Kenya: KISUMU COUNTY BISHOPS ENDORSED REV.NYAGUDI FOR KISUMU CENTRAL CONSTITUENCY SEAT

By Maurice Alal, reporting from Kisumu, Kenya

Former Member of Parliament (MP) for Kisumu Town West Rev. Kenn Nyagudi who is aspiring to be the MP for the newly created Kisumu Central Constituency received a boost after bishops of various churches in Kisumu County endorsed him for the seat.

The bishops said that they reached a conclusion to support Rev Nyagudi basing on his past development records when he was the area MP for a period of three years following the death of former MP Job Omino.

They also argued that Nyagudi is the only candidate that has policies which will address the plight of Kisumu Central residents alongside development of the region.

However, Rev Nyagudi revealed that he will be basing his campaigns on constitutional reforms, economic and empowerment, job creation, agricultural development, food security and education to youths as well as empowering women through loans to start businesses.

He stated that Kisumu imports all its food from other regions saying if elected the area MP, this will be a thing of the past, adding that Kisumu County looses millions of shillings everyday to other regions in this manner.

“We import cabbages, tomatoes and other vegetables from Central Kenya with milk, eggs, maize, beans and cereals imported from Rift valley,” Nyagudi said adding this can be produced locally for consumption and export to improve income for the area residents.

While drumming up support for the seat, he said Kisumu County will produce its food and even export to other regions through irrigated agriculture by utilizing arable land and unlimited water from Lake Victoria thus creating more jobs, food and money circulation in the region.

Rev Nyagudi also assured the residents that he will address the issue of fish prices that has made fishers lose over Ksh. 40 million daily due to lack of market and exploitation by middlemen.
“The fishing industry will be developed by building a major landing beach with cold storage and ice processor facilities to help the fisher folk get better returns from the export and local sale of the fish,” he said.

Asked about water hyacinth that has paralyzed fishing activities in Lake Victoria, Nyagudi said the plant will be used to produce fertilizer, paper, furniture and ceiling boards for housing sector by setting up an industry.

In addressing lack of jobs among the youth, he promised talent development, reviving collapsed industries and creating new ones, supporting youth and women groups in economic ventures through agribusiness.

The former MP also promised lower interest rate to micro-finance sector for small medium enterprises. He further revealed that he will mobilize funds to construct an international stadium in Kisumu City at a tune of Ksh.3billion that will create jobs and improve economic activities of the region.

Nyagudi said that he will make Kisumu a sister city of Illinois by attracting foreign and local investors with an aim of making it attractive regional tourism hub.
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