Thika’s long journey to a city firmly on course
By Enock Maroa
The plan to elevate Thika Town to Thika Industrial Smart City is progressing
well. The recently appointed ad hoc and county technical committees have
started working on a clear roadmap to achieve this transformation.
Last week, the committees met and agreed on a strategy to meet the
requirements of the Urban Areas and Cities Act. They have begun collecting
comprehensive data to prepare for Thika’s upgrade.
Thanks to Governor Kimani Wamatangi, Thika, once regarded as the industrial
hub of Kenya, is set to reclaim its lost glory by becoming a city.
The team confirmed that Thika meets the population requirement of 250,000
residents, with a population of 279,429, according to the 2019 National Census.
Thika’s infrastructure, including the Thika Superhighway, Thika-Garissa Road
and a railway line, supports local industries. Led by Vice-chair Planner T.G.
Ndorongo, the team visited key areas such as Thika Industrial Zone, educational
institutions, public parks, the administrative zone, and more to gather insights
on existing facilities.
Some of the notable places visited by the team include; Thika Industrial Zone,
Thika learning institutions, Thika urban public parks, Thika Administrative
Zone, Thika-Machakos boundary, Fourteen Falls, Ngoliba and Kilimabongo
satellite towns, Gatuanyaga, Munyu and Githima areas, Kang’oki dumpsite
where they witnessed the upcoming recycling industries, informal settlements in
thika, sports facilities such as Thika stadium, Thika-Ruiru boundary, Safaricom
Foundation and Mary Hill School, amongst others.
The team pushing the Smart City agenda paid a courtesy call to the office of the
County Executive Committee Member in charge of Lands, Housing, Physical
Planning, Municipal Administration and Urban Development, Ms Salome
Wainaina. The meeting was a moment to update the CECM on the significant
progress they had made towards transforming Thika.
During the meeting, Ms Wainaina praised the Committee’s efforts, saying, “I am
impressed with your work; what you have achieved in this period is remarkable.
Keep pressing on, and together we will achieve our goal of transforming Thika
Town into Thika Industrial Smart City.”

The town’s rapid growth, marked by numerous developments and expanding
educational institutions, underscores its readiness for this upgrade. The
Kang’oki dumpsite, the largest in Kiambu County, sorts waste for easier
disposal.
The primary goal of this initiative is to collect and analyse data on the
municipality as required by the Urban Areas and Cities Act amended in 2019.
This data will provide valuable insights for shaping the strategic report and
guiding the development of the Thika Industrial Smart City.
“Elevating our town to city status is not just a title change; it’s a significant step
towards greater economic development, improved infrastructure and enhanced
quality of life for all our residents,” said Mr. Martin Kangiri, the acting Chief
Officer.
Overall, the Thika Industrial Smart City Initiative aims to drive economic
development, create jobs, promote innovation, and improve the quality of life
for Kiambu County residents. Governor Wamatangi’s administration is lobbying
to elevate Thika to city status, benefiting Kiambu County and surrounding
regions.