By Reporter

The County Government of Kisumu has signed a Letter of Intent with the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) on partnership for the Implementation of the New Urban Agenda (PINUA) – social housing upgrading programme in Kisumu County.

The initiative, with a concurrent investment of Kshs 2.7 billion in Nairobi and Kisumu, aims to deliver sustainable, inclusive and community-led development.

The signing ceremony took place in Kisumu between Governor Anyang’ Nyong’o on behalf of the County and UN-Habitat Executive Director in Kenya, Ms Anaclaudia Rossbach, who committed the partners to the implementation of the project.

Governor Nyong’o said the PINUA partnership specifically targets the less fortunate, reaffirming his commitment to supporting sustainable neighbourhoods with essential amenities.

Starting 1/11/2025, the County together with UN-Habitat will pilot housing projects in Kibuye Estate, Kisumu, and Muhoroni Sub-County on terms and approaches already adopted through public involvement in the beneficiary areas.

According to UN-Habitat Housing Architect Fred Omenya, the pilot phase is set to break ground in January 2026 in Kibuye, starting with two blocks of 24 housing units, eventually totalling 360 units. These will be one- and two-bedroom affordable units owned by the County for its rental stock.

UN-Habitat will bear 100% of the building construction costs, estimated at Sh 1.8m for a one-bedroom, Sh 2.4m for a two-bedroom and Sh 2.7m for a three-bedroom unit.

The programme will improve informal settlements by providing essential social infrastructure such as schools and sanitation. It will also deliver affordable rental housing with social amenities like early childhood centres and open spaces, while supporting incremental housing models that enable families to gradually build and own decent homes.

Rossbach reaffirmed the organisation’s global mandate to promote transformative change in cities.

“For us this partnership is important in the implementation of the newly established plan that focuses on access to housing, digital transformation of informal settlements for all,” she said.

The Shauri Yako area in Muhoroni will see a different community-enabling approach, facilitating the construction of up to 800 houses of various sizes.

Twenty houses will be provided free of charge to the most vulnerable community members, while the remaining 780 units will be supported through a co-operative financial model, backed by the European Union, allowing the residents to borrow against their savings.

“We will not flatten the whole of Kibuye Estate, but we will only demolish about five blocks to construct two high-rise blocks which will accommodate half of the residents in 24 units,” Omenya said.

The landmark development follows extensive public participation forums with residents of the beneficiary area, ensuring the project is community-led.

“This is not just about housing, but dignity, opportunity and peace. By investing in secure homes, Kisumu is proving that housing for all is possible,” Nyong’o said.

By Billy Mijungu

The current push and pull between the Police Service Commission and the National Police Service over who should control the standard payroll raises important questions about accountability, fairness and the future of our security institutions. At the heart of the matter lies a simple question: if the Police Service Commission is already the official employer through its authority over recruitment, why should it not manage the payroll as well?

There should be no controversy if there is no hidden motive. Recruitment has already been placed firmly in the hands of the Commission. It is now widely accepted that this step was a bold move towards professionalism, fairness and merit-based entry into the service. Extending this logic, payroll management should naturally rest with the same body. After all, an employer who recruits is best placed to handle salaries, promotions and welfare matters. Splitting these roles only breeds duplication, delays and unnecessary internal wars.

Those resisting this change should be asked what exactly they fear. If the Commission is tasked with standardising and managing payroll, the majority of police officers, who make up the real muscle of the service, stand to benefit. Salary delays, arbitrary deductions and inconsistencies would reduce significantly. Transparency and predictability would become the norm rather than the exception. The top leadership may resist because of the fear of losing control, but for the ordinary police officer, this reform offers hope.

Other constitutional commissions offer a clear example of how payroll management aligns with employment authority. The Teachers Service Commission not only recruits teachers but also handles their payroll and promotions. The Judicial Service Commission is empowered to oversee judicial officers’ terms and remuneration. The Public Service Commission retains similar authority across the wider civil service. These commissions are not only employers but custodians of salaries and benefits, ensuring that human resource functions remain in one place.

It is therefore curious why the National Police Service should be treated differently. The argument that the police service is too sensitive or too large for the Commission to handle does not hold water. Teachers number in the hundreds of thousands and the Teachers Service Commission manages them efficiently. The Judiciary is the custodian of justice itself, yet its payroll is not placed in the hands of judges but in the commission tasked with oversight. Why then should the police remain an outlier?

