Luanda Town Set for Municipality Status After Vihiga Assembly Approval

By Kepher Otieno - Reporter

Kenya, 16 December 2025 - Luanda town is poised for a major administrative transformation after the Vihiga County Assembly approved a report recommending its elevation to municipality status, a move expected to reshape governance, service delivery and development planning in the area.

The approval followed the adoption of a report by the County Assembly’s Committee on Lands, Housing and Urban Planning, which concluded that Luanda meets the legal and socio-economic thresholds required under the Urban Areas and Cities Act, 2011.

Once formally gazetted, Luanda will officially become Luanda Municipality.

The motion seeking the upgrade was moved by nominated MCA Caroline Angote and seconded by South Maragoli MCA Patrick Kigumba.

It proposes that the new municipality encompass seven wards. These wards are Luanda Township, Luanda South, Mwibona, Emabungo, Wemilabi, Central Bunyore, and West Bunyore.

This reflects the town’s growing regional importance beyond its traditional urban core.

Presenting the report to the House on Tuesday, Angote emphasised that the process complied with constitutional requirements on public participation.

She said the ad hoc committee conducted multiple public engagement forums and site visits, including a key visit to Ekwanda Market, to gather residents’ views and assess on-the-ground realities.

Public participation, however, was not without controversy.

A memorandum submitted by individuals purporting to represent the Asikhale Community Welfare Society raised objections to the proposed upgrade.

The committee invited the group for clarification, and upon scrutiny established that while the society exists, the individuals who presented the memorandum were not legally recognized officials.

As such, the committee found they lacked the mandate to represent key stakeholders, particularly traders at Luanda Market.

The committee also affirmed that it had been properly constituted and operated within the law, dismissing claims that the process was procedurally flawed.

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During debate, Minority Leader and Wodanga Ward MCA Vincent Atsiaya framed the decision as the culmination of a long-standing aspiration.

He traced the push for municipality status back to earlier “Bunge Mashinani” sittings at Mumboha during the tenure of former area MCA Tom Atingo.

Atsiaya cautioned against allowing individual or sectional interests to derail what he described as a collective development milestone, noting that Luanda is home to diverse communities.

His position was echoed by Luanda Township MCA David Onjiri and Luanda South MCA Kalvin Mwangu, both of whom argued that municipality status would unlock tangible benefits for residents.

Onjiri outlined anticipated gains such as stronger urban governance structures, improved service delivery, upgraded road infrastructure and enhanced security through expanded street lighting.

He further noted that the new status would position Luanda to access additional funding streams, including World Bank-supported urban programmes and national government grants. Improved water supply, better drainage systems and more structured urban planning were also cited as likely outcomes.

From a technical standpoint, the committee found that Luanda satisfies the criteria set out in Section 9 of the Urban Areas and Cities Act.

These include adequate population size, demonstrated revenue collection, the capacity to generate sufficient income to sustain municipal operations, and the institutional ability to deliver essential services efficiently.

The town was also found to have sufficient land for future expansion.

In its concluding recommendation, the committee stated that, pursuant to Standing Order No. 209(5) of the Vihiga County Assembly and relevant national law, Luanda fully merits municipality status.

The decision marks a significant step in Vihiga County’s urbanization agenda, with Luanda now set to transition from a town council framework to a more autonomous municipal governance system—bringing both heightened expectations and greater responsibility for local leaders.