Kisumu Governor, Prof. Anyang Nyong’o, has refuted claims published by a local daily alleging that he kicked out traders from neighbouring Vihiga County from the Maseno area under his jurisdiction.
The opposition allied governor, on Tuesday, added that the reports claiming that his decision was necessitated by a boundary dispute between Kisumu and Vihiga counties were false and misleading.
In his defence, Nyong'o denied the existence of any tensions between the two counties noting that the local publisher erred in their news article.
“The newspaper story is not true. There is no fresh boundary dispute between Kisumu and Vihiga counties, as the boundaries are well-demarcated," Anyang' Nyong'o responded.
"Maseno was recently elevated into a Municipality, and what is going on is a normal physical planning activity to transform it into an urban centre befitting its status,” the second-term governor added.
Reports alleged that leaflets were shared to scare the traders out of the town, contrary to Nyong'o's account. In his defence, he argued that the leaflets traders referred to were actually official notices asking them to pull down illegal structures and shanties constructed on road reserves.
Prof. Nyong’o further requested that all traders from Kisumu and Vihiga to only operate in areas designated by the county.
“The people of Vihiga are free to do business in Maseno just like other communities, without any discrimination and that I will not entertain any attempt by anybody to mistreat or interfere with any person living, working or trading in Maseno town,” he asserted.
The businessmen and women were also urged to respect physical planning regulations and work closely with the current administration. Nyong'o, a former MP of Kisumu Rural constituency, further assured that he will continue to ensure all spaces maintain cleanliness to safeguard the beautiful image of the county.
“We will not allow any individual or groups of people to destroy the good relationship we have had with the people of Vihiga for many years,” Prof. Nyong’o cautioned.
The border concerns can be traced to September 2020 when Nyong'o upgraded Maseno, Kombewa, Katito, Muhoroni and Ahero towns in accordance with the Urban Areas and Cities Act.
Several local area politicians opposed the uplift and warned it would not serve its intended purpose until decades-old boundary disputes between Kisumu and Vihiga are resolved. Nyong'o, however, urged them to celebrate the upgrade as Maseno would serve traders from both counties.
“It's unfortunate that some people want to fan fresh tension over the well-intended development of Maseno, which has been a uniting factor for residents of the two counties,” Nyong'o, who served as Kisumu County Senator between 2013 to 2017, cautioned.
"We ask our brothers from Vihiga to join us in celebrating Maseno and stop making utterances that may stir tension and hatred between the two communities even as we look for ways of addressing the said dispute," he added.
