Why Governor Jonathan Bii Wants Uasin Gishu Renamed To Eldoret County

Published By The Statesman For The Statesman Digital
4 hours ago

Uasin Gishu County governor Jonathan Bii has elicited mixed reactions after making remarks suggesting that the devolved unit should be renamed to Eldoret County in line with its recent conferment with a city status.

Speaking during the inaugural Kenya Software and AI Summit held at Moi University, in the county, the governor lamented the difficulties his administration continues to face while marketing the county.

According to him, the county should automatically adapt the name of the city, as is the case with other city counties like Nairobi, Mombasa, Kisumu, and Nakuru.

“Could we use AI to market Uasin Gishu County? Can AI intervene and help put us in a correct position so that we can be marketed outside this country?” he posed.

“I was in China a couple of weeks ago. They can’t tell the difference between Uasin Gishu and Eldoret. They don’t know how to pronounce Uasin Gishu. We need to go like the rest of the other city counties…because Eldoret in Uasin Gishu county doesn’t add up,” he added.

While the governor's immediate audience took the remarks as a light note punctuating a series of keynote addresses and cracked up a bit, a debate has ensued online on the practicality and need for such a change.

According to some Kenyans, the name is simply unique and must be preserved at all costs to maintain the identity the area has carved for itself since the advent of devolution.

“Uasin Gishu is a beautiful name. It's not a must that we copy any county,” said Austin Tunoi, an X user.

“Uasin Gishu has a history that we must safeguard!” remarked Jonah Kariuki.

However, some of those in support of the renaming argue that the name is not conventional with the naming method applied in other counties, which draw their names from a prominent town or city within the unit.

Charles Gachoka quipped, “That's a great idea- in terms of marketing the county - Eldoret City has higher goodwill to ride on as a county.”

The name Uasin Gishu ("Ilwasin Kishu" in Maasai) is reportedly based on the name of a clan among the Maasai-speaking people who were early inhabitants of the area.

The area was, however, later taken up by the Nandi.

At the same time, concerns rage over the prioritisation of such, raising questions on the costs and legal puzzles such a process would occasion.

Kibir on X wrote, “Street lights hakuna, dustbins hakuna, lakini wacha tuchange jina kwanza.”

X user Karbon wrote, “If we know how to pronounce Qingdao, Shenzhen and Chongqing, they too must learn how to pronounce Uasin Gishu. Inferiority complex will be the end of us.”

“Renaming Uasin Gishu to Eldoret may align with urban identity, but it comes with significant complications such as administrative costs, legal updates, and potential cultural pushback,” warned Pat.