The Kisumu County Government has maintained that the construction of the eye clinic will not be relocated to another county, whether or not the land required for its building in Kisumu is available.
The County Governor Jack Ranguma said that there are currently two locations being considered, one in Nyakach and the other in Nyando sub counties where the eye clinic could be constructed.
Ranguma said that the eye clinic which will be sponsored by the Lions Club, is going to be in Kisumu contrary to some reports that Kisii County has availed land for the eye clinic.
“The eye clinic must be constructed somewhere in Kisumu County and I want to assure my people that this viable health project will not be taken elsewhere outside the county,” he said.
The eye clinic that is estimated to cost Ksh. 250 million was originally going to be constructed in Korando, on the outskirts of Kisumu city, but locals had rejected the offer.
Ranguma said the health project was meant for Kisumu people and will thusly not allow it to go somewhere else due to lack of land.
Ramesh Mehta was the Lions Clubs International Past District Governor in charge of Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania and Ethiopia, and had said that the organisation was currently stranded with the project due to there being a lack of space within the county. Mehta said that they have been approached by the Kisii County government who has availed land for the project. Ramesh blamed Kisumu’s politics for the construction of the Sabatia Eye Hospital in Vihiga, Kisumu residents had lost out as the hospital was originally meant to be built for them.
Mehta added that the county had promised to allocate the Lions Club an alternative plot along the Kisumu-Nairobi road, but that this not yet been finalised. Should the Kisumu county come through, the facility will enable the residents to access specialized eye services at a subsidized cost.