Kenya has come of age in governance. Institutions must evolve beyond personalities and power struggles. The growth of the police service depends on reforms that entrench professionalism, transparency and fairness. Allowing the Police Service Commission to manage payroll is not a loss to the National Police Service but a gain for the men and women in uniform who keep watch over the country every day.

It is time to stop resisting change for the sake of protecting fiefdoms. Payroll management by the Commission is the logical next step in reforming the police service. It is time to grow, it is time to move.

By Anderson Ojwang

One of the best kept secrets between the Jaramogi Oginga family and former Cabinet Minister the late Dalmas Otieno and powerful former Internal Security Permanent Secretary the late Hezekiah Oyugi was made public at the burial of the former Rongo MP.

The revelation dispelled the previously and widely perceived notion of political difference and bad blood between the Odingas with two former close allies of President Daniel Moi.

And the revelation was a shocker to the public who had often been used as pawns in the game by the politicians and had often been consumed by artificial political hatred, rivalry and public gallery antics.

For the politicians it has all been deception to the public as they usually reach out to one another in times of need and cake sharing while fuelling imaginary rivalry and contest.

That is how Siaya Senator Dr Oburu Oginga revealed how Dalmas and Oyugi came up with a strategy that enabled the Odinga family to find solutions to two serious problems they faced at that time.

For Oburu, the Odingas were reeling from the effect of Raila’s detention over alleged involvement in the 1982 coup.

Raila was arrested and charged with treason after being accused of being among the masterminds of the 1982 coup.

He was released six years later in February 1988 but was detained again in August of the same year and was released in June 1989.

Similarly, the Odingas wanted a bank loan to expand the family business, expand East African Spectre, the only company manufacturing liquid gas cylinders in Kenya. They were advised to speak to Dalmas.

Raila founded the Standard Processing Equipment Construction and Erection Limited in 1971 and it was later renamed EA Spectre.

It took the intervention of Dalmas and Oyugi to coin a phrase that the late Jaramogi Oginga Odinga was to say to the press to unlock the bank loan and Raila’s detention dilemma.

Oburu, who is the chairman of the Oginga family, said he approached Dalmas sometime late in 1988 after he was advised by the bank.

**“On my part, I can tell you, that even during the tense political moment in the country between Kanu and the opposition, we maintained friendship with Dalmas.

Dalmas used to say that there can never be any form of fight between Oburu and Otieno whatsoever. I can say here, we never differed or exchanged bitter words between us.

I want to say something which Otieno did to me. When Otieno was the Minister for Industry, I went to his office after the 1988 elections.

When I went to see Otieno, I had good reason because we were expanding our company, which manufactures domestic gas cylinders. We wanted to expand and move from the Industrial Estate to our own premises.

We needed money to expand, build the factory and when I went to the Industrial Development Bank, which was expected to provide us with the loan facility.

When I asked them for a loan facility to expand the factory, they told me before they could process our loan, we must speak to Otieno because my father was a politician. President Moi must know people who received loans.

That time, I was still working with national government as a planning officer. They told me because my father was a politician, President Daniel Moi must know about the request.

So I talked to Dalmas who equally told me that Moi must know about the request and he advised that we should speak to Oyugi.

We talked and they advised me to ask Jaramogi to make a single statement saying that ‘he had no problem with Moi’ and that what we wanted would be done.

After the meeting, I travelled to Kisumu to meet my father. I asked Jaramogi, please just make a statement that you have no problem with Moi and we shall get the loan.

Jaramogi agreed but on one condition, that he would make the statement provided they also release Raila from detention.

When I came back, I told Dalmas and Oyugi that Jaramogi had committed to making the statement but had one condition, release Raila from prison.

Dalmas and Oyugi didn’t have any problem with the request and agreed to the proposal. I went back to Kisumu and told Jaramogi about the outcome of the meeting.

Excited, Jaramogi immediately left for Nairobi and issued the statement and within one week, we had the bank loan and within another week, Raila was released from prison.

I can never forget that. It was a very significant contribution,”** he said.

Oburu said Dalmas was a very smart politician and in 2007, when he joined ODM, Raila ensured he was appointed the Minister for Public Service in the grand coalition government.

