Residents of Muhoroni have asked the Kisumu county government to prioritise infrastructure development and proper planning as the trading centre gets elevated to a town.
The subcounty headquarters will be unveiled as a town on Friday at a ceremony to be presided over by Governor Anyang Nyong'o at Muhoroni grounds.
Muhoroni will become the fourth trading centre in Kisumu to be elevated to a town after Ahero, Katito and Maseno.
On March 1, 2020, Nyong'o through a Gazette notice elevated five urban areas into towns. They include Maseno in Kisumu West, Kombewa in Seme, Katito in Nyakach, Ahero in Nyando and Muhoroni in Muhoroni subcounty.
The gazettement was in line with the new Urban Cities Act.
Muhoroni residents have asked the county to give priority to rehabilitation of key roads, putting up sewerage systems and mechanisms to revive sugarcane growing to promote its economic growth.
Subcounty liaison officer Samuel Ong'ou said residents have high expectations that the plan to unveil the new town will come with goodies.
Ong'ou said that Muhoroni has experienced problems that began during the colonial period that the area has remained underdeveloped for years.
He attributed the slow economic growth to poor infrastructure development that has deprived the region of investments.
"The stunted economic growth is because of declining earnings from sugarcane-growing due to reduced operation at Muhoroni Sugar Factory, which is a key driver of the local business activities," Ong'ou said.
He said residents were happy and hope the new status will attract development opportunities.
"We hope the ongoing construction of Mamboleo-Chemelil road will further open up the area for development and uplift its economic status," he said.
Muhoroni Business Community secretary Dan Obwon said traders expect the county government to address challenges that have hindered the town's growth.
Poor road network, poor town planning, land scarcity, poor sewerage and security are among the major challenges to be addressed.
"Proper planning and improved road network will ensure that business thrives hence improve livelihoods," Obwon said.
Tom Mboya, the director of land acquisition in Kisumu county and coordinator Kisip project who was part of the planning team said there are so many goodies planned for Muhoroni.
He said that under the World-Bank-funded project, they planned the entire town and will soon give out title deeds to various landowners.
"Some 1245 titles are to be given to locals in settlements of Bondeni, Shauri Yako, Shaurimoyo and Swahili villages," Mboya said.
In January, they will build roads and undertake other infrastructure projects like streetlights and sewer lines.
Earlier, Governor Anyang Nyong'o had noted the new towns will have a dedicated governance system made up of a management committee and an administrator who will look into their day-to-day activities.
He said the growth of satellite towns will not only bring services closer to the people but also create economic nodes that will create opportunities for thousands of people.
Edited by P.O