Governor Nyong’o lashes out at Mudavadi for portraying Kisumu as ‘most insecure city’

Governor Anyang’ Nyong’o has condemned remarks by Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi portraying Kisumu as the most insecure city in the country.

Mudavadi had during his recent tour of the Western region alleged that Kisumu was the most dangerous city to invest in following violent protests witnessed during Azimio la Umoja – One Kenya coalition demonstrations last month.

But, Nyong’o, in a statement on Monday, April 17, dismissed Mudavadi’s claims as propaganda, adding that the minister was also an investor and a landowner in Kisumu.

“Hon. Musalia Mudavadi, in an address a few days ago in Western Kenya to a partisan audience, portrayed Kisumu as a place where investments are insecure. Let it be known that Musalia himself is a landowner and a notable investor in the city of Kisumu.

“I have not, as the Governor of this great County, received any complaints from him regarding the insecurity of his investments and properties in Kisumu,” Nyong’o said.

The county boss claimed that chaos and looting witnessed during the opposition’s demonstrations in Kisumu were perpetrated by goons ferried to the area by Azimio’s opponents.

“We know that during our demonstrations, goons were bused into Kisumu specifically to cause havoc in the Central Business District. Let Mr. Mudavadi help stop this kind of sabotage by elements in the Kenya Kwanza brigade,” he added.

The governor welcomed tourists and investors to Kisumu, saying the city is safe.

“On behalf of the people of Kisumu County, I would like to welcome all those who want to visit our county and assure you that you will be safe and secure here,” he added.

At the same time, Nyong’o assured investors that the opposition was committed to peaceful demonstrations days after Azimio leader Raila Odinga announced plans to resume the anti-government protests after Ramadhan.

“We shall demonstrate peacefully, fully conscious that our detractors are ready to capitalize on these demonstrations to destroy the gains we have made in terms of investments and development. We shall not allow them to succeed,” Nyong’o quipped.

Earlier, Mudavadi criticized calls for demonstrations, saying the protests were hurting the country’s economy.

Speaking in Mombasa on Monday when he met Governor Abdulswamad Shariff Nassir, Mudavadi said that Kenyans should not disrupt the economy at a critical moment when it is picking up.

“We cannot afford to disrupt the economy. Let us move forward. Election cycles have their constitutional timings (and) we have just come out of it six months ago we need to move forward as a nation. We cannot keep going back to an issue that has been canvased up to the highest court in the land,” he said.

“It has been dealt with fully and we want to make it very clear that we are a unitary state. We cannot have two governments. And therefore we want to tell our leaders in other quarters, please be responsible. Why do you cheat people that you can create another government in Kenya?” he posed.