- Other cities are Nairobi, Kisumu, Mombasa and Nakuru.
- In a grand ceremony in early August, Ruto signed the conferment charter of Eldoret City.
Image: PCS
President William Ruto has pledged to grant Homa Bay town city status.
Ruto, however, did not reveal much detail on the promise as he carried on with his speech.
The President was speaking on Thursday in Homa Bay during his development tour in the Nyanza region.
"Millioni 450 ya Homa Bay town ndio mueze kupata maji kwa sababu tunataka hii Homa Bay town iwache kuwa town, hii Homa Bay tunataka tuipangie ikuwe city," the President said.
(We have set aside Sh450 million for Homa Bay town to access water because we want Homa Bay town to cease being a town, we want Homa Bay to be a city.).
If the President fulfils his promise, Homa Bay will become the sixth town to be a city after Eldoret, which was recently named a city.
Other cities are Nairobi, Kisumu, Mombasa, and Nakuru.
In a grand ceremony in early August, Ruto signed the conferment charter of Eldoret City.
Cities often receive more government funding and support for development projects and public services, which can improve the overall living conditions of residents.
The county will, however, have to ramp up its internal resource mobilisation to effectively fund operations and projects meant to maintain the city's status.
If made a city, Homa Bay will see improved infrastructure and better urban planning, which will be more focused on managing growth and improving the quality of life.
The President began his four-day tour of Luo Nyanza on Wednesday.
On Thursday, Ruto visited Homa Bay County, where he commissioned the Oyugis water project, before inspecting the Homa Bay fish market.
He then launched the Rusinga Ring road.
Later, he attended the Thanksgiving ceremony of National Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi.
On Friday, Ruto will land in Siaya County, where he will commission the Mageta Island solar project in Bondo, Raila’s home constituency.
He will then proceed to Alego Usonga, where he will launch the Siaya economic stimulus programme market.
While still in Siaya, the head of state will also launch the Siaya rice mill project. Later in the day, he will attend the thanksgiving service of Energy CS Opiyo Wandayi in Ugunja.
President Ruto will wind up his tour of Raila’s backyard on Saturday, where he has several activities lined up in Kisumu County.
They include the commissioning of the Kisumu Marine School within the port area.
He will then proceed to Kisumu East constituency, where he will visit the Lake Basin Development Authority rice mill at Kibos.
Later, he will visit the Lumumba affordable housing project before winding up the Nyanza tour with a visit to the Nyakach constituency to launch the Nyabondo Trauma Centre.