The Senate has invited members of the public to submit memoranda and appear before its committee as it considers an application seeking the conferment of city status to Thika Municipality.
In a public notice issued by the Office of the Clerk of the Senate, the House said the Standing Committee on Devolution and Intergovernmental Relations is currently reviewing the application pursuant to Section 8(5) of the Urban Areas and Cities Act, Cap 275.
“The Standing Committee on Devolution and Intergovernmental Relations is currently considering the application for conferment of city status to Thika Municipality,” the notice reads in part.
According to the communication, Section 7 of the Urban Areas and Cities Act provides that the President may, upon a resolution of the Senate, confer city status on a municipality meeting the criteria outlined under Section 5 of the Act.
The Senate further cited Article 118 of the Constitution, which obligates Parliament and its committees to facilitate public participation and involvement in legislative and other business.
“In accordance with the provisions of Article 118 of the constitution, the Committee on Devolution and Intergovernmental Relations now invites interested members of the public to submit any representations that they may have on the matter by way of memoranda,” the notice states.
Members of the public have been directed to submit their memoranda to the Clerk of the Senate at Parliament Buildings in Nairobi or via email by 5.00 pm on March 9.
“The memoranda may be submitted to the Clerk of the Senate, P.O. Box 41842-00100, Nairobi, hand-delivered to the Office of the Clerk of the Senate, Main Parliament Buildings, Nairobi or emailed to [email protected] and copied to [email protected] to be received on or before Monday, March 9, 2026 at 5.00 pm,” the notice says.
In addition to written submissions, the committee has scheduled a public hearing on the matter.
“In addition, the committee will hold a public hearing on the aforementioned matter on Friday, March 13, 2026 at 10.00 am at Thika Municipal Chambers, Thika Town. Members of the public are welcome to attend this hearing,” the statement says.
Clerk of the Senate JM Nyegenye signed the notice.
The move signals a significant step in Thika’s quest to attain city status, a designation that would elevate its administrative standing and potentially unlock greater funding, planning authority and infrastructure development opportunities.
Thika, one of the fastest-growing urban centres in Kiambu county, has long been regarded as an industrial and commercial hub.
City status would place it among Kenya’s top-tier urban centres, subject to meeting strict legal and infrastructural benchmarks.
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