Governor Jack Ranguma has defended the move by the county government to bring down houses and businesses in Nyalenda recently during the slum upgrading project.
Ranguma said residents should cooperate with Kisumu Government to see development in their area.
“It is about time we agreed to the county government’s decision to ensure that even development is devolved even in slums.
We are asking those who have not yet relocated to do so before the bulldozers come to avoid loss of property,” said Ranguma.
Speaking during a fundraiser in Nyando on Wednesday, Ranguma assured Kisumu residents of the county’s development projects within his first term in office.
Houses and shops along the road from Kilo junction towards Ring Road Ministries in Nyalenda area in Kisumu Central Constituency were brought down leaving residents homeless and businessmen hopeless.
The county government had given an earlier notice to residents with houses and shops along the road notifying them of the planned demolitions.
Ranguma said the county government is planning to expand roads within the slums to improve accessibility.
“We must allow for roads to be constructed in our slums to make it easier for vehicles to access the slums.
Ambulances, police vehicles and fire engines should be able to access the slums easier to help curb insecurity, reduces cases of emergencies and also help in disaster management.”
He assured slum dwellers in Kisumu of frequent police patrols to boost security in the slums.
The governor said that the county government has come with an initiative to develop slum areas such as Nyalenda, Obunga and Manyatta by ensuring that there is sufficient street lighting and accessible roads.
Nyalenda ‘B’ representative James Were had informed and enlightened residents of the county government’s move to upgrade slums by creating more roads and ensuring that street lights are erected in Kisumu’s slums.
“Let us support the county government development initiatives for us to change the lives of slum dwellers in Kisumu,”said Were.