Uasin Gishu Governor Wants County To Be Renamed Eldoret: “It’s Confusing People”

• Governor Jonathan Bii has proposed to change the name of Uasin Gishu County to Eldoret County
• He says the difference between the names of counties and cities confuses visitors and investors
• Bii wants Eldoret to be in line with other big cities like Nairobi, Kisumu, Mombasa and Nakuru
• The proposal comes a year after President William Ruto elevated Eldoret to city status in 2024

The governor of Uasin Gishu Jonathan Bii has proposed to change the name of the county to the county of Eldoret to facilitate international recognition and marketing.

Bii was speaking during the 2025 Kenya Software and AI Summit held at Moi University Annex Campus, Eldoret.

The governor said the mismatch between the name of the county and its headquarters often confuses visitors and investors.

Why does Governor Uasin Gishu want the County to be renamed Eldoret

He recounted an incident during a recent trip to China where people struggled to pronounce Uasin Gishu and mistook it for another city.

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Bii said that aligning the names will simplify branding and position Eldoret among important Kenyan cities whose names are similar to their respective counties, such as Nairobi, Mombasa, Poisonousand Nakuru.

“I think it is time to follow the path of other big cities. People outside the country say Eldoret county and Uasin Gishu county as if they are two different places. It is difficult to sell a name that many cannot even pronounce,” The lady said.

The appeal follows the elevation of Eldoret to city status by the President William Ruto on August 15, 2024, making it the fifth city in Kenya.

It remains the only one whose name differs from its county, which the governor believes complicates international promotion efforts.

“I think we should follow the example of other cities whose names are similar to their counties. Having Eldoret under Uasin Gishu makes no sense. Maybe AI can help us position and promote our county better beyond our borders,” the governor said.

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Eldoret serves as the administrative and commercial center of Uasin Gishu county, home to important towns such as Turbo, Moi Bridge, Burnt Forest, and Matunda.

Origin of the name Uasin Gishu

Earlier this year, the governor announced plans to upgrade six urban areas into municipalities to improve development and infrastructure.

Historically, the name of the county originates from the Maasai clan Illwuasin-kishu, who once grazed their cattle on the highlands.

The Nandi displaced the Maasai and took the Highlands as their grazing grounds. When the British arrived, the Nandi were pushed into the Nandi African reserves while others became workers in their fields.

The plateau was then called Uasin Gishu by the British and officially adopted during the colonial period after the Anglo-Maasai Treaty of 1911.

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