Nyong'o warns leaders 'who want bipartisan talks to collapse'

By Peter Ochieng

Kisumu governor Anyang' Nyong'o on Thursday expressed his support for the ongoing bipartisan talks, featuring Azimio and Kenya Kwanza representatives.

The second term county boss vouched for the talks to succeed, adding that Kisumu on most occassions bares the brunt of opposition protests.

Addressing the press in Kisumu on Thursday, the county boss appealed to the negotiators and other leaders to give the talks a chance, in a bid to help resolve issues that resulted into demonstrations.

"We want to assure our party leader Raila Odinga that as leadership of the county, we support his decision to engage in dialogue and assures him of our support," said Nyong'o.

He claimed that some leaders across the country would like the dialogue to collapse.

He warned such leaders who he said have been blowing hot and cold about the talks, that Kenyans will judge them harshly should the bipartisan talks collapse.

On a different note, the governor said performance management is an important tool that ensures that public entities become accountable.

Speaking during the signing of performance contracts for 2023/24 financial year for Kisumu county's accounting officers, Nyong'o said through performance contracting, the county has realised improved efficiency and effectiveness achieving a 70% project completion rate in the past financial year.

"To underscore the importance of our own source revenues as away to expand the county revenue base, we recently inaugurated the County Revenue Board comprising of men and women of repute whom I have placed the task of improving the county revenue collection," he added.

He further said that a proposal linking performance to reward for individuals and institutions, will be presented to his cabinet for approval and implementation.