Kisumu braces for major facelift in a bid to boost its tourism potential
People who have encroached on road reserves and sewer lines have been put on notice as Kisumu gears up for a major facelift.
The
initiative by Kisumu City Board is meant to reorganise Kisumu’s lake
fronts in a bid to boost its tourism potential and revive Lake
Victoria’s blue economy, which is in line with the objectives of the
national government.
To kick-start the process, board
manager Doris Ombara said they have set aside Sh250 million to improve
the rundown drainage system and embark on a beautification project of
the Central Business District (CBD).
“The money has been provided by the World Bank after negotiations led by Governor Anyang’ Nyong’o,” said Mrs Ombara.
She said the resources would be used for modernisation of Kenyatta Avenue, Oginga Odinga and Ang’awa streets.
CBD Triangle
The initiative, dubbed “CBD Triangle”, is expected to kick off
any time. This is after the board picked a successful contractor to work
on the multimillion shilling project on Friday.
“The
works will begin from the Kisumu Boys roundabout to Kenya Commercial
Bank roundabout then stretch to Obote Road next to Lwang’ni Beach and
the whole of Ang’awa Street which links Oginga Odinga Street and
Kenyatta Avenue,” she said.
Some of the works to be
done in the city drainage master plan are replacement of broken slabs,
construction of pedestrian walks, installation of road furniture and
toilets, noted Mrs Ombara.
She said completion of the
project is expected to upgrade the town's drainage, which was done in
1950s when the population was estimated to be under 50,000.
“The facility has now become strained, with over one million people currently depending on the system,” she said.
“It
is unfortunate that intruders have even invaded the town centre and put
at risk some of the key facilities like the Jomo Kenyatta Sports
Ground,” she said.
In preparation for the rainy season,
the city manager said they have started clearing rivers Nyamasaria and
Auji to mitigate the effects of a downpour, which usually causes flood
and destruction of property.
Flooding
Deputy
city board chairperson Peris Ocholla said they have come up with a
comprehensive programme to address flooding that renders most of the
roads impassable due to overflowing drainages.
“Most of
the people affected are those living in informal settlements, which
comprise 60 per cent of the total population,” she said.
Some
of the estates under threat are Manyatta, Nyalenda, Obunga and Migosi
where most of the houses are said to have been constructed on waterways
and sewer lines.
Mrs Ombara said no one will be spared in the ongoing effort to reclaim the city.
“There
will be no sacred cows in the ongoing exercise, which started two weeks
ago. Some people will have to be sacrificed for the rest of the
community to survive,” she said.
This comes as the meteorological departm
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