The government has launched an intensified crackdown on criminal gangs in Kisumu following renewed reports of extortion and violence in major markets and transport hubs.
Kisumu County Commissioner Benson Leparmorijo raised concern over the re-emergence of organised groups operating in Kibuye Market and parts of the bus park, warning that security agencies will not relent until the networks are dismantled.
Speaking at Jomo Kenyatta Sports Grounds in Kisumu During Jamhuri Day celebrations, Leparmorijo said the city has enjoyed unparalleled peace in recent months, attributing the stability to improved political calm after the handshake between the late former Prime Minister Raila Odinga and President William Ruto.
He said the government will not allow criminal elements to destabilise the progress.
“We will not tolerate anyone attempting to interfere with the peace this city has enjoyed. Those behind these gangs will be tracked down and dealt with in accordance with the law,” he said.
He noted that the extortion rings at Kibuye Market have previously led to loss of lives, adding that operations in the hotspots would be sustained until order is restored.
He urged the county government to expedite reforms aimed at reclaiming the affected facilities from criminal gangs control.
“We cannot have a situation where one person bullies others in the name of being a market chairperson,” he said.
Leparmorijo appealed to residents to work closely with security teams by reporting suspicious behaviour, saying public vigilance was crucial as the festive season gathers momentum.
He praised the police for maintaining law and order, noting that the city had not recorded recent cases of muggings or robberies.
The County Commissioner noted that the National Government has invested billions of shillings in major infrastructure projects in Kisumu, including Affordable Housing units in Lumumba, Upper Kanyakwar, Ahero, Sondu, Kisumu West, Kisian and Muhoroni; the Mamboleo–Chemelil Road; the Kabonyo-Kanyagwal Fisheries Centre of Excellence; and the Nyamasaria Sewerage Plant, which he said were vital in tackling unemployment , a key driver of crime.
Speaking during the same occasion, Kisumu Governor Prof. Peter Anyang’ Nyong’o highlighted the county’s development progress, crediting devolution for expanding economic opportunities and improving service delivery across the region.
In a speech read on his behalf by Kisumu Central Sub-County Administrator Peter Abiero, the governor paid tribute to Kenya’s liberation heroes including Jaramogi Oginga Odinga and Achieng Oneko saying their sacrifices laid the foundation for the freedoms enjoyed today.
He urged citizens to safeguard these gains through respect for the rule of law and active participation in national development.
Nyong’o further highlighted continued progress in key devolved sectors such as health, agriculture, education and youth empowerment.
He hailed the elevation of the Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital (JOOTRH) to a Level 6 national facility, calling it a landmark milestone achieved in partnership with the National Government.
“Our role as a County Government is not to run businesses, but to create conditions for businesses to thrive and they are thriving,” he said.
On agriculture, the Governor said Kisumu’s fertile soils and rising population positioned it as a potential regional food basket, noting that 67 per cent of residents were engaged in farming.
He cited the commissioning of the Ahero Multi-Stage Rice Mill as a key step in boosting farmer incomes, adding that a second Sh. 40 million rice mill was being procured for installation at Kabonyo Kanyagwal.
Prof Nyong’o urged residents to tap into the emerging economic opportunities and reaffirmed the county’s commitment to equitable service delivery across all eight sub-counties.
