Eldoret City has taken another step towards becoming a technology-driven urban centre after the county administration launched a new digital technology system designed to identify buildings and other locations across the city. The development was highlighted with residents also raising questions about some of the challenges that could accompany the new system. 

The new technology is part of wider efforts to modernise the management of Eldoret, which has been undergoing rapid urban growth. The system is intended to make it easier to identify buildings and locations within the city while providing information that can support planning, service delivery and other urban-management activities.

The residents of Eldoret in Uasin Gishu County have asked the city administration to take into account challenges surrounding the new system, which uses a mobile-based framework to identify buildings and different locations within the city. 

The development comes at a time when Eldoret is positioning itself as a smart city and preparing for increased economic and urban activity.

New technology for identifying buildings

The technology being introduced in Eldoret is part of a digital addressing initiative aimed at making buildings, streets, businesses and other important establishments easier to identify and locate.

The system uses digital information to give specific locations identifiable addresses. Earlier reports on the project indicated that the technology includes QR codes placed on buildings and geographical positioning information that can help identify particular locations. 

The purpose is to move away from a situation where residents, businesses and visitors have to rely mainly on landmarks or verbal descriptions when trying to find a particular building.

In a rapidly expanding city, this can become increasingly important.

For example, a person looking for a particular business, office, hospital, shop or residential building could use a digital address to establish the exact location. Delivery companies could also use the information to locate customers more efficiently.

Emergency services could potentially benefit from the system as well because accurate location information can assist responders when they need to reach a particular building quickly.

Part of Eldoret's smart-city agenda

The new technology is not an isolated project. It forms part of Eldoret's wider ambition to become a smart and modern city.

City Manager Elzeba Busienei previously explained that the digital addressing exercise is intended to strengthen urban logistical management and support Eldoret's transition into a smart city. The system is expected to provide standardised locations for streets, buildings, businesses and other properties. 

This is significant because Eldoret has been experiencing considerable urban growth.

As more people move into the city and as businesses, residential areas and infrastructure expand, managing the city becomes more complicated. Authorities need accurate information about where buildings and businesses are located and how different parts of the city are developing.

Digital technology can provide that information in a structured manner.

How the system could help residents

For ordinary residents, one of the most noticeable benefits could be easier navigation.

People often describe locations using well-known landmarks, stages, shopping centres, churches, schools or other buildings. While such descriptions can be useful, they can sometimes create confusion, especially for visitors or people who are unfamiliar with a particular neighbourhood.

A standardised digital address can make locations easier to identify.

The technology could also support delivery services. Online shopping and home deliveries have grown rapidly, increasing the importance of accurate addresses.

When a delivery company has access to reliable location information, it can potentially reduce the amount of time spent trying to locate customers.

The same principle applies to emergency services.

Firefighters, ambulances and other emergency responders need accurate information when responding to incidents. A system that provides precise location data could help improve coordination.

However, the effectiveness of such services will depend on how complete and accurate the digital information becomes.

Benefits for businesses

Businesses are also expected to benefit from the new technology.

A business that has a clearly identifiable digital location can be easier for customers to find. This could be particularly useful for new businesses that do not yet have widely recognised landmarks.

Digital addresses can also support online business activities.

For example, businesses selling products online need reliable ways of communicating delivery locations. A standardised system can make transactions easier by reducing confusion over physical addresses.

The technology may also help authorities identify businesses operating within different parts of Eldoret.

Earlier reports indicated that the digital addressing programme could provide a more accurate basis for business identification and revenue mapping. 

That could assist the county government in understanding where commercial activities are taking place and in improving revenue administration.

Supporting urban planning

Another major area where the technology could have an impact is urban planning.

A modern city needs accurate information about buildings, roads, businesses, properties and other facilities.

Digital location data can help planners understand how different parts of the city are developing.

For instance, authorities can use information about buildings and properties when planning roads, drainage, waste collection, street lighting and other infrastructure.

It can also help identify areas where services are insufficient.

The digital system could therefore become an important source of information for future development decisions.

This is particularly relevant because Eldoret has been working on a broader master plan aimed at guiding the city's future growth.

Residents raise concerns

Despite the potential benefits, Citizen TV's report also highlighted concerns from residents.

Residents have called on the city administration to consider the challenges surrounding the implementation of the new technology. 

This is an important part of the discussion because introducing technology across an entire city can present practical difficulties.

Not every resident has the same level of access to smartphones, internet services or digital platforms. Some people may also require assistance in understanding how the system works.

Authorities therefore need to ensure that the introduction of digital services does not leave behind residents who have limited digital access.

