More than 400 community leaders from across Kisumu have pledged to step up campaigns for improved security, greater accountability in county government and political reforms ahead of the 2027 General Election.
The resolutions were made at a meeting organised by Kisumu Rise, a citizens’ movement that brought together representatives from neighbourhoods, markets and community groups to discuss issues affecting residents and review its activities.
Speaking at the meeting, lawyer Joshua Nyamori said the movement had been formed to provide residents with a platform to address concerns they believed had not been adequately handled by county leaders.
“Kisumu Rise is a movement that the citizens of Kisumu formed to respond to the many problems facing them after leadership in the city and the county failed to address those issues,” he said.
Nyamori said residents had raised concerns including insecurity, poor street lighting, flooding, illegal evictions, waste management and the condition of market infrastructure.
He said the movement had used public interest litigation to obtain court orders halting what it described as unlawful evictions and had successfully campaigned for improvements to street lighting in parts of the city.
“We have been able to use public interest litigation to force the county to provide public lighting and to protect residents from unlawful evictions,” he said.
Delegates agreed that improving public security through better street lighting should remain the group’s main priority.
They also instructed the movement’s leadership to seek legal action to compel the county government to release information on pending bills, which they estimated at about Sh 5.9 billion.
“They have mandated us to go to court to compel the city and the county to release information on the pending bills and ensure genuine contractors and suppliers are paid while fictitious claims are removed,” Nyamori said.
Participants also called for greater transparency in county spending.
They urged the county government to publish a payment schedule for contractors and suppliers, and to hold those responsible for the alleged misuse of public funds to account.
Beatrice Amondi, who is seeking election as Kisumu Woman Representative in 2027, said civic education had helped residents better understand the roles of county and national governments.
“We need accountability. We need the county government to give us the payment schedule for suppliers and contractors within the county government,” she said.
The meeting also discussed the county’s political future, with delegates saying they wanted leaders who would be more responsive to residents’ concerns.
Nyamori confirmed that he intended to run for the Kisumu Central parliamentary seat in the 2027 General Election.
“I want to assure the residents of Kisumu Central that I will be on the ballot in August 2027 for the position of Member of Parliament, and we are going into this as a team to transform leadership and governance in Kisumu,” he said.
The meeting also endorsed Amondi as Kisumu Rise’s preferred candidate for the Kisumu Woman Representative seat.
Kisumu Rise said it would continue using civic engagement, advocacy and litigation to campaign for improved public services and greater accountability.
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