President William Ruto has pledged Sh200m and five acres of railway land to help build modern workshops for Jua Kali artisans in Kisumu.
Ruto made the announcement during a development tour of Kisumu County, saying the investment would provide artisans with proper and permanent workspaces.
He said the workshops would help protect traders from harsh weather conditions and reduce what he described as constant harassment of informal-sector workers.
The five acres set aside for the project are located at the Railways site in Kisumu.
Ruto said the government was also working with local artisans to supply components such as doors and window frames for the national Affordable Housing Programme.
The president said the government was investing Sh44bn in Kisumu under the housing programme.
The investment is expected to deliver 12,000 housing units, 20 modern markets and student hostels with a capacity of 12,000 beds.
He said 5,000 housing units were already under construction in the Mamboleo area, which he said would transform Kisumu’s skyline.
The government is also constructing 20,000 housing units for police officers across Kenya, Ruto said, to provide them with decent accommodation.
“We must keep our promise of constructing houses and markets,” he said.
Ruto also highlighted government investment in education, saying 100,000 teachers had been employed and 23,000 classrooms constructed.
He said the new university funding model would ensure that all students who qualify for university admission could access higher education without hindrance.
The president was accompanied by ODM chairperson Gladys Wanga, Cabinet secretaries John Mbadi and Opiyo Wandayi, Minority Whip Junet Mohamed, Kisumu West MP Rosa Buyu and Kisumu Central MP Joshua Oron, among other leaders.
Ruto also opened a new police station at Kisian and a new control tower at Kisumu International Airport.
He said the modern tower would give air traffic controllers a 360-degree view of the airspace, improving aviation safety and the management of aircraft operations.
“The modern facility will enhance aviation safety and air traffic management, giving controllers a clear 360-degree view of the airspace and enabling safer and more efficient aircraft operations,” Ruto said.
He said the investment would strengthen the capacity of Kisumu International Airport and support its growth as an aviation hub serving western Kenya and the wider region.
The new tower replaces ageing infrastructure at the airport and forms part of efforts to modernise air traffic management facilities and improve air navigation services.
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