Governor Nyong'o: This is my scorecard, and I delivered on my promises

Kisumu Governor Anyang Nyong'o is escorted after the State of the County Address at Tom Mboya Labour  College where the assembly held a special sitting. [File, Standard]

Kisumu Governor Anyang’ Nyong’o has presented his scorecard to residents, stating that he has delivered on his campaign promises.

Prof Nyong’o, who is also the ODM party interim leader, said he has implemented his campaign manifesto with a declaration that devolution was the best thing ever to happen in Kenya.

Speaking during the sixth State of the County Address on Friday, Nyong’o said his administration has tremendously improved water provision, healthcare, road infrastructure, and positioned Kisumu city as an international investment destination.

In the water docket, Nyong’o said his government ensured the department met its mandate despite the inadequacy of funds.

He said they often reach out to partners to help bridge the budgetary gaps.

The county government implemented 33 water projects in six sub-counties, while eight others were rehabilitated during the reporting period.

“These projects are in Kisumu East (4), Kisumu West (5), Muhoroni (5), Nyakach (8), Nyando and Kadibo (4), and Seme (7),” he added.

The governor also stated that his administration has made significant strides in improving healthcare.

For example, in the health docket, he noted that Kisumu County has a high disease burden, comprising a high prevalence of HIV and a high incidence of malaria.

“The year has seen a reduction in HIV incidence (new infections) from 2.43 per cent in 2023 to 1.1 per cent this year.

‘‘It is imperative that these efforts include public health education and prevention strategies. With treatment, a person with HIV can have the virus suppressed to undetectable levels that not only improve the health and well-being of the patients but also curtail transmission to others,” said the governor.

He added that the high burden of malaria in the county has prompted interventions to protect the health of residents.

He noted that from February to March this year, the county, with support from the National Malaria Control Program, distributed nets to a total of 300,667 households out of the 326,990 registered households.

“This was 92 per cent coverage with insecticide-treated nets that will last for a minimum of three years.

‘‘By this intervention, it is expected that there will be a reduction in outpatient and inpatient admissions associated with malaria,” he added.

According to the governor, during the period under review, the department of roads opened 42.5 km (tarmacked), graded 68.2 km (graded), and gravelled 14.3 km (gravelled) of roads through the machine-based programme.

He said that through the machine-based roads construction programme, the department saved the taxpayer at least Sh500,000 per km compared to contracting.

“Besides the machine-based programme, the county government opened a further 273 km of road through CRF contracting, bringing the total length of roads opened and graded to 3,837 km,” he added.

Nyong’o also noted that in the Education department, for the financial year 2023/24, there was a budgetary allocation of Sh205 million for the bursary and scholarship programme.