Kisumu Mayor S M Okello recently accepted a Sh 5.6 million, 36 tonne garbage compactor which was a gift from the Norwegian Porsgrunn Kommu City Council in Norway. Mayor Okello explained that he had paid a visit to Norway last year to arrange for a development partnership which would help change the image of Kisumu Municipality. During the visit  it was agreed that the Kisumu Municipal Council and the Norwegian Porsgrunn Kommu City Council would collaborate on issues of Education, City Planning,  Water and Sanitation and Capacity Building in a programme dubbed City-City.

In late February, Progrunn Mommu mayor Oystein Bayer arrived with the Compactor  which he handed over to Mayor Okello at a ceremony at a municipal dumpsite. Mayor Bayer said the City-City programme would see more development projects implemented in Kisumu with the support of the Norwegian government. “This compactor is durable, and will help Kisumu a lot. We are in partnership to bring more development projects to the city,” he said.

Mayor Okello then thanked Mayer Bayer for the Compactor, “Here is proof of our collaboration,” he said. “The face of Kisumu will change.” Brand Kenya Chief Executive, Mary Koinonye who was present, said. Kisumu has what it takes to be an economic hub and to spur economic growth for East and Central Aferica.” She said Kisumu was selected by the government to exploit the vast economic potential of tbe region and added that  Kisumu was a Millennium City and thus measures had to be put in place to  brand and jump start  economic growth.

Kisumu City has been having a dumping problem with residents accusing the municipality of not taking care of the dump sites. The arrival of the garbage compactor will help overcome the problem.