The proposed relocation of Kisumu Boys’ and Kisumu Girls’ High Schools may not happen any soon.
This is according to Governor Prof Anyang’ Nyong’o.
The Governor has come out to dismiss the ongoing debates over the matter, saying his comments may have been taken out of context.
Last week, while addressing the press in Nairobi, Nyong’o intimated at possible relocation of the two schools in a planned restructure of Kisumu City.
However, his sentiments elicited mixed reactions, with various stakeholders pulling opposite direction.
Some people did not get the gist of my statement and have been recklessly misrepresenting the facts with a lot of negative energy
Anyang’ Nyong’o
But Nyong’o has come out to defend his proposition, saying the matter requires a sober debate.
“Some people did not get the gist of my statement and have been recklessly misrepresenting the facts with a lot of negative energy,” said Nyong’o.
He added: “It is wrong to misinterpret my comments to insinuate that learning institutions are less important in the society. As a scholar and public administrator, I know the value of education.”
Just a proposal
Nyong’o said the issue of relocating the schools has been raised in a number of professional forums, and his comment is a mere proposal.
“The debate on whether or not to relocate the schools is an important conversation that must not be trivialized or wished away,” he said.
This is why we must honestly debate whether we need to have highly populated schools at the center of cities where they occupy large tracts of land, large parts of which remain unused
Anyang’ Nyong’o
He added: “The on-going transformation of Kisumu, in line with the geophysical and spatial plan, should be supported because it is aimed at revamping the city’s infrastructure, the economy, waste management system and provision of adequate housing for residents.
He said both the UN and AU recognize that African towns and cities will host more people than the continent’s rural areas in the next two decades.
Sober discussion
Nyong’o said these populations will need food, shelter, security, healthy environments to live in, an efficient transportation system, reliable, cost-effective and clean energy, social amenities and employment opportunities.
“This is why we must honestly debate whether we need to have highly populated schools at the center of cities where they occupy large tracts of land, large parts of which remain unused,” he said.
Nyong’o said the planning and consultations on whether or not to relocate some of these schools are expected to continue until 2030.“This means there is still enough time to make right decisions. I wish to assure the people of Kisumu that they will be given ample time to give their views on this matter,” he said.