“Mweshimiwa Rais jiji hili ni safi na hata Mwanza haifikii. Kwangu mimi napendekeza liewe hadhi liwe jiji,” (His excellency the president this town is so clean that Mwanza cannot compare to it. My opinion it be given city status)
Those were the words of the late Tanzanian President Benjamin Mkapa when he visited the lakeside city during the centennial celebration back in 2000. Kisumu residents who had gathered at Jomo Kenyatta grounds applauded his statement as they chanted “tunataka Jiji”.
Mkapa then told the crowd “litakuwa Jiji nakubali” (it will be a city I agree.
Uganda President Yoweri Museveni seconded Mkapa’s sentiment hence making President Moi to grant Kisumu the city status.
“I agree with my brother Mkapa that the town should be upgraded to city status and I know President Moi will agree to that,” Museveni said.
Speaking to the crowd during the occasion Moi sad,”ikiwa marais wawili wamependekeza Kisumu iwe city basis Mimi ni nani nikatea. Moi’s declaration gave moved Kisumu from municipality to city status.
The three heads of state had been invited for the centennial celebrations by then Kisumu mayor Shakeel Shabir (the current Kisumu Central MP). Shakeel admitted that Mkapa’s statement took everyone by surprise.
“All those who had attended the celebrations were surprised by his call. It took all of us by surprise,” Shakeel said.
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Soon after the celebration, Shakeel said he traveled to Nairobi to follow up on the charter and relevant documentation of Kisumu to city status.
Shakeel has however admitted that’s faced some resistance from relevant government authority who said the declaration of Kisumu to city status by President Moi was not legally binding.
