By: Agwanda Saye
Plans are underway for a collaboration between the County Government of Kisumu and African Heritage Switzerland, a Switzerland-based organization focusing on African culture, across various sectors.
The sectors targeted for this partnership are Waste Management, Sports, Tourism and Culture, and Food Nutrition.
According to the organization’s founding Chief Executive Officer, Beatrice Schnelli Okello, the County has immense potential that needs to be highlighted with a view of selling it to the outside world. She noted that the intended collaboration will help open Kisumu to the world.
Okello also mentioned that the partnership could lead to various activities, including showcasing African culture and selling artifacts in Switzerland, as well as holding exhibitions, workshops, and promotions of African culture, with children showcasing their various talents.
She further said that given the County’s vast potential, there is a strong need for linkages to build upon the existing assets.
The County’s CECM for Trade, Tourism, Industry, and Marketing welcomed the move, stating it will help position Kisumu as a desirable tourism destination. She emphasized that Kisumu is easily accessible through all roads within East Africa and that tourism is a serious enabler for trade.
The CECM highlighted the County’s current tourism focus, which includes the Fish Fiesta, Kisumu Fiesta Festival, and Kisumu City Street Festival, noting that such events require serious partnerships for their continuity.
“We also have an Arboretum with different fish species in Kibos, the Mary Okello Conservancy, Birds Arena, and the Kibos Integrated Transfer Centre,” she said.
She added that there is a need for showcasing Kenyan traditional foods and continued advocacy for them.
African Heritage Switzerland was founded by a group of African women living in Switzerland with the drive to inspire other Africans by providing a platform to promote arts and culture.
Its mission includes cultural promotion activities intended to stimulate the work of African women and lead to the recognition of diverse cultural expressions in Switzerland. It also aims to foster and preserve cultural diversity and facilitate the participation of all social sectors in processes related to African culture in Switzerland.
Apart from showcasing African cultures, the organization is initiating various projects in Europe and Africa, raising money to provide decent education, food, water, health insurance, and other meaningful resources for orphans and vulnerable children.
