On March 1, 2019, Kisumu Governor Peter Anyang’ Nyong’o created five new towns through a gazette notice: Katito, Ahero, Kombewa, Muhoroni, and Maseno.
Two years later on March 3, 2021, Governor Nyong’o and his entourage made their way to Nyakach subcounty to unveil Katito town. It sits strategically on the Kisumu-Homa Bay and Kisumu-Ahero-Isebania highways.
An excellent report by The Standard says Katito grew from a single kiosk set up in the late 1940s by an industrious young man who collected and sold hides and skins from the villages of Nyakach. Katito, or Atito’s place, got its name from businessman Daniel Atito.
When Nyong’o unveiled the town, his ecstatic press corps described Katito as “a new vibrant commercial hub that will change the way of doing business within the region.”
But last week, Citizen TV toured the town and shook its head, nah. Katito was chocking in filth and stank to the high heavens.
“Traders in Katito market in Kisumu have now threatened to stop paying levies to the county government due to the unhygienic state of the market,” the station reported on May 7. “According to the traders, their calls to have the garbage removed have fallen on deaf ears, with the situation now threatening business operations at the busy market.”
Reporter Laura Otieno told viewers that, “Two years since it was conferred town status by the Kisumu County government, heaps of garbage continue to dot the Katito market creating an eyesore for traders and buyers at the busy market.”
The cameraman panned across traders seated with their wares next to hills of garbage and stagnant wastewater and zoomed in on chickens and cows rummaging through the filth.
“According to the traders here, these heaps of garbage have not been collected for the last two weeks, leaving a heavy stench in the market,” Laura reported.
She first said heaps of garbage continued to dot the market two years since Katito was elevated to a town. But traders told her the waste had not been collected for two weeks.
Sasa stori ni gani? Was garbage being collected regularly up to two weeks before Citizen TV arrived, or it had been piling for two years?
Laura handed the mike to four traders, who unanimously agreed the town was dirty and demanded that Governor Nyong’o should dispatch a team to clean it up. They even wondered whether such a filthy place should be called a town, to start with.
More footage of uncollected garbage. And then journalist Laura Otieno signed off.
Bad job.
The Urban Areas and Cities Act, 2011 empowers governors to upgrade a settlement to a town. The place must have at least 10,000 residents, and demonstrable economic, functional, and financial viability. It must have an integrated development plan, and capacity to effectively, and efficiently deliver essential services to its residents, as well as sufficient space for expansion.
A town is headed by an administrator and a committee appointed by the governor and approved by the county assembly. Their functions are spelt out in the law, among them to “promote a safe and healthy environment”.
A town’s integrated development plan must provide for solid waste management, among a long list of public services. The town committee adopts this plan within the first year in office.
What kind of journalism did Laura Otieno and her editors at Citizen TV do on Katito town?
The reporter did not speak to the town administrator or committee about the garbage. She did not peruse the town’s integrated development plan. What’s Katito’s solid waste management system? What’s the budget, facilities and personnel assigned to this role?
The entire Citizen TV story was about Laura’s observations and the views of traders.
Journalism holds power to account. Katito town has officials whose job is to manage its affairs. That’s basic for a journalist. You look for the duty bearer and put to him or her the questions the residents are asking.
It is also ethical. The county government of Kisumu, and Governor Nyong’o specifically, is accused of sleeping on the job. Angry traders threaten to withhold taxes if their town is not cleaned up. Yet neither the county government nor the manager of Katito is given opportunity to respond.
This is woiye journalism. It earns the profession ridicule, not praise.
In February, the Media Observer carried a great two-part article on covering devolution. Laura Otieno – and all journalists – should read it.
