and its well-developed road network, although plans for an airstrip on former Del Monte land remain in place.
The committee also found that the municipality has adequate health, emergency response and education facilities to support its transition into a city.
It notes that Thika has 202 health facilities across the public, private and faith-based sectors, with Thika Level 5 Hospital serving as a regional referral and teaching hospital for Kiambu, Murang'a, Machakos and Kitui counties.
The hospital has a 300-bed capacity together with specialised units including intensive care, renal services, cancer treatment, advanced radiology, dental and maxillofacial care, eye services and reproductive health and neonatal care.
“The Hospital reports a maternal mortality rate of 5.1 per 100,000 live births, which is significantly lower than Kenya's national rate of 355 per 100,000 live births and well within the World Health Organization’s global target of less than 70 per 100,000 live births,” the report notes.
The committee also cited the municipality's emergency preparedness, noting that Thika Fire Station operates throughout the day and night with 40 trained officers and modern firefighting and rescue equipment.
Other strengths highlighted in the report include the municipality's strong local revenue base, several markets, more than 10 universities, 57 tertiary institutions, seven public cemeteries and crematoria, the Thika Superhighway, railway connectivity, planned bus park improvements and upgraded public recreation spaces such as Mama Ngina Park.