By Kepher Otieno - Reporter
Kenya, 20 August 2026 - Kisumu is positioning itself to become a model for smart and sustainable urban development in Africa, Governor Anyang’ Nyong’o has said, as he called on international partners to invest in the city’s transformation.
Nyong’o, who is also chairman of the Africa Smart Cities and Towns Alliance (ASCA), said Kisumu was ready to serve as a “living laboratory” where innovative solutions to Africa’s urban challenges could be tested, developed and scaled across the continent.
Speaking in Kisumu during the ASCA Summit 2026, Nyong’o said the gathering brought together international business delegations and representatives of ASCA member sub-national governments to explore opportunities for collaboration, investment, innovation and sustainable urban development.
“Smart city development therefore means better healthcare, reliable water and sanitation, modern agriculture and food security, better mobility and infrastructure, cleaner energy, environmental protection, digital public services and wider economic opportunities for our young people,” he said.
The summit also witnessed the establishment of the ASCA Regional Specialised Diagnostic Hub for cancer and sickle-cell screening at Victoria Sub-County Hospital, a development Nyong’o said would strengthen access to specialised healthcare while positioning Kisumu as a regional medical hub.
He called for greater investment in local pharmaceutical manufacturing, including the production and compounding of medicines required by cancer patients and people suffering from other critical illnesses.
“Africa cannot remain permanently dependent on importing virtually everything required to care for our people. We must progressively build our own medical, pharmaceutical and technological capacity, and Kisumu is prepared to be part of that transformation,” Nyong’o said.
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The governor, however, acknowledged that Kisumu’s strategic location on the shores of Lake Victoria, linking communities and economies across East Africa, comes with significant challenges.
He cited healthcare, water pollution, food security, climate change, mobility and economic development as among the problems confronting the city and the wider Lake Victoria region.
Nyong’o said these challenges should be treated as regional rather than isolated local problems, requiring governments, investors, researchers and development partners to work together in designing solutions.
He said Kisumu’s smart-city ambitions must therefore go beyond deploying technology and instead focus on improving the quality of life, creating jobs, strengthening public services and building a resilient urban economy.
The ASCA summit is expected to provide a platform for African cities and international partners to exchange ideas and develop partnerships aimed at accelerating sustainable urban transformation across the continent.