By Rushdie Oudia
Kisumu, Kenya: Revival of industries top Kisumu residents’ list of demands for President Uhuru Kenyatta.
Kisumu had industries that used to provide employment for thousands of people before they collapsed.
Residents are hopeful that Uhuru’s Government will revive industries.
A barber, Vincent Odhiambo, said this would provide employment to youths.
Odhiambo said the president should ensure he accomplishes this, as that would show he is concerned about the issue of unemployment.
Sammy Otieno, a businessman, said a number of youths in Kisumu often engage in crime because of lack of employment.
Collapsed industries
Collapsed industries include Kisumu Cotton Mills (Kicomi), Kenya Breweries Limited (KBL) and Kenya Matches Limited.
Kenya Association of Manufacturers Nyanza Chapter chairman Israel Agina, however, said Uhuru’s Government should not only focus on collapsed industries but also existing ones should be restructured to increase their production.
“Uhuru’s Government should ensure sugarcane industries are restructured and managed well so that they become profitable,” said Agina.
The residents have also called on Uhuru not to sideline the region, but continue with the infrastructural development the previous Government had started. Laban Akach said the President should visit the lakeside city despite them not voting convincingly for him.
