By Matilda Atieno
In a blend of cultural diplomacy and infrastructure development, the County Government of Kisumu and the City of Gersthofen, Germany, have formally signed a Partnership Agreement, setting a rigorous framework for the solarization and upscaling of the Chulaimbo Water Project.
The agreement is more than just a document, it is a six-month commitment to enhancing health services and climate resilience at the Chulaimbo Sub-County Level 4 Hospital, as well as delivering clean water to its surrounding communities.
The core strength of this partnership lies in its strategic, shared financial model, which showcases Germany’s commitment and Kisumu’s local ownership. The budget for the project will be financed at a proportion of 80:20, whereby Gersthofen City will bear 80% of the financial burden, providing the bulk of the infrastructural development and technical support, while Kisumu will contribute 20%, ensuring local resource mobilization, access to project sites, and compliance with local regulations.
This financing mechanism directly enables the project key objectives, including promoting renewable energy through the solarization of water pumps and the installation of solar power generation equipment, thereby ensuring a sustainable and affordable water supply.
The six-month agreement outlines several crucial activities to transform the water facility, extending its benefits far beyond the hospital grounds. The signing of the agreement followed a site visit at Chulaimbo Sub-County Hospital along the Busia-Kisumu highway, where the Mayor of Gersthofen, Michael Wörle, and his team met with the hospital management and the community.
The project’s activities are designed to provide both reliable hospital services and broad community benefits, such as Hospital Support, ensuring the Level 4 facility has consistent, clean water and Community Reticulation, through establishing communal water reticulation points (water kiosks) and water storage tanks to distribute water to the beneficiary community members, who were present at the meeting and led by the area MCA.
The scope of work is immediate and targeted, beginning with the Testing of the Borehole Capacity and Water Quality before proceeding to the Solar Integration and establishment of the reticulation systems.
The agreement robust governance structure reflects the high stakes and mutual trust, having been built on a foundation of cultural exchange. Through this formal framework, the two parties commit to knowledge exchange, capacity building, and financial support from Gersthofen, alongside County governments dedication to compliance, community engagement, and project supervision.
The Partnership Agreement, executed by CECM Judith Oluoch and Mayor Michael Wörle, strengthens the existing bilateral ties between Germany and Kisumu, showcasing a successful example of international cooperation aimed at improving essential services and fostering sustainable development in Kisumu County.
Implementation Committee includes, high-level body co-chaired by the Mayor of Gersthofen, H.E. Michael Wörle and the Governor of Kisumu County, Prof. Anyang’ Nyong’o, meeting twice a year to oversee strategic direction as the Technical Committee to ensure strict monitoring and evaluation of the project execution, meeting quarterly to maintain fidelity to the plan.
This close cooperation stems from the groundwork laid days earlier, which reinforced the Strategic Development Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed in November 2024.
Earlier on, Governor Nyong’o hosted Mayor Wörle and the Gersthofen Youth Orchestra at City Hall and a subsequent live afternoon performance by the German Orchestra and the local Migosi Primary School Band at the Mama Grace Onyango Social and Cultural Hall that was a “beautiful celebration of culture, talent, and friendship,” demonstrating that the partnership is built on shared values.
The delegation also led the Official opening of the German Language Corner at the Kisumu County Public Library, a tangible result of the MOU that provides youth with language training to equip them for available vocational training in German.
By seamlessly integrating these diplomatic, cultural, and technical commitments, the Kisumu-Gersthofen partnership is establishing an exemplary model of international cooperation for sustainable development.
Mayor Wörle also held a meeting with City Manager Mr. Abala Wanga and the City Management team. The focus of the engagement was collaboration on fire and disaster management for Kisumu City and the county at large to leverage Gersthofen’s expertise on enhancing preparedness, response capabilities, and overall urban resilience a step in safeguarding the rapidly growing Kisumu metropolis.