But the appointment infuriated Assistant Minister the late Orwa Ojode, a close ally of Raila, who lamented why he was bypassed in the Cabinet appointment.

“Orwa could not excuse ODM for making Dalmas Public Service Minister while he was an Assistant Minister. I told him, Ojode, you are still young, Dalmas is older than you and I am equally older than you. Why must you be the one to be appointed? Let Dalmas work. He did a splendid job,” he said.

In 2014, Dalmas came up with a political outfit to rival ODM dominance in Nyanza politics and was expected to be an alternative voice.

He said then “I would have wished to stay in ODM but my conscience tells me otherwise. I will not relent in my bid to form a rival party to the one that took me to Parliament.”

The Kalausi party, Luo for whirlwind, was expected to create competition for ODM, especially in South Nyanza, but it faded out.

Dalmas blamed lack of development in Luo Nyanza on politics of intolerance and tribalism championed by ODM.

By Samson Waganda
and Sandra Blessings

Siaya Governor James Orengo has engaged his age-long political activism gears to make the Siaya International Trade and Investment Conference a success.

The conference is scheduled for this month in Siaya and has attracted both local and international investors.

Known for his activism antics and rallying the masses to public demonstrations and rallies, Orengo is exploiting the skills to raise funds, woo investors, and mobilise the public to support the conference.

In the nest are President William Ruto, former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, both Speakers of the Houses, Moses Wetang’ula and Amason Kingi, international and local exhibitors, investors, among others.

In Kenya’s history of political struggle and activism, Orengo remains one of the pillars and was arrested and detained several times for his engagement in the demand for constitutional reforms.

Currently, Orengo has given politics a wide berth as he engages in rallying support and raising funds for the investment conference.

Interestingly, Orengo even avoided the recent ODM primary for Ugunja Constituency to concentrate on the planning for the conference.

Orengo wrote on his X handle: “Today, I met with strategic investors Mr Sarit Shah and Mr Ariff Shamji of Kipenzi Sugar Company Ltd, together with my CECMs for Trade, Finance, and Agriculture, where we discussed their plans to establish a 1250 TCD sugar processing facility at Mur Malanga in South East Alego. The investors have already secured 70 acres of land, and the feasibility study covering technical, financial, and market aspects has been completed, positioning this project as a transformative investment for Siaya’s agricultural sector.

Asante Speaker Amason Kingi for confirming your participation in SITICO 2025 set for 14–17th October. Your presence adds great value to the conference.

Made a courtesy call on Dr Ben Kajwang, CEO of Kenya College of Insurance, who graciously affirmed the institution’s participation in the forthcoming Siaya International Trade and Investment Conference. Siaya is the destination this October, and we welcome all to be part of this transformative event.

Honoured to receive a Sh5m boost from Lap Fund, joining us as a Silver Partner for the upcoming SITICO 2025. From 14–17th October at Siaya National Polytechnic, SITICO will bring together government, private sector, and community voices to chart new pathways of growth for Siaya and beyond.

Had a great conversation with CS Mutahi Kagwe on the ministry’s participation in the upcoming investment conference. His support affirms agriculture’s vital role in Siaya’s growth. Excited for the insights and collaborations ahead of our farmers.

This morning, I met with the Shabta Gold team, behind the West Kenya Gold Project, to discuss the upcoming SITICO 2025. I’m glad to share they’ll be partnering with us as we position the county for transformative growth.”

Orengo has widened his appeal to talk shows, rallying for support and calling for packed attendance for the upcoming SITICO event that will feature several business and investment ideas for the benefit of the county and the region.

Orengo has been hopping from one vernacular radio station to another, both in Nyanza and Nairobi, to interact with the public and build confidence.

“The conference provides us with the opportunity to explore and exploit the abundant economic, investment, and trade opportunities in Siaya County. I challenge you all to be part of this great and historic moment,” he said.

Orengo has held several business executives and partnership meetings where he has signed bids for Silver Partnerships, bagging millions for the facilitation of the investment forum that will see Siaya feature on the map of Kenya and the region in terms of investment revolution.

