Kisumu County Governor Prof. Anyang’ Nyong’o in furtherance of his mission to promote education, mentor ship and empowerment, today commissioned 5 fully equipped ECD centers at Central and North Seme wards in Seme Sub county.
The 5 ECD centers included Odienya and Milungo in Central Seme ward, Pith Kabongo, Kamonye and Omuya primary in North Seme ward.
In his remarks, the Governor commended the efforts of ECD managers and teachers saying that the centers will go a long way to affect the children and the County at large.
Governor Nyong’o stated that the reason for the gatherings in the 2 wards is for the sake of the children who are the future leaders. He urged the community to count it as a great privilege to be part of building the nation, adding that the county government’s core vision is to make an impact in education to leave a legacy for the future.
The governor stated that the county government took up the responsibility of building, equipping and feeding programs for ECD to have a conducive environment for better learning and concentration so they can have a reason to remain in school.
Present at the commissioning and handover ceremony were County Ministers, Dr. Obiero Ogone of Education, ICT and Human Capacity Development and Prof. Juddy Attyang’ of Health and Sanitation, Area Members of the County Assembly, chief officers and other County officials.
By Matilda Atieno
Governor Prof. Anyang’ Nyong’o commissioning ECD classroom at Pith Kabongo primary school in Seme
The county government has made tremendous contributions to strengthen the education sector by integrating with private stakeholders to boost access and education standards.
Speaking when he joined Kisumu Junior Academy fraternity in their annual prize-giving day, Kisumu Deputy Governor Dr. Mathew Owili lauded the role played by the community in the education sector.
According to the Deputy Governor, learning institutions must enhance and promote creativity among students to aid their development. With a renewed interest in learning programs, the county government has disbursed already Kshs. 65 million to cater for bright students from disadvantaged backgrounds.
Joining the Deputy Governor were county directors; Junior Omondi, Valerie Kizito, Collins Koremo, sub-county administrator Vincent Jagero among other guests.
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Deputy Governor Dr. Mathew Owili receives a bouquet of flowers upon his arrival at Kisumu Junior Academy
Kisumu Governor Prof. Anyang’ Nyong’o flanked by PS. for Housing and Urban Development Dr. Charles Hinga held successful deliberations with Abu Dhabi City Director-General to provide affordable housing in Kisumu.
The Governor and his entourage attended the 10th World Urban Forum (WUF10) held in Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates. The forum is the foremost international gathering for exchanging views and experiences on sustainable urbanization in all its ramifications. The inclusive nature of the Forum, combined with high-level participation, makes it a unique United Nations conference and premier international gathering on urban issues.
The team also held discussions with the Secretary-General of the United Cities and Local Governments of Africa (UCLGA) Mr. Jean-Pierre Elong Mbassi on the sidelines of the WUF10 in preparations to 2021 Africities conference.
Present were Mama Kisumu Dorothy Nyong’o, County Minister for Lands and Physical Planning, Dickson Obungu, City Board Vice-Chair and City Manager Doris Ombara.
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The department of Water, Environment and climate change in partnership with the Kenya Alliance of Resident Association (KARA) and Kenya Association of Manufacturers (KAM) today organised a public participation session with the public to review and provide input to the draft policy and Bill at the Catholic Center in Nyalenda, Kisumu.
The objective of the policy is to minimize waste generation and promote re-use, recovery and recycling of waste materials and sustainable waste disposal.
While giving his opening speech during the session, the County Executive Committee Member for the department Mr. Salmon Orimba called on the public to actively participate by giving their views towards developing
a good policy framework that will promote a sustainable, effective and integrated solid waste management system.
The session was quite interactive as the people were taken through the draft as they also used the platform to have their input incorporated.
Also in attendance were: the Chief Officer Water and Environment, Meryline Agwa, Marie – Anne Serue an expertise from France, Sieiwho Jack from KIWASCO among other top County Officials.
