By: Agwanda Saye
Kisumu Governor Prof. Anyang’ Nyong’o has welcomed the recent visit to Kisumu by the United States of America Ambassador to Kenya, Susan Burns, saying his county’s collaboration with the US is critical to its development agenda.
Nyong’o said the creativity economy in his county is very important, and during the meeting with the envoy, they discussed it at length.
“Those of you who are in the creativity economy sector who would like to work together with us, please feel free to come to my office or approach the fellow in charge of the creativity economy, Robert Basira,” he said.
On her part, Burns, who assumed her role on August 2nd this year, said Kisumu was deliberately chosen as her first county stop outside Nairobi due to its long-standing cooperation with the US in health research and development.
She pledged a stronger health collaboration with the county, terming the region a model for effective partnerships between Kenya and her country.
“I came to really see the work we are doing together with Kenyan experts in malaria vaccine testing, HIV epidemic control, and broader disease surveillance to safeguard against global outbreaks,” she said after touring laboratories run by the US Centres for Disease Control (CDC) and Walter Reed facilities in the county.
She further revealed that her discussions with Governor Nyong’o centered on exploring innovative ways to strengthen healthcare delivery.
“Because of the deep and effective partnership here, we are looking to use Kisumu as a model for scaling health assistance across Kenya,” Burns said.
Burns also assured that she would return in November, hinting at renewed engagements not only in health but also in Kisumu’s budding creativity industries.
