Tough reforms attributed to the current Kisumu City Manager Michael Abala Wanga are paying off as the once cluttered and dirty Kisumu City turns into a sparkling jewel of a modern metropolis perched on the shores of Lake Victoria.
Held by many residents with equal derision and admiration the tough-talking City Manager has maintained his ground in implementation of policies that appeared painful at first but will, ultimately, impact residents positively.
Singularly spearheading the move of street and roadside hawkers to designated stalls and market points Abala bore the brunt of criticism and several times traders organized demonstrations calling for his resignation, fortunately, he did not bulge. The same traders are now extremely grateful that the organized markets have led to a significant hike in sells.
The Kisumu Municipal Market, the Maasai Market and the Nyamasaria markets have emerged to be hubs of business attracting local as well as cross-county trade.
Speaking on Ramogi television five days ago the City Manager said that the upgrade of Kondele Market is ongoing but the biggest challenge he faces is from a minority of dissenters who oppose County Government projects with ulterior motives.
“The upgrade of Kondele Market will take eighteen months. And it’s a significant upgrade because Kondele is a conglomerate of Kibuye Market which is the largest open air market in the Western Circuit. Upgrading a facility that is operational comes with its own unique challenges and you’ll hear of people running to court claiming displacement others take to the streets with banners reading ‘Abala Must Go’. The reality is that my work is not easy,” said the City Manager, adding “Fortunately, am cut for the job. I have a head for difficult situations and my raison d’etre is to provide answers.”
Under his leadership, Kisumu City has undergone rapid urban renewal, improved sanitation, and increased investment in infrastructure, earning recognition as the cleanest city in Kenya. Although the city was feted as the cleanest in 2018 after scoring 97% in a national survey, it’s the efforts of the current City Manager to uphold and improve on waste management and beautification initiatives that have transformed the city into a sparkling jewel perched on the scenic shores of Lake Victoria.
Mr. Wanga has spearheaded initiatives that have significantly improved waste management strategies in the city.
To address rising insecurity, the city management has placed underway plans to install solar-powered streetlights with integrated surveillance cameras, particularly around Uzima University and surrounding areas.
On infrastructure development the city is working on affordable housing projects and implementing the Kisumu City Local Physical and Land Use Development Plan (LPLUDP) to guide on strategized development.
Despite opposition from cartels, reforms initiated by the Kisumu City Manager aim to create a more livable, secure, and sustainable city for Kisumu residents.
Meanwhile, for his sterling performance Michael Abala Wanga has earned the recognition of his peers and has been elected the first National Chairman of the Municipalities and City Managers Caucus. In this role Wanga aims to foster collaboration among municipalities and cities, promoting sustainable urban development and advocating for increased funding to support local governments.
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