By Staff Writer
GARISSA, Kenya- Garissa Governor Nathif Jama has received the Garissa County Financing of Cities and Urban Areas Bill, 2026 for assent, marking a key step toward establishing a legal framework to finance municipalities and other urban areas across the county.
The Bill, which was recently passed by the Garissa County Assembly, is intended to provide a structured financing framework for municipalities, with the county government saying it will support improved service delivery, strengthen urban governance and facilitate investment in infrastructure including roads, water and sanitation systems, street lighting and public markets.
The legislation was presented to the governor on Friday by Garissa County Assembly Speaker Abdi Idle Gure during a ceremony attended by county assembly leaders and officials.
If Governor Jama signs the Bill into law, municipalities in the county are expected to operate under a more predictable financing framework designed to improve planning, resource mobilisation and service delivery.
“The Bill establishes a legal framework for financing municipalities and urban areas, paving the way for improved service delivery, stronger urban governance and accelerated investment in roads, water and sanitation, street lighting, markets and other critical infrastructure,” the county government said in a statement.
The proposed law would also strengthen the institutional capacity of municipalities by enabling them to better plan development projects, mobilise financial resources and deliver public services more efficiently.
County officials said the legislation supports Garissa’s broader urban development agenda, which aims to develop modern and economically vibrant urban centres across the county.
The Bill comes as Garissa County continues to expand the number of municipalities under its administration.
Garissa currently has municipalities in Garissa, Dadaab-Hagardera, Masalani, Modogashe, Bura and Balambala. Officials also said the county is in the process of establishing Hulugho Municipality after what they described as overwhelming public approval during a public participation exercise held a day earlier.
The county government said the proposed Hulugho Municipality is expected to create additional opportunities for infrastructure development, improve access to public services and promote sustainable urban growth.
Speaker Gure described the Bill as an important milestone for the county’s urban development agenda. He said the legislation lays “a strong financial foundation for the county’s growing municipalities.”
Also present during the presentation were Khadija Idriss, chairperson of the County Assembly Committee on Lands, Housing, Physical Planning and Urban Development; Omar Abdi Hassan, chairperson of the Finance, Budget and Appropriations Committee; and County Assembly Clerk Mohamud Abdi Santur.