Another important issue is the accuracy of the information being collected.

A digital addressing system can only work effectively if locations are correctly recorded and information is regularly updated.

Buildings can change ownership, businesses can move, new structures can be constructed and roads can be renamed or modified. The database therefore needs continuous updating.

Privacy and data management

The introduction of location-based technology also raises questions about information management.

Digital systems can collect significant amounts of information about buildings, businesses and locations. Authorities and organisations operating such systems need to ensure that information is properly managed and protected.

Residents may want to understand what information is being collected, why it is being collected and who can access it.

Clear communication between the city administration and residents will therefore be important as the programme expands.

The objective of digital transformation should be to improve services while maintaining appropriate safeguards for information.

Eldoret's wider infrastructure development

The technology programme is being introduced alongside major physical development projects in Eldoret.

The city has been carrying out road construction and other infrastructure improvements as it prepares to host the national Mashujaa Day celebrations on October 20, 2026, at Kipchoge Keino Stadium.

Reports have indicated that more than 10 new roads are under construction in the city, alongside other major projects expected to be commissioned ahead of the celebrations. 

This means the technology development is taking place within a much larger urban transformation programme.

Roads and physical infrastructure provide the foundation of a city, while digital systems can help authorities manage those infrastructure assets more efficiently.

The two developments can therefore complement one another.

Technology and tourism

Eldoret is also currently receiving significant attention because of its role as host of Kenya's 2026 UN Tourism Week.

Citizen TV reported earlier that Eldoret would host the tourism event as Kenya seeks to use digital technology and artificial intelligence to diversify its tourism sector. The event's theme is “Digital Agenda and Artificial Intelligence to Redesign Tourism.” 

The Ministry of Tourism has confirmed that the event is being held in Eldoret from September 23 to 27 and will focus on tourism, culture, sports, conservation, gastronomy and digital innovation, with particular attention to the North Rift. 

This gives the city's technology development an additional dimension.

Eldoret is not only trying to modernise how its streets and buildings are identified. It is also becoming a platform for discussions about how artificial intelligence and digital technology can transform tourism.

Artificial intelligence and the future of Eldoret

Artificial intelligence is becoming increasingly important in discussions about the future of cities.

In tourism, AI can assist with destination marketing, customer communication and travel planning. In urban management, digital systems can help authorities organise information and make decisions based on data.

Eldoret's current developments show that technology is becoming part of several different sectors at the same time.

The city's digital addressing project, for example, focuses on locations and buildings, while the tourism programme is examining the wider use of AI and digital innovation.

Together, these developments suggest that technology is increasingly being considered a tool for economic and urban development.

Opportunities for young people

The technology transformation could also create opportunities for young people in Eldoret.

As more businesses and government services become digital, there will be increased demand for people with skills in information technology, data management, digital marketing, software development, mapping and other technology-related areas.

Eldoret is home to universities and other educational institutions, giving the city a potentially strong pool of young people who can participate in the digital economy.

Technology can also support entrepreneurship.

Young people can use digital platforms to create businesses, market products, provide services and reach customers outside Eldoret.

The city's growing technology agenda could therefore have implications beyond government services.

Importance of accurate addressing

One of the most important long-term benefits of the project could be the creation of a more organised addressing system.

Many African cities have historically grown faster than their formal addressing systems.

As cities expand, informal descriptions of locations can become inadequate.

A reliable addressing system can support businesses, emergency services, logistics companies, government agencies and residents.

For Eldoret, which is growing as a commercial, educational, agricultural, sports and transport centre, accurate addressing could become increasingly important.

It can help connect the physical city with the digital economy.

What happens next?

The success of the project will depend on implementation.

The authorities will need to ensure that buildings are correctly identified, digital information is updated and residents understand how to use the system.

They will also need to address concerns raised by residents and make the system accessible to people with different levels of technological knowledge.

Public participation will be important.

Residents understand the city's streets, neighbourhoods and challenges from everyday experience. Their feedback can help authorities identify problems that may not be immediately visible from a technical perspective.

Eldoret's changing identity

The launch of the building-identification technology comes at an important time for Eldoret.

The city is growing physically while also attempting to modernise its administration.

The introduction of digital addresses, QR codes, geographical positioning and location-based information represents a move towards a more digitally organised urban environment. Earlier reporting on the programme said it was expected to support emergency response, delivery services, urban planning, property management, data collection and service delivery. 

At the same time, Eldoret is hosting major national and international events and preparing for Mashujaa Day.

The combination of infrastructure development, digital technology, tourism and economic activity is changing the way the city is being managed and presented.