Uhuru Kenyatta gets warm reception in Kisumu as he attends devolution conference

President Uhuru Kenyatta on Tuesday received a warm reception in Kisumu as he toured the region for the second devolution conference.

Hundreds gathered at Nyalenda to receive the President during the launch of a National Youth Service (NYS) project in the area.

The project will be a replication of an initiative being spearheaded by the Ministry of Devolution and Planning in Kibera and Mathare slums in Nairobi.

Speaking at Oboch market, President Kenyatta said he would not discriminate against anyone in his agenda for national development.

The President said he honoured the invitation of the governors to visit Kisumu owing to the constitutional requirement that the national and county governments work together.

This is the first time the President is touring the lakeside town, two years after his election.

Speaking at the heart of Opposition leader Raila Odinga’s home turf, the President said it was time to work and that his association with local leaders from Cord remained apolitical.

“We said that as we are here, we must come to see you. Because we believe Kenya is one, the project we did in Kibera will be executed here in Nyalenda,” he said.

President Kenyatta said the government would endeavour to ensure that development reaches all Kenyans.

He said that if the national and county governments work in unity and agree that residents have done no wrong when they elect leaders, then Kenya would not have cases of leaders exchanging words.

“It is the right of Kenyans to elect us and therefore it is our work to serve them in the same breath that they have elevated us. Kenyans did not elect us to exchange words but to work,” Mr Kenyatta said.

“We cannot do this if we don’t come to you at your doorsteps; the only way to end poverty and bring development is not to take you away from here but to bring the things we want to do closer to you,” added President Kenyatta.

He said the reason for launching the project in Kisumu was not political but because every Kenyan has a right to benefit from the government of the day.

“That is the reason we brought the NYS here as an indication of our unity with national and county government.

"We hope that the county of Kisumu will add some resources for the growth and expansion of these projects,” he said.

NYS TO WORK WITH YOUTH

The NYS will work with about 4,000 youth from Kisumu to clean sewerage systems, tarmac access roads, and construct 23 health centres, 23 police posts and 23 public toilets.

Devolution Cabinet Secretary Ann Waiguru, Governor Jack Ranguma, Kisumu Central MP Ken Obura and several MCAs from the county were also present.

Mr Obura asked the residents to cooperate with the NYS teams and also see the bigger picture of the transformation that will come with the projects.

“The saccos that we will form here (are) the only way to go in order to end the poverty that we have been enslaved to for a long time,” said Mr Obura.

He said the projects would be done in Manyatta B and Obunga, among other slums in Kisumu.

Governor Jack Ranguma said a cleaner slum will translate into a cleaner Lake Victoria.