By Emily Mikwa
Public participation forum on the preparation of Kisumu County solid waste management policy and bill 2020 at Pand Pieri catholic center Nyalenda (Picture by John Willis)
Kisumu County Public Service Board wishes to recruit competent and qualified persons to fill the
following positions as attached below
As the world celebrates World Cancer day, Governor Anyang’ Nyong’o and Mama County Dorothy Nyong’o toured Ober Kamoth sub-county hospital in Kisumu west on the second day of the ongoing Free Medical Camp which includes cancer education and free cancer screening.
The governor encouraged residents and beneficiaries of the program to show up for treatment and cancer screening. He also interacted with some of the patients and volunteer doctors as he went around the facility.
Area residents are streaming in large numbers waiting to be attended to. Lillian and her fellow students from Nyang’inja Secondary School said, “We should have more of these camps, at least two to three-yearly as it makes access to cancer screening easier.”
Another resident Rose Akinyi brought the daughter with fungal infections and was grateful as she was finally able to treat her, something she couldn’t do before due to financial constraints.
More residents are expected to show up in the next two days before the camp moves to Nyakach at Nyamarimba Hospital
Kisumu Governor, Professor Nyong’o visiting the medical camp at Ober Kamoth in Kisumu West sub county
Kisumu Governor, Professor Nyong’o in the company of Mama Kisumu among other medical practitioners at the medical camp in Ober Kamoth hospital during the World cancer day
Governor, Professor Nyong’o and USAID Mission Director, Mark Meassick today presided over the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on a joint commitment to Kenyan – led development in Kisumu County, at the Acacia Hotel in Kisumu.
The MOU reflects the shared vision on devolution among the two countries, focusing on meeting the needs of the people.
It provides a framework on how the County and USAID will transact business together including aligning activities, plans and budgets, designing new programs and priorities, monitoring and evaluating programs, working jointly to counter corruption and protect the beneficiaries.
The County Assembly Speaker, Hon. Elisha Oraro said the move will steer development across all sectors, hence enabling environment is key to any development. He promised to work on the required legislation to support the move going forward.
The Nyando Member of Parliament Jared Okello said the MOU is a vision that will steer the County to greater heights. He called for a concerted effort to find a seed variety that fits the soil in Ahero, and a rice milling plant in Nyando that will put an end the exploitation of farmers by brokers.
Speaking during the event, USAID Mission Director Mark Meassick said the MOU puts to an end the foreign aid and it transforms the trade relationships among the public, civil society and private sectors to generate opportunity for all Kenyans and to accelerate self-reliance.
“The United States Government is shifting the way we work. We want our programs to be co-created, co-implemented, and co-measured to address problems and solve them at the County level,” reiterated the Director.
He further explained that USAID will develop a five-year plan to resonate with the MOU, where resources will be channeled directly to the County government.
Kisumu Governor, Professor Nyong’o on his part lauded the move by the USAID, that will spur transformation both in the fields of agriculture and health where the needs of the people are paramount.
He reiterated that the MOU will provide opportunity and the ability to respond to the needs of the people through the established village councils who are mandated to deal with the maintenance of access road, monitoring sand harvesting activities that messes the environment, family healthcare and health preventive measures within the village.
Besides the MOU will provide ready markets locally and internationally for the local products, and it is against this back drop that the County plans to revive the growing of BT cotton and to do value addition to the Ahero rice to stop exploitation of local farmers by the middlemen.
Also, in attendance were the County Executive Committee Members(CECMs) for: Finance and Economic Planning Mr. George Okong’o, Agriculture Irrigation, livestock and fisheries, Mr. Gilchrist Okuom, Health and Sanitation, Professor Judith Attyang’, The County Legal advisor, Mr. Idris Omondi, City Manager Doris Ombara, Majority leader for County Assembly Hon. Kenneth Odhiambo, County Chief Officers, among other invited guests who also welcomed the initiative.
Kisumu Governor, Professor Nyong’o and the USAID Mission Director, Mark Meassick signing the MOU, looking on are the Nyando MP, Jared Okello and the legal advisers for the two leaders.
