Kisumu governor Peter Anyang' Nyong'o has thanked President William Ruto for including his county in the negotiations to extend the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR).
At the height of his recent state visit to China, the president engaged President Xi Jinping in securing funding to extend the SGR from Naivasha to the Ugandan border.
The two leaders ratified a plan for Phase 2B of the railway line, which would be extended to Kisumu and ultimately the Malaba border.
Nyong'o celebrated the move, saying it would enhance the economic development of the western part of the country
"On behalf of the people of Kisumu, I would like to sincerely thank HE President William Samoei Ruto for successfully negotiating with the Chinese government the financing of the SGR from Nakuru, through Kisumu and connecting Kenya to Uganda through Malaba. This branch of Kenya Railways has been on the drawing board for a long time. Making it a reality at last is something we in the Lake Region need to applaud. Kudos, Mr President," Nyong'o said.
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According to the country boss, the extension will make the refurbished Kisumu Port busier and more prolific, hence achieving its purpose.
He also observed that the multibillion shilling infrastructural development will improve tourism, passenger transport, trade and regional integration in the larger East African region.
This came days after the governor accused Ruto’s administration of undermining devolution, likening the current government's actions to the Nyayo era.
In a statement on Tuesday, April 22, Nyong’o argued that actions by the Ruto administration reflect leadership styles that predate the 2010 Constitution.
He warned that such moves threaten the goals of building a democratic and developmental state.
Nyong'o further questioned the role of the Kenya Urban Roads Authority (KURA) and the Kenya Rural Roads Authority (KERA), suggesting that they are unnecessary if the national government fully embraced devolution.
The governor also defended the efficiency of county governments in managing services such as health, compared to the national government.
His reaction was prompted by Ruto's appeal to MPs and governors to let the national government take charge of the Roads Maintenance Levy Fund (RMLF).
While speaking in Narok County on Sunday, April 20, the head of state called for unity in managing the levy to make it more
