Kisumu Governor Prof Anyang’ Nyong’o has claimed there are schemes by President William Ruto tpo sabotage the economy of Kisumu.
Nyong’o said the schemes involve sponsoring of violent destruction of property, and using the same to paint the city as unsafe for investments.
In an address to the media on Monday, Nyong’o said he had intelligence pointing fingers at the government as behind the recent chaos in Kisumu during Azimio protests.
The Governor singled out recent comments by Chief Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi that Kisumu was the most risky place to invest in following the recent violent demonstrations.
When Mudavadi is speaking, we can’t take what he says lightly, given his position in the government. Others can speak, but when Mudavadi who is a silent person speaks, then you know this is a conspiracy by the government to hit out at Kisumu, and we don’t want Mudavadi to be the carrier of the bad news for Kisumu
Anyang’ Nyong’o
Mudavadi who had a public address in his Western backyard
“This thing (demonstrations) is undermining the investment capacity of Kisumu. You are chasing away investors,” Mudavadi said.
But in a scathing rejoinder, Nyong’o termed Mudavadi’s comments as reckless, and part of the scheme to sabotage the economy of Kisumu.
“Let it be known that Musalia himself is a land owner and a notable investor in the city of Kisumu,” said Nyong’o.
“As the Governor of this great county, I have not received any complaints from Mr Mudavadi regarding the insecurity of his investments and property in Kisumu.”
“But eager to please his boss by mouthing that typical UDA propaganda, rippled with ethnic profiling, he has recklessly tried to bismuth the god name that Kisumu enjoys nationally and internationally to achieve a narrow and selfish political ambitions,” he added.
Kisumu is rising
Nyong’o reminisced that Kisumu was recently ranked as the sixth cleanest town in Africa, and has had its development on an upward trajectory, something he said is not going well with Mudavadi and his Kenya Kwanza brigade.
He said during Azimio demonstrations, goons were dispatched into the city to cause havoc.
“Let Mr Mudavadi help solve this kind of sabotage by elements in the Kenya Kwanza government brigade.”
He asked Mudavadi to stop pocking his nose on Kisumu issues, and instead use his position to fight for his constituents.
Let it be known that Musalia himself is a land owner and a notable investor in the city of Kisumu. As the Governor of this great county, I have not received any complaints from Mr Mudavadi regarding the insecurity of his investments and property in Kisumu
He said the residents of Kisumu will continue supporting the demonstrations aimed at pushing for electoral reforms and lowering of the cost of living.
“We have intelligence that these external saboteurs are ready to come in and capitalize on the demonstrations to wreck the hard earned development by the people of Kisumu,” said Nyong’o.
“When Mudavadi is speaking, we can’t take what he says lightly, given his position in the government. Others can speak, but when Mudavadi who is a silent person speaks, then you know this is a conspiracy by the government to hit out at Kisumu, and we don’t want Mudavadi to be the carrier of the bad news for Kisumu,” he added.
Nyong’o was accompanied by his deputy Dr Mathews Owili, Kisumu Central MP Dr Joshua Oron, Kisumu County Chair for Chambers of Commerce Israel Agina among County Executive Members.
Oron and Agina termed Mudavadi’s sentiments as unfortunate and politically instigated.
“Whatever Mr Mudavadi said was pure politics,” said Agina, adding that in cases where property were destroyed, police slept on the job.
It is surprising that Mr Mudavadi, being an investor in Kisumu, is making money in Kisumu, while at the same time condemning Kisumu as a city which is not good for investment
Dr Joshua Oron
“Kisumu city is a destination for investment, and the speech by Mr Mudavadi is very unfortunate, and he is playing politics with the lives of people of Kenya,” said Oron.
“It is surprising that Mr Mudavadi, being an investor in Kisumu, is making money in Kisumu, while at the same time condemning Kisumu as a city which is not good for investment,” added Oron.
Oron said Kisumu remains peaceful most of the time, and the area leadership and residents value and respect lives and property.