Kisumu Governor, Professor Nyong’o and USAID Mission Director, Mark Meassick holding the signed MOU
The leaders pose for a photo after the signing of the MOU
The Chairman Lakefront Development Corporation, Mr. Edward Rakwar Otieno Ouko together with Mr. Amos Mariba who represented the Nyanza regional commissioner Mr. James Kianda, today chaired a consultative meeting with all stakeholders affiliated to the lakefront to discuss and input the roadmap for the lakefront implementation agenda at Acacia Hotel in Kisumu
This comes after the Governor has gazetted the Kisumu Lakefront Development Corporation as a Special purpose Corporation to drive the rapid development of the Kisumu lakefront.
Also gazetted was the Kisumu Lakefront Development Corporation Board of Directors who are rich with the expertise relevant to drive the Corporation towards the realization of the objectives set.
Speaking during the meeting, the City Manager Doris Ombara outlined some of the Eight thematic zones along the lakefront slotted for development which included: Commercial and Port area with a cruise viewing site, Golf Course, Pipeline and Jetty, two water fronts (Dunga and Usoma) Hotel and Resorts, International Conference Centre , Lakefront Administrative and fish factory with sites for fish handling and redesigning a sewage drainage system with a road and railways along the lakefront.
She further appealed to the business operators who will be affected by such developments that the County will use legislation to achieve its objectives and asked them to give the lakefront development a chance in order to benefit from the opportunities that will come with the opening of the port.
She stated that the Kenya Urban programs (KUP) used 301 million to construct Impala – Dunga road and currently 700million has been set aside to re-plan Obunga slums.
The Chairman of the Africities secretariat Mr. Joe Ager used the platform to inform the business operators of the Africities Summit to be held in Kisumu as from 16th – 22 November, 2021
He added that the steering committee meeting will be held in Kisumu in March chaired by the CS devolution. He called on the business men to work closely with the steering committee to expand their businesses and to create wealth.
He challenged the professional consultants to consider a wider perspective of investments that can be brought into the lakefront apart from tourism such as the expansion of the runway and its direction for it to meet the international standards.
The Chief Executive Officer, Lake Victoria Basin Commission, Dr Matano, on his part urged the stakeholders on optimum use of the lake resource for wealth creation. He advised that all planning of the lakefront development should be pegged on matters sustainability, hence there is need to balance environmental, social and economic aspects.
He urged the implementers to consider enforcing the regulatory frameworks such as the municipal and urban effluent international standard, accidents framework, leakage and flashing time among others. He however pointed out the major challenge affecting the lake is the climate change resulting from prolonged drought and rains.
The CECM for Tourism, Culture and Sports, Achie Alai said her department presented a branding proposal that would rekindle the face of Kisumu and that currently a color scheme and a logo are being worked on to make the city appealing to investors and tourists.
On Sports, plans are underway to construct a FIFA accredited football stadium in the next two years.
The CECM for Lands, Housing and Physical planning, Mr. Dickson Obungu encouraged everyone to participate positively in the planned lakefront development for the benefit of Kisumu County together with the counties neighboring the Lake Victoria, have also joined the team to ensure it succeeds.
While representing the Regional Commissioner, Mr. Amos Mariba urged the corporation to use a multi-agency approach during implementation for seamless coordination. He also asked them to go out and meet the people so that they are well informed of the developments to be carried out in the area and the available opportunities they can explore.
The CEO lake Victoria Basin Commission Dr. Matano giving a presentation during the lakefront development consultative meeting at Acacia Hotel, Kisumu
The CECM for Lands, Housing and Physical Planning, Mr. Dickson Obungu and his counterpart for Tourism, Culture and Sports, Achie Alai together with stakeholders listening to a presentation at the lakefront development committee meeting at Acacia Hotel, Kisumu
Hundreds of residents thronged into Ober Kamoth Sub-County hospital for specialized treatment in the ongoing 4-day medical camp that kicked off yesterday through to the 6th of February 2020.
The medical camp in its third-year running is supported through a partnership between County Government of Kisumu, Bridge to Health foundation, Africa Cancer Foundation and SNAR foundation with attention to medical care on hypertension tension and diabetes, Cancer Screening, Eye Care and Dental care.
