This archive report was first published on 2 September 2019.
On September 1, 2019, Deputy President William Ruto launched the Nakuru AIPCA Cathedral in Flamingo estate, where he expressed his support for the county government's bid to transform Nakuru town into a city.
According to Ruto, the cosmopolitan county, which once served as Rift Valley's regional headquarters, deserves city status, and the Jubilee administration has lined up many projects for the county.
The Deputy President stated that the national government is committed to ensuring Nakuru gets what it needs to be a city, including a proper road network and sufficient water supply to propel its economy from agricultural to industrial.
He added that the government is working to resolve issues bedeviling the Itare Dam project, which will ensure residents have access to water for domestic and industrial use.
Furthermore, Ruto announced plans to construct a four-lane dual-carriageway from Nairobi to Mau Summit to address congestion along the Nairobi-Nakuru-Eldoret highway.
He also launched a Sh15 million water project in Subukia, providing a major boost to Suka Dairies - a cooperative society that is producing processed dairy products.
Governor Lee Kinyanjui expressed optimism that the town would be granted its city status charter before the end of the year, with plans to achieve city status progressing well.