Governor Anyang Nyong'o refuted claims that he was riding on his daughter, Lupita Nyong'o's, fame to advertise and market Kisumu County.
Speaking on Wednesday, February 8, Nyong'o insisted that the Hollywood star was not obliged to market the county nor influence key investors' decisions.
However, he indicated that Lupita could volunteer and run campaigns benefiting Kisumu.
"I don't want to do that honestly (asking her to market Kisumu), but she can volunteer to do that," Nyong'o stated during an interview on KBC TV.
"She did volunteer to do that when we had Africities. She didn't come, but she sent a message," Nyong'o added.
While hailing her contribution, the ODM governor indicated that Lupita posted the message on her social media platforms with her video attracting over 11,000 participants to Africities Summit held in Kisumu in May 2022.
"She used her social media platforms to advertise Africities. That helped to attract participants to come," Nyong'o indicated.
"The people who came loved Kisumu. I hear songs about the taste and aroma of Kisumu's food everywhere, I go now. The Dunga Beach fish is becoming an international brand apparently," Nyong'o further revealed.
In May 2022, the Oscar award-winning actress seized the opportunity to market Kisumu to the delegates.
Lupita, famed for starring in Wakanda, convinced investors that Kisumu County had much to offer.
Further, the Hollywood star described the summit as a game changer that would help define the future of African cities.
"Through the summit, we lay the ground for Africa's cities and urban development," she insisted.
