Fredrick Odiero
Kisumu Governor Anyang Nyong’o has scoffed at claims that he advocated for the relocation of Kisumu Boys High School from the city center, saying that he only made the proposal.
In a statement released by the governor, Nyongo’ claimed that a journalist who sought his opinion misquoted him as saying that a final decision had been reached over the same.
“He was particularly concerned about Kisumu’s proposed urban development plan,” he argued.
Nyong’o said the report created an impression that a final decision had been made and that the school must be moved to Kibos, in the outskirts of the city.
Nyong’o said the debate is still ongoing and will continue even into the year 2030.
The governor said the debate is part of a conversations aimed at transforming Kisumu town.
He said the report portrayed him as somebody who does not have a liking towards learning institutions.
Nyong’o insisted that there is no logic for a school to occupy large tracts of land which can be utilized for economic purposes.
He said that the conversation will form part of discussions at the Africities Conference that will kick off on May 17.
On Staurday, May 7, Education Cabinet Secretary Prof. George Magoha jumped into the spate of reactions in the relocation of the school where he has said that the government will not relocate the school as planned by Kisumu Governor, Anyang’ Nyongo.
Other schools within the city center that would be affected by the relocation plans include Kisumu Girls High School and Manyatta Arabs School.
The governor noted that the said relocation of Kisumu Boys and Kisumu Girls High schools had been raised in many professional forums, the latest being in a report on the ‘Transforming Kisumu City through enhanced urban aesthetics’
He said these are however mere proposals as validation and public participation are yet to be undertaken.
‘The debate on whether or not to relocate the schools is an important conversation that must not be trivialized or wished away.’ He said.
The on-going transformation of Kisumu, the governor said in line with the geophysical and spatial plan, should be supported because it is aimed at revamping the city’s infrastructure, the economy , waste management system and provision of adequate housing for residents.
He said in the proposed plans, they are envisaging an integrated, resilient and sustainable urban life.
Nyong’o said the central theme of 9th Africities Summit to be held in Kisumu County next week is the role of intermediary African cities in the implementation of the United Nations 2030 Agenda and the African Union Agenda 2063.
He said both the UN and AU recognize that African towns and cities will host more people than the continent’s rural areas in the next two decades, bringing into sharp focus the level of preparedness of the urban centers to provide for the large populations.
The governor said these populations will need food, shelter, security, healthy environments to live in, an efficient transportation system, reliable, cost-effective and clean energy, social amenities and employment opportunities.
‘ This is why we must honestly debate whether we need to have highly populated schools at the center of cities where they occupy large tracts of land, large parts of which remain unused.’ He said.
He said The 9th Africities Summit reflects the shift in Africa to devolve services and developmental focus away from capital cities.
Nyong’o said It is wrong to misinterpret his comments to insinuate that learning institutions are less important in the society.
“As a scholar and public administrator, I know the value of education Schools need calm and friendly environment far from the noise in the cities,” He said.
He said he supports the idea of schools sharing facilities to save on land use noting that Each school has a field, a swimming pool and other amenities that have occupied land.
The governor appealed to parents, leaders and urban planners to discuss this issue soberly and constructively because we could be killing an idea whose time has come, because of politics.#
‘Indeed, the planning and consultations on whether or not to relocate some of these schools are expected to continue until 2030.
