Kisumu Governor Prof. Anyang’ Nyong’o has been elected to chair the newly established Africa Smart Cities Alliance (ASCA).
The announcement follows the official signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the County Government of Kisumu and the World Smart Cities Alliance, marking Kisumu’s formal entry into the ASCA network.
The partnership was sealed in Kisumu on Thursday with Mr Jaewon Peter Chun, Chairman and President of the World Smart Cities Forum (WSCF), who lauded Kisumu’s progressive vision and its potential to become a continental model for smart, climate-resilient urban planning.
In his acceptance remarks, Prof. Nyong’o described his appointment as a “deeply humbling moment” and pledged to use the role to champion African-led solutions in smart city development.
“This is more than just an achievement for Kisumu. It is a collective opportunity for Africa to shape its urban future on our own terms,” he said.
ASCA, he said, was a major continental platform targeting to drive inclusive, technology-powered urban development across the continent.
With the new status, Kisumu City, he said was set to host the first-ever ASCA Convention from August 20 to 22, 2025, bringing together global innovators, investors, policymakers, and city leaders.
The second phase of the convention will be held in South Korea later in the year, symbolizing an emerging Africa–Asia collaboration on sustainable urban innovation.
Nyong’o said Kisumu’s smart city strategy was at the centre of its global recognition adding that the revitalization of Lake Victoria’s waterways and the development of logistics corridors to bolster East African trade and connectivity were set to reposition the city as a key commercial hub.
“This achievement is a result of years of strategic investment, policy reforms, and collaborative governance. Kisumu is not only embracing the future but actively shaping it,” he said.
He added, “As the county steps onto the continental stage, its leadership in ASCA signals a bold new chapter — one in which Kisumu’s rise mirrors Africa’s smart, sustainable urban awakening.”
On his part, Chun shared lessons from cities like London, Busan, and Incheon, emphasizing the value of combining local ingenuity with global technologies such as artificial intelligence, digital governance, and 3D prototyping.
The partnership with Kisumu, he said, has already sparked international interest, with potential investments being explored from the United States, India, and the Middle East.
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Autor(en)/Author(s): Chris Mahandara
Quelle/Source: Kenya News, 15.05.2025
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