With a team of 60 specialized doctors and medical officers, the residents from the young to the elderly men and women receive free specialized care and medication, as well as a visual aid in cases of eye care.
The outreach is intended to bring services closer to the community to ensure primary care through early detection and prevention a practice that is set to be continued in the community through the trained community health workers.
The large number which turned up to seek the medical services offered by the visiting doctors demonstrated a story of hope to the community, as all of the patients were so patient waiting for their turn.
The medical camp is currently on its second day, as the world marks its annual Cancer day today the 4th of February 2020.
In the spirit of Universal healthcare (UHC), Mama Kisumu, Mrs. Dorothy Nyong’o urged residents to come in their numbers for the reason that the medical care is an opportunity that has brought health care closer to the community, adding that Kisumu being a pilot county on UHC the extension of the outreach with the focus on primary care aims at achieving UHC.
According to the Lead operations and founder of SNAR foundation Dr. James Randiek, the outreach expects to attend to all patients. ” the turnout is good; we expect to attend to 600 people per day for 4 days.”
The 2020 medical camp is set for two locations, in Kisumu west at Ober Kamoth Subcounty hospital and another 4 days in Nyakach at Nyamarimba health center starting 7th through to 11th February.
Mr. Fredrick Oluoch, County public health director assured residents of specialized care and that referral paths have been put in place for all referral cases to JOOTRH and Kisumu County Referral Hospital.
The medical camp is intended to support rural residents who have disproportionately face numerous barriers to accessing quality healthcare services with the primary goal of offering free specialized health services directly to rural populations in their communities and as a way of covering the financial costs associated with transferring patients to hospitals
By Matilda Atieno
Mama Kisumu Dorothy Nyong’o interacting with patients as they patiently a wait for treatment offered by the visiting doctors ( Picture by Jacob Owiti)
The county department of Agriculture, Irrigation, Livestock and Fisheries in partnership with Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) organized a one day workshop for the Food Liaison Advisory Group (FLAG) Steering Committee at Vittoria Suites Hotel in Kisumu.
The objectives of the workshop were to come up with mission and vision of the FLAG, develop selection criteria for grantees, present revised work plan dates, validation and signing of commitment forms, establish grantees selection, and proposals/names of value chain actors to be visited.
The Chief Officer Livestock and Fisheries madam Rosemary Aluoch while giving her introductory remarks, stated that the food systems are a very complex issue that requires a collaborative and innovative approach. She reiterated the need to create value chains in terms of nutritious and safe food for the consumers.
Madam Aluoch was also optimistic that the rapid analysis of the food systems to be carried out will point out safety gaps that will be addressed since Kisumu is a unique county with 14 wards within urban and 21 other wards in the rural setup. She further urged the implementers of the project to have a transformative mindset and be innovative in engagement with consumers’ needs in order to achieve the objectives of the project.
The Chief Officer Cooperatives Mr. Oganga on his part called on the FLAG members to work as a team. He further advised that much as the team focuses on nutrition and safety aspects of the foods produced, it should also look at a business model that can sustain the project.
While officially opening the workshop, the Chief Officer Agriculture and Irrigation, Dr. Paul Omanga noted that the project has come at a time when Kisumu County is drawing a development plan for the next 100 years and that food system is key in the plan.
He, however, appealed to the residents of Kisumu to minimize the importation of food products and instead increase local production to meet the demands of the local consumers.
“Kisumu must be innovative in the production of local foods other than being chief importers. We, therefore, need to support our producers with innovative ways that can improve food systems in Kisumu.” Dr. Omanga said.
The meeting brought on board the FLAG Committee comprising of technocrats from relevant disciplines from the County, Institutions of higher learning, researchers from both governmental and non-governmental, FAO representatives Rebeccah Wanjiru, Winnie Yegon, local food processors and farmers within Kisumu.
By Emily Mikwa
Dr. Paul Omanga addressing the FLAG steering committee during the workshop held at Vittoria suites hotel in Kisumu ( Picture by John Willys Juma)