By Billy Mijungu

Motorcycles have become an integral part of Kenya’s transport system. They are fast, accessible, and affordable, providing a livelihood for thousands of young men and women across the country. From remote rural villages where public transport is scarce to busy urban centres where traffic jams choke the roads, the boda boda industry has stepped in to fill the gap. Yet with this rapid expansion has come chaos, lawlessness, and grave danger. The time has come for Kenya to rethink how it regulates motorcycles and the people who ride them. One of the most urgent reforms is to outlaw the selling of a motorbike to an unlicensed individual. Likewise, it should be illegal to buy a motorbike without first presenting a valid riding licence. Just as no one is allowed to buy a gun without the legal documents that govern ownership, motorcycles too must be subjected to strict legal frameworks. Anything less is courting disaster.

The boda boda sector has become ungovernable by the day. With more than a million motorcycles criss-crossing our towns, highways, and villages, the lack of order is now a national concern. Many accidents on Kenyan roads today involve motorcycles. Riders weave dangerously through traffic, ride on pavements, invade pedestrian walkways, and ignore traffic rules. The result has been injuries, deaths, and a strain on the health system. It is not just about accidents. The sector has also attracted criminal elements. Some motorcycles are used for quick getaways in robberies. Others are unregistered, making them difficult to trace. Lack of regulation has turned what should be a solution into a problem. The freedom to purchase and ride without a licence has created a cycle of impunity.

The law is clear on driving motor vehicles, but motorcycles have been treated with leniency. Many young men buy bikes as soon as they can afford them, without ever stepping into a training school. The culture of jumping onto the road without knowledge of traffic rules is the beginning of many tragedies. The Government must tighten the laws governing motorcycles. Outlawing the sale of motorcycles to individuals who do not have a valid riding licence is a necessary starting point. Dealers and importers should be compelled to check and record licence details before transferring ownership. This single step will ensure that only those who have undergone training and certification can own and ride motorcycles.

Equally, reckless behaviours must be criminalised. Riding against traffic flow, making irregular incursions into lanes, using pedestrian pathways, and riding on pavements must attract heavy penalties. Riders must learn that roads are governed by rules, not by individual convenience. Personal safety must also be prioritised. Every rider and passenger should wear a helmet at all times, not as an option but as a rule enforced by police and county authorities. On highways, motorcycles should stick to the extreme left and never compete with heavy vehicles in the middle lanes. Discipline on the road must be restored if the sector is to survive.

Beyond safety, the boda boda sector must be drawn into the formal economy. Riders make money daily but most do not pay taxes. This is a loophole in revenue collection that must be closed. Just like matatus are regulated and taxed, motorcycles too should be brought into the fold. The answer lies in organisation. Structured boda boda associations can operate like savings and credit cooperatives. They can receive credit from banks, extend loans to members, and pool resources for investments. Such organisation can transform riders from daily hustlers into shareholders of community enterprises. If properly regulated, this sector can become one of the largest contributors to Kenya’s economy.

The Government should encourage riders to register into associations that meet standards of accountability. With good leadership, these associations can negotiate better terms with lenders, provide insurance covers for members, and even invest in property, agriculture, or transport fleets. The sector should no longer be viewed only as a survival mechanism for the jobless but as a legitimate part of the economy. Many riders on the road today have never seen the inside of a driving school. Others went through training but have since picked up bad habits. For this reason, retraining should be mandatory. Every few years, riders should return to school for refresher courses, just as professionals in other fields do. This will help keep them updated on traffic laws, personal safety practices, and the responsibility that comes with sharing the road with other users.

Riders must learn to see themselves not only as drivers of machines but as custodians of human life. A single mistake on a motorcycle can cost two lives in seconds. Furthermore, education can go beyond road safety. Riders can be trained in financial literacy, customer care, and entrepreneurship. A disciplined and knowledgeable rider is an asset to the economy and to the community. Kenya stands at a crossroads in the management of its motorcycle sector. If left unchecked, boda bodas will continue to be a source of chaos, insecurity, and accidents. But if regulated and reformed, they can be harnessed as powerful engines of economic growth and social mobility. Outlawing the sale of motorcycles to unlicensed riders and preventing unlicensed individuals from purchasing them is the first step towards order. Enforcing road discipline, introducing taxation, organising riders into associations, and retraining them regularly will complete the transformation.

The boda boda sector is not going away. It is deeply rooted in Kenyan society. What must change is how it is managed. With bold laws and determined enforcement, motorcycles can shift from being a national menace to becoming a national asset.