Leaders' expectations high as President Uhuru Kenyatta plans Kisumu maiden visit

President Uhuru Kenyatta’s security detail was on high alert when he visited Migori County to launch an anti-malaria campaign. [PHOTO: FILE/STANDARD]

Kisumu,Kenya: President Uhuru Kenyatta is set to make his maiden official visit to the county next week to open the second Governors’ Conference at Tom Mboya Labour College on April 21.

Uhuru and his deputy William Ruto have been visiting the larger Nyanza region but the lakeside city has never hosted them. In 2013, Uhuru passed Kisumu on the way to the burial of the former Kenya National Union of Teachers Secretary General, Okuta Osiany.

Uhuru also greeted Kisumu residents near Kisumu International Airport on his way to the memorial ceremony for politician Musalia Mudavadi’s father in Vihiga last year.

On his last visit to the region, youths threw shoes at the presidential dais and shouted pro-ODM slogans soon after Migori Governor Okoth Obado rose to speak.

This time, Nyanza leaders have promised to welcome Uhuru, saying the visit was long overdue, and urged him to visit more frequently, especially to launch development projects.

Governor Jack Ranguma, who is the host, yesterday appealed to all leaders from the region to support the conference as it will showcase the area’s economic opportunities.

“Let us forget our political or ideological differences and embrace this opportunity. We invite any ideas that can help us make the event better,” said Mr Ranguma.

Kisumu Central MP Ken Obura said the President must treat all regions equally and should not visit Kisumu as an afterthought.

“We need substantive development projects in Nyanza because we all pay taxes. If the President thinks that by visiting the region only in times of bereavement, and use the occasion to market Jubilee, he is wrong,” Mr Obura said.

HIGH HOPES

Kisumu West MP Olago Aluoch welcomed the visit and urged local leaders to re-organise their diaries to fit in the President’s schedule.

“We are ready to welcome the President. He will be able to assess the feelings of the locals and their elected leaders. This should be a precursor to future visits,” Mr Aluoch said.

Israel Agina, chairman of Kisumu Business Coalition, said the business community had been involved in planning the devolution conference and was ready to receive the President.

“We expect some pronouncements from the Head of State. For six months, road construction by the national government has stalled due to non-payment of funds. The President should tell us his plan for the region,” Mr Agina said.

He also mentioned the second phase of modernising Kisumu International Airport, which involves modern warehousing, as other projects that have stalled.

Audi Ogada, chairman of the Kisumu Residents Voice, echoed Agina’s sentiments. “We want the airport to fit international status where airlines from all over the world can come in,” he said.

Luo Nyanza overwhelmingly voted for Raila Odinga in the last General Election. President Kenyatta's TNA did not win a single seat.