Kisumu City is on the brink of a thrilling transformation! The bustling city, known for its vibrant life and scenic landscapes, is charting a bold new course towards cleanliness and order, shaking up the everyday life of sugarcane transporters, animal herders, and street vendors.
In a dynamic move to revitalize the city’s heart, the Central Business District (CBD), the authorities have announced a game-changing policy: any grazing animals found wandering the city streets, or animals idly loitering in the CBD, will now face a fine of Ksh1,000. This decisive action aims to bring a new level of cleanliness and order to the bustling urban center.
Sugarcane transporters, who have long navigated the city’s roads, are also in for a major shift. In a bid to maintain the pristine condition of Kisumu’s tarmac roads, those found spilling sugarcane while en route to sugar factories will be met with a hefty Ksh10,000 fine. This move is not just about cleanliness; it’s about respecting the city’s infrastructure and contributing to its upkeep.
The winds of change are blowing through the streets of Kisumu, as hawkers, too, face a new reality. From this month onward, the selling of goods and foodstuffs on the city’s streets has been prohibited. This isn’t just a ban; it’s an invitation for traders to embrace the newly completed Uhuru Business Park and 12 other modern markets that await their presence. These vibrant new spaces, envisioned as a one-stop shop for consumer goods and services, are set to become the new beating heart of Kisumu’s commerce.
City manager Abala Wanga, the architect of this bold initiative, is determined to transform Kisumu into a beacon of habitability and cleanliness, attracting tourists and elevating the city’s status. “We want to make Kisumu city and its environs the most habitable and clean place,” declares Wanga, setting a new standard for urban living.
In a strategic shift, the city’s approach towards vendors has evolved. Rather than confiscating goods, those failing to comply with the new regulations will face arrests and significant fines. This is a clear message: the city’s transformation is serious business.
The city’s greening initiative, part of this grand vision, will see regular patrols along the Airport road, protecting tree seedlings and enhancing the city’s aesthetic appeal. Meanwhile, Kisumu’s newly established traffic marshalls are set to bring a new order to the city’s roads, dismantling traffic bottlenecks and streamlining movement.
In a compassionate yet firm move, the plight of street families in the CBD is being addressed. By January 15, these individuals will be relocated to orphanage homes, enhancing the safety and enjoyment of public parks for all residents.
Wanga’s vision extends to the traders too. Those with stalls obstructing drainages or operating without proper approvals are being asked to relocate, further enhancing the city’s order and cleanliness. Traders at Kibuye are advised to use wooden stalls for flexibility, ensuring that the ongoing development of the city is unhampered.
This sweeping transformation, spearheaded by the visionary City Manager Abala Wanga, is not just a series of regulations. It’s a bold leap into the future, a reimagining of Kisumu City as a clean, orderly, and vibrant urban center, ready to welcome the world with open arms.
Kisumu City News Agency
