KISUMU, KENYA: On 20 November 2018, Kisumu Governor Anyang Nyong'o was preparing to move his office from the State-owned Nyanza Regional Headquarters to City Hall, where a new workspace had already been refurbished for him.
The office, previously used by city mayors, had been fitted with modern furniture, a conference hall and other upgraded facilities. City Hall itself had also been repainted as staff awaited the governor’s arrival.
The relocation came after Nyong'o had declined to use former governor Jack Ranguma’s office on the ninth floor. Instead, he had earlier opted for a second-floor office near Huduma Centre, but that arrangement did not fully resolve the access concerns that shaped the latest move.
Sources at City Hall said the refurbishment was complete and that the governor was expected to move in during the week. Nyong'o had reportedly inspected the facility the previous week while officiating at a function in town.
During that inspection, he said the office was “good, spacious enough and well aerated,” but added that he was not pleased with the expensive furniture.
His Director of Communication, Alloyce Ager, confirmed that the move was being planned and said the public would be informed of the date and time. Ager said Nyong'o had wanted to be closer to the people because the ninth floor at Prosperity House was difficult to reach.
He added that the governor had first tried to use a second-floor office, but the national government was not ready to relocate Huduma Centre. Even after that, Ager said, Nyong'o still wanted a location nearer the central business district so that members of the public could reach him more easily.
Ager also argued that City Hall would be more accessible to people with disabilities and elderly residents than Prosperity House, where there were no multiple lifts. He said the single lift was now reserved for VIPs because of congestion when it was shared with the public.
That arrangement, he said, had made it harder for people seeking County offices or Lake Region Economic Bloc offices on the ninth floor, and had discouraged service delivery. Prosperity House also housed national government representatives, including County Commissioner Pauline Dola and Administration Police bosses.
Nyakundi Report note: The source article referred to the publication date as 20 November 2018; that date has been preserved in this rewrite.
